Hidden River

By: Adrian McKinty

Narrated by: Gerard Doyle

Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Alexander Lawson is a former detective for Northern Ireland's police force. After a disastrous six-month stint in the drug squad, he became addicted to heroin and resigned in disgrace. Now 24, sickly, and on the dole, Alex learns that his high-school love, Victoria Patawasti, has been murdered in America. Victoria's wealthy family sends Alex to Colorado to investigate the case, and he seizes the opportunity for a chance at redemption.

But things don't go as planned. Plagued by a heroin habit, forced to go on the run after the only credible witness to Victoria's murder is accidentally killed, wanted by both the Colorado cops and the Ulster police, Alex struggles just to stay alive.

Gritty, with spot-on dialogue and black humor, Hidden River is a dynamic thriller.

©2004 Adrian McKinty (P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

• 2005 Audie Award Nominee, Mystery

"This is not only an expertly crafted suspense novel but also a revealing study of addiction." (Publishers Weekly)
"A storyteller with the kind of style and panache that blur the line between genre and mainstream."(Kirkus Reviews)

The plot

When you know the ending mid way through the book but are inspired to keep listening to the narration and the character development, you know you have a novel you will listen to again and again. Thanks.

Spectacular Book

We have read or listened to all of Adrian McKinty’s books. This may be the best. Terrific story with several plot twists, beautifully described scenes in Ireland, Colorado, and India. Great characters. Gerard Doyle is my favorite Audible narrator.

Adrian McKinty always a worthwhile read.

At this time my favourite writer. Read most of his books but still a few to go.

McKinty a smart writer and Boyle a fabulous reader

Where does Hidden River rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Hidden River is in the top 10%

Any additional comments?

McKinty is a good storyteller, incredibly literate and funny. Gerard Boyle is one of the best narrators I have ever heard.

A bit hard to get into...

But once you're there, get ready for a great story that takes you from Ireland to America and back with more than one murder along the way. I wasn't sure I liked it for a while, and the self depreciating storyteller doesn't make it easy, but soon you will be hooked, and by all means, enjoy the ride.

Convoluted and long.

Starts well. The reader is excellent. Passable Northern Ireland accent. The story needed a good editor to cut out some of the way too long passages and plot lines. It takes fortitude to stick with it to the end. But the reader needs to find out how the whole thing comes together. Good ending if credibility a bit stretched.

Adrian McKinty at His Best

Marvelous plotting, brilliant, scintillating prose, perfect narration.
I was a fan of McKinty's excellent Detective Sean Duffy series, then listened to a couple of other books that were not as engaging. But this one, Hidden River, is excellent. Terrific character development for multiple intriguing characters, both "good guys" and "bad guys." The hero Alex, is a typically complicated McKinty hero, a brilliant but failed police detective, an unemployed heroin addict, a not so scrupulous person. He falls into a case that takes him to the US (and helps him escape from a life-threatening situation in Ulster), and his investigation leads into more and more danger and tragedy. He does, in the end, solve the case and redeem himself. McKinty's flights of descriptive prose are phenomenal. I would give Gerard Doyle, the narrator, a perfect 10. He gives different voices to characters, but he particularly evokes the hero, Alex, with great color and credibility. The range of the author's interests and knowledge, so much of which comes together in this book, make me want more and more of this.

Another enjoyable author/narrator experience

As always Gerard Doyle’s style and cadence deliver McKlinty’s story flawlessly. Well worth the credit!

Love the McKinty and Doyle team!

McKinty is sneaky! His casual nonchalance in his writing tricks you into thinking he is providing passive details along the story’s path until you find, part way through, that you are hooked. You are fully engaged in his characters (good or bad) and enthralled with the plot.
And Doyle’s calm, almost aloof narration compliments the writing style so eloquently. They are a perfect duo!
Enjoyed the Alexander Lawson book as much as the Sean Duffy series!

Hidden River

Another winner. Love to hear Gerard Doyle’s talented voice. McKinty’s stories attract me to read more!