The First Deadly Sin

By: Lawrence Sanders

Narrated by: Marc Vietor

Length: 24 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

One of the most popular suspense novels of all time. A well-dressed man stalks the high-class neighborhoods of New York City. He is armed with an ice axe. His victims are strangers. And one cop, Captain Ed Delaney must solve a series of bizarre, gruesome murders that defy logic or method. This shocking story has captured the imaginations of millions like no other modern thriller.

Prolong the suspense: follow the further crime-solving career of Edward X. Delaney.

©1973 Lawrence Sanders (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Breathtakingly exciting." ( Rolling Stone)

Taste must have changed

Would you try another book from Lawrence Sanders and/or Marc Vietor?

I read this series 2 decades ago and really enjoyed it. Tried listening again to this one but couldn't get past the first 2 hours. The couple was just so awful! I never got as far as Lt. Delaney's involvement. The initial sadism was just too much so I quit. I have gotten the Second Deadly Sin but I can't decide whether to even start it! The reader was fine...not the problem. Probably shouldn't review it at all, not having finished it, but the early part of this is not for the squeamish.

Beware, Outdated = Offensive

Other reviewers have made a point of this story being old fashioned, reminding us that it was written in the early 1970's, but nevertheless I did not understand what I was going to hear.
This book is very homophobic and chauvinistic.
It also has a central hero with a disturbingly paternalistic & self righteous 'I am right, therefore anything I do is right' mindset, his (not so)ethical decisions making it difficult to empathise with him on any level.
I urge you to think twice before buying this book. The graphic homophobia alone made me sick enough that I had to stop the book and leave it for a month before trying to finish it. Completing the book was a challenging but eye opening experience. If this is really what society was like in 1972 I take my hat off to everyone that worked so hard to change it, because it was AWFUL in 1972.
As for the 'story' its ok. Not the worst but definitely not the best, there are plenty of books out there that are of the same or better quality, but without the offensive point of view.

No mystery and no thrills

The narrator had me wondering if, at some point, he was going to ask if if switching insurance companies could save me money..."does a bear defecate in the woods?" I'm sure you know the commercials.

Everything in this book seemed to be lost by about two decades. Maybe the author placing a homburg on Delany's head was to show that he was also willing a bit of a bad guy, because it seems to me that by the 70's fedoras and homburgs were generally out of fashion for most. Wardrobe aside, the majority of it seemed better suited to the 50's or earlier not the 70's.

Delany was a terribly contradictory character: He seemed (to me) either dumb as stump or able to make brilliant connections with few pieces of information. He was willing to go very far outside the law to get the bad guy and still be concerned with a desk cop properly answering the phone, professional appearance, and so on. Compassionate enough to visit murder victim's families and then ruthless enough to yell at and degrade a widow when she wouldn't help. Delany seemed like a manipulated character in a story, not a cop that worked within the fictional world; he didn't seem "real".

Finally, the regular alcohol consumption by the police was just plain silly. Out on a stake out? Have some brandy, Working the investigation? Have beer from the well stocked fridge, otherwise have coffee. Met up with another police chief? He's carrying about a case of beer in his patrol car, so dig in fellas while we wait! I really don't understand what the author was trying for.

There's no mystery here: You know who the killer is and you know who is going to get him. There are no particularly exciting moments. It was merely dragging through Delany's investigation, and enduring the author's description of ham fisted or limp wristed characters. I finished this only because I wanted to see how the author would force the closure of the investigation.

Just Terrible

Any additional comments?

I have been listening for 18 years. This is the first time I have felt a need to write a review.
This was just terrible. Can't say any more. I endured the whole 24 hours, could not wait for it to be over. It is too bad, as I usually enjoy his work.

Not worth the credit !!!

What would have made The First Deadly Sin better?

Finding out what the story was about. I Listened for more than 2 hours and still don't have any idea what the book is about.

What could Lawrence Sanders have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

In the first chapter he could give some idea of what the plot of the book is.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

nothing,

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

disappointment, I wasted 2 hours & a credit.

Any additional comments?

This is the first book, out of several hundred that I gave up on.

Be prepared

This isn’t the story I thought it would be. Possibly my mistake. But the complete backstory practically becomes pedophile. Save your money. . I gave up on it.

Boring!

Would you try another book from Lawrence Sanders and/or Marc Vietor?

I listened to this book for hours waiting for something to happen. Finally, after three hours (approx) I gave up. I couldn't take it.

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

I was very disappointed to have wasted my money on this book.

Very, very boring

I suppose this book was written when books were written slowly, around 1700 or so. I listen to it because I have paid for it, and knit and think instead.

Suspense, Where Art Thou?!

This Book Is Dated

Would you try another book from Lawrence Sanders and/or Marc Vietor?

No. I read this book (or saw the movie, maybe both--can't remember) when it was first published. It is definitely dated. I had forgotten the plot and all the characters. But the progression of the plot is obvious after thirty minutes, and the repetition is deadly. Don't waste your time or book credits. I skipped entire sections, listened to the last several minutes. Rent the video if you're interested. At least you'd get to see a "tough" Frank Sinatra.

What could Lawrence Sanders have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Edited it more thoroughly, avoided so much repetition.

Which character – as performed by Marc Vietor – was your favorite?

None of them, in fact.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The First Deadly Sin?

This would take too long to answer. (Descriptions of the two villains, particularly the female; too many visits to a hospital room are just two.)

not one of his best.

What disappointed you about The First Deadly Sin?

the fascination of the main character.

What could Lawrence Sanders have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

nothing.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Marc Vietor?

yes.

What character would you cut from The First Deadly Sin?

the freak. lol

Any additional comments?

i thought i had read this book in the 80s and enjoyed it.