Spencerville

By: Nelson DeMille

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 21 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Back from the Cold War, intelligence officer Keith Landry returns to his hometown of Spencerville, Ohio. Twenty-five years after their last encounter, Keith runs into his first love, Annie, now unhappily married to the town's chief of police - an abusive alcoholic. In his efforts to reclaim Annie, Keith will have to draw on all the skills of a violent lifetime.

©1995 Nelson DeMille (P)2010 Hachette Audio

To many 'close calls' the ending drags

I listen to this book back in the mid 90's. First time for a DeMille novel. I remember think that the ending went on-and-on, with impossible scenarios. But I couldn't remember the details, have liked much of DeMille over the years so I bought it to listen again. A word of advise, if you chose to listen to this one, don't judge DeMille by this book. While he seems to have included every possible narrow escape and chance scenario (to the point you are just wishing for someone, anyone to die ad end it all) his future books are much better. Maybe this was an experiment of character development, slot to sub plots and of course chase scenes. DeMille learn that less is more, keep it simple and make the story believable. While the story needs to be exciting, when to far fetched (as it is here) you find yourself saying ... boy I couldn't see that coming (sarcasm)

I think if it was any other writer I have given up and returned it. Fortunately DeMille does a good job of telling the story and creating interesting people.

Overall, I gave it a 3 cause it is OK, the performance is good, the story is somewhere between a 2 & 3.

riveting

this book was amazing and the narrator was fantastic. the story just left you wanting more and I absolutely loved the ending!

Another Home Run by DeMille and Brick

Yet another great book/performance by Nelson DeMIlle and Scott Brick - my favorite audiobook duo. I had a number of issues with my book though, it kept freezing and repeating and refused to download later chapters. My device would say chapter xx was playing but it was really chapter xy. Took quite a bit of time and multiple re-downloads before I got through the whole thing.
A real pain in the butt but (ha ha) worth it.

Excellent story

One of his better stories. I recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed any of his other books.

Good

I enjoyed a lot listening to this book, however, SPOILER ALERT, the last part with Annie and Baxter in the mountains indicated a disproportionate Annie, as she was brave and almost killed him in the beginning and allowed him to drag her to hell towards the end. Also, Cliff's character was a bit exagerated and some parts of the book a little too long than needed, with explanations and dialogs.
The writer evolved a lot during the years and decades following this book release, I love many of his books, specially the John Corey series. I highly recommend Nelson DeMille.

Good Story Line,however

I was expecting more from this book than I got. It moves rather slowly even though the plot is a good one. My biggest objection is the dialogs between Keith and Annie. Their conversations at times sound like they are still in High School. With Keith hints are dropped of his world travels and spy craft but he talks like a High School Junior. Cliff comes on as this real mean tough guy and drops the "F" Bomb every other sentence. I am a Scott Brick fan but he really dropped the ball on this one by making Keith sound like a whimp. After reading "The Gold Coast" and it's sequal I wanted the same experience with this one and it just did not deliever.

Laborious Sadistic infatuation

This story flows like molasses in wintertime. Painfully slow. This is only surpassed with what appears as the author’s infatuation with the sadistic Cliff Baxter. Way over done. Not worth your money.

Not my favorite DeMille

Of all the ND books I've read and listened to, this is my least favourite. It was just too predictable, and some of the scenes were drawn out far too long. Most significant, any real-life woman as strong and intelligent as Annie is purported to be would never be as unaffected by such a long-standing abusive relationship as Annie is here.

That said, I continue to like Scott Brick as a reader. But even he couldn't rescue a doomed plot and story line.

like not so much

disappointing, predictable,slow,boring at times
painful, pitiful, did I say boring, no substance,did not like it

Satisfying as ever

A bit of a departure for DeMille, but a satisfying love story full of danger and suspense. Enjoyed it thoroughly.