• The Authorities

  • By: Scott Meyer
  • Narrated by: Luke Daniels
  • Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (4,922 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Authorities  By  cover art

The Authorities

By: Scott Meyer
Narrated by: Luke Daniels
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Sinclair Rutherford is a young Seattle cop with a taste for the finer things. Doing menial tasks and getting hassled by superiors he doesn't respect are definitely not "finer things". Good police work and bad luck lead him to crack a case that changes quickly from a career-making break into a high-profile humiliation when footage of his pursuit of the suspect - wildly inappropriate murder weapon in hand - becomes an Internet sensation.

But the very publicity that has made Rutherford a laughing stock in the department lands him what could be the job opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to work with a team of eccentric experts, at the direction of a demanding but distracted billionaire. Together, they must solve the murder of a psychologist who specialized in the treatment of patients who give people "the creeps".

There is no shortage of suspects.

©2015 Scott Meyer (P)2015 Scott Meyer

What listeners say about The Authorities

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,638
  • 4 Stars
    1,616
  • 3 Stars
    503
  • 2 Stars
    107
  • 1 Stars
    58
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,601
  • 4 Stars
    751
  • 3 Stars
    151
  • 2 Stars
    34
  • 1 Stars
    40
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,207
  • 4 Stars
    1,537
  • 3 Stars
    607
  • 2 Stars
    137
  • 1 Stars
    81

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If you liked Magic 2.0, get this book

I devoured the Magic 2.0 books. I found them clever and at times laugh out loud funny. So I decided to pick this one up. I was not disappointed. The wit of the prior series was present and the characters were fun and well performed by the reader. The story is by no means earth shattering, but clever enough to hold my attention and definitely entertaining.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

44 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not my kind of humor

I came to this book after getting through all of the current Magic 2.0 books (which I loved) and was exploring other works by Scott Meyer when I came across this one. I loved Program Run (or was it Run Program?) and thought I would love this one too.

Unfortunately, the humor in The Authorities is a bit different. In both Magic 2.0 and Program Run, the humor stems from two places: the sarcastic interactions between the characters, and the simple, stupid ways in which they act in what is supposed to be an otherwise serious situation. This book doesn’t lack either of those, but also seems to throw in some Office-like or Park-And-Rec-like awkwardness into the mix. I cannot stand cringe humor and I felt like the book had a lot of it. If you like that sort of thing, you will probably like this book.

Humor is pretty subjective and it could have been the delivery of the narrator, though. Or maybe I didn’t get deep enough into the story to fall in love the character interactions like I did with the other books. What really earns it three stars is that the story took a little too long to get started and the pacing was a bit off. I lost interest after awhile. Maybe it gets better later in the book, but from the other reviews I surmise that it probably doesn’t.

Overall, Scott Meyer is a damn good author, I will continue to read his books, but I’ll skip on this one.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

38 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Imaginorexia... An Imagination Disorder

Scott Meyer might have written this as a send-up of every procedural and detective novel written (or filmed) since Ian Fleming. OTH, Ian Fleming was a satirist, so the question here is, can satire be satirized?

You know what happens when you take a picture of a picture? Then photocopy the resulting picture? Then take a picture of the photocopy? Think of the result, then think of "The Authorities?. There is not an original thought in this book. NOT ONE! Meyer is like a mechanic at a fifth rate shop. When he finishes with your car, it'll probably run, but... not so good. Pity since Luke Daniels is a brilliant actor. His ability to clearly create youthful voices interacting with older men and women is stunning. He keeps every character and characterization note-perfect.

Here, Daniels is like a master violinist interpreting "I'm A Little Teapot."

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

All the Authorities They Just Stand Around & Boast

Scott Meyer is best known for his Magic 2.0 series, which just hit four entries in length, in which a computer file allows geeks who figure it out to travel through time. The Authorities was his first attempt at breaking out of that series. The good news is that the best elements of Magic 2.0 are applied here as well. The not so good news (but not too bad) is that the story doesn't quite measure up.

The story: A geeky Seattle cop is recruited by a famous gazillionaire to be part of a team of private investigators who use modern technology to solve cases (and social networking to self-promote). When a high profile psychoanalyst is murdered, the team has to investigate his group therapy patients to identify the killer, using their Bond-like tech and razor sharp wit to outwit the various and sundry crazies.

