The Chopin Manuscript

A Serial Thriller

By: Lee Child, David Corbett, Joseph Finder, Jim Fusilli, John Gilstrap, James Grady, David Hewson, P. J. Parrish, Jeffery Deaver

Narrated by: Alfred Molina

Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

15 thriller masters. 1 masterful thriller.

Former war crimes investigator Harold Middleton possesses a previously unknown score by Frederic Chopin. But he is unaware that, locked within its handwritten notes, lies a secret that now threatens the lives of thousands of Americans. As he races from Poland to America to uncover the mystery of the manuscript, Middleton will be accused of murder, pursued by federal agents, and targeted by assassins. But the greatest threat will come from a shadowy figure out of his past: the man known only as Faust.

The Chopin Manuscript is a unique collaboration by 15 of the world's greatest thriller writers. Jeffery Deaver conceived the characters and set the plot in motion; the other authors each wrote a chapter in turn. Deaver then completed what he started, bringing The Chopin Manuscript to its explosive conclusion.

The Chopin Manuscript was written by:
Jeffery Deaver (Lincoln Rhyme series)
David Hewson (Nic Costa series)
James Grady (Six Days of the Condor)
S. J. Rozan (Bill Smith/Lydia Chin series)
Erica Spindler (Last Known Victim)
John Ramsey Miller (Winter Massey series)
David Corbett (Blood of Paradise)
John Gilstrap (Scott Free)
Joseph Finder (Power Play)
Jim Fusilli (Terry Orr series)
Peter Spiegelman (John March series)
Ralph Pezzullo (Jawbreaker)
Lisa Scottoline (Daddy's Girl)
P.J. Parrish (Louis Kincaid, Joe Frye series)
Lee Child (Jack Reacher series)

©2007 International Thriller Writers, Inc., Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, David Hewson, James Grady, S. J. Rozan, Erica Spindler, John Ramsey Miller, David Corbett, John Gilstrap, Joseph Finder, Jim Fusilli, Peter Spiegelman, Ralph Pezzullo, Lisa Scottoline, and P. J. Parrish (P)2007 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• 2008 Audie Award Winner
  Audiobook of the Year

"Innovative and unique, The Chopin Manuscript, written by masters in the field of thrillers, is far more than the sum of its parts. Here each author shines, blending individual skill and energy, into a riveting, crackling-paced tapestry of murder, mystery, and mayhem. Not to be missed!" (James Rollins, author of The Judas Strain)

"A GREAT story, written by one GREAT author after another, in one GREAT chapter after another. A stellar achievement of collectivity that blows from the starting gate at 100 mph and never slows down. A thrill-a-page from 15 GREAT thriller masters. Don't miss this one." (Steve Berry, author of The Venetian Betrayal)

exceptional

loved it.great writers working as one, glad the narrator remained the same or I don't believe it would have been engrossing. very well done. I am looking forward to the next one.

A really good read

Any additional comments?

I've listened to hundreds of books on Audible- most of them very good. This is the first time I have felt compelled to write a review. The narration was terrific and the idea that each mystery writer was embellishing on the story was inspired. It was fast paced and suspenseful and I'm looking forward to listening to the next one! Really fun!

Suprises to the end.

With so many authors, it is hard to believe that such a cohesive and engaging story. This book keeps you guessing until the end and the authors seemed to challenge each other by twisting the expected storyline into completely unforeseen directions.

Three and a half Stars

The plot was a bit choppy and the characters a little undeveloped but that is expected when a dozen different writers, write a chapter each.

Even though I thought the book was simple and shallow I still liked the general direction the book went. Not all book have to be deep and involved, sometimes I like a little fluff.

The main reason I listened to this book is the writing experiment with so many different writers, many of whom I have not read before. The narrator did a fine job, good voice, infection and tone, and had different voices for each character.

If they did this again I would probably listen again.

Great!!!

I am not usually a "thriller" purchaser. The idea of all these writers intrigued me. It was great. Grabbed me from the very beginning. The idea of all these different minds threading their way through this really really good story. Great job in every area; writing, narration, production. Thank you everyone. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Chopin Manuscript Collection

I am sure many find the methods each author used to tie their own version in order to create a plot interesting, however I wished I had not had to pay for the privilege of their indulgence. I found the overall concept tedious, not intriguing.

I want my six hours back

I passed this book up when it first came out but decided to give it a chance when it showed up as a Daily Deal. As they say, sometimes the first impressions are the right ones.

This is a gimmick book. A single (incoherent) plot fleshed out by multiple authors with shallow characters, too many chapter cliff-hangers and last minute saves, a downbeat tone throughout and a feeling at the end that I was glad that I had finally finished and could move onto something more valuable and worth while.

If the book had one saving grace it was that the last hour or so is not the story itself but is an interview that I could skip with a clear conscience so the best surprise in the book is that it is actually about an hour shorter than its total length and I am grateful for small favors. On the other hand it is well narrated, although that seems like small consolation.

Amazingly coherent

I thought the story was quite coherent and flowed together well despite so many authors. I enjoyed the different twists and turns taken by each author and how each chapter ended with a cliffhanger and then the next author took the story in a different direction. Despite that, things did come together more and more as it went on, to be skillfully woven together at the end by the original author. I did not enjoy the narrator as much, Alfred Molina. While he's a fine actor, I found he did not vary his voice enough with the different characters for me to be able to tell who was talking at which time. I have heard other narrators of Audible books do a better job at varying their voice so you can distinguish between the characters in a conversation and know which one is talking.

Clever

Knowing a different writer extends the story chapter by chapter there is an added delight in listening to the story and imagining where you might take the narrative. It ties together in a clever and layered way with a richness in character and subplots I was not expecting. An experiment that came off brilliantly.

Rushed

I have to agree with petret99 that this seemed a bit disjointed. Many authors made the story move in unexpected ways. The ending seemed rushed - like a TV show that is at the end of the hour and must be concluded.