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)

I cant stop listening to this one. Its unique.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

A bunch of regular people find them selves bonding with the neighbors you usually smile and wave to ...in order to solve a sequence of little creepy events in a story that is like one of those dreams you wake up trying to remember...

What other book might you compare 14 to and why?

Coma by Robin Cook

Which scene was your favorite?

the bit I am not up to yet

I can't wait for another Clines' book!

This was another fantastic job by both Peter Clines and Ray Porter; I believe I have fully developed a crush on both of them; a literary crush on Clines, and a passionate love of Porter’s voice. Nate moves into a new apartment which is in a historical landmark, the Kavach Building. He soon discovers strange things about the building, including locked apartments and, green cockroaches with an extra leg. When he starts meeting his neighbor, each one has something strange they've noticed about their apartments as well. But once they start to investigate, they may uncover something that should remain uncovered.

While I’m pretty confident that this book is a stand alone, I can’t help but notice subtle hints towards Clines’ other books (cockroaches), like “The Fold” (I know this came out first, but bare with me) but I won’t list other similarities because anything more than that would give too much away.

This wasn’t as fantastical as his other books; it stayed in the “real world” most of the time which made it more relatable, in my option. Nate’s character was fantastic and well developed, (I’d be the Velma to his Shaggy any day) and I felt close to all of the characters, they really pulled me in. I felt like I was a part of their as they unfolded the mystery of the

It took me a long time to write this review because I enjoyed the book so much, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to do justice with my review. I think this is worth the credit, and at some point, I think I’m going to have to listen to it again, it was really great.

From Captivating to Huh?!?

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The end is just a little strange. I would make the ending very different.

Would you be willing to try another book from Peter Clines? Why or why not?

I don't think he is the author for me. A little too far out Science Fiction to keep me entertained.

Which character – as performed by Ray Porter – was your favorite?

Zelah was great! Ray has a knack for capturing personalities of women which is unusual for a male narrator.

Could you see 14 being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I could see it in a movie. Although it would be more of a 3 part movie. It doesn't have enough substance to be a TV series. The stars would be Keanu Reeves and Zelah could be Megan Fox.

Yeah Right

Author has little concept of real human emotions. Kinda of hybrid of "Friends" and H.P. Lovecraft.

Great start

Started out real well, but feel like it went off the rails around Chapter 53.

Great story, lots of holes

Some spoilers. In many ways the first two thirds of the book were a wonderful journey of building friendships and of discovery. However the last third of the book took off like a lightning bolt and seemed to cut many shortcuts to get to a conclusion.
Ray Porter was a genius in this. Great use a voice and inflection to communicate many things not in the written word.
My only wish would be that the book would go back and be retold and fill in missing blocks such as how was the key discovered. What purpose were the seven legged cockroaches to the story? Why did the government choose to hide the existence of the apartment in this way? What was the purpose of the dimensionality of distance? I could see it playing stronger roll if the alien creature was suddenly on top of them. That never happened.
it was a good enough book that I'm sure I will listen to it again at some point in the future.

Great narrator, fun story, but some weak points

What did you love best about 14?

The characters were all well developed and you couldn't help but love them all, and the Scooby Do references were hilarious! The concept was unique and I was captivated by it!

If you’ve listened to books by Peter Clines before, how does this one compare?

This is my first Peter Clines book. I picked it based on reviews.

What about Ray Porter’s performance did you like?

I really loved Ray's narration! As many other people said, his narration was excellent and made the story even better! I loved all of his different intonations and accents (especially Veek (sp?) and Tim). Each character had it's own personality and he did a great job with the women's roles too! I would definitely love to read another story by this narrator and hope he does many more!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I don't know what the tag line would be, but if done right, it has the foundation of a good movie. However there are some things that should be tightened up if it went into a script form...some things that are just not plausible or practical in the story line that make the reader say, "why didn't they just do this or that?" I found myself frustrated with the "that just doesn't make sense" moments, like, for example, how "Lock Management" stays uninvolved until the very end and just lets these people mess around with everything to the point where they almost destroy the world, without ever stepping in to take control of the situation. (I just find it hard to believe that there was no hidden surveillance and constant monitoring of the "machine" by Lock so that nobody accidentally flips a switch.)

Any additional comments?

Overall a fun read, and worth the credits even though the ending was frustrating because the obvious solution was a little too drawn out (to obviously build the suspense) and for the reasons I stated earlier about there being too many illogical holes in it. The main reason to read this book is because it's got a unique premise, some great humor, and the characters are excellently narrated!

Oh my 14!

An awesome mix of Sherlock Holmes, Scooby-Doo, Lovecraft and Stranger things. There's always a mystery to keep you guessing and a satisfying solution to blow your mind. Great characters, storyline and narration. I want more more more, my previous, my hunger, my feed! Eat eat eat!

Thin Story, Mildly Entertaining

This felt not so much like a novel but a long treatment for a proposed television series, ala something from the JJ Abrams universe.

The story was interesting, but there weren't any early hooks in the first part of the book that would make me want to care about what happened. Perhaps an early partial reveal would have helped but would have been, by far, much better, was an investment in character development. I don't care about what happens to any of these characters. I don't know their back stories, and so, I don't care. We're given caricatures, instead of actual characters: the underachieving lead, the former secretive CIA type, the nerdy woman of Indian decent... these and the others are all two dimensional, but they didn't have to be.

As for the story itself, yes, it is somewhat entertaining, but it's only carried forward by narration and dialogue. And, while the dialogue can be witty and fun sometimes, it's not enough to carry this story in a form that would make me want to care about it.

But, I've heard worse, and this by far is not that. If you want a brainless candy bar, then this could be your next book. And,there is nothing wrong with brainless candy bars. You just don't want to eat them as your sole sustenance. Such is, I guess, this book.

14 is a 15!

I listen as I run, and I can simply say that I put extra miles in the week I listened to this story. It was a fun plot with characters I came to know and enjoy (Porter did a fine job of narration).

Was the story believable? Well, only if I suspend reality. Did I learn lessons for life? Thankfully not at all.

But what fun in a completely impossible adventure that 'everyday' (strange but everyday) people find themselves in. The plot was new and fresh, it was not easy to predict, well written, and just the right tone of real in an unreal plot.

So if you take it for what it is -- a fun listen -- I think you'll discover 14 is a 15.