Rogue Island

By: Bruce DeSilva

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman, Bruce DeSilva - introduction

Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Liam Mulligan is as old school as a newspaper man gets. His beat is Providence, Rhode Island, and he knows every street and alley. He knows the priests and prostitutes, the cops and street thugs. He knows the mobsters and politicians - who are pretty much one and the same. Someone is systematically burning down the neighborhood Mulligan grew up in, people he knows and loves are perishing in the flames, and the public is on the verge of panic. With the police looking for answers in all the wrong places, and with the whole city of Providence on his back, Mulligan must find the hand that strikes the match.

BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction written and read by author Bruce DeSilva.

©2010 Bruce DeSilva (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Edgar Award, Best First Novel, 2011
• Macavity Award, Best First Mystery Novel, 2011

"This tremendously entertaining crime novel is definitely one of the best of the year." (Booklist)

"The smallest state bursts with crime, corruption, wisecracks, and neo-noir atmosphere in Bruce DeSilva's blistering debut." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Rogue Island 'has raised the bar for all books of its kind.'" (The Dallas Morning News)

Classic Crime and Corruption in Rhode-Rogue Island

Any additional comments?

First let me mention the excellent, no, outstanding skills of the narrator who not only did gender differences well, but created the characters so distinctly you could see them. For a Californian, it was an introduction into an unknown culture: extreme East Coast, and in another way, a level
of society I ordinarily wouldn't choose.

Liam Mulligan is a tall, cigar smoking, good looking investigative reporter who thinks he's in good shape, with an avid fanship for the Red Sox, quick and frequent sense of humor, bulldog tenacity, loyalty, deep caring sense of family, place, & friendship, who loves enough about his life to carry him through the challenging job of finding out the truth about things and taking the consequences of revealing it. I wish I had him here to help me write this so you'll find it interesting, too.

The story is about a series of residential conflagrations powerful enough to rapidly incinerate
a whole house, including, horribly and sadly, the occupants, by the time the firetrucks arrive. He senses the story,and, knowing the police are either hamstrung, too slow or just poor detectives, does his own investigation, all the way to the end.

Perfectly interwoven is the hilarious harassment by his soon to be divorced wife, the Red Sox game series, a love affair, the fate of friends in the Fire Department, the hard handed and "Dumb and Dumber" police twins, his office mates,the demise of printed journalism, dinner at favorite various joints,the surprise friendship with Mason, son of the latest investor trying to save the newspaper, the corruption in high places, crime in low places, and interactions with numerous others who create a whole, pulsing, living small town, where Mulligan can greet people on the street because he knows them and they've known him since he's been a kid.

It IS a really good story, and is true to its' culture. It was actually an inoculation for me, being something of a goody two shoes, but I just didn't quite like the ending,as I need more happiness, but which really spoke to the courage of the hero, who can take consequences with big enough heart to be sad, but not really give up hope.

Lived the story

I lived in Little Rhody for a few decades so I loved hearing the accents. DeSilva is mostly accurate including the neighborhoodS and street names. The story was a little predictable as I knew why the arson was taking place after the first fire which was disappointing. But I enjoyed the characters so much I over looked that element of the story. Those characters were rather real. I didn’t see the last betrayal coming so that was an interesting twist. Overall I enjoyed the story and narration.

it took me a little whiie

Once I got into it, I enjoyed it. Good story. Not outstanding writing but fine

Engaging

The characters are engaging, the setting (Rhode Island) a bit unusual and therefore interesting, the dialogue intelligent & full of wit. I hope to hear more of this author's work.

Thoroughly Enjoyed!

As one who comes from Rhode Island, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characterizations by the author. How true! I was thrilled the narrator got the RI accent down pat.

Give this one a try!

I really like this fast-moving, interesting story! Crime, law, journalism and Rhode Island politics and mob life all mixed together to make a great read. LOVED the narrators, and found the characters to be well developed for the most part. This is a book worthy of your time if you love a good mystery story.

Okay

Semi okay story but kinda predictable hope the series gets better. Like the references to Rhode Island and providence ri

Good Reporter Based Mystery

What made the experience of listening to Rogue Island the most enjoyable?

The narrator really made the book. The voice work sounded like what I imagined the character would sound like with the right accent and expression. He made the story seem real. He made some small parts that I thought seemed dumb more funny instead. I felt like I knew the main character by the end due to the character development and the performance.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Well, yes and no, it's a slower build then some books, but it is like a piece of music, you don't want to be blasted in the face all the time with powerful waves. It did seem much more mild than some others I have read, but it also didn't make me disgusted or sad when I finished a few hours of listening. I'm a tough audience, since too harsh and I don't like it and too little drama and I'm bored. So a good book, but not as much tension as some.

Which character – as performed by Jeff Woodman and Bruce DeSilva (Introduction) – was your favorite?

The main character was my guy. Very human and rough edges, but a ethical core and believable person.

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

I liked the surprise moments of action that came up all of a sudden.

Any additional comments?

It would have been better with more intense moments. Less silly references to stories and the paper.

good story

What did you love best about Rogue Island?

The ending. Very realistic. in tune with normalcy

What did you like best about this story?

The characters are very real.

Which character – as performed by Jeff Woodman and Bruce DeSilva (Introduction) – was your favorite?

The old guy who he kept going to ask for information

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Good writing

So much fun it should be illegal!

This is my first experience with Bruce DaSilva. The writing is very funny, but it's the narrator who makes it priceless. His various Rhode Island accents are brilliant. I listened to it on the treadmill and I laughed like an idiot. Aidiobooks don't often make me laugh out loud, and I love it when one does. The writing reminds me of the late and very much lamented Donald Westlake. Same cast of looney and slightly demented characters. I will definitely get more of the Mulligan series by DaSilva.