Genesis

Harry Starke Genesis, Book 1

By: Blair Howard

Narrated by: Tom Lennon

Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

She appeared out of nowhere. A chance meeting. And then she was gone, abducted. The shadow crossed in front of the car so fast I didn’t have time to stop. I hit the brakes hard and swerved into the mud at the side of the road. Looking out through the deluge it was difficult to make out the figure coming towards the driver’s window, but as it came closer I could see it was a girl, just a kid. Instinctively, my hand went for my gun and rested on the grip as she approached. Her hair, dark, bobbed, was plastered to her head and face. The raccoon eye shadow smeared above her eyes had run in rivulets down her cheeks. And she looked scared, really scared, that much was obvious. What the hell is she doing out here alone in this kind of weather? I thought as I rolled the window down a half-inch. “Get in the back,” I yelled at her, and flipped the lock so she could open the door.

©2019 Blair Howard (P)2019 Blair Howard

The beginning

Genesis introduces the backstory to ex-cop, now PI Harry Starke and how he chose the people he wanted working for him. His first case just happens to be a girl he gave a ride to on a rainy night. He drops her off at a nightclub he is going to. She plays poker with him and his friends and while taking a bathroom break disappears. A cryptic note left on a napkin makes Harry believe she was kidnapped and that she wants him to find her. The narrator did an great job and the story was fast moving and interesting, I had previously listened to book 9 of the series and it was great learning about Harry’s beginnings as a PI. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

The start of a great series

Genesis : Harry Stark book 1..
I'd already read one of the later books in the series. So I jumped at the chance to read book 1.
The beginnings of Harry Starks P.I career.
A great storyline and plot, good characters with depth and strength.
A highly recommended audiobook, that's really entertaining.
Tom Lennons Narration is as always excellent and very easy to listen to.
I received a free copy of this audio book at my own request and voluntarily leave this honest review. .

A man's man private detective!

Well-written mystery sprinkled with sarcastic humor!

I can't wait for the next book.

Tom Lennon did a great job narrating.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Great start

The author did a fantastic job starting off the new series. The characters were fleshed out and felt real. The narrator was great at bringing the story to life and keeping you engaged. I was given a free copy of this audio in return for an unbiased review.

Harry Starke PI

Blair Howard has given Harry Starke a new career in Genesis. I love how the character has evolved and grown with his relationship with Kate. Harry has a great heart and a little rough around the edge. I so enjoyed how he started his new career, and found staff to help him out, while helping them in return. Tom Lennon is magical bringing the characters to life in this book. He adds the right emotions and gives them distinguished voices. This is such a great beginning to a new series. I loved the twists in this book!

I am in LOVE

Harry Starke is micky spillane,columbo spencer for hire rolled into one action pack package i love him this is a great listen. i recommend it

A well-written & enjoyable mystery

Genesis Harry Starke Genesis, Book 1, my fourteenth read from author Blair Howard and the first in the Harry Stark Genesis series. Well-written and enjoyable detective fiction I was given a Kindle copy of this book back in January and am just now getting around to voluntarily reading & reviewing it. I look forward to the next book in this series The Raven: Harry Starke Genesis, Book 2. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

Great Series

GENESES. Blair Howard
Having been with this author from the first, and I love all of his series. Was delighted he put out a book that fills in the beginning of how Harry got started. The beginning of the agency, his staff, his first case, first time someone wanted to kill him. The beginning with Kate, their background. The people in his books seem like personal friends, the more we know about them the more we love them. Thanks for the beginning, now looking forward to his next books. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

short and sweet

I loved the introduction to this author. the narrator is good and leaves you wanting to continue the series

Not the greatest mystery/PI story

The narrator is not the best for this story. His rendition of people with accents that are not generic southern is AWFUL!!! He used a bad Irish accent for a West Indian female. Absolutely terrible. The reading was not very interesting even when the speed was raised. The story was only mediocre. Forcing himself into areas that really were not his business and insinuating himself into a case because the person was pretty. Ugh! Cliche!!!! Anyway, again, the story is interesting, not good, but kept my interest while reading the other 5 books I have. I received this Audiobook free from the author for my honest opinion.

Excellent audio book

It´s the first book in a new series about Harry Starke`s early years and how became a privat investigator.
As in the other books Blair Howard´s Harry Starke is an interesting and sympathetic character. You can imagine him beeing one of your friends. The book is highly entertaining and Tom Lennon does a great job.

The early years of Harry Starke is a must story.

Another good story read by Tom Lennon and a very easy to going book taking you back to the early years giving you an insight into why and how Harry set up his PI company after leaving the police force but now semi retired or so he thought This like other Harry Starke thrillers is a very easy to read book . I recommend anyone who likes well written thrillers with a bit of humour and at an easy pace that makes enjoyable to read and keep you turning the pages to try this book
The storyline is about Harry setting up his PI Company after leaving the police force driving on a wet and windy night driving to an illegal card game Card game with his best friend Ronnie at The Sorbonne” On route he has a near miss with a young twenty-one year old girl called Phoebe and gives her a lift to his destination. Phoebe stays and joins in but halfway through the game she disappears after being taken by shady looking guy who was previously in the bar. It then turns out Phoebe is the daughter of Frank Marsh a guy who had just been sent to prison. Harry follows the leads behind the kidnapping but every time he either comes close to a lead everyone just clams up and warns Harry off. Not being Harry’s style as Harry likes a challenge he goes out to prove people wrong and find out the truth. With so many twists and turns and with men called Shady, another called Jojo James and a Duckie Eider who all are somehow involved this is an intriguing story where you need all your wits and skills to survive.
A well written book with lots of fun and thrills packed with twists and turns make this a light-hearted fun book to read that I would recommend you to read or listen too whatever your preference.

Genesis

I did not know what to expect from this author since I have never read/listened to his work. I am happy to say that he had me gripped to the story. I had to stop what I was doing when listening because I got so caught up in the characters journey.
Would highly recommend. Looking forward to listening to the others in this series.

Before Pontius was a Pilate

This newly created Private Investigator from the pen of Blair Howard is remarkable. His characterisation is superb and less so but still good, is that of all of the other protagonists. Harry is a very real person, not necessarily always likeable but with his own codes of conduct and loyalties and able to draw on help from friends, soon to become his staff, and his father, if needed. Formerly an homicide police officer, Harry'd resigned just two months before, tired of the poor relationship with his superior and because, quite simply, he didn't feel himself to be that much required attribute, a team player. And being wealthy in his own right, he didn't need to put up with the hassle. His ex partner and girlfriend of eight years, Kate, was still in the force, however, and their relationship continued.

Told in the first person, narrator Tom Lennon delivers an excellent performance, fully assuming Harry's personality in this already well characterised relating of the story, thus further infusing him with a very believable persona as well as also delivering distinctive voices for everyone else. The story is also well crafted as Harry tries to find a young woman to whom he had given a lift but who had seemingly been abducted shortly after from the sleazy nightclub to which he had driven her. There are enjoyable phrases throughout like the description of 'a mini tsunami' created by his windscreen wipers as he drives through the pouring rain. The whole was a joy to hear- a fast paced thriller with good story line, great characters and fine, in character narration.