Providence

A Novel

By: Caroline Kepnes

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews, Emily Rankin, Paul Michael

Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

"A dark beauty of a book, Providence kept me up at night with characters that made my heart a little bigger." (Jessica Knoll, New York Times best-selling author of Luckiest Girl Alive)

A propulsive novel that's part love story, part detective story, and part supernatural thriller - from the acclaimed author of You, whose work Stephen King describes as "hypnotic and totally original"

Best friends in small-town New Hampshire, Jon and Chloe share a bond so intense that it borders on the mystical. But before Jon can declare his love for his soul mate, he is kidnapped, his plans for a normal life permanently dashed.

Four years later, Chloe has finally given up hope of ever seeing Jon again. Then, a few months before graduation, Jon reappears. But he is different now: bigger, stronger, and with no memory of the time he was gone. Jon wants to pick up where he and Chloe left off...until the horrifying instant he realizes that he possesses strange powers that pose a grave threat to everyone he cares for. Afraid of hurting Chloe, Jon runs away, embarking on a journey for answers.

Meanwhile, in Providence, Rhode Island, healthy college students and townies with no connection to one another are suddenly, inexplicably dropping dead. A troubled detective prone to unexplainable hunches, Charles "Eggs" DeBenedictus suspects there's a serial killer at work. But when he starts asking questions, Eggs is plunged into a whodunit worthy of his most outlandish obsessions.

In this dazzling new novel - and with an intense, mesmerizing voice - Caroline Kepnes makes keen and powerful observations about human connection and how love and identity can dangerously blur together.

Narrators:

Jon, read by Macleod Andrews
Chloe, read by Emily Rankin
Eggs, read by Paul Michael

©2018 Caroline Kepnes (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"An artist, a mutated vigilante, a charming hunter, a sickly detective, and a literary lunatic: Caroline Kepnes brings them together in this propulsive and original story. It kept me up at night, scared and thinking." (E. Lockhart, New York Times best-selling author of Genuine Fraud and We Were Liars)

"The infinite talent of Caroline Kepnes shines through every page of this extraordinary tale. Providence is sure to be one of the best thrillers of the year." (Mary Kubica, New York Times best-selling author of The Good Girl)

"There is something for every reader in these pages - thrills, chills, and a complex love story. Kepnes is a writer to add to your must-read pile." (Tess Gerritsen, New York Times best-selling author of I Know a Secret)

I waited and waited but this?

Loved her last two books. I’m talking LOVED and couldn’t wait for her next one. But either it’s over my head or it’s a complete and total mess. Reminds me of a house with a bunch of additions that make no sense. It’s like someone with ADD had to deliver a book to her publisher and in a frenzy of pressure put this confusing, over complicated and head scratching story. I will say this: her first two books were so incredible I will always be a fan. This one was just a blip in what I’m sure will be an amazing career. I just didn’t get it.

Kepnes does it again!

I loved her other books and was wary of this one as it wasn’t a follow up to the first two books. This book is wonderful, Kepnes created characters you really come to care for. More than once I teared up over a story line, felt angst for the characters and didn’t want the story to end. I highly recommend!

Kept Coming Back

I liked this book, but didn't LOVE it. I did find myself thinking about the characters and looking forward to listening to it each time. It was a tad longer than I felt it should have been. A good amount of the John storyline was repetitive and not much was revealed in the way of an explanation of what happened to the poor boy. But that could be a good thing, leaves it open to interpretation and imagination. This would be a great book for a book club so you could discuss theories. I really like Kepnes' work, as it's entertaining and creative. I would recommend this book for those who like the author!

So good!

I'm from Providence so I may have been a little extra excited, but SO Good!

A Very Good Book

I liked this story very much. It’s heartbreaking, beautiful, maddening and compulsively listenable. I finished this one in less than two days which is very unusual for me. I don’t understand all the negative reviews. The narrators are perfectly cast and though the story is a little out there it really comes to life.

Beautiful and haunting..

It took a while to warm up to some of the characters. Once I got the rhythm, the story came together beautifully.

An unrequited love story and some supernatural!

I detested both of Caroline Kepnes two prior novels (YOU and HIDDEN BODIES), and wish Kepnes would write a final short story about Joe Goldberg where someone finally kills the evil bastard. PROVIDENCE is completely different; it is a love story and a serial murder story with relatively mild supernatural elements (I usually avoid novels that include the supernatural). The main characters are Chloe and Jon who fell in love in their early teens before Jon disappeared for several years along with a Providence RI police detective nicknamed "Eggs" who sought the killer even as he fought cancer. The word "Providence" refers to both the capital city of Rhode Island and to the possibly supernatural forces that separated Chloe and Jon. The first half of the novel develops slowly, but that is necessary due to the complex plot. In the end PROVIDENCE is a superb suspense mystery.

The narration deserves special attention because it is truly outstanding team narration by three of the best narrators. Emily Rankin is the voice of Chloe, McLeod Andrews is the voice of Jon, and Paul Michael is the voice of "Eggs".

After giving both YOU and HIDDEN BODIES 1 star ratings and reviews, I had doubts about listening to PROVIDENCE, but I'm very happy I purchased this 5 star novel.

A bit disappointed

Kepnes kind of fell flat with this one ,
It just didn’t feel fleshed out.
Imho

Amazing!

I started this book with no expectations but I really enjoyed the story and narration!

I had high hopes...

I was really excited to listen to this book because I absolutely loved Kepnes other books, You and Hidden Bodies (Santino Fontana was brilliant in his narration, by far the best narration I've heard in my Audiobook listening history). Unfortunately Providence just didn't deliver. The plot sounded a bit boring to me but I thought Kepnes' writing and the narrators deliveries would make it interesting. While the narration was good, the story really fell short and could not hold my interest, it was actually hard to finish. I felt no suspense, no anticipation, no desperate need to know whats going to happen next - you know the way you do when you're really into a book. Overall, this is not what I expected from the author, but I still look forward to reading more from Kepnes in the future...perhaps more Joe!