• The Gentlemen's Hour

  • A Novel
  • By: Don Winslow
  • Narrated by: Holter Graham
  • Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,393 ratings)

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The Gentlemen's Hour  By  cover art

The Gentlemen's Hour

By: Don Winslow
Narrated by: Holter Graham
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Publisher's summary

Laid back, ultra–California cool, the former cop turned PI begins each day with the Dawn Patrol, a close-knit group of surfers, best friends who not only ride waves together but have one another's backs out of the water. It's the life Boone loves, all he wants. To him, "There's no such thing as a bad day at the beach." So when one of their own is murdered - especially an icon like Kelly Kuhio, a local hero - and another surfer, a young punk from the Rockpile Crew, stands accused, the small world of Pacific Beach is rocked to its core.

Boone knows he can no longer ignore the painful truth that violence is seeping into the surfing community. But when he agrees to help the defense, the outrage he courts from the community, and the Dawn Patrol, is more than he ever anticipated. He's risking losing the relationships that define his life - just when he needs them most.

As Boone digs deeper into San Diego's murkier side, delving into places the city's reputation-conscious establishment would rather he left alone, it becomes clear that more than a murder case is at stake. He soon finds himself out there alone, struggling to stay afloat as the waves get rougher and rougher... and more deadly. It's The Gentlemen's Hour - and it could be Boone's last.

©2011 Don Winslow (P)2011 Simon & Schuster Audio

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What listeners say about The Gentlemen's Hour

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Where is Ray Porter When You Need Him?

After listening to The Dawn Patrol narrated by Ray Porter (THE GREATEST NARRATOR EVER) what a let-down to have this flat narration for The Gentlemen's Hour. Please Oh Please Mr. Winslow, only let Ray do justice to your great writing!

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26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good Story, luke warm narration

Would you listen to The Gentlemen's Hour again? Why?

Good character development, great story.

What did you like best about this story?

The ending. I hope Winslow will continue this series.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

This was a serious error. Don't fix what ain't broke. Ray Parker is a master vocalist. I can't say the same thing for this Narrator.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Hang Twelve to the MAX.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

How Many Don Winslows are There?

This 'surfer as Renaissance Man' is charming and well constructed and more than a tad goofy, but a fun read. Can this be the same author that penned Isle of Joy?? Isle is linked to the non-fictive world of the Kennedy's and the politics and intrigues of the time. A novel that inspires thought and more than a hint of recognition. G's Hour, on the other hand, is a playful romp laced with inane surfer linguistics that had me chuckling throughout. Both these books are prime starting points for a compelling series. Winslow's writing skills continue to improve exponentially and I guess there's more $ in surfer quest than historical sleuthing. In either event, the writing skill is present in abundance. More, Mr Winslow (sic), MORE!

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Zen on the waves

This book is one of the best Don Winslow has ever done. Boon and the Dawn Patrol are at odds in this work and it was slightly depressing. However, the vast majority of this book is both relaxing and entertaining. The world Don paints is Point Break meets Noir and it's pulled off flawlessly. The characters are all original and well thought out. Throughout this novel I found myself longing for the beach and a care free life of surfing.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Violence on the beach is very uncool

San Diego Surf Noir, Take Two.

I'm enough of a Don Winslow fan after The Power of the Dog and The Cartel to seek after al of Winslow books's. There is a cost and a benefit of going back to read earlier books of an author you admire.

Cost: The books, invariably, are a bit weaker. This is usually the case. Writers grow, develop, and yes they too eventually slump. But this one follows the typical arc of a writer's carrer. This isn't top-shelf Don Winslow. Some of the characters are almost silly. The stories are a bit too neat and symetrical. So, you end up being a bit disappointed when viewing an author backwards. Try reading Mardi after reading Moby-Dick. I dare you. It is still writen by Herman Melville, but it ends up being a bit of a let down.

Benefit: You get to see early seeds of things that will eventually grow and mature in the author's later, greater novels. These are like recognizing waves that will eventually be surfable. You also recognize that not every novel has to be perfect to be enjoyable. I like Winslow as a writer and as a person.* I enjoy reading his early stuff because it gives me a better, more rounded, view of his later work. So despite the criticisms here and there, it still helps.

The Gentlemen's Hour is part two of the Winslow's Boone Daniel series (read The Dawn Patrol first). It follows the adventures of Boone Daniel, surfing P.I. and his band of surfing brothers (The Dawn Patrol), and yes sisters, as they deal with the friction of shifting loyalties, visions and ethics of life. It was Sprite, not gin, and went down easy. Some days, you just want a Sprite.

* I think he is generous with other writers and very approachable to his fans.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Each Winslow listen is better than the last

Though Holter Graham isn't the Winslow narrator I'm accustomed t hearing narrate Winslows excellent novels, he did a very good job with Gentlemens Hour.

I think it was helpful that I'd listened to several other Winslow surfing novels and had become familiar with the cast of characters, though this isn't part of the series, it does connect tangentially with them and gives a bit of conclusion to the series that isn't introduced directly in that group of novels.

Recommended for west coasters, those who are surfing wanna-bees or actual former surfers like myself though it's been 40years since I've been on a board...not much surfing off the Oregon part of the Pacific Ocean, those interested in the history of the lifestyle or just good mysteries/romances with excellent writing.

Highly recommended.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

I really enjoyed this book, the story and performance were outstanding. I look forward to more Boone Daniels.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

not quite as good as Dawn Patrol

but still pretty good. funny and good story with good characters and a laid back SoCal attitude. hope the author continues the series

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Surfers' view of SoCal marred by ending.

Winslow is a terrific writer, whose characters are interesting and quirky. His plots build tension, involve complex interweaving of seemingly distinct story lines, and provide insightful commentary on different subcultures of America. His hero here, Boone Daniels (get it?) is the rare honest man, a kind of modern philosopher encased in a jock's body. Like Neal Carey in "A Cool Breeze on the Underground," he is far more intelligent and well-read than his lifestyle would suggest. He has the ability to get inside people's heads and figure out what drives them, leading to analyses and insights that others miss, especially the police. Yet he acts totally irrationally at times and, were he not Superman, would have been killed long ago. This clashes with his oft-referenced sophisticated experience as a surfer, both in his interactions with other surfers and his respect for the ocean and its fickle waves and currents. Such a person isn't likely to survive as a P.I. Like "Cool Breeze," this story has an unbelievable ending. It is as if Wyatt Earp went to the O.K. Corral without first arranging for his two brothers and Doc Halliday to accompany him.
As for the narrator, he did well, especially with the difficult challenge of imitating a British woman.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I missed Ray Porter

Ray Porter’s characterizations were fabulous and part of why o wanted to read book 2. Was disappointed with the lack of characterization in book two. Sometimes it was just too whining. Wouldn’t stop me from listening because I like the characters but having just finished book 1, I immediately downloaded book 2 and was shocked by a different voice.

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3 people found this helpful