Iron House

A Novel

By: John Hart

Narrated by: Scott Sowers

Length: 15 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

An old man is dying. When the old man is dead, they will come for him. And they will come for her, to make him hurt.

John Hart has written three New York Times best sellers and won an unprecedented two back-to-back Edgar Awards. His books have been called “masterful” (Jeffery Deaver) and “gripping” (People) with “Grisham-style intrigue and Turow-style brooding” (The New York Times). Now he delivers his fourth novel—a gut-wrenching, heart-stopping thriller no listener will soon forget.

He would go to Hell....

At the Iron Mountain Home for Boys, there was nothing but time. Time to burn and time to kill, time for two young orphans to learn that life isn’t won without a fight. Julian survives only because his older brother, Michael, is fearless and fiercely protective. When tensions boil over and a boy is brutally killed, there is only one sacrifice left for Michael to make: He flees the orphanage and takes the blame with him.

To keep her safe....

For two decades, Michael has been an enforcer in New York’s world of organized crime, a prince of the streets so widely feared he rarely has to kill anymore. But the life he’s fought to build unravels when he meets Elena, a beautiful innocent who teaches him the meaning and power of love. He wants a fresh start with her, the chance to start a family like the one he and Julian never had. But someone else is holding the strings. And escape is not that easy.

Go to Hell and come back burning....

The mob boss who gave Michael his blessing to begin anew is dying, and his son is intent on making Michael pay for his betrayal. Determined to protect the ones he loves, Michael spirits Elena—who knows nothing of his past crimes, or the peril he’s laid at her door— back to North Carolina, to the place he was born and the brother he lost so long ago. There, he will encounter a whole new level of danger, a thicket of deceit and violence that leads inexorably to the one place he’s been running from his whole life: Iron House.

©2011 John Hart (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

extremely dark harted

What did you like best about Iron House? What did you like least?

John Hart is an excellent and often poetic writer with a beautiful turn of phrase.The story itself was very dark and covered topics such as extreme bullying, child abuse, and torture.The tory held together but the darkness of the characters particularly the lead one, Michael made this an extreme departure from his other books.Michael is a mob enforcer an hit man who has killed many people. In the beginning of the book he tries to retire. This sets off a whole series of events involving Michael, his pregnant girl friend, and his brother.Mr Hart has tried to make Michael a likeable and sympathetic character and has only partially suceeded. He explains the things that made michael what he is.It was Michael's lack of remorse for the deaths that he casued of any ill gotten gains that ultimately ruined him as a character for me. It was hard to be too sympathetic toward him. I thought had he shown remorse it would have been much better.Abigail is also a comples and ultimately strange character

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Changed the ending. There were at least two lead characters who should not have been free at the end. Michael as I have said needed to show remorse.

What about Scott Sowers’s performance did you like?

everything. He is excellent.

Was Iron House worth the listening time?

yes, but very unlike John Hart's other books, For all of its faults it was impossible to stop listening to.

Any additional comments?

Not for anyone who likes a tidy ending and ultimate justice.

gripping story that keeps you wanting more!

This was my first Hart book and I can now say that I have another author to ad to my favorite list. This story was fast paced, and kept you on the edge of your seat the entire ride. It is one of those stories that gets read in 1 sitting because you can't put it down or turn it off. I say this book would be a great purchase for anyone who likes a great story with alot of twists. I wish they would make a movie of this book, I loved it!!!!

Not his best

Would you try another book from John Hart and/or Scott Sowers?

I really like John Hart although some of the violence I felt was a little over the top. Scott Sowers, not so much.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I haven't decided yet.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

His tone of voice didn't always ring true to me.

Was Iron House worth the listening time?

John Hart is always worth the time.

Not what I expected.

I was somewhat disappointed in this novel. I thought the plot could have a bit faster.

Kept me going until the very end

What made the experience of listening to Iron House the most enjoyable?

John Hart makes his characters believable because even the best of them were in some way flawed and made terrible mistakes. He remembers, like very few authors, how it felt to be a child. The action and suspense kept you reading and the fact that he really allowed you to know his characters allowed the reader to care what happened to everyone in the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Iron House?

Anyone who has been bullied will feel for the two brothers living in the children's home and understand why the boys were forced to do what they did in the end.

A novel of victims who are true 'SUVIVORS'!

IRON HOUSE is first and foremost a mystery thriller about
'survivors'.  After two infant boys were found at a river bed and placed in the Iron House orphanage, their next ten years were a holy hell. Think 'LORD OF THE FLIES' in a dilapidated former mental institute where supervision was all but non existent. Michael has always been the strong one, and Julian has always suffered the brunt of every bully.

One day, out of self-defense, fear, pain, and terror, Julian murdering the biggest bully.  Michael took the blame and ran away from the orphanage.  Julian ends up being adopted by a rich politician.  Michael becomes the favored one for a rich mob boss.  After a couple decades all hell explodes and brings all the characters in this book on a bloody collision course.

Hart fully develops a cast of characters whom you cheer for, fear for, and love to hate.  The intricacies of the intertwined events are written creatively, causing the readers to often wonder where  they should place their loyalties. But best of all, this is NOT a story of victims, but of people coming from horrific situations to become survivors!!

terrific

This is the first book from John Hart that I have listen to....I couldn't stop listening..great audio book.

Wonder Writer

I discovered this writer a month or so ago and I love his work. I can picture in my mind the characters he creates. Their descriptions are so rich. He writes about real people in real situations. I'll read anything he writes.

Not my favorie Hart

The story, the reader both have issues but I had no trouble finishing the book. I waited for this one and was a little bit disappointed after the past two but it would be hard to live up to them.

Love Hart’s writing, his characters and the story.

I’ve read everything John Hart has published and I love all of his books. I’m forever a critic and rarely would I give 5 stars but his books are well deserving. I read and listen to 3-5 books a week and John Hart is well worth it. Scott Sowers also does an A+ job on performance. He really brings the characters out, has a nice cadence and is a pleasure to listen to.