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Heat  By  cover art

Heat

By: Stuart Woods
Narrated by: Tony Roberts
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Publisher's summary

Ex-DEA agent Jesse Warden has seen enough of the inside of a solitary confinement cell to last him a lifetime. Or two lifetimes, which is the sentence he's serving after being convicted of a crime he was planning to commit but never did. So when an old buddy shows up with a deal that could spring him from his hell behind bars, he's ready to listen.

To gain his freedom, Jesse must infiltrate a dangerous and reclusive religious cult that has been stockpiling weapons and eliminating those sent to investigate. From the moment he arrives in the Idaho mountain town where the cult is centered, Jesse finds every aspect of life dictated by the group's eerie, imposing leader. Pitted against not only the cult but the feds who sent him, Jesse feels control of his own life slipping away and must make a final, desperate attempt to regain it - or die trying.

©1994 Stuart Woods (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Heat

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    202
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
    28
  • 2 Stars
    6
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Performance
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  • 4 Stars
    82
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    173
  • 4 Stars
    81
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    3

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

Bad. Just bad. Disappointed.

I really enjoyed the first Stuart Woods book I listened to - Chiefs - but the ones I've tried since then have not been anywhere near as good. Another in the series was only fair, and this one is pretty bad. I'm very disappointed, and I've decided I won't even try any others.

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5 people found this helpful

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

1st half mystery, 2nd half thriller. Slow narrator

I enjoyed this audiobook on balance, although the plot was beyond belief at times. The publisher's summary gives an outline of the story. Roughly speaking, the first half is of the book is more or less a mystery; the second is more like a thriller. Stuart Woods is a good writer, with vivid characters and descriptions. The plot however is a bit over the top, with an ordinary, self-educated man (Jesse) transformed into a kind of superhero by the end.

This version is narrated by Tony Roberts, who does a good job but reads much too slowly for my taste. I listened to most of the book at twice regular speed but which sounded almost normal, whereas I usually cannot even understand a a reader at that rate. This is 11 hrs, 19 min long, which may be compared with an older edition, narrated by Richard Ferrone, that lasts only 10hrs, 15 min, more than an hour shorter, and Ferrone is not a particularly fast speaker. Other readers who are satisfied with thrilling adventures for their own sake understandably gave this book a higher rating.

The leader of a religious cult, Jack Gene Coldwater, is a kind of fanatic fostering a following in a small, remote town in Idaho by both personal charisma and ruthless power. Although he does get off on exercising power and authority, he does not seem to take great pleasure in it. It is just a means to a narcisstic but obscure end.

Another issue with the plot was this: Jesse's wife had died, although they had a daugher on whom he doted. When he went to jail, presumably for life, his daughter was not put into foster care but put up for adoption without his consent. (This is in the early 1990's.) Perhaps a reader more knowledgeable than I can tell me whether that is even legally possible.

This review, together with spoilers, may also be found on Goodreads.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding story

I have read most of Stuart Woods's books and this one I couldn't stop listening too! Tony Roberts Did a great job narrating this book as always.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Needs a new narrator

Would you try another book from Stuart Woods and/or Tony Roberts?

Maybe

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Plot was great.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

This was a book about hard dangerous men. Tony Roberts made it sound like they were at a tea party or in a love story. I think his inaccurate representation of the actors took a lot out of the book. I may have to buy this book in paperback to gain the true depth of character and story.

Was Heat worth the listening time?

Could have been better with different narrator.

Any additional comments?

I'm not sure how producers allowed this to be published. Are not narrators selected to represent the context of the book. Put Tony in the romance section.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Jessie

Omg I wasn't ready when Jessie got caught by cold water. I was like Noooooooo he came so far to get caught up like that. Great book, one of my favorites

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2 people found this helpful

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

I normally like Stuart Woods

What would have made Heat better?

This book was just too unbelievable. Moved to slow...

What was most disappointing about Stuart Woods’s story?

Not believable

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Tony Roberts?

Don't know

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

You'll thank me if you don't read this book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

HEAT

This i.s the most remarkable book I have read in a very long time.It is very lengthy. This is a good thing,time is needed for such a thought provoking READ!

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1 person found this helpful

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

Good dime store novel

A fun improbable book. The narrator was fine with narrative, but his characters were not. Particularly the protagonist was down right awful. He sounds like a 12 year old which detracts from the listen. I found myself cringing when our hero speaks. The antagonists voices were good. So proceed at you own discretion. On the positive side the story was so much fun I continued to listen. You can read full descriptions from other reviewer's so I can only share my opinion. And you know what they say about opinions. So why you say or my stars conflicting well I guess I just enjoy a good trashy novel now and again and this was certainly enjoyable.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Heat—Dated

This 1993 story is a fine thriller. As well as good arm chair flying lesson. 31 years later it hyperbolizes the onset of modern Internet tech. Hence I enjoyed the dated nature of the story in general.

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

Typical for This Group

The reason I listen to Stuart Woods novels is I can count on an entertaining read. I like to listen to Tony Robert’s he is clear and doesn’t mumble. If you watch tv today you will hear people mumbling a lot. You turn up the volume but you can’t understand the words at any level. Tony Robert’s always does a good job. I realized that I had read this book book many years ago but I enjoyed it again. I do think the story was a bit rushed at times. But you get a lot of action for your time. If you want an easy to follow fun listen this is it.

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