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Wild Thing  By  cover art

Wild Thing

By: Josh Bazell
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff, Stephanie Wolfe
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Publisher's summary

It's hard to find work as a doctor when using your real name will get you killed. So hard that when a reclusive billionaire offers Dr. Peter Brown, aka Pietro Brnwa, a job accompanying a sexy but self-destructive paleontologist on the world's worst field assignment, Brown has no real choice but to say yes. Even if it means that an army of murderers, mobsters, and international drug dealers - not to mention the occasional lake monster - are about to have a serious Pietro Brnwa problem.

Facing new and old monsters alike, Dr. Brnwa's story continues in this darkly funny and lightning-paced follow up to Josh Bazell's best-selling debut.

Also listen to the first book, Beat the Reaper.
©2012 Josh Bazell (P)2012 Hachette

Critic reviews

"[Bazell's books] are hard-boiled thrillers, written in one of the most distinctively entertaining new fictional voices I've run across in years, in any genre. There is a massive density of information in [ Wild Thing]...but Bazell wields it with wonderful lightness. Reading him is like being able to monopolize the attention of the most interesting person at a party...It's so rare that you see a really brilliant writer who is committed, 100%, in every sentence, to giving you a good time. Bazell is, and he does." (Lev Grossman, Time)
"Carl Hiaasen fans will relish Bazell's frenetic sequel to 2009's Beat the Reaper...Bazell expertly blends action, farce, and political satire, and his wide-ranging imagination bodes well for the future of the series." ( Publishers Weekly, Starred Review)
"The book is composed in Bazell's propulsive, profanity-laden style, peppering startling violence with detailed footnotes that cover subjects like tooth reinsertions and human cryogenics...Props to Bazell for not cranking out an idle retread of Beat the Reaper. A funny, unexpected journey for our hero that sets up the next installment with finesse." ( Kirkus)

What listeners say about Wild Thing

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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A Lot Like Cotton Candy

It is a trite cliche, but comparing Wild Thing to cotton candy is very fitting: it is so tasty, it melts in your mouth, but you know its not good for you and when its gone, it has left you with nothing. I loved "Beat the Reaper" - without doubt, one of the best audio books I have listened to. I couldn't wait for the sequel. Wild Thing has some things in common - the main character, of course, but also the snappy dialog and fast pace that keeps things moving. Even though it is immediately apparent that this is the stupidest plot/story line imaginable, I dove in and thoroughly enjoyed myself - right up to the end. By the end, however, the story is so stupid and implausible, I felt like I had just eaten cotton candy again - knowing all along I would regret it.

This is a fun listen and will keep you engaged - especially if you have already listened to Beat the Reaper. If you have not listened to Beat the Reaper, do not like gratuitous violence, lots of vulgarity, or attacks on Republicans, do not listen to this book. If you still want to try it, be sure you have listened to Beat the Reaper first. Not only is it a far superior story, it will allow you to follow all of the references that pepper this story.

The narration is very good - hence the performance gets 4 stars.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing.

What would have made Wild Thing better?

Get rid of the Scooby Doo plot and overt political opinions. The violent, morally ambivalent Pietro from Beat the Reaper was way more interesting than the main character (allegedly the same guy) of this book. The rural setting was wrong. Pietro is an urban hero.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Them or Us by David Moody

Have you listened to any of Robert Petkoff and Stephanie Wolfe ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The performance was good.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The banter was occasionally amusing.

Any additional comments?

Hopefully just a poor sophomore attempt.

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23 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Sophomore slump?

That must be it, because we know what Josh Bazell can do. He can write the most kickass thriller ever with the most kickass, anti-hero protagonist ever (See “Beat the Reaper”). This book is not that book. At all. Not even close. (Robert Petkoff, You are not responsible for this. You are a great narrator. You did the best you could with what you had.) There’s a weak lake monster subplot along with a useless love interest, and it’s all wrapped up with the most Scooby-Doo of endings.

