The Crime Writer

Another example of a good idea that wasn't. Hurwitz's story has some interesting twists and turns, and in the hands of a better writer, this one could have been great. I would have loved to have seen what Michael Connelly or Stephen Cannell could have done with it. It shocks me that at the conclusion of the reading, an interview with the author revealed that he had been an essayist before starting a new career in fiction. One would think that an accomplished essayist would not have had to put a simile in every single sentence (or maybe it just seemed that way). After a while, it was nauseating and totally detracted from the story. Memo to writers: WRITE THE STORY AND STOP TRYING SO HARD! A great tale will flow, on its own, and doesn't need verbage describing a bruise over the protagonist's eye as "sprouting broken blood vessels like the hairs on Medusa's head". Ugh. To borrow from Hurwitz's style: like a child oversated on dime-store chocolate who finds he no longer wants his dinner, I won't be going back for more.

I knew I was in trouble when the entire drive home (45 minutes) was spent in an over-wrought description of LA. Yikes. Scott Brick is not the right narrator for this book. There is drama in every single word.
The description reads great, the book doesn't.

This book is depressing even for a crime thriller, the main character just went thud for me despite Scott Brick (and I usually like Brick a lot) and his OVER-narration; he just goes way too far here, it is performance art gone crazy. Unless you love the writer, and even if you do, THINK TWICE.

Mr Hurwitz has now joined Michael Conelly, James Lee Burke, and Vince Flynn as one of my favorite writers. Even though I had a good idea of who the killer was about midway through the book Hurwitz threw so many curve balls at me that I still very surprised and pleased with the ending. This book is definitely worth buying.

This was incredibly enjoyable. Great plot, interesting characters and superb Chandler-esque writing. S Brick, as always does a fabulous job of narration.

A complete joy to listen to from start to finish. As cliched as it might sound, I was hoping the book would never end. One of the best crime-mystery-detective diversions I have heard in a while.

A thoroughly enjoyable book. Full of great characters and very suspenseful.

I like Gregg Hurwitz. He comes up with the most unbelievable plots...but keeps you entertained and hooked. Scott Brick helps sustain the momentum. At the end, yes, the explanation for the mystery proves to be a tad too farfetched, but I don't care. I will keep listening to his novels.

i found this book to be a difficult read. i thought the narration was tedious and the story very implausible and boring. would not recommend.

Fantastic suspense! Wonderful writing and character development. The ending will not disappoint! Great twists.

One of the best books I have listened to or read in many years!