Whip Crack

DCI Kett Crime Thrillers, Book 4

By: Alex Smith

Narrated by: Tim Bruce

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Every time you hear his voice, another child will die.

DCI Robert Kett’s family may be whole again, but he is a broken man.

Suspended from duty, he takes his girls out of the city for a much-needed holiday on the Norfolk Coast.

Instead of the peace he desperately needs, however, Kett finds a community in chaos. Four teenagers are missing, and time is running out before they meet a horrific fate.

Kett must follow a deadly trail of clues left by the man who took them, the only person who knows where they are.

There’s only one problem.

The kidnapper is already dead.

The most gripping installment yet in one of the hottest new crime series of the year, perfect for fans of JD Kirk, LJ Ross, Val McDermid, and Ian Rankin.

Alex Smith wrote his first book when he was six. It wasn’t particularly good, but it did have some supernatural monsters in it. His latest books, the DCI Robert Kett thrillers, have monsters in them too, although these monsters are very human, and all the more terrifying for it.

In between, he has published 12 novels for children and teenagers under his full name, Alexander Gordon Smith - including the number one best-selling series Escape from Furnace, which is loved by millions worldwide and is soon to become a motion picture. He lives in Norwich with his wife and three young daughters.

©2020 Alex Smith (P)2022 Alex Smith

5

The publisher's blurb lured me into trying out this one. It is so well plotted and written that time flew by as I listened. The narrator does such a fine job! Worth a credit :-)

Not Enough

I have listened to every book with DCI Kitt. Yes at first the kids seem annoying, but then they are kids and you get use to them they make up so much of it the books. I cannot continue unless the books are audible. If I can't listen then I miss so much, narration is a big part of making this series special. Children are so often part of real mysteries life offers, just reading doesn't capture the attention like hearing a child's voice. Please Mr. Smith continue narration with this series. I truly applaud all the narrator's.

Phenomenal Seriea!

DCI Kett and his Band of Brothers continue a winning streak! He has the heart of a true policeman and does his best to get his man (or woman). I especially enjoy the description of the areas of England he finds himself working in. I was jealous of a certain appliance mentioned at the end, as I have been searching far and wide for one with no success. You'll have to read the story to see what it is:) Can't wait for the next read!

3.5 stars for Whip Crack, all previous 5 stars

I love this series. The character development of Kett and his love for his family are told beautifully. Same with his partners, his wife and girls. There's mystery, humor ("I've got to have a poo, Daddy!"), and interesting twists. The villain in the last book—just the idea of him of him filled me with dread. Evil, disgusting, hateful,and definitely different. All of Smith's antagonists have been.

I love that the Kett's police colleagues refrain from constant profanity, cleverly disguised by their adopting Kett's "budge-offs" and "fudging" as a ploy to protect his toddler Moira's ears while having to be in tow his first few days.

I only did 3 stars, 3.5 actually, because the story was so bleak, the idea of teenagers doing what they did out of total boredom. As a Christian, that was hard for me to stomach.
Also, because after all Kett had been through, it seemed like his self-harm, allowing himself to be beat up so badly when he had so much to look forward to, seemed a little too hard to believe, even after the last book (5 stars from me).

Still, Alex Smith has an amazing talent, and I look forward to his next DCI Kett book. Would love to see something involving the daughter's autism. Or, family PTSD recovery, maybe with EMDR. But I shudder over what s coming!

As far as the narrator is concerned, Tim Bruce's is perfect. One of the best I've heard. Right up there with Roy Porter, David Thorpe, Luke Daniels, Zach Villa and Gildart Jackson.

Great series!

I have loved this series! The relationships between Robbie and his family as well as the bonds between him and his work colleagues just add to the suspenseful story lines. His daughters are hilarious- nice amount of comic relief! Can’t wait until the next book!

Excellent so far, BUT---and A BIG BUT

NOTE: I have 4 hours left but don't know if I can stand it:
Why all the swearing?? F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F , and others. It's ridiculous. From everyone.

Alex Smith is an extremely talented author but he adds so much swearing that it throws off the whole book. And this is the worst one so far in the series. Hardly anything about Kett's family, just investigation and swears. Hardly anything so far about Billie after an extrordinary rescue

Narration was awesome--but I am surprised at how many narrators would lower themselves to speak like this. No story NEEDS it!!! 3 stars off for that. Why do authors do this?????? I don't want to pay to hear the F-bombs, said with all sorts of different expressions, in my ear, hundrends of times. Makes the characters sound stupid too.