Line of Vision

By: David Ellis

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Edgar Award Winner, Best First Novel, 2002

Marty Kalish is a young man suffocating in the heat of an affair with a married woman named Rachel. When Rachel's husband disappears one night, Marty is one of the first to be questioned. With few likely suspects, the police arrest him for murder.

We know Marty was outside their home that night. We know he has a motive. We know he's guilty of something. But is it murder?

Everything we learn—about Marty as a man, his affair with Rachel, and the night in question—comes from Marty himself. We want him to be innocent, but the more he tells us, the more we fear he is guilty. And as the twists and turns of the plot unfold, we can't be completely sure.

©2008 David Ellis (P)2008 Brilliance Audio

Awesome

Ellis keeps the reader guessing...I was intrigued with every character! The end shocked me! Must read!

Outstanding!

As soon as I finished reading Line of Vision I went to find more of his books and was disappointed to find so limited few. I have read some of the best and David Ellis is right up there with this one. I absolutely couldn't put it down. I downloaded it onto my ipod and went to bed with it every night. Great twists and turns right up to the very end. Please...write some more like this, I can't wait to read another one.

Review

Don't love, don't hate. Won't remember. What I did find annoying was the reader reading a "stage" direction and then doing it. Eg. Read: "he sighed", then actually sighing. One of the other - not sure if it is the reader or the director's fault but it was really irritating.

Great book.

Fun to listen to. I enjoyed this book quite a bit and recommend it.

Phenomenal read!

Highly recommended it. Fantastic narrator. Great mystery story. Five stars! Enjoyable and suspenseful. A must!

Hope Ellis doesn't have the sophomore jinx

This was an excellent novel and one that keeps you guessing with twists and turns that, upon reflection, are quite plausible. With about three hours to go I thought I had the conclusion completely figured out. I didn't. Throughout the book you're not sure whether you should root for or against Marty. You're not sure if you like him or not. The quick cuts in time sequences might at times cause some confusion for the listener, but the confusion clears up as the monologue progresses. Writing from a single point of view worked better than I anticipated and I think Ellis pulled it off as well as it could have been done. Dick Hill did his usual fine job of narration. This listen exceeded my expectations and I think it will do the same for many.

The wages of obsession

"Line of Vision" definitely holds the listener's attention. David Ellis has concocted an intricate, convoluted plot that delivers plenty of surprises. Anyone who likes legal thrillers will enjoy this audiobook. Dick Hill does a good job of reading it, not succumbing to his earlier tendency to over-act and sniff. We don't know whether we like or dislike the protagonist until the denouement: his obsession with a married woman works against him, but his courage in her defense works for him. I only docked a star because of the unlikely plot; but Ellis' good writing successfully helps us suspend disbelief most of the way.

Line of Vision

Any additional comments?

Line of Vision is approximately 15 hours of listening, read by the estimable Dick Hill. This audiobook has been in my reading listing since 2009, about time I listened! Released by Brilliance Audio in early 2008, the book was originally published as a hardback in 2001 - so it’s been around a while. There are actually more ratings on Audible than reviews on Amazon, interesting. Maybe that has to do with audiobook fans searching for ‘Dick Hill’?

Dick Hill is one of those few readers that, with their talent, will take a mediocre story and create a terrific audiobook. Well, he has much more than mediocre to work with in Line of Vision.

The book is a good one, winner of the 2002 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel by an American Author. The story is told from the viewpoint of Marty Kalish. Marty is in the midst of an illicit affair with a married co-worker’s wife, Rachael Rhinheart. The reader immediately is convinced, as are the police, that Marty murdered Rachael’s husband. Mystery solved, right? Well, not really.

In this cat and mouse police procedural, the guilt of Marty Kalish seems to be cut and dried. But, as the story progresses, the reader is gradually made uncertain. Therein is the substance of Line of Vision. Did Marty commit this murder? Did Rachael? You’ll begin to wonder. And, at the same time, enjoy one hell of a nice murder mystery. Enjoy!

captivating

If you could sum up Line of Vision in three words, what would they be?

How do authors know these things?

What other book might you compare Line of Vision to and why?

Can't think of anything I've read like it

What about Dick Hill’s performance did you like?

Very well done

Any additional comments?

Couldn't stop listening to it, it puts you in the head of a possible killer and walks you through the experience and trial.

Wow! Dick Hill really brought this to life!

Dick Hill's narration was amazing. His ability to change voices so the listener knows who is speaking is masterful! His pacing and dramatic pauses were perfect! I definitely have to find more he narrates.

As for the story - It kept me guessing, which is great since I am an avid reader/listener. This is a who-dunnit, but, since you are only seeing the story from the perspective of the narrator, you only get bits and pieces. Masterfully storytelling! Will definitely seek out more by David Ellis