Hour Game

By: David Baldacci

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

A woman is found murdered in the woods with a very special watch on her wrist, and what seemed a simple case soon escalates into a nightmare. The criminal methods of some of the most infamous killers of all time are being replicated by a new predator who stalks and strikes victims with a cunning brilliance. No one can understand the murderer's motives or who the next victim will be.

Drawn into this violent affair are two Secret Service agents turned private investigators, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell. Both have been hired to prove a man's innocence in a domestic burglary involving an aristocratic, if dysfunctional, family. Soon, stunning secrets will lead the partners into the middle of a frantic search for a killer unlike any they've confronted before.

As the Hour Game barrels forward, Sean and Michelle face a macabre puzzle and uncover one horrifying revelation after another. Nearing the truth, they will find that their own lives are in danger. And then they're hit with the biggest surprise of all. When you play the Hour Game, you have to play to win. But time is running out...for all of them.

In Hour Game, best-selling master storyteller David Baldacci has created his most mind-blowing and satisfying thriller yet.

©2004 Columbus Rose, Inc. (P)2004 Time Warner Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Utterly absorbing, complex mystery-thriller that spins in unexpected directions....A snappy surprise ending will have Baldacci's many fans remembering why they love this author so much." (Publishers Weekly)

Complicated story - Keep track of the characters.

Like the first book in this series this story is complicated. Unlike the first book, this time I wrote down the names of the characters in the book and was mostly able to keep things straight along the way.

In spite of knowing who a particular character is when he pops up again later I still had trouble following what was going on, why it was happening, and who was doing it. I’ll admit that I don’t sit down, close my eyes, and just listen to a book; I listen while I am doing something else that doesn’t require my full attention. Given my listening style, this book wasn’t really for me.

I’m pretty sure that all the loose ends got tied up at the end, but the plot and various sub-plots were so complicated that I’m not sure that I really understood who did what and why they did it. Even Shakespeare kept his plays to just two plots. Why should this book have so many? I have the next book in this series and I intend to listen to it, but I’m not buying any more of them.

Keeping track was exacerbated by the fact that during conversations I was unable to keep straight which character was talking. Even in a two-way conversation between a man and a woman Brick is unable to differentiate between the voices enough that it’s obvious who is speaking. He does read well, with emphasis in all the right places, but I wish he had made it easier to follow the dialogue.

Last, although this book has 101 chapters, Audible has decided to divide it into just 16 for the listener. That makes the average “chapter” about 55 minutes long. This is far too long to make it easy to locate a particular part that I might want to return to so I can hear it again. (Remember, I said it was a complicated story.) This is inconsistent with Audible’s other recordings I have where a book with 101 chapters would have 101 chapters in the audio file.

Too many characters

The book is enjoyable. But almost need a paper chart to track all the characters.

You will need to take notes!

Love David Baldacci. This story has so many characters and sub-stories you really need to take notes to keep it all straight! Maybe that is what it is like in real life detective work. If so, kudos!

Captivating and suspenseful.

Will keep your attention while ambushing your expectations. You can't put it down. Well done.

Twist City

Lots of unforeseen twists and a lot of characters to twist the ending was great

Awesome!!!!

Loved this book!!! I started listening to his books and I'm addicted!!! I've listened to many and will continue until I finished all his works!!!!! :)

History Buffs?

What did you love best about Hour Game?

Development of main character "Olliver Stone"

If you’ve listened to books by David Baldacci before, how does this one compare?

Three stars!

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

Olliver Stone

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Adelphia's feelings for oliver

Any additional comments?

I felt many times in the novel that I would faint if I had to another IN-DEPTH historyonics lesson Too much!

Pretty good

It seemed like a lot of dialogue at times but still held my interest. I like that little bits of information would lead you in the wrong direction along with the main characters. It wasn't as exiting as a few other novels I had read, but I would still recommend.

New to Audible

Started listening to audible books by accident and got hooked on King & Maxwell! Just loved it from start to finish, good movement, characters are excellent and well developed. Your interest is held through out reading. The narrator is superb!

Masterful crime novel

The author kept me on the edge of my seat with the twists and turns on this masterful roller coaster ride of who did what to whom.
The narrator was an artful storyteller who brought the authors characters to life.