Blind Fall

By: Christopher Rice

Narrated by: Frederick Weller

Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

From three-time New York Times best-selling author Christopher Rice - whose novels have been called "bold and ambitious" by The New York Times, "chillingly perverse" by USA Today, and "shocking, sexy...intricate" by Glamour - comes this startling psychological thriller about an Iraq War vet who seeks redemption and revenge when a fellow Marine he failed to protect during the war is brutally murdered.

John Houck became a Marine to become a hero. But his life changed when he failed to notice an explosive device that ended up maiming the captain of his Force Recon Company, a respected Marine who nearly sacrificed himself to save John's life.

Home from Iraq, John pays a visit to his former captain, only to discover the captain has been gruesomely murdered. John pursues a strange man he sees running from the scene, but he discovers that Alex Martin is not the murderer. Alex is, in fact, the former captain's secret male lover and the killer's intended next victim.

When it becomes clear that local law enforcement has direct connections to the murder itself, John realizes that to repay his debt of honor, he must teach Alex Martin how to protect himself, even if that means teaching Alex to kill. In the process, John confronts the painful truth about the younger brother he was unable to protect and the older sister he always felt he failed.

Blind Fall is a story of honor and integrity, of turning failure into victory. It is a stunning departure for Christopher Rice: the story of two men, one a Marine, one gay, who must unite to avenge the death of the man they both loved - one as a brother-in-arms, one as a lover - and to survive.

©2008 Christopher Rice (P)2008 Simon and Schuster Inc.

If I were Straight...

If I were straight i wonder if I would have enjoyd this as much as I did. I do digree about the reader. I found him nicely gritty as the protagonist. An interesting investigation of gay/straight interaction.

Sub-par Rice

I've always enjoyed Christopher Rice's books, but Blind Fall falls short of his usual output. The characters were well done and the reading brought them fully to life, but the plot left a lot to be desired. In several places the believability factor was stretched WAY too thin! Blind Fall was a nice try at a departure for Rice, but ultimately disappoints.

Good story. Good narration.

Classic Christopher Rice storytelling. Miscommunication, misdirection, and misunderstanding drive angst fueled characters into compromising situations.

I do enjoy Rice's books despite the overwhelming melodrama. The dramatic storytelling is also cinematic. The plot might seem over the top, but I have watched equally dramatic events occur in real life. People really do create their own drama, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this one.

Good Read

I would give 5 stars if the first part of the book wasn't so hard to follow (which may be due to my own shortcomings). Many twists and turns make this book a very good read.

Craftsman

A major condition of a successful suspense novel is that it is a page-turner. This book is a good example. Rice takes the reader/listener almost immediately to that disquieting place where what-happens-next is a priority. He sometimes tests our willingness to believe his story's plot but always manages to avoid crossing that line (learned from his mother?). The voice of the reader is particularly appropriate here. This is the second of his books I've heard, and now I will pursue all others.

Blind Fall

I really like the book, keeps you on your toes, but as with all of C. Rice's recorded books, I really dislike the reader - he is so dull and almost monotonal. But get past that and enjoy the book.

Much more

Twists and turns in every chapter. You think you know where this story is headed, and wham; you are on a completely different track within minutes. Engaging.