Inherit the Dead

A Novel

By: Lee Child, Lisa Unger, C. J. Box, Lawrence Block, Charlaine Harris, Jonathan Santlofer - editor, Mary Higgins Clark

Narrated by: Christopher Evan Welch

Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Twenty thrilling writers. One chilling mystery.

Pericles "Perry" Christo is a P.I. with a past. A one-time NYPD homicide cop, Perry has been struggling since he lost his badge, and his marriage, in a notorious corruption scandal. So when wealthy Upper East Side matron Julia Drusilla calls him one cold February night, he jumps at the chance to work what seems to be a straightforward (and lucrative) case. Julia needs Perry to track down the whereabouts of her beautiful yet aimless daughter, Angelina, who is about to become a very wealthy young heiress.

But as Perry digs deeper, he discovers there's much more to the story of the lovely "Angel." Her father, her best friend, her boyfriend - they all have agendas of their own. This classic noir tale twists and turns down New York's mean streets and around Hampton's beaches and back roads, during a bitterly cold and gray winter - where nothing is as it seems and everyone has something to hide.

Told in the same "serial novel" format that made 2011's No Rest for the Dead such a commercial and critical success, Inherit the Dead is a collaboration among 20 of today's best-selling mystery and thriller authors each taking a chapter of the narrative and infusing it with their signature style.

The editor, Jonathan Santlofer, has arranged to donate any royalties in excess of editor and contributor compensation to Safe Horizon, a leading provider of services to victims of violence and abuse, making this a worthy and winning accomplishment that showcases today's finest writers at their very best.

©2013 Lee Child, Lisa Unger, C.J. Box, Lawrence Block, Charlaine Harris, Jonathan Santlofer, and Mary Higgins Clark (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth

Listening to this round robin collaboration was like watching the *Dream Team* lose the Olympics.

The most interesting aspect was listening to each author perform in the line-up. Working with the same characters, and basic plot projection, their signature styles were highlighted, and individually, at least, entertaining. [But woe to "the one" that had the male characters all mindlessly swooning immediately over the poor imitation of a young Lauren Bacall -- really? Mercifully, this only happens during this author's chapter.] Obviously, with such a dream line-up, there was no Think Tank prior to pen hitting paper to map out the best possible scenario...I've read more intriguing plots in a bowl of alphabet soup. (My apologies to the chefs.) It was amazingly unimaginative, rote, and clichéd.

The best thing I can say about this book is that some of the royalties will go to a worthy charity (Safe Horizon). If we all buy this, if there are enough sales to cover "editor and contributor compensation", we can hope our purchase becomes a contribution...so in that case, highly recommend, with the above caveats.

Boring

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Someone who doesn't like a lot of action or suspense.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I just downloaded Twist, the newest book in the Frank Quinn series by John Lutz.

Any additional comments?

I have read most of these authors individually and love thier books. With each author doing a chapter, the flow just wasn't there. I know that part of the proceeds of the sale go to charity, which I think is great, but that wasn't enough motivation for me to even get through the whole book. This was a book I just couldn't wait to put down.

Anti-climactic: Boring

I expected more from this book. Too much internal dialogue. I forced myself to hang in there until the end as I thought it would surely get good at some point, but it didn't and the ending was dumb. Don't waste your credit.

Really?

Just don't . Don't waste time. Don't waste credits. Just do not bother at all period

Boring & badly plotted.

This book was terrible and ordinarily I would have asked for my credit back but given it was for a good cause I didn't and read it through right to the end. It was not a good. The plot was skimpy and the narrator did well to hold it together at all. This was appalling. Sorry. I'd not heard of most of the authors perhaps this was one of the problems. I've read other books structured like this which were fabulous. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of them.

Should not believe reviews

Waste of time and money terrible story
Language offensive
Too graphic why do writers think entertainment is graphic sex and language

Disappointing

Very disappointed, too much cursing, too many F words - We did not finish the book.

multiple writers yet one contiguous novel

Enjoyed it tremendously. I always like stories where the main character remains moral throughout the book. I was amazed how well it flowed as if written by one author.

I didn't give it a fair shake

This book is worth at least 4 because the cause behind it is valuable and noteworthy. I recognize alot of time, talent, and coordination was required by many to pull it together. That being said, I didn't get past the first 3-4 chapters. I kept meaning to but couldn't find that "spark" or "hook" drawing me in to really engage & commit. I hope you find what I could not :)

Unbelievably mundane

A complete failure to engage the reader even slightly I was totally disappointed in this collective authorship, even for a good cause

Fab listen

You'd think it was the same author.
Good story with nice narrative.
Amy Crime reader/listener should enjoy.