Fatal Flaws

By: Clyde Lawrence

Narrated by: Conner Goff

Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

When Dr. Mark Bishop meets Hank, a kindred spirit who seemingly complements his own personality in almost every way, he knows they’ll become the best of friends. As their brotherly love grows, Mark becomes convinced that Hank is a true compatriot who will always stand at his side in moments of need.

More than a decade later, after discovering that his daughter Ryan is silently suffering at the hand of her abusive husband, Mark determines that the only sure way to save her is through a definitive act of violence.

Ever reliable, Hank honors the pact that they’d made as young men to always have each other’s backs and never allow a member of either family to be victimized. A flawless plan is developed and executed, freeing Ryan from her prison of torment.

Years later, Mark finds reason to doubt not only Hank’s trustworthiness, but his sanity. As contention arises between the two friends, both realize that they can no longer depend on the other’s unquestioning loyalty.

Neither man knows if the oath they’d sworn to each other is as solid as stone or as fragile as blown glass. The decay of their unquestioning trust of one another leads to growing suspicions of betrayal, and they soon find themselves on a collision course.

Should Mark focus on defense or offense? What does he owe his friend? What does he owe himself and his family?

He must decide and act before time runs out...

©2019 Mark L. Eldore (P)2020 Mark L. Eldore

Intriguing story

This audio book was engaging from the very beginning. A child growing up with an abusive father, Mark was a loner with few friends but big dreams. He worked hard to become a doctor, then meets another young doctor while a resident in a large hospital. Hank is a successful anesthesiologist who has made a name for his self and is also successful in making some good investments. Hank takes Mark under his wing and they become close friends. As time passes, Mark realizes Hank is always trying to show his expertise in every area he chooses to pursue. Mark still enjoys his friendship, but realizes Hank is a show-off, not always the upstanding Mormon Church member he appears to be. I was surprised at some of the foul language and immature conversations that seemed to bog down the story and nearly stopped listening, but it was worth slogging through it.
There is much to like about this book. The intrigue and plot twists surprised me and kept me guessing. There are questions about Hank’s sanity and trustworthiness and whether a bond made when they were young can endure.

Thrilling, enthralling and jaw-dropping

The first impression of any audio book is the narrator. The actor's voice took some getting used to for me. He's very intense, which is absolutely necessary when the scene dictates that, but there were times I felt he was speaking as the veins were popping out of his neck and it was only a narrative describing a room, etc. He tended to have a little of a monotone nature to his style, which, again, I got accustomed to for the most part. There have been audio books I simply could not finish due to the horrible narration; this was not the case. Just not my favorite.

The story is fantastically thrilling. The characters are well-written and described so that I got to know them and felt like I had a solid understanding and compassion for them, especially the protagonists Mark and Hank (and, when things get real with murder sprinkled in the plot, it played along the lines of Dexter--can you really sympathize with a violent person because you know why they've become that way?). The plot is like a wonderful soup that is meant to simmer on low for hours, enticing you the entire day with tidbits and hints of wonder. I was captivated in knowing what may happen next so often, which, of course, is why I loved this novel so much. I definitely recommend the audio book for a suspenseful and well-told work of fiction.

Interesting Story With Twists and Unexpected End

First off, make sure you are listening to this with headphones if you are around young kids. I don't normally need them, but with my kids home from school right now, I'm learning I need to be more careful... oops. This book has a lot of strong language and gruesome descriptions.

I was sucked in from the beginning, and while I didn't love all the twists in Mark and Hank's lives, it felt real... until it didn't. I had a hard time with the last third of the book, when it seemed like everything was spiraling for the two. At the end I wasn't sure who was a psycho in the story and who, if anyone, was really innocent. Maybe that was Clyde Lawrence's intention.

I liked the morals found within the story, of protecting your children, honoring your friends and also the idea that people can change and we can let go of those who are no longer serving us.

I loved the presentation of the narrator and felt overall the story flowed superbly.

NSFW language; Main character is egotistical

I'm going to start off by saying this audiobook is definitely NSFW and has some colorful language and gruesome scenes throughout. Normally this wouldn't bother me but we are all home due to the current pandemic. If bad language bothers you, I would definitely skip this book. Getting over the colorful language, this book was hard for me to listen to. I have listened to thrillers in the past but it seems unnecessarily brutal.

