The Accounting

By: William Lashner

Narrated by: Eric G. Dove

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Jon Willing was just a teenager when he and his buddies Augie and Ben stole a fortune in drug money. Brazen with youth and stoned out of their gourds, they thought they had the perfect plan for getting away with it.

They were wrong.

Twenty-five years later, Jon’s marriage is in ruins, his kids are virtual strangers, and the recession has decimated his finances. When he finds Augie murdered in Vegas, Jon knows his past has risen from the grave to grab him by the throat. Now Jon Willing faces a choice: run to a paradise of wine and women and endless sunshine or confront the demons from his past and fight for what’s left of his imperfect suburban life. But is it a life worth fighting for? Hurry and decide, Jon, because the piper is coming, and he always gets paid.

©2013 William Lashner (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Surprising

Any additional comments?

This book was better than I thought it would be. I started it once and soon stopped because I thought it was just going to be about a guy running from the mob. Much later I tried it again and stuck with it long enough to discover that it was full of surprises. It really got me thinking about the high cost of something for nothing. I wound up really liking the book which was a nice surprise.

Fast paced action

Hiding from the mistakes of your past for 25 years, while you try to build a new life. How's that working out for you?

This adrenaline rush of a book had me from the beginning and never let go. It was more action-y than I typically read, and it would probably make a good film if I liked action films. (I don't.) I almost never knew what was going to happen next, and it always took a turn I didn't expect but was believable in context.

This was a 99 cent Kindle deal of the day, and it took me over a year to get to it. After I started it, I bought the audiobook so I didn't have to stop reading. I'm going to have to take a closer look at my stockpile.

The way it held my attention brings it close to five stars. I look forward to reading more William Lashner books.

I couldn't put this down

This novel grabbed me from the start. I found myself really caring about the protagonist, who narrated the story. He's a middle-aged guy who made a mistake as a teen which continues to haunt him and his family. I was engaged with his present and past life, and was surprised with how much I loved this story. It was heading towards a 5 star review for me, but the exciting, action-packed climax did disappoint me, feeling like something I have read in so many thrillers. The mystery and characters drew me in, but the end just went for the action. Still, I strongly recommend this 4.5 star novel.

Wow! Clever, funny, high drama. A great listen!

I listen to three books per month while I drive, mostly in the the mystery/thriller genre. This is a new author
and narrator for me.
This is my second of this author. Both books are completely unique, clever, have surprising twists, and keep your interest to the end.
While I'm waiting for the next Lucas Davenport, Gabriel Alon, and Gray Man thrillers, this author will have my attention.

Love the descriptive language!

Clever plot with amazing descriptive language. One of my favorites: “ She had skin as supple as jerky.”

Twenty five year old caper

Twenty-five years ago three young men made a decision that would forever change their lives. Now some old debts are to be paid back the hard way. Thugs and the mob are coming out of the woodwork now that some old rumors are being revisited surrounding a million dollar heist. Friends are not to be trusted and enemies may just save the day before all is said and done. A fast paced well written story topped off with good narration.

Not Lashner's best. I need a likable protagonist.

This is the third or fourth book of Mr. Lashner's that I have read, Mr. Dove does a workmanlike job of narrating. The story is well covered by the other reviewers. My problem with the book, and also with a couple of his other works, is that Mr. Lashner has trouble creating a main character who is likable, and with whom we can identify. John Moretti/Willing is a frustrating combination of a decent man caught up in a nasty mistake of a generation ago, with the putz who keeps choosing the money that he and his buds have stolen over the wife and children whom he abandons, fundamentally because the money is more important to him than the family that he has created, including a wife whom he once loved unconditionally. She keeps offering him a chance to breach the profound distance that has developed between them, as J.J. is so focussed on the pressure of the secret that he holds. He might try trusting her for a change. She is his partner, after all, and his two kids are likewise feeling alienated by his secrecy, and his need to spend time concocting ways to protect the secret and plan his caribbean getaway. Are we narcissistic enough? This behavior is a fatal flaw in the character. He casts it as preserving the secret in order to protect his family, but that is self-serving. The life he wants is to be sailing around the islands of the Caribbean, boffing every native girl he sees, drinking as much as he can, and generally living the life of Margaritaville. Shallow, no? If you had $425,000 tax-free, wouldn't your ambitions be a bit more grown up? Wouldn't you want to do something worthwhile? Not J.J. He runs scared from the motorcycle gang whose money it is, from drug sales, of course. When they kill Augie, one of the three guys who stole the filthy lucre in the beginning, J.J. runs even faster and even more scared. The key problem with the book is that one doesn't identify in any way with J.J. or either of his buddies, and the biker gang of course contains some revolting characters, guys who slit people's throats for money that they "earned" by peddling meth to anyone who wanted it. Who to root for in this clash of thieves? As the legal eagles say, a pox on both of their houses. And as is the case with the large majority of books like this, the humor peters out after the first act, and we are left with hearing about seriously unattractive people with no redeeming virtues, not even a sense of humor. I lost interest in them somewhere during Act II. I could not care less about how this ends. Save your money or credit for something that is more worth your time and resources.

Narrator was great.. Story, not so much..

The story started was just a little preachy and wordy. Had too many irrelevant details and characters. The narrator did a fantastic job though with allllllllllllllllll the (unnecessary) characters. I really enjoyed the the narrator.

Awesome read.

This was a great listen and well worth the price. Great storyline, great characters and great narration.

Good story told poorly.

I really liked this story. The author has a great imagination for plot lines. However, the writing left a little to be desired. Rough transitions, some poorly crafted characters, and lines that were so corny I was rather amazed to read them. The narrator was not my favorite, either. Just felt as if he were going through the motions...didn't really "get it". That being said, I did find myself quite enjoying the book. The story was good enough, and kept me guessing enough that this was a good experience listening to this book. Go figure.