This idea of a super-wealthy tech guru getting involved in policing did not fly well in the recent Fox TV show APB, canceled after one partial season (although this book was written before the show). On the other hand, the idea of looking a members of a therapy group did work well in Gregg Hurwitz's Tell No Lies (although without the humorous element).

But the story is secondary for Meyer. His strength is creating a group of characters who banter back and forth as humorously as possible. As the title of my review says (a line from a Dylan song), The Authorities often just stand around and boast. This works especially well in audio with Luke Daniels narrating (not taking his voices too far over the top as in Magic 2.0). Still, a stronger story would've elevated the proceedings immeasurably.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • M.
  • 11-04-17

Another fun book by Scott Meyer

Scott Meyer’s books are great true to form this book is whimsical with fun dynamics between character. Solid writing without getting too wordy. I jVe enjoyed many of his books most of which have been narrated by Luke Daniels who does a great job portraying the kinds of characters that tend to be in Scotts books

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Good start, but becomes mired half way through

The Authorities started out fairly interestingly enough. Rutherford (the protagonist) starts off as a policeman, solves a case, & becomes a part of a special elite team. All of this is fun and moves along at a nice clip.

Once the primary mystery is introduced, things slow down. The story is basically the special elite team (the Authorities) going from one person to another and interviewing them. Well it gets boring and repetitive. The underlying mystery is not the focus of this story. Its more the group getting to know one another. Because the mystery is not that engaging, the story is not either.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

meh.

After finishing this and the Masters of Formalities one I think.. Scott should stick to Magic 2.0... This wasn't a bad book, it's just... bland. Nothing really interesting happens, none of the characters felt important. I miss the relatable-ness and humor.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Laugh out loud awkward detective work.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. If you like mysteries, but really like those with colorfully goofy characters and humorously awkward situations, then "The Authorities" is defiantly a book that you would want to listen to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Authorities?

There was a scene where bees are first used as an bizarrely effective interrogation technique that was funny to listen to.

Which scene was your favorite?

There was a scene where the suspect was unsuccessfully trying to run, yet couldn't, so "The Authorities" had to sort of nonchalantly help the suspect out a little so they could get good video of themselves chasing him. It was read as so hilariously awkward and ponderous with narrator Luke Daniels' voice work that it became one of many favorite scenes.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Oh there was much laughter. A healthy down to earth moment or two to round out the story and flesh out the characters, but mostly laughter.

Any additional comments?

Author Scott Meyers and narrator Luke Daniels are quickly becoming one of my favorite audio book team. Scott Meyer's sense of ironically awkward and humorous character interaction situations only multiplies with the amazingly detailed and voice work of Luke Daniels. "Off to be the wizard" and "Master of Formalities" are also suggested if you enjoy Scott Meyer's sense of humor.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

FanFreakinTastic

An awesome read and what promises to be a wonderful new series... This band of misfit detectives is utterly unique and enjoyable... The characters are all exceptionally rich and vibrant, especially Rutherford, Max, and Sloan... The quirkiness and humor could not be done w/ more pinache and vim, while remaining rooted... The pace and flow of the story are conducive to binge reading;) You'll find yourself laughing regularly, and chuckling even more... The whodunit and howdunit is fun, but not complicated... Most will figure it out quickly, but this is a story of characters more than anything and they will suck you in immediately, and take you on one helluva fun read... The narration is excellent and accomplishes changing tones and viewpoints beautifully... Worth the credit w/o a doubt.... Hard to imagine anyone not enjoying this delicious piece of ear candy;).

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Daniels sold it!

What did you love best about The Authorities?

Normally Meyers is great. In fact, he's one of my favorite authors for comedy. This fell sort of flat. It had its moments but they are few and far between. If not for Daniels this one probably wouldn't have been finished. If there's another in the series I'll get it if Daniels is reading but even so here's to hoping the story is better.

Would you be willing to try another book from Scott Meyer? Why or why not?

Yes. He has an incredible sense of humor that translates well into everyday "human speak".

What about Luke Daniels’s performance did you like?

All of it. If you haven't heard him try "Off to be the Wizard"-simply incredible!

If you could rename The Authorities, what would you call it?

Not sure anything else fits.

Any additional comments?

nah.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful