Split Second: An FBI Thriller, Book 15

By: Catherine Coulter

Narrated by: Renee Raudman, Paul Costanzo

Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter returns with another pulse-pounding thriller featuring FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock...

A serial killer is on the loose, and it's up to FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock to bring him down. They soon discover that the killer has blood ties to an infamous and now long-dead monster. Savich and Sherlock are joined by agents Lucy Carlyle and Cooper McKnight, and the chase is on.

At the same time, Agent Carlyle learns from her dying father that her grandfather didn't simply walk away from his family twenty-two years ago: he was, in fact, murdered by his wife, Lucy's grandmother. Determined to find the truth, Lucy moves into her grandmother's Chevy Chase mansion. What she finds, however, is a nightmare. Not only does she discover the truth of what happened all those years ago, but she faces a new mystery, one that has been passed down from mother to daughter for generations.

As the hunt for the serial killer escalates, Savich realizes he's become the killer's focus, and perhaps the next victim. It's up to Lucy to stop this madness before it's too late.

©2011 Catherine Coulter (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Don't waste your time :(

It started off good enough, if you can get past the computer generated voices, but it was so drawn out and unbelievable. The FBI was so lame, they should have all been dead by Part 2. Don't waste your money, move on and try something else.

Shearling jacket, Range Rover, Corvette, Porshe

If you think these are or could be significant elements in aiding any Law Enforcement Officer's search for a killer, this may be your book. SPOILER: No worries for the Porshe lovers, even when chasing a dangerous fleeing serial killer he is careful not to scratch the car.

Three story lines which of course is an interesting concept; the interesting one is given the least definition. At least it wasn't a bodice ripper, just a ridiculous pseudo thriller with a little dash of magic/supernatural nonsense. I enjoy all types of fiction even a little fantasy (Forever, by Pete Hamill great book), but they need to be well done and have context.

Coulter has written some decent escape fiction, but this book doesn't fall into that category. In my opinion there is nothing to recommend the listen, even the narration was strange.

Sensitive to narrators

In Chapt 12 and giving it up. Good story but frustrating narration in general, including the annoyance of what sounds like voice overlays in weird places. Narrator snobs beware.

Don't wate your money.

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Nothing.

What could Catherine Coulter have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Didn't.

How could the performance have been better?

Overacting in parts.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not really.

Any additional comments?

Very poor story line, could not even finish it but tried. Was rolling my eyes in parts.

disappointed

What would have made Split Second: An FBI Thriller better?

if the story were more believable and if the separate themes had some connection. They were totally disconnected and the idea of Ted Bundy's daughter was outlandish and offensive. Bundy was too evil to be given even fictional recognition. Trying to connect the Bundy theme with FBI agent Lucy's theme was not just a stretch, it was a chasm too far to bridge. Lucy's story line alone would have made a compelling tale filled with family intrigue and would have held my full attention

What do you think your next listen will be?

I have loved Catherine Coulter's stories for over 20 years so the disappointment in this book was doubly unhappy. It is unlikely I will listen to one of her books again, especially if I have to pay for it. Maybe from the library where it is free? What happened to her usual excellent writing? Coulter doesn't need a gimmick like the Bundy theme to write a compelling mystery.

What aspect of Renee Raudman and Paul Costanzo ’s performance would you have changed?

It was okay, not outstanding, but very listenable.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment

Any additional comments?

Give up the gimmicks and get back to writing compelling mysteries with Dillon and Sherlock. Develop the characters personality more and rely on the story line to carry the reader through.

Sort of a mediocre TV mini-series

Pretty much a waste of time, but maybe that's why we read books like this.

Author lost site of retaining readers interest

There is no nice way to give this critique- I feel annoyed, frustrated at the hours I wasted - hours and hours of listening to a book seeming to have its own mental breakdown! Why? far too many convoluted plots, unbelievably complicated scenarios, making no sense-
Did an Editor truly read this book before sending to production! I must salute the performers for being able to 'read' the content. This author should have considered writing 3 entirely separate novels or wait, is it 4 or 5 novels? Yep- There are that many "plots"

Not so much

I really love Catherine Coulter's FBI thrillers with Sherlock and Savich. This time, the book didn't flow well and was very complex, confusing and hard to follow. I do not need the voices and accents with the readers and would much rather someone just read it well. I was very disappointed with this book compared to her usual writing style.

So . . . is it okay not to like a best seller?

I've been keeping an occasional eye on Catherine Coulter for years. We share a family name, so her books always grab my attention - but I haven't read romances since I was a teenager. (We're not related - and, for that matter, I'm not related to that other infamous Coulter either.)

When I saw this on Audible, I was excited. I like FBI procedurals. I like a hint of the supernatural and inexplicable, and I've unexpectedly (for a mostly non-fiction reader) become a fan of Preston & Child's Pendergast series. I like the idea of a woman FBI agent, too.

So, I was set to enjoy this book - and I guess my expectations were too high.

What bugged me the most was the sudden leaps of logic, or illogical leaps to conclusions that several of the characters made. I'd be listening along, and all of the sudden would think, "What? Why?"

Some of the characters did some particularly stupid things as well - and I'm not talking about being attracted to an unattainable man, either.

So, I was I was annoyed. Very annoyed.

The Audio performance also annoyed me. The performers themselves were fine, but the problem was that the narration went back and forth between a male voice and female voice. Which, in the case of male or female characters talking worked, but when it came to inner voices and descriptions - it was random.

I really wish I'd had a better experience.