Powder Burn

By: Carl Hiaasen, Bill Montalbano

Narrated by: Robert Ramirez

Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

New York Times best-selling author Carl Hiaasen teamed up with journalist Bill Montalbano for this gripping thriller. Powder Burn stars Chris Meadows, a successful Miami architect who's leaving a meeting with an ex-girlfriend when he sees a car strike his ex, killing her. But the nightmare is only just beginning. As a witness to the crime, Chris knows the car's passengers - thugs linked to Miami's deadliest drug lords - are sure to come after him next. But what can he do if the police refuse to give him protection?

©1981 Carl Hiaasen / Bill Montalbano (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Shockingly awful--could not finish it

What happened to my favorite author, Carl Hiaasen? I've read virtually everything he's written and enjoyed all immensely. This story includes typically colorful protagonist but opening crime is so shocking, it's impossible to couch it with standard Hiaasen cynical wit and humor. What I read was utterly devoid of any of that trademark tongue-in-cheek style, irony, etc. Not one laugh out loud moment. And narrator is simply the worst--delivery is so fast-spoken it is difficult to understand audible book at times. Cadence is delivered at such an unrelenting machine-gun speed with a unwavering tone of angst, it made me anxious just to listen. PLEASE, Mr. Hiaasen, get back to writing on your own, or choose anyone but Mr. Montalbano! And I will be sure never to purchase an audiobook narrated by Robert Ramirez. So sad to give this book such a poor review, as Mr. Hiassen's other works have given me countless hours of enjoyment over the past two decades. I heartily recommend ALL of them EXCEPT for "Powder Burn".

I Love Carl Hiaasen, but man this was the hard

What disappointed you about Powder Burn?

I cant rate this book because I was to bored to get past the first 3 hours. If you love Carl Hiaasen stay away from this book. Its starts slow and I think that's the way it will continue. This book was a slow starter like the Lords of Discipline

Would you ever listen to anything by Carl Hiaasen and Bill Montalbano again?

Not both this book was too boring to complete. I have listened to all of Carl Hiassen books longer than 8 hours and I loved them all, this one was just not for me.

Would you be willing to try another one of Robert Ramirez’s performances?

I didn't finish the book so I don't feel like I should rate his performance

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Powder Burn?

I was to bored to finish the first half let alone the complete boo.

Any additional comments?

Can I have a refund?

Books are for reading, not acting.

I think I've finally worked out what bothers me about so many audio books. It is the acting of the readers. Do the readers have to PERFORM the work? Can't they just read it? Ramirez is clearly a good reader but the reader is not the star of the show. Thr text is. Why does the producer allow this talented man to act so much that it becomes difficult to follow the story? I know and understand there is an artist involved here, but I want to hear the book, not attend an actor's performance, complete with odd punctuation and inexplicable dramatic pauses. I can't comment on the book because I'm struggling to hear it. Can't I just get my credit back and we'll call it quits? Oh God, I miss George Wilson.

Darker

Would you consider the audio edition of Powder Burn to be better than the print version?

not sure, since I did not read the print version, but the audio was great

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

Yes, fast paced, no long rambling speeches

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

good

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

tough question, not really sure

Not Much Hiassen Here

Would you try another book from Carl Hiaasen and Bill Montalbano and/or Robert Ramirez?

After reading other books by Hiaasen, I am convinced that he simply put the finishing touches and added a few funny parts to this tome after Montalbano had finished.

What could Carl Hiaasen and Bill Montalbano have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I would have had Montalbano tell Hiaasen the structure of the story, and then have Carl alone write the book in his style.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Robert Ramirez?

The idea of having a young Latino read the book was a good one, but It seems that you need someone with a greater range of tone in his voice. It needs to be read by someone older, and with a more gruff voice.

What character would you cut from Powder Burn?

No Idea.

Hiaasen wit and humor missing

Do not buy this if you're expecting Carl Hiaasen's with and humor. The only Hoaasen I could find in the story is a bit of the character development, bit not enough...

The authors phoned this one in.

The authors phoned this one in. The performance was one-note. Look for cc something else to listen to.

BEWARE

If you are expecting classic Carl Hiaasen, don't bother with this one. I buy anything Hiaasen writes, but he didn't write this. He may have contributed some of the Floridian background like he uses in his books, but this is not his work. The plot may have been outlined with him, but I don't recognize much of his style in it.
I'm disappointed that he lent his name to the cover.

Good, but not up to pure Hiaasen.

The story is decent and deserves reading (or listening to) but if you are looking at this because you like Carl Hiaasen's work you will be disappointed. There is none of the humour that makes Hiaasen's work so much fun and it lacks some of his inventiveness. The story IS about Florida corruption and to that end is interesting and is well written enough to be worth reading. The performance is lackluster and, for me at least, takes away from the story.

captive

I always enjoy Carl Hiaasen's books he keeps me interested, intrigued, and amused. His characters are always brought to life in his rich visual details.

All potential lost to a bad reader

The plot might have held promise. Certainly with Hiaasen as one of the authors, I had hopes. But the reader ruined it. I could not get past chapter 3. Same harsh tone no matter what the scene, didn't seem to be taking in what he was reading so emphasis often misplaced. What a pity