Roadside Crosses

A Kathryn Dance Novel

By: Jeffery Deaver

Narrated by: Michele Pawk

Length: 14 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

The Monterey Peninsula is rocked when a killer begins to leave roadside crosses beside local highways -- not in memoriam, but as announcements of his intention to kill. And to kill in particularly horrific and efficient ways: using the personal details about the victims that they've carelessly posted in blogs and on social networking websites.

The case lands on the desk of Kathryn Dance, the California Bureau of Investigation's foremost kinesics -- body language-expert. She and Deputy Michael O'Neil follow the leads to Travis Brigham, a troubled teenager whose role in a fatal car accident has inspired vicious attacks against him on a popular blog, The Chilton Report.

As the investigation progresses, Travis vanishes. Using techniques he learned as a brilliant participant in MMORPGs, Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, he easily eludes his pursuers and continues to track his victims, some of whom Kathryn is able to save, some not. Among the obstacles Kathryn must hurdle are politicians from Sacramento, paranoid parents and the blogger himself, James Chilton, whose belief in the importance of blogging and the new media threatens to derail the case and potentially Dance's career. It is this threat that causes Dance to take desperate and risky measures...

In signature Jeffery Deaver style, Roadside Crosses is filled with dozens of plot twists, cliff-hangers and heartrending personal subplots. It is also a searing look at the accountability of blogging and life in the online world. Roadside Crosses is the third in Deaver's best-selling High-Tech Thriller Trilogy, along with The Blue Nowhere and The Broken Window.

Please note: Part three of this audiobook consists of The Blue Nowhere.

©2009 Jeffrey Deaver (P)2009 Simon & Schuster

Enjoyable

I'm glad I didn't read the other reviews here before I bought the book because I might have changed my mind about getting it. I really enjoyed the book. Although I can't say it was outstanding, it was entertaining. The extra book was a surprise though. I'm only an hour into it and I'm a bit bored. I don't care for the constant defining of every computer term that comes up. I'm glad to hear this one isn't up to Deaver's normal high standards. That makes me definitely want to go back and buy some of his previous novels.

Good, but not 20 hours!

Typical Deaver book--the writing isn't fantastic but the plot is fun and always leaves you guessing.

I was really disappointed, though, that the last six hours of the book was an abridged version of The Blue Nowhere (which I've already read).

Anyway, it's a fun listen, but ignore the third part of the download.

Loved the story

While I got exactly what I expected from the story itself, I, too, was disappointed that the "20" hours was really only about a third of that. Audible needs to put a very visible disclaimer on this listing. "The Blue Nowhere" was written ages ago and I already have that one. Glad I found out before I downloaded "Roadside Crosses Part 3" so I didn't waste my time... I still would have bought "Roadside Crosses" if the listing had said something like "Includes a bonus recording of "The Blue Nowhere", abridged, 6 hours."

frustrating

spent a large part of the book chasing a suspect no one had seen and there was no evidence against. he was never alleged or suspected...just the kid who DID it. guilty or not, it is bad form.
I'm disappointed in the Katherine Dance series, though I'll probably listen to them all anyway.

Another Deaver Winner

If you liked "The Blue Nowhere" or "The Broken Window" by Deaver then downloading this book is a no brainer. It has all the elements he puts together so well in his books with the surprises at the end. It is well thought out, well researched, in depth, not too long, and well... what else can I say? It is a good book to listen to. When I downloaded it, the book came in three parts. I did not realize it at the time, but part three is the abridged version of "The Blue Nowhere" so you get 2 for the price of one if it is still offered on Audible. Both books are well worth reading.

Well Done hey me guessing

Enjoyed it and also learned about the world if computer games / life and blogs.

Fast-paced, entertaining, but unsatisfying mystery

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

I'm not sure. It's an easy listen, but the resolution left me unsatisfied. Part of the fun of a mystery is being given the clues to solve it. This didn't happen here. Too much information is given after the fact -- a la Scooby Doo.

Would you be willing to try another book from Jeffery Deaver? Why or why not?

Probably, but it will be dependent on good reviews.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The voices of the teenagers were a little too childish.

Any additional comments?

Frankly, the book could've used a rewrite to deal with structural problems. There were twists and turns but, as mentioned above, not enough clues dropped throughout the narrative to make the big reveal satisfying.

Okay....but not 20 hours and not Deaver's best

I enjoyed the fact that Deaver wrote a novel specifically for Katherine Dance, but warning those of you who chose books for length and author, this book is about 12 hours long with an abridged copy of "The Blue Nowhere" tacked onto the end as "part 3".
Don't get me wrong, "The Blue Nowehere" was a good book and it shows a progression in computers but a.) I hate abridged books and b.) When I am going on a trip I sometimes choose a book from my wishlist based as much on length as on topic or author. Shame on you audible for at least not warning me.

Passes the Time, BUT....

I found this book and the bonus that follows rather average. It was entertaining enough that I didn't stop listening, but did not find it as engrossing as some of the better audiobooks on Audible. I've truly enjoyed Deaver's work in the past, so was caught off guard by the **yawn** content. If I were an editor and this was a first effort, not even sure I'd publish this story that never makes the reader care much about the characters. If you're in for a long commute or otherwise need diversion, it will do. If you're hoping for great, gripping prose or intellectual stim -- nope!

Great read!

I love the characters. They are well developed and I cared about them. Would highly recommend.