14

By: Peter Clines

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Science Fiction, 2013

Padlocked doors. Strange light fixtures. Mutant cockroaches.

There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s. Because every room in this old Los Angeles brownstone has a mystery or two. Mysteries that stretch back over a hundred years. Some of them are in plain sight. Some are behind locked doors. And all together these mysteries could mean the end of Nate and his friends. Or the end of everything....

©2012 Peter Clines and Permuted Press (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A riveting apocalyptic mystery in the style of LOST." (Craig DiLouie, author of The Infection and The Killing Floor)

"A wholly original story that weaves together mystery and the apocalypse like a finely tuned band." (Evan Roy, Bricks of the Dead)

Fresh and Enetertaining

I purchased this novel on a whim, primarily on the strength of it's description. It turned out to be a great investment and a pleasant surprise! It's best experienced without much knowledge of the plot as most of the fun comes from the characters (who make numerous pop culture references and even compare themselves to Scooby Doo and his pals) unraveling the mysteries of the building where they live. Cline has a to-the-point writing style, a good sense of humor and he keeps this story rolling along.

14 isn't a deep novel or a book that will blow the reader away with tremendous, in-depth characterization. It's good, fun genre fiction with a memorable cast of characters and some genuinely surprising twists and turns. I highly recommend it.

I went from skeptical to obsessed

After talking my my co-worker Chris into checking out some of my favorite YA books it was my turn to take him up on a recommendation – and his pick for me was WAY outside of my normal listening zone. 14 is a Lovecraftian sci-horror novel that feels pulpy and modern at the same time. There’s plenty of kitsch, and lots of old-fashioned sci-fi techniques are on display here, but the voice is still totally fresh, as is Ray Porter- who totally nails the narration. It’s one of the weirdest and best books I’ve ever listened to, and from the number of 5 star reviews it would seem our listeners agree!

My mistake

Sorry, just not my kind of story. I must not have read the summary close enough.

Really?

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Absolutely not.

What was most disappointing about Peter Clines’s story?

I can't believe this was a real story. I looked at all reviews and thought i would step out of my comfort zone and try a new type of book... that was a bad idea.

Do you think 14 needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

If there was a follow up book, it needs to be a love story between the two main characters and leave all the flying tentacles and whales alone!

Any additional comments?

I'm going to ask for a refund.

meh....

I don't like the narrator much. he talks like a valley girl. I could see the book being better if I read it myself. but the book was kind of dull too.

Beware of the mutant cockroaches

If you’ve enjoyed Peter Clines "Ex-Heros" zombie-thriller series, (or even if you haven’t) be forewarned...this novel does not read in the same exciting way at the beginning. “14” is a real change-up and has a slow start. There’s a lot of build up in character and plot development. I was seriously considering giving up the first hour or 90 minutes in and I’m glad I didn’t. Narrator Ray Porter does a spectacular job of drawing the listener in to what can be an all nighter. When the mutant cockroaches, odd lightbulbs, lack of city power and mysterious cryptic notes on the apartment walls were introduced, I became more interested.

As Nate, the primary protagonist, talks to other tenants of the building where he has just rented his apartment, they discover several of them have become interested in oddities that don’t make any sense. When the mutant cockroaches, odd lightbulbs, lack of city power tunnels and caves underneath the building and mysterious cryptic notes are introduced along with a small dose of the Scooby-Doo Mystery Kids I became more interested. Their old apartment building has a past and the mixed group of tenants decide to research the unusual history of their residence.

If I wrote any more about the plot, my review would become a spoiler so suffice it to say that it’s a completely enjoyable listen about regular people who begin, almost for fun, a search to discover why strange things happen in their average apartment building. The character development moves along as the story develops and a slow story becomes exciting. I can see this easily as a movie or even TV series

it’s a horror story-also sci-fi, some mystery, occasionally funny, potentially post apocalyptic and even romantic that is a super fun listen. This is a good read for almost anyone.

disappointing conclusion ruins this book

The first 2 thirds of this book are actually quite good. We are introduced to the cast of characters

living at the apartment block where most of the action takes place.
The characters, for the most part, are interesting and the dialogue and action scenes are well written.

However, when we reach the climax of the story it deteriates into something like a bad 1950s horror movie.
Indeed, it is complete with creatures with tenticles for faces and bat wings.

Good story building, but in the end it seems the author ran out of good ideas and fell back on the usual horror clichets.

On the plus side narration is excellent.

Unique story that had me from word one!

Any additional comments?

I have listened to a lot of audio books and I have never felt compelled to share a review about any of them. That is not to say they were not great or that I didn't enjoy them and it is not an insult to those books but rather a testament as to how much I enjoyed 14. I have never read anything from this author before and I am not sure why I choose this book. I read the description and though it sounded interesting.

I was sucked in right away. I found myself taking the long way to and from the office. I was listening to it while doing yard work, I just didn't want to stop listening. I don't want to give anything away so I will not go into any plot lines. All of the characters are well developed and I found myself interested in all of them. I enjoyed the bond that builds between them as the story goes on. The plot was unique and mysterious. The narrator was fantastic and I think really makes the story come to life. Overall, it was one of the very best audio books I have listened to and I would encourage people to take a chance on this one.

The actor made this hard a listen.

It is an obvious Lovecraftian story. It took 19 chapters for me to even relate to a character. The monotone voice of the actor made it hard differentiate.some of the characters. I was well into 30 chapters before the story was engaging.

so so

First part was good but the second half was too unbelievable for me to enjoy.