Nocturnal: A Novel

By: Scott Sigler

Narrated by: Phil Gigante

Length: 22 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Homicide detective Bryan Clauser is losing his mind. How else to explain the dreams he keeps having - dreams that mirror, with impossible accuracy, the gruesome serial murders taking place all over San Francisco? How else to explain the feelings these dreams provoke in him - not disgust, not horror, but excitement?

As Bryan and his longtime partner, Lawrence 'Pookie' Chang, investigate the murders, they learn that things are even stranger than they at first seem. For the victims are all enemies of a seemingly ordinary young boy - a boy who is gripped by the same dreams that haunt Bryan. Meanwhile, a shadowy vigilante, seemingly armed with superhuman powers, is out there killing the killers. And Bryan and Pookie's superiors - from the mayor on down - seem strangely eager to keep the detectives from discovering the truth.

Doubting his own sanity and stripped of his badge, Bryan begins to suspect that he's stumbled into the crosshairs of a shadow war that has gripped his city for more than a century - a war waged by a race of killers living in San Francisco's unknown, underground ruins, emerging at night to feed on those who will not be missed.

And as Bryan learns the truth about his own intimate connections to the killings, he discovers that those who matter most to him are in mortal danger…and that he may be the only man gifted - or cursed - with the power to do battle with the nocturnals.

Featuring a dazzlingly plotted mystery and a terrifying descent into a nightmarish underworld - long with some of the most incredible action scenes ever put to paper, and an explosive, gut-wrenching conclusion you won't soon forget, Nocturnal is the most spectacular outing to date from one of the genre's brightest stars.

©2012 Scott Sigler (P)2013 Empty Set Entertainment

Dark

The story was great, even if it was darker than expected but worth it. if you are faint at heart or don't like violence this is not the book for you.

Very Good!

What can I say? It's Scott Sigler so this is another amazing book/story!! His narration is spot on as well. I highly recommend and will probably listen to this book again.

Exciting, weird, slightly gross at times. I liked

Sigler writes great novels that are slightly twisted. I like that sometimes.

I especially appreciated that Sigler DIDN’T narrate this one. I’m totally turned off by his own narrations.

Phil Gigante did a superior job with his Nocturnal narration. They make a great pair .

I think this is going to be a series. And hope Gigante continues with his great narrations.

Edge of your seat excitement!

As with most books with many characters, it took a few chapters to get to know all the characters. This book made me cringe, laugh out loud, and even get a tear. So many twists, and turns, and a definite unexpected ending. I will listen to it again! Great book, great Author, and Phil Gigante is a phenomenal narrator. you can recognize each character by there voices!!!

Amazing!! Engaging!!

Couldn’t get enough. The intensity is palpable, there are so many surprising twists and turns. Extremely creative and I developed a real attachment to the characters and was sadden by the loss of some. Excellent author, fast paced, couldn’t stop listening, got to the end and wished there was more. Highly recommend!!!

Pookie and Bri-bri

This was significantly different than I first expected when my wife got it for me! I absolutely loved it!

LIFE IS SHORT, TREATS ARE GOOD

SO GOOD, YOU WOULD SLAP YOUR SISTER TO GET SOME.
With the exception of the first hour or two, I loved this. At first I thought Pookie was just plain annoying. Once I got into it, I loved him. He made the novel. He is a wise cracking smartie, who will make you laugh and laugh. His timing is perfect, especially in a tension filled book. Phil the narrator does a great job with all the characters, but especially with Pookie.

COPS ARE LIKE BUGS, THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE ON THE WAY.
This is a long novel, (22 and a half hours), but it will not seem that way, until the end when you think back to all that happens in it. This has werewolves, monsters, more monsters and even more monsters. We have a mysterious killer or killers and the mayor, police commissioner, and the Chief Medical Examiner seem to be covering for him or them. Two inspectors are trying to solve some very grisly murders, but find they also have to fight their own bosses. There is mystery after mystery. The main character Brian, is hard headed and no matter what, he is going to do the right thing. His partner Pookie is the best friend a person can have and sometimes you will wonder why, when Brian is such a dick at times. This is not only a good horror novel, but it can pull at your heart strings.

THAT BEANER WAS FAST
To some of you more sophisticated readers, this might seem sophomoric. For me, it was a great escape. There is some science, mostly involving genetics. You get the good guys view and you get the bad guys view. It is actually a complicated story, well told. It is over 22 hours because of the vastness of the story. It is all entertaining. Well, except maybe for the first hour or two. At first I did not think I would stay with, I was afraid it was going to be silly. To some it may still seem that way at the end, but I really got into it. Give it a good four hours before you decide. GUY LOOKS LIKE HE FARTS TAX CODE.

YOU KNOW YOU CAN SWEAR AROUND ME, I'M NOT GOING TO TELL THE TEACHER
If you are offended by bad language or adult situations, or gory situations, then do not buy the book. All of that is in the book. This is my second Sigler book and in both, he has managed to have a scene that I will never forget. In Infected, it was a guy who cut off his own legs. It was a fast scene in which my response was, what just happened? In this book it was a scene where bullies break a boy's arm. I saw it coming and I cringed, hoping it would not happen. It was suspenseful. DON'T BE A SENSITIVE SALLY.


At first I thought Phil's voice had a silly aspect to it. It sounded like he was making too light of the story, but I grew to really like his performance. He does really good characters and I think he also makes the book better. I also had no problem with the sound effects. In some books it is a problem, when you can not hear the narrator because of them, but that does not happen in this book. I will admit the two way phone clicking was a bit ear shattering, but it does not happen that often or enough to ruin the book. Personally I think sound effects and music (just like in movies) can enhance the readers experience.

Scottt Sigler is at it again!

What made the experience of listening to Nocturnal: A Novel the most enjoyable?

I love the story and the memorable characters, Bryan, Pookie, Robin, and of course Mr Biznass.

What did you like best about this story?

The seamless blending of hard police science and proceedure with the supernatural horrors.

Which character – as performed by Phil Gigante – was your favorite?

Mr Biznass. It would be Pookie Chang, but I will forever hear Scott's version of pookie in my head when his lines are spoken.

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

Chief Zou's choice. 'nuff said

Any additional comments?

Would be a 5 star performance for Mr. Gigante, If I had never heard Scott's version of Pookie.

AWESOME

Would you listen to Nocturnal: A Novel again? Why?

I actually listened to Nocturnal a few years back when it was a free podcast. I then discovered it on audible and added it because its that awesome.

What did you like best about this story?

Never a dull moment.

What does Phil Gigante bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Back when the author read the book in podcast I imagined the characters a little different. Phil's take on the characters is refreshing but he kinda lacks that over the top performance by the author. Great nonetheless.

This narrator is INCREDIBLE

The story is a fair amount of weird (but on par with Scott's other work). Well paced, good plot, great character development. But that narrator was amazing and I'd seek out more books just because he's narrating them. The voices were perfect (though the electronic voices were a bit odd). The only negatives I'd point out are that he talks a little too softly when listening in places with lots of background noise and the walky-talky sounds are incredibly loud.
Definitely give this a listen if you are a fan of his other work.