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)

Silly but a really fun ride!

Where does 14 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's hard for me to rank it among all my listens, but I enjoyed it a good deal

What did you like best about this story?

It was quite suspenseful, so much so that during a tense part, my cat jumped onto the table and I jumped about six feet.

What about Ray Porter’s performance did you like?

Porter did an excellent job with the narration. I thought his reading of the Indian girl's accent would get tiresome, but it didn't. It was easy to distinguish among the male characters with the different voices he did, and the foreign accents were very well done.

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

Yes! I couldn't stop listening!

Any additional comments?

This is not great literature by any means, but if you want a good suspense thriller, I highly recommend it. It's a combination horror/thriller/sci-fi genre, and if I had known the sci-fi angle I would probably have skipped it, but I'm so glad I didn't. Great listen for the beach or a long drive; the story kept me very much engaged and on the edge of my seat.

A fun Roller Coaster

Any additional comments?

I suppose if you constantly read the sci-fi genre this book could be considered predictable. However as a newcomer or occasional dabbler in the sci-fi game it keeps the reader on seat’s edge. I agree that the character development was lengthy, but worth it as you grow to care about the whole cast once the action begins. The mystery unfolded like your backyard woods did as a child. It was a fun read, had to stay up late to finish because I was so invested in the outcome.

Loved It!

Would you consider the audio edition of 14 to be better than the print version?

I always enjoy audiobooks more.

What was one of the most memorable moments of 14?

I really liked the characters and the little family that they built together.

Which scene was your favorite?

Entering the basement.

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

It took me about a week.

Loved it!

Which scene was your favorite?

Too many to specifically name one.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were parts where I gasped or laughed out loud.

Any additional comments?

I loved all the characters and almost felt like I lived in the building with them. The story is great, narrator is great. You can't go wrong choosing this book.

Good then weird

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book: characters are fun, mystery is believable.... But then the book gets too over-the-top-creepy and not believable and it lost me. Overall fun read though

Fantastic Book

As another reviewer mentioned, I came into '14' with no expectations and very little idea of the storyline. I bought it based on the reviews and the short description provided by the Publisher. The book was a blast from beginning to end. Story was sharp and the read/listen was never dull. The L.A. of the book could not have been more right-on. The dialogue was snappy and witty, and throughout I was amazed at how natural it sounded. The reader was amazing, one of the best I have ever heard. Don't miss out on this one, it is a wild ride.

So much more than I expected.

Would you consider the audio edition of 14 to be better than the print version?

I really don't know since I have not read the print version. I do know the first hour was a struggle to get through both in story and narration. However, after that I really got wrapped up in the different voices, they do sometime blur, but over I feel that narration really helped to lend to the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of 14?

There are quite a few but nothing I can say withoout giving away storyline.

Have you listened to any of Ray Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to Ray Porter before but I would consider listening to him again.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were definitely some suspenseful and sad moments where you are pulling for the characters. I would not say that any one emotion was extreme though.

Any additional comments?

I was really suprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I would even read it again. Do yourself a favor and get through the first hour!

Incredibly entertaining

Where does 14 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10

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

As far as I'm concerned, Ray Porter is the best narrator out there. He has a way of bringing a book to life in a way that others can not. I do searches specifically for books he has narrated.

Any additional comments?

I love books and drive about 1k miles a week. As a result, Audible has been a godsend for me. I've gone through 102 books over the past 3 years. Although I'm a big nonfiction history fan I do occasionally go to fiction. I chose this book specifically because Ray Porter is the narrator. The story is a sci-fi / horror. Is it realistic, of course not, a little far fetched even for sci-if, sure. But I'm not looking for "realistic" make believe. The book has suspense, action, twists, but most importantly it is incredibly entertaining. At the end of the day, I'm looking for something that grabs my attention, keeps me entertained and if I find my self sitting in my driveway for an hour because I "need" to hear more, I think the author and narrator have done their job, which is exactly why I rated this book 5 stars.

Another great book

I do not like science fiction but loved this book so much I got the fold next. I liked this one more than the fold but they were great books

Part Tales of the City, part Scooby Doo with a bit

Any additional comments?

Part Tales of the City, part Scooby Doo with a bit of John Dies in the End...how could you not like a book like this. Very different.