A King's Ransom

By: James Grippando

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Two years out of law school, Nick Rey is already on the fast track at a hot Miami law firm. But his dreams of success are overshadowed when his father, Matthew, is abducted while on a business trip to Colombia. The guerillas demand an impossible $3 million ransom - the exact sum Matthew's kidnap-and-ransom insurance policy covers. The insurance company suspects fraud, however, and refuses to pay. And, as Nick soon learns, it isn't the guerillas who hold the key to his father's survival. A group of faceless lawyers at a powerful firm has something to hide and will stop at nothing to keep Nick from discovering the truth.

©2009 James Grippando (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Saved by George

I think that this story, complicated and similar to other Grippando mysteries ;left me with the feeling that, if George Guidall were not reading this book, it would not work. So, once again, I thank the bookreadinggods for George Guidall. Keepem' coming.

Splendid!

Exciting, fast paced and unexpected. A great novel, and George Guidall fantastic as always! Absolutely recommended.

Good story well told

I enjoy Grippando's books, but this is an early one of his so I was a bit reluctant to read. In the book, he powerfully draws u into a family's torment and redemption.

George Guidall's narration was as always SUPERB!

A great listen. I usually listen to books in bed at night. Of course I set the Audible timer and that helps but many times I fall asleep before the timer is up. I then have to repeat what I missed. I just love George Guidall's narration. i loved his voice on the Longmire episodes. I will listen to any book he narrates for his voice alone. It's like watching a movie the way he does voices and intonations. Awesome.

Grippando is the best!

I loved this book. Grippando is currently my favorite legal thriller author. I wish this weren’t the last of his books for me. I’ve read every single book in his Jack Swytek series, and now all his stand-aliens. I’ll miss this author. No idea what to read next...

Just Okay

First, George Guidall is one of my favorite narrators. He can be the deciding factor in my choosing or passing on a book. In this story, though, his interpretation of the lead character is strained. Whenever there's any tension in the scene, his voice becomes high pitched, rapid, and whiney. Nick Ray sounds to me like a self righteous narcissist. It's off putting.

Second, the story is loosely constructed. There's a supposedly important "secret" in the plot which really doesn't look all that important when you discover it. And it's never tied into the plot or the resolution. In addition, I've never been a fan of the "deus ex machina" literary device. It's part of this book, although "deus" is probably the wrong word.

Finally, if you've read my reviews, you know "the parts you skip" is important to me. Those are the passages that don't move the story, or are repetitive, or just overbearing. In the second half of the book I skipped nearly all the chapters relating to the kidnap victim and missed nothing.

I tried to like this...

I tried to like this, but it rambled for far too long, and was a bit disjointed. Mr. Guidall did an excellent job as always; but even he couldn't hold my interest on this one...