Bait

I'd never heard of Kenneth Abel, but he sure can spin a yarn. The story of Jack Walsh and his struggles through the Boston Police Department, with his alcoholism and with his family, all ring true. The plot runs all over the place, but never becomes incoherent. The book is entertaining throughout. The mob boss DiAngelo is a very clever man, and the intrigues that swirl around him and his cronies read beautifully; just like the real thing, at least insofar as we know them in fiction. The book is fast-paced without being shallow. Walsh is an honest cop surrounded by corruption, something like the story of Frank Serpico, which is mentioned in the text. However, Walsh is not trying to stamp out the corruption and become a hero. He is merely trying to stay alive, with local cops and Feds swarming around him to try to nail DiAngelo.
Frank Muller was the finest narrator who ever lived. He had such a repertoire of voices, accents, dialogues, moods and inflections that the reader is thrilled at virtually everything he does. He narrated 200 books in his career, and almost all of them are great. His range as a narrator knows no bounds. He never hits a false note. You can listen to him for hours and hours and never get tired of the experience. From a book like this to John Grisham to Moby Dick to Charles Dickens to the George Smiley series to The Horse Whisperer: listen to him and you will recognize a towering talent that, I am guessing, will never be approached by any other narrator. Frank left us with a unique gift, and I feel lucky to be able to hear his work. He can do no wrong, IMHO (in my humble opinion). Do yourself a favor. You will not be disappointed. I guarantee it.

This author is new to me but dang! he can write! Scenes are vivid and all the characters are well rounded. Plot moves quickly and the way the author weaves the story strands together, the reader/listener gradually sees a larger and more complex story.

Frank Muller's performance is, of course, perfect.

At the end, I felt like a kid at a magic show gleefully yelling ???Do it again! Do it again!???

I can't recommend this book enough. I am worn out by the cop drama books because they are they are just the same old stories time and again. This particular book shocked me because it puts a brand new spin on that particular genre. The reason I downloaded this book was that I have yet to be disappointed by anything Muller has read, and I was pleased once again. The author jumps around a bit between characters making the book confusing at the start; just enjoy the ride. It will all make sense in the end, and you will love the style, I promise! Take a risk with this obscure author, you will not regret it!

I gave this book a highest rating strictly for its narration. What else can one do with a reading by Frank Muller. The story was made entertaining by Muller ... he definitely carried the day for me on this one. Sorry we had to lose him so early.

Kept waiting for something to happen - it did, but the author managed to craft an ending that was both implausible and contained every cliche about cops and gangsters.

First of all, I think I could listen to anything read by Frank Muller, including a dictionary or phone book. He is The Voice. I often search for audio books by his name as the reader, rather than by author or title.

This is a very satisfying story, in the manner of an Elmore Leonard, or Mario Puzo. Big city mafia, wounded hero, corrupt narcos, street punks, etc. Excellent character set-up and development, nice use of slang, well-textured shuttles back and forth in time to sketch the background and return to the action.

If you like crime stories, you won't be disappointed.

Yes! It was funny

Frank muller reading it

All. he is the all time best

No

No

I didn't actually get beyond the first chapter before realising that this book didn't seem to fit the outline I had read. Not to me tastes and seemed headed for violence.

Bait reads like an automotive repair manual. The characters are flat to the point I had no feeling for the protagonist and couldn't care whether he lived, died or blew up in a cloud of smoke. In fact, everyone in this book feels wooden, like furniture.

Thrillers need to move quickly and typically do this through economic prose. But there is economy and there is terseness. Abel is so terse and ground is covered so quickly, it is nearly impossible to follow the plot. I gave up after three chapters and I read a LOT of thrillers.

No. It's so bad, it's in a class by itself.

No. His performance was as flat as the text.

None whatsoever.

Buy something else—anything whatsoever.