• The Most Dangerous Thing

  • By: Laura Lippman
  • Narrated by: Linda Emond
  • Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
  • 3.7 out of 5 stars (285 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Most Dangerous Thing  By  cover art

The Most Dangerous Thing

By: Laura Lippman
Narrated by: Linda Emond
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.19

Buy for $25.19

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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

What listeners say about The Most Dangerous Thing

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    72
  • 4 Stars
    97
  • 3 Stars
    78
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    15
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    82
  • 4 Stars
    93
  • 3 Stars
    39
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    6
Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    61
  • 4 Stars
    71
  • 3 Stars
    64
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    16

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Listen

The story moved fast and I really had no trouble keeping up with the characters. The book was above average but had some serious flaws with narration at times. There was a bit of a mystery element which made it fun and kept it moving. Some plot points never came to a resolution which is a bit frustrating but all in all worth a credit.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

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

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

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

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

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

First rate Laura Lippman

Not a Tess Monaghan novel, but I think that this is one of Lippman's best. Plot, narration were all well done.

My one complaint was listening to the book, I sometimes got confused by who was telling which part of the narrative. There was an omniscient fifth child who kept appearing, as though she were narrating the film of the events.

Lippman does a wonderful job of capturing mid-70's Baltimore and Linda Emond is a true gem of a a narrator and actress. I hope that she doesn't get so popular that she no longer has time to narrate Lippman's books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

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

The Most Dangerous Thing

I have to admit that I am disappointed by this novel. Sometimes, Laura Lippman can be right on, and most of her novels I have listened to on audio book, are great but honestly, this was a let down. I got into the whole thing about it kind of being like "The Big Chill" with friends getting together after the death of a friend in their circle. It could have been a great story line but it was just so boring. The narrator however was very good and the only reason I didn't just delete it from my iPod and move on to something else. It just falls flat there is no suspense and no thrill. If you must pick a book by her, I suggest "What the dead know" that was really good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

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

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

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

Go, Go-Go, Go

This is why I love Laura Lippman and Linda Emond together. Descriptive story with some of the strongest narration narration around. My favorite, and for some reason most lasting image is the preparation for the Priest's arrival to tea. I could literally picture every hair, the cake, the kitchen and the smell of the place.
This one was outstanding.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

oddly disturbing book

the characters in this book are well portrayed for their self-centered interests. a bothersome book that leaves you feeling tainted by the events

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

Catholic/Baltimore Move OVER fiction novel

Laura Lippman - thought this was going to be a Tess Monahan who done it - not- but once I gave it a second chance and just listened - realized - harsh reality - ethic truths ended up loving it and well do not want to ruin the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful