Bodyguard of Lies

The Cellar Series

By: Bob Mayer

Narrated by: Diane Havens

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

A book by New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author Bob Mayer. Over four million books sold. Translated into over a dozen languages.

"In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies." —Winston Churchill

Who polices the world of covert operations? Enter the Cellar, the most secret spy organization hiding deep within the United States.

Two women become inextricably involved in a dangerous web of lies, intrigue, and betrayal as they fight for their lives and the safety of their country. Neeley is the lover and protege of Gant, a Cellar operative, and is trying to pick up the pieces of her life after Gant's death and unveil a mystery that Gant always held close to his chest. Hannah, a housewife, is equally lost after her husband simply disappears. They soon learn that the men in their lives shared a dangerous secret, one some very powerful people would shed blood to protect. Neeley and Hannah's chance meeting sets a decades-old plan into motion and puts their lives at risk.

They couldn't come from more different worlds, but as they try to escape the people who seem determined to kill them, Hannah and Neeley discover they have at least one thing in common: they've both been living a lie.

Crisscrossing the globe, the women find themselves in a deadly game of survival, one that they must win in order to keep the United States safe not only from vicious acts of terror, but from its own powers that be. And if they ever hope to uncover the truth about the lovers they thought they knew, Neeley and Hannah first must learn the truth about themselves. But when the Cellar is involved, there is no such thing as coincidence, and the truth is always protected by a Bodyguard of Lies.

©2011 Bob Mayer (P)2011 Bob Mayer

Critic reviews

"Heart-racing, non-stop action that is difficult to put down." ( Mystery News) "Thelma and Louise go clandestine." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Packed with Action and Intrigue

Killer women characters in this book hang tough against the bad guys -- Diane Havens does a great job with both male and female voices. More good stuff from Bob Mayer.

Please get a new reader

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed The Devil's Triangle series, The Dave Riley series and the Nightstalker series. This first book in the Cellar series has plot, character and action. It needs a reader. I had a lot of trouble with Diane Havens narration. her voice is flat with little inflection, no differentiation between characters and little emotion. This hurts my appreciation of the work. Keep writing Mr. Mayer, but please get a different reader for this series.

Interesting Story - Not so great reader

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was ok, at first, as others noted, the editing was bad, jumped around in the beginning and with no pause or break it could be confusing, once the story settled in I was intrigued and enjoyed it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked both female lead characters quirky and different but they melded well.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

She was hollow and lifeless and the voice of Nero was awful, I had visions of her holding her nose and talking. While her voice was clear she was emotionless and it was odd to hear action parts of the book so bland.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Needed a better reader and maybe some better editing, but the story is good and kept me interested, I enjoyed the story. Would be interested in hearing the book with someone else reading.

Not like the rest of the series

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Diane Havens?

While I did like the story, the narrator left a lot to be desired. Maybe I'm use to Jeffery Kafer narrating on the books that I have listened to by Bob Mayer. It thru me when I first started listening to this book because I did not pay attention when I downloaded the book to who was going to narrate, but I did give it about 5 chapters before I had to stop. For me, the story line wasn't flowing like it usually does when I listen/read a Bob Mayer book.

Very Bad narrration

Would you listen to Bodyguard of Lies again? Why?

No, not if Diane Havens is still the narrator

How did the narrator detract from the book?

She was so bland with no emotion

Disappointed

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A different narrator. I've never have read or listen to a book by this author before, so since I'm not familiar with his style, it has been difficult to know what is going on in the story because of the way the narrator is speaking. I have restarted the book several times to see if I can follow the story better, and so far no such luck. I'm about ready to give up and just consider my credit a loss.

How could the performance have been better?

Different narrator.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment so far.

The story was excellent.

This book was exciting from the first. I had a little trouble with the narration but it really fit after a while. I couldn't find a spot where I could pause the playing. It was so engrossing I didn't want to stop it. I look forward to " lost girls". I can always count on Bob Mayer for a great book.

Terrible Reader

I could not get past the first chapter. The narrator is awful with a flat, droning voice that destroys the story. I wish I could ban audible from showing me any story narrated by Diane Havens.

Exciting conspiracy story

It was not only great to hear about the origins of Neely and Hannah and the Cellar, but this book was a refreshing standalone and I can't wait to check out the next one.