Those Who Wish Me Dead

By: Michael Koryta

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award, Thriller and Suspense, 2015

The newest thriller from Michael Koryta, New York Times best-selling author.

When 13-year-old Jace Wilson witnesses a brutal murder, he's plunged into a new life, issued a false identity and hidden in a wilderness skills program for troubled teens. The plan is to get Jace off the grid while police find the two killers. The result is the start of a nightmare.

The killers, known as the Blackwell Brothers, are slaughtering anyone who gets in their way in a methodical quest to reach him. Now all that remains between them and the boy are Ethan and Allison Serbin, who run the wilderness survival program; Hannah Faber, who occupies a lonely fire lookout tower; and endless miles of desolate Montana mountains.

The clock is ticking, the mountains are burning, and those who wish Jace Wilson dead are no longer far behind.

©2014 Michael Koryta (P)2014 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

" The Prophet is a relentless, heart-in-your-throat thriller about ordinary people caught in the middle of an extraordinary nightmare." (Dennis Lehane)

"Elegantly written...Koryta shows great sensitivity in examining how each brother deals with these parallel tragedies." (Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

"A delicious read, intricately woven, with characters who are impossible to forget. Michael Koyta excites and satisfies on every level." (Elin Hilderbrand)

" Friday Night Lights meets In Cold Blood in this powerful tale...It's a brilliantly paced thriller that keeps its villains at a tantalizing distance, a compelling family portrait, a study in morality that goes beyond the usual black-and-white judgments, and an entertaining spin on classic football fiction. A flawless performance." ( Kirkus, Starred Review)

"Michael Koryta is an amazingly talented writer, and I rank The Prophet as one of the sharpest and superbly plotted crime novels I've read in my life." (Donald Ray Pollock)

Solid thriller - well plotted, details checked

This one surprised me, particularly at the end. I don't like to give away spoilers, and there's already a plot summary so let me just say that it was a carefully crafted novel where all the parts fit together. The twists are all there for you in hints but just when you think you're ahead of them something surprises you and you think "oh, should have seen that coming". To me, that's the sign of a well written thriller.

The setting includes some technical information about outdoors skills and woodland firefighting. I've done a little of the former, and I'm a firefighter (though no so much wildland fires, I have done some training) and I really didn't stumble on any major glaring errors in those areas. That's something that bothers when I read, and it's a good sign when I don't run into them.

Look, it's not Hemmingway, and it's not destined to be a classic, but it is a good story, well told, and carefully plotted. The narration is excellent. It kept me listening even if I got a little tired of the way the brothers spoke. You'll see what I mean.

Kept me cleaning just to listen longer!!

Very engaging, hang on the edge of your seat, can't stop listening story. Some very good twists and turns with interesting characters. Only gave it four stars because he went one "twist" too far that I felt made the story unbelievable and less interesting. Well worth the credit! Can't wait to listen to a few more of his stories!

Amazing Book

I was given a couple book choices for my Freshman Literature Class. I ended up going with this one. And it was a great decision. It's a great book, it's breath taking, emotional and all around a great read.

Difficult for me to engage

Overly dramatic, relies on Deus ex machina and ridiculous plot twists. Distracting details about characters interfere with the storyline and serve no purpose. Continually fiddles with willing suspension of disbelief.

Great work, worth reading

Narration was excellent, especially for the creepy Blackwell brothers. Koryta places his characters in some hopelessly perilous jams. One simply can't look away.

I loved it both times.

I read this when it was first released. It was the title that made me pick it up and introduced me to Michael Koryta. I waited until now to listen. The Audible version is wonderful and had me close to tears at the end. Michael Koryta writes characters I care about, and the "bad guys" in this book are an imaginative masterpiece. Very scary thriller, and I can't wait for the movie.

Loved it.....

This is an amazing book. I could not stop listening. Have tissues ready. Definitely worth a credit

My First Koryta Book

I’m definitely hooked on this author after this book. It’s mainly a formulaic book that centers on protecting a juvenile witness. However, their is plenty of action and character building to keep me interested throughout. It never dragged. The suspense never let up and Petkoff is my new favorite narrator. He’s just brings the words to life. Excellent. Highly recommended.

Narrated

The narrator captured the voices so well. Especially the freaky dialogues between the brothers. In this case, I believe that the narrator made this book. Good job Robert

Plot issues

Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say that there are plot points that are illogical and the more you find out who these characters are, the less it makes sense why they would go out of their way to make the choices they do. (I’m mostly thinking of Jamie).

The narrator does no justice to the female characters. The voices are all the same - breathy and dramatic. That said, their dialogue is also shallow and meaningless.

I’m so disappointed! At least it’s short, so I don’t feel I wasted much time on it.