The first few chapters had so much extraneous information that I was overwhelmed. I wasn't sure why we were given so much detail about certain aspects of his childhood. At times it seemed like the author was just trying to reach a word count with the amount of adjectives he used to describe certain scenes. This matter was only exacerbated as the story went on. Most of the medical jargon seemed out of place.

I think the biggest problem with this audiobook was that I was not a fan of Mark. Generally when a character has a rough upbringing I feel for that character and find myself rooting for them throughout the story. I ended up finding Mark annoying, misogynistic, homophobic and egotistical. The authors arc of Mormonism in the beginning seemed unnecessary and I found myself offended despite not being a religious person at all. I could see that Mark and Hank would be come best friends if only for their common professions and big egos. Without spoiling the plot too much, the besties have their friendship tested while dealing with Ryan's husband. Somehow Hank goes off the deep end and is seen as a psychopath while Mark is still a “good guy” while doing something similar. The whole story just seemed so improbable and hard to believe. Mark's inner monologue went from a know it all to an overgrown man child, all within the same breath. I also questioned how the medication would have been obtained with no one noticing, let alone how the crime could be committed and no one face the repercussions. The ending was disappointing and had me yelling at my phone.

Overall this audiobook is not one that I would recommend.

So well done!

Mark’s early beginnings were anything but easy. He knew that in order to have a good life, he had to do better than what he was given. His goals have been solid and he’s achieved so much. When he met Hank, it was a bromance from the get-go. They both have common goals with their careers and families they love. But it doesn’t stay that way.

Hank’s life takes a turn and it causes a big change for him both in his personal life but for those around him. Having divorced, he no longer feels the pull to be in the same circles he once did. What is the point of all of it? He has his best friend by his side, what else could there be?

The two men come together to fight off 1 particular person in order to save Mark’s daughter, They make a promise to each other in the midst of chaos to have each other's backs. But it doesn’t stay that way and what happens is more than Mark ever could have foreseen. More people are ending up dead, but could it really be Hank? Or is this something beyond both of them?

This was a fantastic book/audio! I loved the suspense of it and the emotions that were at the forefront of the whole thing. It's very much a one that will make you want to finish it in one sitting. Well written, read, and thought out. I loved it!

Riveting tale from beginning to end

What an incredible audiobook! The way that the author made this book go full circle is quite amazing! The depth and intricacies that were involved with the plot of this story is nothing short of amazing! The thrill that the listener receives as the plot continues to build is insurmountable! I would highly recommend this audiobook to the mature audience due to graphic scenes of violence, strong adult language, and strong sexual content. Without giving much of the plot away, I just have to applaud the way that the author built upon the main character’s personal abuse history and almost vindicated the future choices of said character. I can easily see this book as a blockbuster film! I’d love to actually see it happen because psychological thrillers are a favorite genre of mine. The narrator was magnificent! The tone and pitch were perfect and the various character voices were fantastic!

Not for the weak of heart

Well, make sure you are either alone or wearing headphones for this one. Gruesome, adult-only type content for sure!

I love all things true-crime, and was drawn to Fatal Flaws almost immediately. I found the story absolutely gripping. Somehow you can come to love characters DESPITE their flaws, even when the flaw is murderous. Don't believe me? Trust that it is true! The book read quite well, leaving me on the edge of my seat. Suspenseful, violent, imaginative....all wrapped into one.

I didn't love the narrator, though. It was a bit over the top all the time, not just when the story dictated such.....for an audiobook, the narrator can make or break the story. This one almost was enough to turn the book off. But, eventually I got used to him. Overall, a good book and I would definitely listen to another of Lawrence's works (just maybe with a different narrator, please.)

