Truth or Die

By: James Patterson, Howard Roughan

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

The truth will set you free - if it doesn't kill you first.

After a serious professional stumble, attorney Trevor Mann may have finally hit his stride. He's found happiness with his girlfriend, Claire Parker, a beautiful, ambitious journalist always on the hunt for a scoop. But when Claire's newest story leads to a violent confrontation, Trevor's newly peaceful life is shattered as he tries to find out why.

Chasing Claire's leads, Trevor unearths evidence of a shocking secret that - if it actually exists - every government and terrorist organization around the world would do anything to possess. Suddenly it's up to Trevor, along with a teenage genius who gives new meaning to the phrase "too smart for his own good", to make sure that secret doesn't fall into the wrong hands. But Trevor is about to discover that good and evil can look a lot alike, and nothing is ever black and white: not even the truth.

©2015 James Patterson and Howard Roughan (P)2015 Hachette Audio

COME ON

These authors went from writing gripping thrillers such as The Honeymoon and Don't Blink to this throwaway (pardon the pun). The dialogue was over the top similar to a cheap Hollywood film. Sure there was action, something to be expected, but is this crime fiction or fantasy? People get scorched but are not hospitalised? The plot and structure are seriously uninteresting and way too predictable apart from the opening chapters. Worst of all, the novel is factually incorrect. Last time I checked 7/20 was 35% and not 40%. I am bitterly disappointed in these authors. Had I not been exposed to their previous works, especially Patterson, I would have been frightened off. Do not recommend this novel to a first time reader of the genre. To the authors, go back to what made your earlier novels keepsakes.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

Boring, Babbling repititions.

What disappointed you about Truth or Die?

It is boring, keeps repeating stuff that has very little bearing on the story.
I quit listening to it, and will return it to Audible.

What could James Patterson and Howard Roughan have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I do not believe Patterson really wrote this. I think his helper did most of it.

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

disappointment.

Any additional comments?

I am a bit "gun-shy" about Patterson's books now.

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

so so

chapters did not agree with my pad. i don't know if this was from a bad download. recording also skipped often. lots of other books on my pad and this hasn't happened. got frustrating after awhile.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Could not finish

The plot if very confusing, a lot of loose ends, characters are not believable. The book is just OK, had to put it down.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent mystery

Patterson's story had many welcome twists and turns- great read! Narrator very good as well.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A very good read

This book starts out fast and maintains the pace throughout. The characters are believable . The story line is scary as you can easily believe this could very well happen in real life.
Very well narratted.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

GREAT!!!!

If you could sum up Truth or Die in three words, what would they be?

Moment to moment

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

Yes, I wasn't expecting it to go as high as it did

Have you listened to any of Edoardo Ballerini’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no he was my first

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

Good book, I love James Patterson

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Predictable w/few characters worth caring about.

Patterson should leave the legal eagle genre to the pros and stick to lady detectives.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

Boring. Formulaic. Even Edoardo can't save this.

Would you try another book from James Patterson and Howard Roughan and/or Edoardo Ballerini?

I love Edoardo Ballerini. I could listen to him read almost anything. However, James Patterson does not interest me. I believe he writes his books like James Michener "wrote" his books. It's good that the actual writer gets his name on the book; or, maybe not.

Has Truth or Die turned you off from other books in this genre?

I am just not interested in "the game inside the Beltway." Political thrillers in particular seem like an oxymoron. Real life politics bore me, too. Seems like a game in which only money speaks loudly, and an arena in which people lie so constantly that the truth holds zero value. I don't care about CIA plots or election plots or other related dramas. About a hundred years ago, with The Charm School, I thought that Nelson DeMille was worth reading, but not one of his books after that has been worth the time. Life is too short to read bad books, to paraphrase some wise person. There are so many great thriller writers. Read some of them.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, although I'm not quite sure how to answer this question. The shoot-em-up scenes were fast as hell. Despite this, everything about them was pat, period. "Good" guys, "bad" guys, who cares? Let them all kill each other, I say.

Did Truth or Die inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to put the book down at about half way through.

Any additional comments?

Nope.

5 of 9 people found this review helpful

Patterson Does It Again

This one has great character building and retains that throughout. The story line is credible and intriguing. What more can you ask for?