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The Scarecrow  By  cover art

The Scarecrow

By: Michael Connelly
Narrated by: Peter Giles
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Publisher's summary

Forced out of the Los Angeles Times amid the latest budget cuts, newspaperman Jack McEvoy decides to go out with a bang, using his final days at the paper to write the definitive murder story of his career. He focuses on Alonzo Winslow, a 16-year-old drug dealer in jail after confessing to a brutal murder. But as he delves into the story, Jack realizes that Winslow's so-called confession is bogus. The kid might actually be innocent.

Jack is soon running with his biggest story since The Poetmade his career years ago. He is tracking a killer who operates completely below police radar - and with perfect knowledge of any move against him. Including Jack's.

©2009 Michael Connelly (P)2009 Hachette

Critic reviews

"Narrator Peter Giles delivers the crisp and compelling copy with a deadpan tone and a pace that advances like Patton through Italy. Scenes involving the stalking of McEvoy and Walling raise hairs at the back of the listener's neck. Great characters and a satisfying ending cement Connelly's place as one of the best crime novelists working today." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about The Scarecrow

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    4,152
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Story
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    1,394
  • 3 Stars
    376
  • 2 Stars
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    26

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Jack is Back!

Great story, good characters. It is a bit predictable, but that is also what makes his books and characters so relatable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What took you so long.

This was a perfect follow to the Poet. This is a great series. I hope Connelly writes many more. After reading all of Bosch, I couldn't see how a reporter protagonist could come close. but Rachel Walling helps to come xlose. The story flow so smooth.

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

Very compelling story

Great story; my only complaint is that the narrator seems to be trying to make EVERY line extremely dramatic.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Constantly Entertaining

No lull in sight. constantly entertaining. I don't know how I missed Jack McEvoy's return in 2009. Glad to discover it a decade later.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen

Good story and pace. Went back after all the Bosch books and this was as good. Same style,..enjoyable

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book!

Iam eager to hear more stories from Rachel Wallings point of view!? I love how Michael Connelly has so many books that spun off of the Bosch series. I have heard them all but one.,.need Rachel's POV now! Love them all.

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

No Job

This is a good story, if you can look past the fact that the FBI agent, one of the two main characters in the story, breaks every good sense cop rule any police department would have, and still keeps her job.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good story!

What a good story! Weaved so well. Very much enjoyed Thai story. Looking forward to reading/ listening to more books

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining

This book kept me entertained throughout and I was sad when it was over. I really liked Jack's character and thought the narrator was excellent. I did think some of the "discoveries" were a bit contrived (especially the scarecrow link at the end) and the ending could have been more compelling; but overall an enjoyable read.

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16 people found this helpful

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

Jack McEvoy novel #2 by Micheal Connelly

Connelly's first Jack McEvoy novel, The Poet, was released in 1996, 13 years before The Scarecrow. At the very end of his career as a newspaper reporter McEvoy investigates the conviction for murder of an innocent young man. This thriller may be the novel with the highest level of suspense of any written by Connelly. I very highly recommend The Scarecrow!

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6 people found this helpful