Luther: The Calling

By: Neil Cross

Narrated by: David Bauckham

Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Meet Detective Chief Inspector John Luther. He's a murder detective. He's brilliant; he's intense; he's instinctive. And yet there are rumours that DCI Luther is bad - not corrupt, but tormented.

The first in a new series of novels featuring DCI John Luther takes us into Luther's past and into his mind. It is the story of the case that tore his personal and professional relationships apart, and propelled him over the precipice.

©2011 Neil Cross (P)2011 W F Howes Ltd

A very dark introduction to Luther

I decided to read this before starting to watch the BBC TV series with Idris Elba. There is a lot to like about this book, the characters on the police side are well formed, the performance is solid and the pacing is good.

My understanding of the tv series is that Luther pushes the boundaries and is a dark character and given this book is written after the tv series to try and explain (prologue) the Luther character I think the author has gone overboard in the violence and nature of the crime Luther is investigating which detracts from the story (and I have read a lot of crime novels).

brings Luther to life. great prequel to the show

What made the experience of listening to Luther: The Calling the most enjoyable?

Well done on Luthers voice.great prequel to the show and gives good insight to the first episode of the first season

What other book might you compare Luther: The Calling to and why?

Don't know but it makes you squirm. Quite graphic detail of how he kills the baby sitter and the family and kids. Not for faint hearted. I like some sick stuff but this was just on my threshold. Be warned but great if you love the show

What does David Bauckham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Luther voice was spot on and being a fan of the show you can imagine it very well

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

Extreme squirming while driving. The kill scenes shouldn't be played out loud with kids or girlfriend in the car

Any additional comments?

Great for fans.

Called to justice.

A tall and intuitive detective follows leads, but not necessarily the rules, to obtain a just solution.The story leaps between characters telling it, and without any element of instruction, also fills in the reasons for the original action. Some nasty killings, but carefully explained. Great narration means the detectives are never confused; they are all clearly delineated. The ending was never in doubt - just how long it would take Luther to solve it, and how much paperwork he would have to sort out afterwards was left to your imagination. Has a filmic quality to it. Sorry to have finished it.

Just as good as the TV adaptation

I really enjoyed Luther. A great story and I really empathised with Luther and his need to keep going on the job despite his personal life falling apart. Would like some more please? Could we have some Alice too? The interaction with Luther and her was too good not to be included in the audio book.

Luther

Great story, well told he's almost got the Northern Ireland accent of Benny down to a T and I should know being from Belfast. Really enjoyed it from start to finish.

too much cruelty

Personal taste no doubt but I really didn't enjoy the cruelty in this book. I want a listen I can enjoy but I personally can't enjoy listening to the kind of cruelty that was portrayed here, it was too way disturbing and not necessary. Frankly, sick. I wondered if the author was enjoying it?
I also felt the author was getting off on his own soft porn descriptions. Sex is ok but the frequent, graphic and badly written soft porn descriptions were unnecessary and unreal. The writer being male wrote them from a male porn perspective..
For example, I doubt very much a woman has ever thought about her own body in that way and using those words. It certainly wouldn't be normal. It was a bit like a perverted male porn fantasy.
The narration was ok but the voice didn't quite fit the character for me as he sounded a bit thick. It was a bit too outrageous. It was caricature rather than a real accent.
The TV series was terrific and that's why I bought this but I won't be reading anything else by Neil Cross.

very meh

Not bad story. Could have been better. Always feel they make Luther sound like a rookie detective with an A level psychology pass.

Love love love!

I originally purchased the kindle edition to take on holiday. I don’t tend to read much on holiday but this book got me hooked. I could not put it. I love series and wish there were more books to accompany the series. If you love sinister psychological crime this is the book.

Brilliant

one of those listens that has you heading to bed early to finish it off.. Great narration brought all the characters to life. fell madly in love with Luther all over again.

Incredible, what a book!!

This was a fantastic story which married up well with the TV series and made a great deal of sense when reflecting on how the TV series started. Really enjoyable, very graphic so be prepared to stomach some harsh language but all in all one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened too.

Gripping and compelling.

The only criticism I have is the narrators voice for Luther was....well...not right is all I can say, the rest however was superb. The story is compelling and sad, with hints of "oh my gosh!!!!"

I'd want him on my side!

I bought this book to have Idris Elba in my head for a while.......also because the fabulous David Bauckham reading.
The story is gripping from the start dragging me into a world where there are goodies and very baddies but the lines are blurred.
Brilliantly read as every David Bauckham narration is, each character an individual easy to indentify from little girl to sleaze bags.
A marvellous find.