Option to Kill

A Nathan McBride Novel, Book 3

By: Andrew Peterson

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Nathan McBride, “the most brutally effective thriller hero to appear in years” (Ridley Pearson, author of Killer Weekend), returns in the third installment of one of the best new series in thriller fiction.

When Nathan McBride receives a text message from someone who claims she’s been kidnapped, it triggers a deadly chain of events that has the potential to haunt him for the rest of his life. Nathan will soon learn that nothing from his past could ever prepare him for the crisis he’ll soon be facing. The girl’s name is Lauren and she’s just 12 years old. With virtually no experience with children, Nathan’s patience and compassion are about to be tested to their limits.

In a violent confrontation, Nathan rescues Lauren from her kidnapper, but as he unravels Lauren's story, he realizes his troubles are only beginning. She says she's in the Witness Security Program, and doesn't trust the US Marshals because she thinks they're complicit in her abduction. Not only that, her stepdad was murdered last night.

In a desperate and unlikely alliance, Nathan and Lauren must stay one step ahead of her kidnapper and the brutal mercenaries who will kill anyone who gets in their way. Played out over the course of 36 lightning-fast hours, Nathan and Lauren must learn to trust each other or they won’t survive.

©2012 Andrew Peterson (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Good series, like Jack Reacher, kinda.

Look forward to the next book in the series hopefully this year. Easy to listen to.

Third time a charm!

I've had this book for at least 3 years now and have listened to it at least once a year.

Great book although a little unbelievable

I really have enjoyed this series. I like the character Nathan McBride but the things Andrew Peterson had the 12 year old in this book doing bordered on the ridiculous at times. I will not go into detail as to ruin the story for others but suffice to say this story will have you rolling your eyes at times. Also, the story Nathan tells the girl at the end was really one of those times you scratch your head and say... "Where did that come from?"
This book is still worth your time and I did enjoy it, just not as much as the previous two titles.

I struggle with Dick Hill as a narrator.

I enjoy these books, but I really struggle with Dick Hill as a narrator. His characterizations of females make my ears hurt. He makes the tough guys he portrays (he also does Lee Child's books) sound old and fragile. Takes the tough right out of them.

Other than the narration and a bit of overdramatize writing to wrap up the book, the story is pretty good.

Hard to Listen to

Would you try another book from Andrew Peterson and/or Dick Hill?

It would be difficult to try another. This one was hard to finish.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

To me, the ending made me feel the author wanted to end the story quickly. I would have ended it differently.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

His voice was not conducive to the story. At times it was hard to listen to.

Way beyond reality

Would you try another book from Andrew Peterson and/or Dick Hill?

Yes but...... You must suspend your reality check list with this one. I generally like this type of book, especially Vince Flynn's works. However, this book by Andrew Peterson uses our hero just a little, or a lot, depending on you view, in a very unrealistic way far to many times. I can't point out much without spoilers. Dick Hill is a great reader / performer but in this one he just over does the hysterical parts with a lot of whining by the character.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Drug out and very predictable.

Which character – as performed by Dick Hill – was your favorite?

Nathan

Do you think Option to Kill needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. Listen to it and you will know why.

Lost Me

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Read third book in series. Books 1/2 not bad overbearing with McBride
violence. Book 3 to a hole new level being a combat veteran just cannot
grasp the point of such blood and guts on pages. May try one more but
I think it may be to far outside reality.

What could Andrew Peterson have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

n/a

How could the performance have been better?

n/a

Did Option to Kill inspire you to do anything?

Put it down!

Any additional comments?

n/a

Love this series

2nd book by this author I have listened too on audio book both were really good books I look forward to reading more by this author. I enjoyed the narrator

For all that happened, It was very slow!

I really enjoyed the prior Nathan McBride books but this one was really tedious. I think it was more the performance than the storyline. The story features a 12 year old girl who is kidnapped in the beginning and McBride rescues her. She is with him the rest of the story and, while she is supposed to be 12 she comes across more like she is 6 or 7 most of the time. Dick Hill does a terrible job with the female character's voices, , but his little girl voice is the worst. I cringed whenever the character was speaking.

The plot is complex and has some interesting parts; however, I think saddling McBride with a very whinny child really slows down the action. I will listen to the next installment in the series but I sure hope its better than this one.

A perfect combination

What did you love best about Option to Kill?

I couldn't wait for the next Nathan McBride book. The only downside was that I couldn't stop listening ... And it was over all to soon ... And now I am waiting again!

It didn't disappoint. If possible it just keeps getting better. Great characters, both old and new - I LOVE both Nathan and Harv, Stone and Granger. And Jin and Lauren are great adds. Fantastic detail, intriguing yet plausible plots. Love the series!

Have you listened to any of Dick Hill’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to many Dick Hill narrations. In fact, searching by his name is how I discovered Andrew Peterson - and other authors who would soon become favorites. He is my favorite narrator, who is especially talented at defining each character with tone, cadence and attitude which both perfectly fits the character, brings them to life, and helps the story flow easily.

This is another excellent narration.