14

By: Peter Clines

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Science Fiction, 2013

Padlocked doors. Strange light fixtures. Mutant cockroaches.

There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s. Because every room in this old Los Angeles brownstone has a mystery or two. Mysteries that stretch back over a hundred years. Some of them are in plain sight. Some are behind locked doors. And all together these mysteries could mean the end of Nate and his friends. Or the end of everything....

©2012 Peter Clines and Permuted Press (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A riveting apocalyptic mystery in the style of LOST." (Craig DiLouie, author of The Infection and The Killing Floor)

"A wholly original story that weaves together mystery and the apocalypse like a finely tuned band." (Evan Roy, Bricks of the Dead)

Good but jumps the shark in the last 4 hours.

It was going great, then there is an awkward sex scene description no one needed and an absurd decision by the MC that gets people killed. The the rest of the narrative is built around recovering from that dumb decision.

well written, well performed

Cline has a talent in his description of characters and scenes. I felt like I could actually see the story. I "listened" to this book twice. On second listen, I wasn't sure if I had heard it before or finished it, but soon remembered like I had watched it as a movie due to the excellent writing. The performance was good! Really helped define the characters.

Good story and characters

This is a fun fast paced tale of a gateway between universes. The narration is great and the characters were very likeable.

It was great.

It was really really really really great. I mean good grest. I mean great great.

The humorous but audacious interactions

The host of hero’s and naysayers were valid and believable. the only encounter ed monsters were scary and technical mishaps were handled with aplomb.

Would make a great TV series.

I wish a certain character would not have gotten killed. He would been great in a follow up book. Also would have liked to seen Oscar a little bit more developed

Modern Cosmic Horror

This was a good, modern, cosmic horror read that is really easy to get into. The story could have been a bit more elaborate and there are some moments that feel like you are listening to a textbook. Writing style was enjoyable most of the time but it has its moments where it feels like pointless banter but it was still a very enjoyable read for those who are into weird fiction.

Well-written characters

I was really enjoying this until everything went sideways, and then it felt like a major tone/genre shift. Think “Ghost Busters” but losing the humor half-way through. Still can’t go wrong with Ray Porter, though!!

Don't Get Killed By This Place

I won't he promised. Smart women are so damn sexy.

There has been a lot of ranting and raving about this book and the narrator Ray Porter.

The reason is because it is a great book. It starts out really good and you think it is a scary house book, but it is so much more. The book just gets better and better as it goes along. Toward the end of the first downloaded part, I was thinking they are about to solve, this, what are they going to do for the next six hours. Well, they did plenty.

I also like how well the author knows what it is like to be a working stiff. Most of these people are in this apartment because it is cheap and Cline seems to have some real experience on what it is like to live around the poverty level. He understands the dreams and struggles of the working man and woman. There is some good character development in this book.

Ray Porter is excellent.

Check this book out, you will like it.

Sci-Fi Scooby and Friends

Mysterious apartment building with low rent in Los Angeles raises healthy curiousity for young tennants. Sharing freaky details about lights and green cockroaches, the gang and slowly comes together in the shape of the Mystery Bunch, complete with Fred, Daphne, Shaggy and Velma investigating the oddities of their dwelling.

Each character was interesting and relatable with Nate as the reluctant leader trading barbs with Veek, the oober-intelligent hacker. The guys and nudie sunbather, Zela meet on the roof to watch sunsets and share a few frosty beverages. Found myself enjoying the eccentricities of the gang. Narrators did an excellent job for each voice. Fresh take on a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys caper, searching for answers leading them into an other worldly caper.

The mystery unravels into a science fiction (not psychological) thriller. Enjoy.