Sample

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

The Last Refuge

By: Chris Knopf
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.41

Buy for $18.41

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Sam Acquillo is at the end of the line. A middle-aged corporate dropout living in a ramshackle cottage in Southampton's North Sea, Sam has abandoned friends, family, and a big-time career to sit on his porch, drink vodka, and stare at the Little Peconic Bay.

But then the old lady next door ends up floating dead in her bathtub, and it seems that Sam is the only one who wonders why. Despite himself, burned out, busted up, and cynical, the ex-engineer, ex-professional boxer, ex-loving father and husband finds himself uncovering secrets no one could have imagined, least of all Sam himself.

Meanwhile, a procession of quirky characters intrudes on Sam's misanthropic ways, the likes of which you never knew inhabited the hidden corners of the storied Hamptons: the haves, the have-nots, and the want-to-have-at-all-costs, some of them deadly.

©2005 Chris Knopf (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Knopf's effortless narrative style and sense of humor bode well for the further adventures of Sam Acquillo." (Publishers Weekly)
"Though the mystery drives the plot, it's Sam's rediscovery of himself in middle age that is the real focus in this accomplished debut novel, which also boasts outstanding dialogue and a vividly rendered setting. Expect to hear more from Knopf; he is definitely a writer to watch." (Booklist)

What listeners say about The Last Refuge

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    514
  • 4 Stars
    334
  • 3 Stars
    118
  • 2 Stars
    27
  • 1 Stars
    24
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    560
  • 4 Stars
    213
  • 3 Stars
    70
  • 2 Stars
    19
  • 1 Stars
    10
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    454
  • 4 Stars
    271
  • 3 Stars
    102
  • 2 Stars
    26
  • 1 Stars
    15

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great narrator.

Interesting plot and characters. Looking forward to the rest of the series. 5 stars all around.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

fantastic

I loved it...Stefan Rudnicki is just outstanding. the story is great!! keep you wanting to hear the rest

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Slow

Interesting read but slow and a lot of unnecessary information that could’ve been left out. This is the second book that I have read from this author and both have had a homosexual in it. I’m not sure why unless the author is one himself. Lastly, why the need for all of the foul language?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Great Story

I love Chris Noth, and if this is his story that’s great. What I have a problem with is the editors, just following the English language and the miss use of pronouns. North seems to be unable to pronounce some three syllable words but I love his voice. As a product of the 60s, my mom drilled and drilled and drilled about grammar and how far it would get you. The lack of editing these grammatical errors was painful for my listening.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

It's free but

I drive a truck each night for 8 hours and listen to audiobooks to pass the time. I have listened to hundreds if not a thousand or more. Some of the reviews for this book stated it was too long and drawn out. They were correct. If this book had 2,000 words it could have got by with 600. To in-depth in spots, a bunch of spots. Overall not bad, it did keep me awake.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Great story

I enjoyed the unique storyline and look forward to reading more by this author. While the narrator did an ok job, I found myself distracted by his seeming to be out of breath. At first I thought the characters were involved in physical activity because of all the breathlessness, but then realized that it was just the narrator. Hope he can hone the skills because otherwise he’s decent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

a lot of characters

I usually don't mind a lot of characters, but honestly, I didn't take the time to really sort out all of these.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

A Very Enjoyable Mystery

I hope the author has written other book equal to this. The Stefan Rudnicki’s reading was excellent as well. Keep them coming Chris Knopf. I’ll be buying the next one.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Slow pace but still interesting

At times this book moved so slowly that I became agitated. After a while I became accustomed to the pace and started to appreciate it. It forced me get away from the news and think about nothing but the book, like meditation. The plot is original and the ending is satisfying, but don’t expect a lot of action. If you need a book to interrupt a steady diet of thrillers but still hold your interest this is for you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Such a great story!

It’s much more than a murder mystery. I loved all the characters and highly recommend!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!