The Breach

By: Patrick Lee

Narrated by: Jeff Gurner

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

Thirty years ago, in a facility buried beneath a vast Wyoming emptiness, an experiment gone awry accidentally opened a door. It is the world’s best-kept secret—and its most terrifying. Trying to regain his life in the Alaskan wilds, ex-con/ex-cop Travis Chase stumbles upon an impossible scene: a crashed 747 passenger jet filled with the murdered dead, including the wife of the [resident of the United States.

Though a nightmare of monumental proportions, it pales before the terror to come, as Chase is dragged into a battle for the future that revolves around an amazing artifact. Allied with a beautiful covert operative whose life he saved, Chase must now play the role he’s been destined for—a pawn of incomprehensible forces or humankind’s final hope—as the race toward Apocalypse begins in earnest. Because something is loose in the world. And doomsday is not only possible...it is inevitable.

©2010 Patrick Lee (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic Reviews

"It's all here: brilliantly devious enemies; nifty, innovative gadgets and weaponry; hang-on-to-your-hat action; and razor-sharp plot twists aplenty." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Audacious and terrifying - and uncannily believable." (Lee Child)

worth the wild ride

This is a good book. It takes you to a place and makes you a part of the action. The writing is good, the narration is good. If I were told the storyline beforehand I would not have given this book a chance, I am very glad that I did, it takes you from the start and keeps the interest going to the end. It is fantastic at times but for some reason it all works, again I think the author is a good at his craft. I would recomend this book.

Good but with problems

This is a good page turner/book to read on a vacation. Basically put it's not the brightest of novels. The science fiction, while sound in the reality, is a little vague in terms of the why's and what's. But if you suspend your disbelief enough it all comes together in a nice wash of dumb euphoria.

There are 2 problems I had with the book:
1. the "good guys" speak and deduct like genius' that really only serve the plot which is slightly annoying. Some of their reasoning skills come down to the reader thinking, "really? because that's infering quite a bit and there are many more solutions that counter that. On top of their genius there are HUGE mistakes made that seem illogical for them to make. I won't spoil anything here but keep in mind, if you understand how a technology works why would you allow it to basicially work in the enemies favor?

2. The book, while trying to keep the female lead strong and intelligent fails to due so in most respects in order to keep the male lead the main protagonist. She says smart things and we are told she's smart, but then we have this male protagonist with zero experience in the things he's dealing with deducting for her and otherwise making her look dumb. He's always telling her what is happening and she's always dumbly following and saying, "I don't know, what do you think?" It comes across as chauvinistic in my opinion, and I'm male.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a quick fun read, but don't expect to remember this one as it's poor character development makes it forgettable.

Fantastic ride, wipes out at the finish

It's been a long time since a thriller had me this high strung. Crazy intense set pieces, like invisible gunmen or an impossible, horrific siege, place the reader in situations of abject helplessness and hopelessness. This book is the paper equivalent of a roller coaster. I vocally shouted at it at least twice.

This book is has strong sci-fi elements, and seems like it takes ideas from movies like Men in Black and Momento or video games like Half Life and Crysis.

Two caveats, though.

First, the book has a mild sex scene, constant language, and cringe inducing gore.

Second, the ending was atrocious. My wife and I both felt as if the resolution had gaping holes. It creates more questions than it answers. Maybe that is what the author wanted, but for me it just seemed incomplete or worse, silly. I'll instantly forgive Patrick Lee if there is a sequel, though.

With all that siad, I'm still giving it 5 stars for the wild ride.

Too short - but I guess that means it was good

I don't usually go for such short books - I listen to a lot of books, so length counts. I gave this one a try based on the reviews, and I liked it fine - but it was too short. Left me wanting more. I have seen complaints about the ending. Personally the ending took me totally by surprise, which was refreshing. Give it a listen.

Pleasant Surprise

What a find! A standout story, well narrated and tight, with an edge running through it and a twisty, complex plot that takes you right to last minute. I listen to most of my books at work,and while most of them are a pleasant distraction, this one grabbed me. I was impressed, and I think anyone who gets on board this ride will be as well.

Unspeakably surprised; No regrets

I chose to buy this book for the sole reason that Jeff Gurner reads it. I had never heard of the author nor the particular title. I finished Jeff Gurner's other reads, namely Daemon and Freedom (TM), and was blown away by his performances. On that single criterion, I chose this title, along with the help of another reviewer which said the book was a wild ride.

