The Most Dangerous Thing

By: Laura Lippman

Narrated by: Linda Emond

Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Some secrets can’t be kept. . . .

Years ago, they were all the best of friends. But as time passed and circumstances changed, they grew apart, became adults with families of their own, and began to forget about the past—and the terrible lie they all shared. But now Gordon, the youngest and wildest of the five, has died and the others are thrown together for the first time in years. And then the revelations start. Could their long-ago lie be the reason for their troubles today? Each one of these old friends has to wonder if their secret has been discovered—and if someone within the circle is out to destroy them.

©2011 Laura Lippman (P)2011 HarperCollinsPublishers

Narrator is perfect

The narrator and the story are amazing. I love all Laura Lippman books. Never wanted it to end.

Mixed feelings

I liked this story and I like the way it was told, but I was confused with the mixture of first and third person usage. The narrator keeps referring to "we, but is never identified.

How did this get published?

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I cannot imagine how this book was published or is on anyone's best seller list. Must be people buying it like I did, because it was on the list. Worst book ever. I'm more than half thru it and still nothing is happening. What was this book supposed to be about?

Has The Most Dangerous Thing turned you off from other books in this genre?

It has no point or story.

Would you be willing to try another one of Linda Emond’s performances?

no

Could you see The Most Dangerous Thing being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I cannot imagine any producer being interested in this as a book. Maybe a tv movie for Fox.

Obvious Agenda From a Mile Away...

I typically enjoy nearly everything Laura Lippman writes, and consider her one of my favorite authors in the genre (which I guess would most conveniently fit into the “psychological mystery/thriller” genre). In fact, one of the reasons I enjoy her so much is because I feel her writing really elevates the genre. There is real character development and beautifully crafted prose in her novels, which is rare in this style, with its’ tendency to focus on plot and plot alone. And she doesn’t skimp in this area either; a well-paced plot and a surprise or two is always in store in a Lippman novel. Except here. I saw this one coming from a mile away, and sadly I have to say that not only is it obvious, it also gives in to certain PC “rules” we seem to have to follow in all forms of entertainment these days. SPOILER ALERT: OF COURSE Chicken George did nothing wrong, and OF COURSE the white Catholic priest did. OF COURSE the educated, classy and principled Doctor was a liberal Democrat, sickened by Reagan’s election AND Chicken George’s fate and OF COURSE the undereducated, crass, blue-collar “working man” is Pro-Reagan and had no problem with what happened to Chicken George. Lippman seems to let her own politics and prejudices creep into this one, and that REALLY turned me off, not because my politics are different necessarily, but because I read fiction in part to escape these types of polarizing characterizations of people. Because of it, I knew what was going to be the outcome of the tale within a few chapters. I would expect that such a talented writer and observer of human behavior wouldn’t buy into such obvious reductionist stereotypes, let alone try to sell them to me. Lippman has and can do better than this. I suggest Sunburn or After I’m Gone to observe her at the height of her story-telling powers. This one, aside from the glorious Linda Edmond, is a major letdown...

Needs a Cast of Characters

Very good listen, just overcrowded with characters without context and with those random figures who seem to appear out of nowhere. Well, it's not really "nowhere" but I listen while doing other things, so that may explain my need to consciously sort out all these figures. If I am not vigilant, the rogue person or two may suddenly start walking across the novel's "stage", and I'll have to rewind.

Excellent work, though, and I recommend using a photographic memory to track those occasional random character placements.

But the ending ....

Really enjoyed this story except for one part of the ending where I didn't agree with the way something was resolved - but that's ok since it really isn't a perfect world after all. :)

If you're in a bind with no other options this is

What would have made The Most Dangerous Thing better?

I found myself not caring much about any of the charectors. It seemed to me that none of them ever fully developed. There were several random story lines that took away from the main story. The random story lines were pretty much wrapped up but didn't add to the main story.

Don't waste 10 hours!

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

I listened to 10 hours of this book waiting for something to happen and nothing ever did. I quite listening so maybe something did happen but I felt cheated. I can't imagine what that title refers to. Most dangerous thing is that the characters were all crazy or dysfunctional.

What was most disappointing about Laura Lippman’s story?

Nothing ever happened.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Most Dangerous Thing?

chapters 1-40

I forced myself to finish it

This book wasn???t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

No one I could spend any time with.

What was most disappointing about Laura Lippman???s story?

I have never missed one of her books - really enjoyed them all. This running at the mouth what ever is just so dreary and predictable.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Linda Emond?

Nothing wrong with the narrator - It is like being inside of the head of someone that never had an interesting thought.

What character would you cut from The Most Dangerous Thing?

there isn't enough story or even any depth to the characters

Very disappointing - don't spend the money

I think I have read all of Lippman's novels and enjoyed them all. This is boring - I suppose the characters are well done but then there is very little to hold ones interest. The event that occurred while the main characters were children just isn't written well enough to be shocking.
I really hate spending money with Audible to find the novel is hopeless. At least if one uses the library for an audio book, it can be returned. If you buy the audible book and dislike it - you can give it to someone else who may like it. But with Audible, the cost is just GONE.
I am beginning to re-think the money I spend with Audible.