The Scribe

A Novel

De: Matthew Guinn

Narrado por: Lloyd James

A reckoning with the persistence of evil in post-Civil War Atlanta. After leaving Atlanta in disgrace three years before, detective Thomas Canby is called back to the city on the eve of Atlanta's 1881 International Cotton Exposition to partner with Atlanta's first African American police officer, Cyrus Underwood. The case they're assigned is chilling: a serial murderer who seems to be violently targeting Atlanta's wealthiest black entrepreneurs. The killer's method is both strange and unusually gruesome. On each victim's mutilated body is inscribed a letter of the alphabet, beginning with "M." The oligarchy of Atlanta's most prominent white businessmen - the same men who ran Canby out of town, known more openly before Reconstruction as "the Ring" - is anxious to solve the murders before they lose the money they've invested in both the exposition and the city's industrialization, even if resolution comes at the expense of justice. After Canby's arrival the murders become increasingly disturbing and unpredictable, and his interference threatens to send the investigation spinning off in the wrong direction. As the toll of innocent victims rises, Canby must face down enduring racism and his own prejudices to see clearly the source of these bloody crimes. Meanwhile, if he can restore his reputation, he might win back the woman he loves. With scrupulous attention to historical detail, Edgar Award finalist Matthew Guinn draws listeners into a vortex of tense, atmospheric storytelling, confronting the sins and fears of both old South and new.

©2015 Matthew Guinn (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Enjoyed

The story was interesting, thoughtful, and disturbing all wrapped into one package. The narrator was great and did an amazing job of the multiple characters

History and mystery perfectly combined.

Loved the travel back in time. Really put the reader in the time of reconstruction.

Worth the buy

The story was original. It kept my interest and the pace of it was like that of a movie. I was surprisingly pleased as I selected the book on a whim. Naturally, I think this would be great in a visual medium. The narrator also did a good job voicing the various characters. This was also a plus. I give it a 4.5 only as I don't fancy antebellum/reconstruction South stories BUT this author told a good story that I cared about the plot & characters. Worth the buy/listen.

By The Numbers

Largely by the numbers, though I've read worse. Narrator was fine, though some of his accents were a bit overly stereotypical. [AUDIBLE]

Loved the historical aspect, not the story

Would you try another book from Matthew Guinn and/or Lloyd James?

I don't think so. Maybe it was me but I found little about the characters to be interesting. I liked the setting, post civil war, but thought the characters were one dimensional. Also, facts were thrown in as if I was suppose to know them from somewhere else.

What could Matthew Guinn have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Developed the characters. I didn't know them very well, so when one is killed I didn't care much

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

I hope not