Ragdoll

A Novel

By: Daniel Cole

Narrated by: Alex Wyndham

Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

William Fawkes, a controversial detective known as The Wolf, has just been reinstated to his post after he was suspended for assaulting a vindicated suspect. Still under psychological evaluation, Fawkes returns to the force eager for a big case. When his former partner and friend, detective Emily Baxter, calls him to a crime scene, he's sure this is it: the body is made of the dismembered parts of six victims, sewn together like a puppet - a corpse that becomes known as "The Ragdoll".

Fawkes is tasked with identifying the six victims, but that gets dicey when his reporter ex-wife anonymously receives photographs from the crime scene, along with a list of six names, and the dates on which the Ragdoll Killer plans to murder them.

The final name on the list is Fawkes.

Baxter and her trainee partner, Alex Edmunds, hone in on figuring out what links the victims together before the killer strikes again. But for Fawkes, seeing his name on the list sparks a dark memory, and he fears that the catalyst for these killings has more to do with him - and his past - than anyone realizes.

With a breakneck pace, a twisty plot, and a wicked sense of humor, Ragdoll announces the arrival of the hottest new brand in crime fiction.

©2017 Daniel Cole (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Really enjoyed it.

Great book. Surprised it doesn't have more buzz. Reminded me a lot of The Fourth Monkey.

Some Listen! Excellent.

What made the experience of listening to Ragdoll the most enjoyable?

A combination of the sly wit and on the button social commentary of the author and the ever excellent Alex Wyndham's narration.

What does Alex Wyndham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He just has a natural grasp of how to tell a story, performing all the characters impeccably and with real heart and drawing you right in. There's no better narrator for out there for me.

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

I thought it was really intense and one I needed to pace myself with.

Any additional comments?

I think it's a cut above your average procedural, with a real eye for detail and character in it's London setting. The humour and characterization are so subtle and self-aware - rare to find in a thriller, but I guess that's why it got so much attention. Straight up one of the best audiobooks I've listened to. Gave me shivers.

As over the top and unrealistic as it gets

Annoying book which tries to create the most horrofying crimes and murders. But it completely fails in doing so because there is no story to back this all. At the same time the narrative is overly dramatic. Every sentence is read as is something terrible happens. Strange and flimsy ending after so much build up.
Complete waste of time

Chill Maker

I loved this story. At first I thought I may have trouble because the story is set in England and sometimes stories set in that region tend to run slow. No chance here. Set up of the story is after a lead Detective is defamed and ruined over an aquitted suspect who later is found to be a serial killer.The Detective comes unhinged. He losses his wife and does some time in a mental health facility. Once well and back on the job, he gets a call to a homicide. At first it appears to be a normal scene. Once further examination is done it is found the all the light bulbs but one that shines on the deceased have been removed. The body is a combination of different peoples body parts sewn together. The head, is the serial killer that was aquitted and one female arm points out the window straight at the Detectives home. Sound good? It is. I have already purchased the follow- up book. Enjoy the story!

Ragdoll

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read! The book keeps you riveted from the beginning to the end.

odd narration but good book

I really enjoyed the book. It reminds me a lot of old school Law and Order.

Excellent story and excellent narration

This is an excellently written and gripping story that blends a perfect balance of darkness and adventure... the sort of book that would make a great David Fischer film.

Alex Wyndham does a fantastic job of translating this same balance into his narration. His gruff tone to start helps to foster the image of a darker and more sinister world for the audience but it evolves as the characters (and the listener's empathy with them) arc through the story.

He also doesn't intrude on the story like so many narrators do, allowing the narrative to take center stage rather than his narration.

Couldn't finish it

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The initial premise was very interesting, but the implausibility of it all became overwhelming.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The original premise of finding 6 victims' body parts stitched together, and the "locked room" mystery of how a prisoner becomes a victim, certainly caught my attention; however, the detective work seemed incredibly casual and inept. I was not at all interested in the lives of the detectives.

What didn’t you like about Alex Wyndham’s performance?

Voice is husky and hard to hear. Also, every sentence seemed to end in an exclamation point, as though he were trying to add excitement to an otherwise bland performance.

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

Couldn't make it through. Identifying the original 6 victims and their murderer would have been enough to fill a novel- why add 6 more intended victims? Lost interest in so many subplots.