Not for the weak of heart

Fatal Flaws is the story of a man who is determined to keep his family safe not matter what... even if that means killing. Mark is a gynecologist with an amazing career, a loving wife, and wonderful kids. He has come a long way to get where he is today and he isn't going to let anything get in the way of that. Growing up in an abusive home, Mark knows the signs and what the outcome can be if a woman chooses to ignore the signs, so when his eldest daughter marries a jerk, Mark sees red flags. Calling upon his best friend to fulfill the pack they made years ago to protect each others families, they set out to take care of the new son-in-law. But when Mark's best friend doesn't stop there, Mark makes the ultimate decision to put his family first and make sure his long time friend, disappear.
Fatal Flaws is a great book, but it takes quite a while to get through the backstory. This is not a quick listen/read, at over 12hours of listening time, it's a commitment. More than half of the book is filling the reader in on Mark's past and how he came to be who he is today. The thing is, it could have been shorter. Fatal Flaws is detail after detail. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing, just much longer and drawn out than I expected. I enjoyed Fatal Flaws and highly recommend this audio book for anyone who likes a good suspense... it will keep you waiting! But it isn't for the faint of heart or ears. The book is full of foul and crass language and of course, murder. This book is not suited for a younger audience and should be listened to/read by a mature reader. The narrator's even tone wasn't my favorite and I would have preferred a bit more energy, but it didn't take away from the story line. If you can push through, and keep listening, you will ultimately enjoy Fatal Flaws. Happy Listening

A story about how far loyalty really goes.

Fatal Flaws by Clyde Lawrence was a book based on relationships. The relationships between father and mother, parents and children and best friends. It is through the eyes of Dr. Mark Bishop that this epic tale of friendship,betrayal,jealousy and loyalty is told. Mark grew up with an abusive father. At a young age he was determined to be a better person than his father. He met a girl of Mormon faith and adopted her way of life. He went to school to become a gynecologist and raised a family of three girls. He also met a fellow Mormon named Hank. Hanks too was going to school to become an anesthesiologist while raising a family. These two became inseparable. A long lasting bond. Their families both left the Mormon faith. Hank ending up in a battling divorce. Through it all Marky Mark and Hanky Panky remained steadfast friends. They made a pack that they would be there for each other if any of their kids were in danger not knowing that they would have to act on it at a later time. Years later Ryan, Mark’s oldest daughter, found herself in an abusive marriage. Mark came up with a plan to get rid of the bastard son in law with Hank's help. This one time event was supposed to be only one time. But Hank’s adrenaline needs led him to commit more vigilante murders. Mark is worried about Hank getting caught and his own life unraveling so he puts a plan in place to stop Hank and his psycho girlfriend Jody. And not to give away the ending but it was unexpected and brilliant.
I liked the build up of character from the beginning story of Mark’s childhood to the current day events. I enjoyed the relationship between Mark and his wife Amanda and kids. The get down and dirty dad to the fun loving husband. The author did a great job at establishing a contrast between Mark’s life and Hank’s life. This is a very detailed story line. It is not an easy read. It has a lot of terminology that sometimes doesn’t make sense or lengths an area. Just get to the point, man.. It also has a lot of unnecessary cursing and vulgar remarks that take away from the story. This is for a very mature audience. I had the pleasure of listening to the audio book of this story. Conner Goff portrayed an emotional tone with this book. You heard the excitement, happiness and disappointment in his voice. I did not like the pauses between chapters. They were too long. The first couple of times it happened I had to check to see if my device had shut off. It took me a little bit to get used to it. Overall, I like the story concept. It was rough in a couple of places but I enjoyed it. It also made me think about my own relationship with my kids. How far does one go to protect them.

**

I struggled with the narrator on this book. There were times when they were a bit exaggerated and others there was zero intonation. Also, there were several common words that were mispronounced, which I was surprised made it through to the final version. Narrator aside, this was a decent story that covers a ‘friendship’ over the years. The summary states that they have a ‘brotherly love’ but the majority of Mark‘s commentary about Hank indicates that he dislikes him he can’t stand him. It seemed like there was a lot of extra detail provided through the book that wasn’t necessary to support the story or that was obviously building up to something and it wasn’t very subtle. There was a very angry undertone to this book that I just could not get on board with. I did like that it was set in an area that I familiar with so it was neat to have an understanding of the places mentioned in the book. The book was a little over 12 hours, but I felt like it went by faster than that.