The Breach

By: Patrick Lee

Narrated by: Jeff Gurner

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Thirty years ago, in a facility buried beneath a vast Wyoming emptiness, an experiment gone awry accidentally opened a door. It is the world’s best-kept secret—and its most terrifying. Trying to regain his life in the Alaskan wilds, ex-con/ex-cop Travis Chase stumbles upon an impossible scene: a crashed 747 passenger jet filled with the murdered dead, including the wife of the [resident of the United States.

Though a nightmare of monumental proportions, it pales before the terror to come, as Chase is dragged into a battle for the future that revolves around an amazing artifact. Allied with a beautiful covert operative whose life he saved, Chase must now play the role he’s been destined for—a pawn of incomprehensible forces or humankind’s final hope—as the race toward Apocalypse begins in earnest. Because something is loose in the world. And doomsday is not only possible...it is inevitable.

©2010 Patrick Lee (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"It's all here: brilliantly devious enemies; nifty, innovative gadgets and weaponry; hang-on-to-your-hat action; and razor-sharp plot twists aplenty." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Audacious and terrifying - and uncannily believable." (Lee Child)

Another amazing performance by Jeff Gurner

Like one of the reviewers before me, I decided to give "The Breach" a try based solely on the fact that Jeff Gurner had narrated it. I absolutely loved his performance in "Daemon" and "Freedom (TM)", and he nailed it again in "The Breach".

The story of "The Breach" was very compelling. I would consider this to be an action / sci-fi book, and I could definitely see it being made into a movie one day. If it were to be made into a movie, it would surely be Rated R for graphic violence and mild sexual situations. So let that serve as your warning if you're sensitive to that type of thing.

I thought the author did a fantastic job of setting each scene and describing everything within the book in great detail. It was very easy to imagine exactly what the story might look like in a live action format. The fast-paced nature of the book was especially addictive -- one of those types of audiobooks that keeps you listening in your car for several minutes after reaching your destination.

I could see how some might not like the way the book ended, but for me, I thought it was very fitting, and it definitely leaves the story open for a potential sequel that I would jump at the chance to listen to.

amazing book!

This was a great book and I cannot wait to listen to the next book in the series.!

Fringe meets 24. One of the best books I've read i

Fringe meets 24. One of the best books I've read in a long time! The entire trilogy is excellent.

awesome!

if you like sci fi similar to Michael Crichton or Peter Clines you'll dig this! a slight bit darker though and a little more action.

Fantastic ride, wipes out at the finish

It's been a long time since a thriller had me this high strung. Crazy intense set pieces, like invisible gunmen or an impossible, horrific siege, place the reader in situations of abject helplessness and hopelessness. This book is the paper equivalent of a roller coaster. I vocally shouted at it at least twice.

This book is has strong sci-fi elements, and seems like it takes ideas from movies like Men in Black and Momento or video games like Half Life and Crysis.

Two caveats, though.

First, the book has a mild sex scene, constant language, and cringe inducing gore.

Second, the ending was atrocious. My wife and I both felt as if the resolution had gaping holes. It creates more questions than it answers. Maybe that is what the author wanted, but for me it just seemed incomplete or worse, silly. I'll instantly forgive Patrick Lee if there is a sequel, though.

With all that siad, I'm still giving it 5 stars for the wild ride.

Intriguing, thought provoking, great narration

I really enjoyed "The Breach." I actually searched for this book based upon the Narrator. Gurner has been excellent in everything I have listened to.
As for the book, I was very impressed with the story. Very imaginative, very creative. Some of the things that Lee invented and imagined seemed incredibly intelligent. Also, the ending really surprised me. Amazing plot twist, everything before it took on a new meaning. This is both good and bad as it opens up some significant plot holes but it was orchestrated with great technique. Excellent setup.

There are a couple issues I have with Lee's writing. Sometimes he "dangles the bait" a little too much. He'll greatly extend a moment of revelation to the point where it gets a bit aggravating. He'll write something like, "Both Travis and Paige were thinking the exact same thing and it explained everything. It was the key to all their questions. Their looks totally reflected that they were both thinking this one amazing thing" and he'll keep going on for a long, drawn out time before he gets to the point. Sometimes, this is useful. With lesser plot points it's like listening to Morning Radio where they want to keep you on through the commercials.

Before you read my spoilers and if you do, I really did enjoy this book. My issues with it are really only because Patrick Lee's writing really invited me to think about the book a lot. It wasn't a "read it and forget it book." I really did enjoy it and will keep reading the series and future books by Lee.

SPOILER ALERT: (Do not read unless you have made it through 7 Theaterstrasse. This is really just discussion for fans of the book)
I had a big problem with this whole area of the book (7 Theaterstrasse). It highlights Lee's other weakness. Basically the personnel in the house killed people and they killed some more and they killed some more and did I mention they were killing? We get it, lots of dead people. Lee has a habit of over-shocking the reader to the point where you begin to think, "okay, this is incredibly fake." He also missed a huge opportunity in this passage. He mentioned children in the mob. He should have had Paige command "don't fire at the children unless it's life or death!" Then, when Paige is working on the Nuke, he could have had a very young girl advancing on Travis, about to pick up a gun, slowly aiming it at Travis. The conflict of whether or not Travis kills the kid would be tense. How did such a young kid make it so far? Maybe he does end up killing the kid a second before all is clear and it haunts him in the upcoming sequels. Maybe he doesn't. Either way, a big character building opportunity was missed. That brings up my last point. The author doesn't delve deep enough into what made Travis a bad person early in life. There were no reflections on really flawed behavior. Yeah, he thinks about his ex girlfriend a lot but people who are flawed and know it really obsess over their past misgivings.

What a ride!

This story is anything but boring. With multiple dimensions, battles with vaguely described beings and forces, movements backward and forward in time, it takes an alert listener to stay with the story and not get lost. Sometimes I felt like I was visiting a 21st Century "Wonderland" - just needed a white rabbit.

I'll have to listen to it again some day, to fill in the gaps. Jeff Burner did a great job with narration. He's easy to listen to.

I'm going to look for other books by Patrick Lee.

Where is Patrick lee??

One of the best authors nobody seems to know about. Pray for more. Come on Patrick - you have a gift and you went AWOL

Unconventional, unexpected, entertaining.

I never expected what happened next. Especially when I thought I knew what was going to happen. A truly flawed protagonist, bordering on anti-hero. A woman who truly doesn't exist simply for romantic interest; Who is strong, smart, and capable in her own right. Unique and in depth world-building that is believable. The only truly lackluster thing for me was the voice-actor.

Great listen...... Very entertaining.

I liked the fast pace and twist at the end. Narration was great. Going to listen to the rest of the series.