It’s clear throughout that Bazell used this book as a pulpit to forward his views on politics and religion. You can agree or disagree with him, but you’ll have a hard time speaking clearly because he’s been beating you over the head with it. Unnecessary.

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What Happened?

I LOVED Beat the Reaper. I bought extra copies for the nurses on my unit I enjoyed it so much. I wouldn't recommend Wild thing to anyone. What a disappointment. I'm not sure what was worse. The disconnected characters or the bizarre addition of Sarah Palin to the story. After the main character, Pietro complains, about Palin's fame I just kept thinking "Well, she might go away is you nitwits would stop writing about her." Ya think? Save your time and your money.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Ugh--total disappointment!

I really loved Beat The Reaper so I figured this would be fun, too, even if it was not quite as good. Wrong!

There was nothing that endeared this book to me. Instead of bringing chuckles, it brought grimaces. Instead of humor there were hostile overtones. The story was just plain dumb and the characters were unforgettable. There was no need to bring his (Bazell's) own radical politics into the story, either. And--his addiction to the f-word and his downright creepy sexual expressions added nothing but further alienation on my part. Was his first book SO good that he didn't need an editor or advisor for his second one?

I feel badly burned by this second Bazell novel--I should have read the reviews more carefully.

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What a disappointment

I really enjoyed "Beat the Reaper." Rushed to download this one...and found it idiotic. Were it not for the reader, who is terrific, I probably would not have finished it. Yes, the first novel was crazy and did not even attempt to be believable -- but it was FUN. This one was not.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Looking for Dr Peter Brown

If you were wanting more of Beat the Reaper it's not here! For a sequel this totally missed the mark - better luck next time Josh

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Rotten Thing

The previous novel of Bazell although not great was okay. This supposed sequel alternates being flat boring with being exasperatingly ridiculous.
This is obviously a contract driven book, the author has no story to tell.

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Progressive politicos will love it

This novels takes some dangerous, impressive twists and turns, winding up with a political diatribe which was fascinating and factual, but oddly placed. It's clear that after the success of his insane wordfest "Beat the Reaper" (my favorite book in the last 5 years), Josh Bazell felt comfortable enough to start forcing political statements into his novel. I personally agree with him 100%, or more, but I can see others being repelled or confused by the insertion.

The story is extremely strange, not nearly as cohesive as the first book, and I would strongly advise against reading the second without reading the first. Bazell isn't cautious at all about revealing many plot points from BTR, and there are spoilers galore in this second in the series.

The performances are flawless.I kept waiting for Stephanie Wolfe's voice to jump in, but it isn't until the afterword, which is where the amazing passion and intellect of Josh Bazell comes to a full boil.

For me, it was a great, fun book with Carl Hiassen-like assaults on the Right, the 1% and their disregard for - well, anybody but themselves. There are a lot of laugh-out-loud and gotta-write-that-down moments, and as with BTR, I also bought the Kindle version and will be listening to this audiobook again.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Wild Thing is a Wild Ride.

What made the experience of listening to Wild Thing the most enjoyable?

The first book in this series, Beat the Reaper is one of my favorites. this is not as good, but close. I am not one who enjoys listening to the F-word over and over, and frankly this book would be shortened considerably if you took it out. That, the obsessive sexual thoughts of the main character and some rathervisious politics are the down sides to this otherwise very enjoyable. book.It is a unique story line with crazy characters.The arguments were very entertaining. and scientific discussions interesting. It is Non Stop from start to finish. I will immediatly grab any book by this author.

Any additional comments?

This book is very,loudly, viciously political. Since I am an independant, with leanings to the republican side, I was at times uncomfortable with the vitriol especially against a currently living person who may or may not deserve it.Just to top it off this author ends this book with a diatribe on how the republicans have systematicly destroyed, our environment, monetary system, corrupted world governments, and will bring about world starvation perhaps in our lifetime all for individual political gain. I did not listen to it all. I just don't believe that the bad guys are all on one side in this world. I chose to ignore all of this and enjoy an otherwise entertaining book.

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