Aside from the predictably fantastic narrator, the book was shorter than the other books I've purchased, by about half the length. That being said, the writing was extremely well paced, and I not once felt like it was moving more quickly than I thought comfortable, nor did it move too slowly. It's the kind of story I could see made into an action movie of some sort (though I don't think it's necessarily the right material for a boring Hollywood thriller).

Up until the very end, the book has several tight turns that completely change the game, and I have to admit that I couldn't see any of them coming. Everything that felt like a silly plot failure turns out to be accounted for, and I couldn't have asked for a better total experience.

Something that I couldn't gather from the description of the book on Audible: the story is a sci-fi one, where the plot is based around some fairly supernatural objects. Luckily, the sci-fi is coherently mixed into the real world, so that very little of the story feels so far fetched so as to render it too "out there".

Brilliant book. Absolutely loved it. Another slam-dunk performance for Mr. Gurner, and I must say that I'll be interested in anything else that the author, Patrick Lee, has to write.

Mildy surprised

It kept me guessing until the end. What a surprise. I would highly recommend it!

Great new series

The Breach starts a great new series for Patrick Lee. It and Ghost Country are an intersting new concept for the action sci-fi enthusiast. Travis Chase is a character you can really like. Both of these books are both highly recommended in my opinion. I am waiting for the third book to come out.

Wildly imaginative

I'd call this a wildly imaginative thriller. Look into it if you like thrillers. And wild imagination.

Good stuff

Very entertaining, The Breach is basically part one of two with Ghost Country being part 2 and even then there is obvious room for another. It took me all of two nights to get through The Breach and Ghost Country, yes it's one of those. You must know what happens next while guessing searching for answers.

A ripping yarn

What about Jeff Gurner’s performance did you like?

Jeff Gurner does another excellent job reading a cinematic sci-fi thriller. I chose this book after searching his catalogue, having listened to Influx. Very much in the same vein, if you enjoyed.. Then you may also like...

Very exciting techno-thriller

This is one of my favourite trilogies. I read it on kindle a few years ago, and now having revisited it on Audible, it's every bit as engaging and exciting as I remember it.
Thoroughly recommended to anyone who likes fast paced Sci fi tinged action packed thrilling.... Oh, you get the idea.

Modern action sci-fi masterpiece; READ it! :D

I’ve not been as excited about a book series as much as this since getting halfway through Jack Reacher book 1!

This story unspools expertly and with some set pieces that blow you away in scale, audacity and delightful foreshadowing. The author sets up the plot devices so surreptitiously and then uses them in ways that astound.

When you read this, and you should, and reach Prague, you’ll see what I mean... enjoy!

Unique plot beautifully written love it

Wow! There are rare books that excite and blow your mind while being unputdownable, this one ranks high among them & it's part of a trilogy!! Can't wait for next one! Thanks

Not a bad read

I did not really like the first one of these books, but this one was better kept me interested until the end. Still missing "something" or maybe it's just me.. Really wanted to give this a 3 but I gave the last one a 3 and this is better!

Absolutely Breathtakingly Amazing!

I started my introduction to Patrick Lee by reading Runner, and was impressed by the originality of the plot! So impressed, I looked to see what else he had written, saw this (& the subsequent 2), and the positive reviews. So here I am!

This book does not disappoint. The story is simple, if you consider what the simplicity is… and totally complicated, if you consider what the complexity is! Beyond that, I can't really elaborate.

Here is a new voice in the action, adventure, thriller genre, and we have never seen his like before. I have just finished this book and am just about to start the sequel. I'm so glad that I purchased them all together, so that I can continue seamlessly with this tale. I have no idea what to expect. I love that about this story.

Enjoy!

Great fast paced action story

If you like your action with a liberal dose of science fiction or near future mystery then you must check it out. The pace of the writing is superbly brought out through the narration, the best audio book I have heard for tension. The characters are engaging and their characterisation by the narrator is really well judged. The story keeps your interest high from one reveal to another. I say go for it!

one of the best books I've listened to

I loved this book, it was so exciting, so well read, and far paced. now, everything is compared to it and nothing has come close

Good read

A few quite bits but generally a good read, interesting story line and action packed.

A very ingeniouis thriller

What made the experience of listening to The Breach the most enjoyable?

The story itself

What did you like best about this story?

It is completely unpredictable and very imaginative

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The first moments of the breach and how it affected people

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I am not easily moved

Any additional comments?

This is a very good mixture of a thriller and a sci fi book