Veronica Mars: The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line

By: Rob Thomas, Jennifer Graham

Narrated by: Kristen Bell

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

From Rob Thomas, the creator of the television series and movie phenomenon Veronica Mars, comes the first audiobook in a thrilling mystery series that picks up where the feature film left off.

Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime, and corruption. She’s traded in her law degree for her old private-investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case.

Now, it’s spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied weeklong rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is no simple missing person case; the house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon, Veronica is plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica’s past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined.

In Veronica Mars, Rob Thomas has created a groundbreaking female detective who’s part Phillip Marlowe, part Nancy Drew, and all snark. With its sharp plot and clever twists, The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line will keep you guessing until the very last moment.

©2014 Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham (P)2014 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

Praise for the television series Veronica Mars

A Time, Entertainment Weekly, and Salon Best Show of the Year

"Nancy Drew meets Philip Marlowe, and the result is pure nitro." (Stephen King)

"Best. Show. Ever. Seriously, I've never gotten more wrapped up in a show I wasn't making, and maybe even more than those.... These guys know what they're doing on a level that intimidates me. It's the Harry Potter of shows." (Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy and writer/director of Marvel's The Avengers)

Veronica, I'd missed you

Great storytelling and narration. If you are a fan of the series you will love the chance to follow Veronica on a new Noir-ish case. If you have never seen the show but enjoy the genre, you will enjoy this as well.
The only thing that I wish was different is that I wish the story was told from the first person narrative- from Veronica's point of view. I think the writers really missed an opportunity there to use Veronica's very distinctive voice to tell the story, rather than us just looking on from a distance.
The story brings back a lot of our favorite and most familiar characters, although none as well developed or voiced. The book suffers from the lack of scenes with Logan, and really needed more Keith (my favorite character).

marshmallow approved!

Love this series and this book doesn't disappoint. Only one thing would have made it better, if Enrico Colantoni would have done Keith Mars along with Kristen Bell. Hope to see more books come out so I can get them all!

Great book

Loved tho characters and the story. Reader was very good, also! Enjoyed the twists at the end!!

Veronica Mars delivers again

This a fantastic story as told by Veronica Mars herself. Takes you back to before Season 4 of the show. Great book, kept you guessing until the end.

keep. 'em coming!

that's it Ronica Morris was my favorite TV show when it was on. Great writing great characters great performances. I have missed this. And Rob Thomas this is just the beginning of what you owe me for the Netflix season. Especially that last episode. So keep them coming. I'll let you know when you redeemed


by the way, I see there are two more books in the series but... It's not Veronica Mars without Kristen Bell. You get her to reread those and I'll buy them. Till then no cigar. There are no substitutes

Veronica Mars novel as good as TV series

If you're a fan of the Veroncia Mars series, then you'll love The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line. The book feels exactly like watching an episode of the series and hearing Kristen Bell narrate and read lines as Veronica only adds to the familiarity. Bell also does spot on impersonations of her co-stars as she reads their lines. This book is filled with compelling mystery and a few twists that you don't see coming. Whether you're a long time fan or someone who wants a new story to sink you're teeth into, The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line is for you.

Thank you Kristen!

Enjoyed this book 100% gave me the Veronica Mars fix I needed with the added bonus of Kristen Bell narrating; it was the best part! Highly recommend.

A perfect tie in to the new series on Hulu.

I wondered if there was something I was missing, as I started watching the continuation of Veronica Mars on Hulu. Now, I understand it more and I am on the second book. I only wish that Kristen Bell narrated that one too, but I imagine she was busy with the new series.

There are parts of this book (and the next) that make me go "So that is what happened to... " And that is all I will say about that. I just loved to listen to Kristen read the character that made her famous.

Great job by writer and voice acting. A MUST READ for all Veronica Mars fans.

I swear I SQUEEEEED. :)

Wishing for more!

I loved this book, and Kristen's performance was absolutely perfect. If I can't have more episodes or another movie or mini-series or something, I would love to see Rob Thomas continue to publish books and Kristen continue to read them. I mean, the second book wasn't read by Kristen and that changes everything.

Give me more Marshmallows!

Where does Veronica Mars rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have 500+ audiobooks with the whole range: SF, fantasy, YA, fiction, humor, romance, classics, mysteries. You get it. This falls in the top 5%.

We are not talking Nobel prize in literature but dang it's a Rockin great way to but a gut.

The TV show was something that brought me comfort and I could watch it over and over. It was like the weather in Seattle. If you don't like the mystery, humor, witty banter, gumshoe storyline, then just wait 10 minutes and you will be served something new.

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

Yes it kept me on the edge of my seat. There were lots of twists ands turns that all tie into the storyline. The supporting cast give you snappy jokes but also feed you hints.

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

Ahh Ms Bell brings snarky to sarcasm like no one else does. I can't imagine another narrator portraying Veronica Mars besides her. She also does an outstanding job with the other voices wether male or female.

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

The part that got me was when Wallace picked Veronica up after her neck gets cut and she leans on his shoulder. She says a good friend is one that lets you be vulnerable while not being weak. Or something to that effect.

Any additional comments?

Veronica rocks- Audible please buy more?