Tough Customer

A Novel

By: Sandra Brown

Narrated by: Victor Slezak

Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Colleagues, friends, and lovers know Dodge Hanley as a private investigator who doesn't let rules get in his way—in his private life as well as his professional one. If he breaks a heart, or bends the law in order to catch a criminal, he does so without hesitation or apology.

That's why he's the first person Caroline King—who after a 30-year separation continues to haunt his dreams—asks for help when a deranged stalker attempts to murder their daughter...the daughter Dodge has never met. He has a whole bagful of grudging excuses for wishing to ignore Caroline's call, and one compelling reason to drop everything and fly down to Texas: guilt.

Dodge's mind may be a haze of disturbing memories and bad decisions, but he arrives in Houston knowing with perfect clarity that his daughter, Berry, is in danger. She has become the object of desire of a co-worker, a madman and genius with a penchant for puzzles and games who has spent the past year making Berry's life hell, and who now has vowed to kill her.

Dodge joins forces with local deputy sheriff Ski Nyland, but the alarming situation goes from bad to worse when the stalker begins to claim other victims and leaves an ominous trail of clues as he lethally works his way toward Berry. Sensing the killer drawing nearer, Dodge, who's survived vicious criminals and his own self-destructive impulses, realizes that this time he's in for the fight of his life.

From acclaimed best-selling author Sandra Brown, Tough Customer is a heart-pounding tale about obsession and murder, the fragile nature of relationships, and, possibly, second chances.

©2010 Sandra Brown Management Ltd. All rights reserved. (P)2010 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Superb Narrator!

Slezak is one of my favorite narrators…he makes a book come alive beautifully; and needless to say, Sandra Brown’s storytelling has impeccable flow. This story has two timelines and Brown takes you to each one seamlessly with zero confusion.

Good story!

Liked the story - had a number of interesting twists and misleads. But a happily ever after.

Captured my attention from the start!

I love Sandra Brown and I love Victor Slezak's performances. THIS book, however, was far beyond my expectations! it was fabulous. I'd have never guessed some of the twists and turns that happened. I love the mix of mystery, suspense, and romance. Her books are my guilty pleasure and this one did not disappoint.

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel

The characters were very well developed, expecially the mother who was a strong independant woman who showed the care expected of a mother, and a father who was going to protect his daughter no matter what. I loved the romance mixed in with the mystery; romantic moments mixed in without overshadowing the real story.

Engaging

I read constantly and this is only my second or third review. I had to share the value of this book. Great plot, characters with style, surprises galore. Even thought the narrator was great. I cannot say enough positive things loved it.

Not awful but not her best

Would you be willing to try another book from Sandra Brown? Why or why not?

yes. I've liked other books that she's written

What aspect of Victor Slezak’s performance would you have changed?

He's usually better than this. His southern drawl was rather annoying on some characters.

Was Tough Customer worth the listening time?

Still unsure

Any additional comments?

It was a slow start and not the most realistic ending (she fell back on an old standard twist). Plus the narrator made it difficult to like the main character at all. I wonder if the author wanted him to be portrayed as THAT crotchety.

Great story!

Love all the books written by Sandra Brown but was not impressed by the narrator’s choice of voice for the “Dodge” character. He made him sound totally inept, excruciating stupid and unlikeable and it detracted from what was a really good story

Lots of Twists

I'm a fan of Sandra Brown narrated by Mr. Slezak, the perfect narrator for her books. Not great literature but who cares? This is a complex stories, very well told, with some surprising twists you won''t see coming. I enjoyed this.

Tough Customer is a winner

I really enjoyed this book. Interesting characters and engaging story. Dodge Hanley is a tough, hard, and brave man. He’s the kind of character you want to care about. I look forward to more stories about Dodge, Caroline,Berry, Ski, as well as Derek and Julie Mitchell. I also liked the first book in this series, Smash Cut.

Worthwhile read.

I have read almost all Sandra Brown's books. While, I don't think this is her best and should be classified more romance, it was a good easy read. This book did not have fast paced suspense, but was good novel.