Absolute Proof

By: Peter James

Narrated by: Hugh Bonneville

Length: 16 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

Shortlisted for best audiobook in the Specsavers National Book Awards 2018.

Investigative reporter Ross Hunter nearly didn’t answer the phone call that would change his life - and possibly the world - forever.

I’d just like to assure you I’m not a nutcase, Mr Hunter. My name is Dr Harry F. Cook. I know this is going to sound strange, but I’ve recently been given absolute proof of God’s existence - and I’ve been advised there is a writer, a respected journalist called Ross Hunter, who could help me to get taken seriously.

What would it take to prove the existence of God? And what would be the consequences?

This question and its answer lie at the heart of Absolute Proof, an international thriller from best-selling author Peter James.

The false faith of a billionaire evangelist, the life’s work of a famous atheist and the credibility of each of the world’s major religions are all under threat. If Ross Hunter can survive long enough to present the evidence....

This audio edition includes a bonus feature with the author, Peter James, who reveals the inspiration behind the story and characters.

©2018 Peter James (P)2018 Macmillan Digital Audio

Critic Reviews

"Sensational – the best what-if thriller since The Da Vinci Code." (Lee Child)

A worthy read

An amazing book. Loved every minute of it. I hope this is the start of another series from peter janes

Fascinating story! Gripping and evocative storyline.

I was so looking forward to what Peter James would gives us without Roy Grace and I was not disappointed! Just fabulous all round. Story, characters, research, complexities, relevance to the world right now, I could go on! Thank you! And the narration was excellent! I don’t say that often. All the stars!!!

The Proof of the Pudding is in the Reading!

Peter James describes this as the book he has been most excited about and as it has been 30 years in the making it's obviously been a real labour of love. I've followed this author very happily through the mains of the DI Grace series and with various side dishes like his ghost stories with more mixed results. This big pudding of a book is though my favourite of all those outside the Grace books and is on a par with them.

It's a grandiose theme and the reason that this book works so well for me is that the subject of the "proof" feels very logical and compelling. It almost feels as if James is entering Dan Brown territory but this is much less laden with heavy symbology. It's a more direct story and compelling as a result.

Although it is based on mediums and religious events it is quite fascinatingly rooted in a real life set of events that James experienced as he explains at the end of the book. These have been built on and investigative journalist Ross Hunter is catapulted into an adventure of the imagination that moves at good pace to what I thought was a satisfying conclusion albeit one that didn't quite tidy up some of the more grandiose aspects of the story.

The narration by Hugh Bonneville is extremely good and rounds off the whole experience as an extremely entertaining listen.

20 of 20 people found this review helpful

Absolute Class...

I'm not much for reviews but this book by Peter James is the best book that I have listened to for some considerable time.
Read by Hugh Bonneville, it's hard to find any negatives.
Brilliant story wonderfully read
'nuff said!!

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Better than Grace

I have read or listened to all the Roy Grace books and enjoy them without being totally absorbed. This one, other than Hugh Bonneville's difficulty in separating the voices in conversation, pulled me in completely. With no hardened idea of faith or lack of it, perhaps I'm less critical than,say, a practicing Catholic, but I found I enjoyed the idea that someone with my beliefs or lack of would be the one to break the story. Ended very suddenly but maybe because of a follow up.....?

Also, found myself popping to Google every so often to check things that intrigued me. Usually a good sign

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Exceptional!

One of the best audiobooks I’ve heard in a long time. I have listened to many of Peter James’s novels & so far this is my favourite.
This is the first time I have experienced Hugh Bonneville as a narrator - he is absolutely brilliant!

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Engaging thriller with unconvincing ending

I was gripped for most of this story that is reminiscent of Dan Brown's Da VInci code in theme, but much better written, and worthy of Robert Goddard for the sheer number of dangerous encounters from which the main character escapes. I enjoyed the scenes with the cynical, money-grubbing evangelist and the digs at big pharma.

Much research has gone into constructing this, at times, thought-provoking narrative but my appreciation waned when the author strayed into genetics. I don't want to spoil the story but bear in mind that Mitochonrdrial DNA is passed down through the female line relatively unchanged for many generations and after 2000 years there will be millions of people carrying approximately the same pattern. Similarly there will be numerous men with the virtually the same Y chromosome signature as it is passed from father to sons across many generations. Just a thought, Jesus had no children so any descendant with the same marker genes would be from his siblings' descendants and so fathered by Joseph?

The story becomes fanciful towards the end and I wasn't convinced that there was proof as to whether God exists or not, but in the main it made for a good story.

Hugh Bonneville is a new narrator for me and he did an outstanding job of bringing the characters to life.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Riveting story; sublime narration

Usually when I finish an audible book, I have the next book lined up and off we go! But having just finished ‘Absolute Proof’, I want to keep thinking about the story and pondering the possibilities it presents.

It really is an intriguing storyline, made even more fascinating by knowing that it was inspired by a real event. Throughout the story, I wondered how on earth Peter James would end it. I really hoped it wouldn’t be cheesy and it didn’t disappointed.

Hugh Bonneville’s narration is awesome. His accents and interpretation of each personality made the characters come alive. It wasn’t hard to see why Peter James personally chose Hugh to narrate his story.

This is a book which will stay in my mind for a long time to come. Highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

IanOrch

My favourite book of the Year. Absolutely loved it, even more so after the final part where Peter James explained the background for the story. Amazing!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Interesting Book

I think this is the best book so far that I have bought from Audible, it has a little bit of everything , it might be a long read , but I can honestly say , not once did I get bored with it

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Absolute Piffle

A reporter chasing three clues to prove the second coming of Jesus (kiss kiss). I found this book to be a bit on the silly side in quite a few parts. I can understand the findings of the first two parts but found the third part a bit stupid. I expected a good thriller from Peter James but this book is not one.

Simply One Of The Best Books I Ever Heard.

An incredible book that grips you and holds you for the full 15 hours. Beautifully written and a wonderful story. The greatest respect to Peter James, his very best book in my humble opinion.

Also, the narrator Hugh Bonneville was excellent.