The Panther

By: Nelson DeMille

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 21 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Nelson DeMille returns with another heart-pounding John Corey thriller—this time including Corey’s FBI agent wife Kate Mayfield...and their mission is to catch an elusive terrorist mastermind before he catches them.

Anti-terrorist Task Force agent John Corey and his wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield, have been posted overseas to Sana'a, Yemen—one of the most dangerous places in the Middle East. While there, they will be working with a small team to track down one of the masterminds behind the USS Cole bombing: A high-ranking Al Qaeda operative known as The Panther. Ruthless and elusive, he's wanted for multiple terrorist acts and murders—and the US Government is determined to bring him down, no matter the cost. As latecomers to a deadly game, John and Kate don't know the rules, the players, or the score. What they do know is that there is more to their assignment than meets the eye—and that the hunters are about to become the hunted.

Filled with breathtaking plot turns and told in John Corey's inimitable voice, The Panther is a brilliant depiction of one of the most treacherous countries in the world and raises disturbing questions about whether we can ever know who our enemies—or our allies—really are.

©2012 Nelson DeMille (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Exciting Nelson DeMille novel with great narration

Would you consider the audio edition of The Panther to be better than the print version?

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator did a great job of giving the characters personalities. I enjoyed John Corey's off the cuff one liners and the narrator's delivery was excellent.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot was very exciting. I really felt like I was in the story. The authors descriptions of the characters and the settings were detailed enough to create a compelling story but not too much.

Which scene was your favorite?

The penultimate chapter where the group tracks down the Panther and the final encounter between John and the Panther is fantastic.

Any additional comments?

Great entertainment!

If you enjoyed the Lion hunt...

Great suspense and a look into challenges of the war on terror as it plays out behind the headlines and the troops. John and Kate are sent to Yemen to catch an American-born al-Qaida player known as The Panther. The intrigue however is not limited to corrupt Yemini forces, warlords and al-Qaida. There maybe forces at work more powerful and deadly than The Panther or his suicide fanatics. John Corey is his usual smart-mouthed, wise-cracking self. And Scott Brick delivers a wonderful performance as usual.

Great Story, weak performance...

What did you love best about The Panther?

The storyline was very compelling. I enjoy pretty much every Nelson DeMille novel, as he writes such involved plots, forcing you to be sharp to keep up.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the pairing of John Corey and Paul Brenner. I hope these two team up again, soon.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Scott Brick?

I did NOT like Scott's performance on this one. He was trying to give John a New York Accent, but it was spotty at best. And in an annoying way. I don't even know what accent he was trying to impart.... sounded Brooklyn with a mix of Boston and Mid-west. Very confusing. I will say he did great with the Middle Eastern accents. I have liked other Scott Brick performances, notably as Aloysius Pendergast. In that series, he does a commendable New Orleans accent. But this particular performance left me annoyed and unhappy.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Way too long for that!

Any additional comments?

Yes... While I find John Corey an interesting character, Nelson DeMille had too heavy a hand with the sarcasm, facetiousness and general smart-ass commentary the mark John Corey's character. It was distracting in many cases to hear smart-ass comments in rapid succession. And the OVER use of the word "right" sometimes 4 times in a 15-minute section of the book... well, I nearly stopped listening. The John Corey of this book would have been justifiably shot by Kate by the second chapter, and no jury in the world would convict her. Once the action got started (which was WAY too late in the story for my tastes) the sarcasm, etc. was used sparsely. I think a good editor could have saved a couple hours off the reading of this book by cutting the "right" and sarcasm, etc. down to more normal levels.

Not as good as others

At times I get sick of the main character's obnoxious mouth and attitude and find myself rooting for the bad guy.

AWESOME BOOK

I couldnt stop listening, love John Corey's humor. great narrator, great story, a GREAT book !

Not Up to DeMille Standards

Let me begin by saying that I like Nelson DeMille. If you've read the Lion books, where Corey's sense of humor was rather amusing, you will soon find him entirely annoying, predictable and (by the end of the book) absolutely intolerable. I kept hoping his "straight man" wife would just shoot him. What ever you do, don't buy the unabridged version! The abridged version is much shorter. As usual, Scott Brick was great. In fact, I bought the book thinking: "Its Scott Brick, what could be the problem?" Now I know.

Great story, only made greater by Mr. Scott Brick

What did you love best about The Panther?

Unique combination of a spy thriller combined with first rate humor. Scott Brick delivers an excellent narration to a very interesting story with enough plot twists to make you avoid pushing he stop/pause button.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Unexpected twists and plan changes.

Which scene was your favorite?

John's jokes & sarcasm - priceless. Actually made me laugh out loud on a number of occasions... no spy book has ever done so before.

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

Yemen, Bedouin & Excrement Shaft - a Spy Thriller

Any additional comments?

Great book, great narration, my first John Corey novel, definitely not my last.

Slooow

Would you try another book from Nelson DeMille and/or Scott Brick?

Disappointing sequel to one of our favorite DeMille books. Not much happens until the end, and it's a LONG wait, with fairly tiresome conversation, until something finally occurs. Too little, too late.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is a terrific narrator, and he makes the best of a bad situation, but he can't make the story shorter, and he can't create action that doesn't exist.

Do you think The Panther needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, enough!

bob

If you could sum up The Panther in three words, what would they be?

intrigue exciting funny

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes always twists and turns that were unexpected

Which scene was your favorite?

the whole book was awesome

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

no

Any additional comments?

worth every penny the mix of john kate and paul were perfect

Not up to DeMilles standard

Would you try another book from Nelson DeMille and/or Scott Brick?

I buy Scott Brick

Would you recommend The Panther to your friends? Why or why not?

Panther is OK but was disappointed in the book as to me it jumped around for no good reason≥ I have all of DeMilles books on audible. Will not jump at the next DeMille book will let the reviews post then make up my mind. Up Country got me hooked on this writer. Hopefully the next one will be as good as Up Country .