The Firefly

By: P. T. Deutermann

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

At midnight, in a secret medical clinic in Washington, D.C., two foreign doctors and their team are completing plastic surgery on an anonymous client who is changing the appearance of his face, among other things. After the procedure, the client begins to stir - and suddenly the operating room erupts in violence, and the clinic is ablaze.

Washington police conduct an arson investigation, with inconclusive results. But one tantalizing fragment of evidence suggests that a terrorist bombing may be imminent.

The presidential inauguration is quickly approaching, and Washington's police, fire, intelligence, military, federal, and White House security teams are making frantic preparations. Because of the strain on manpower, retired Secret Service agent Swamp Morgan is recalled to active duty. His task: investigate the incineration of the medical clinic as a "firefly" - Washington-speak for something that looks like a threat but isn't.

As Swamp begins what he thinks is a routine check-and-dismiss, the clinic's missing client begins preparations for his mission: to launch an attack on the American government - a decapitation strike intended to wipe out both the outgoing and incoming administrations. As the crucial day approaches, Swamp, the only agent to take the firefly seriously, must operate alone as the clock clicks down to a breathtaking finale.

Filled with brilliant twists and turns and heart-in-your-throat suspense, The Firefly offers first-class entertainment from beginning to end.

©2004 P. T. Deutermann (P)2004 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"A top-notch thriller from a top-notch writer. The Firefly may be Deutermann's best novel to date-reminiscent of The Day of the Jackal." (Nelson DeMille)
"Addictively enthralling...(wait till you get to the jaw-dropping ending!)." (Entertainment Weekly)

Great stuff... no place to quit.

I was going to say that P.T. Deutermann's books are very much like Lee Child's Jack Reacher series, but that's not quite right. Better to say that the Jack Reacher books remind me of P.T. Deuttermann. They're similar in story and tone -- a loner, an outcast, who refuses to give up, set into a high-tension story that just doesn't quit, with lots of high tech -- and some fascinating low tech -- hi-jinks that leave you wondering, 'No kidding! Would that really work?' And of course they're both narrated by the more-than-excellent Dick Hill, so even to the extent that the two series differ, they sort of seem alike. Same voice.

Although there are a lot fewer Deutermann books than Lee Childs, I've come to like them better -- for one thing, Deutermann's male protagonist, whoever it is in each book, doesn't feel the need to fall into bed with every female who walks into the room -- a refreshing change over Reacher bad habit of bedding anything in sight. Child's plot device of having Reacher 'love 'em and leave 'em' in every single book is getting old. Deutermann skips all that Harlequin nonsense and sticks to the thriller aspects. Fine with me.

Maybe more importantly, Deutermann never bows to political correctness. His villains are the world's REAL villains, the ones we read about in the newspapers and see on the news. He doesn't sugar coat who the really evil people out there are.

And somewhat similarly, Deutermann constantly takes after the government for ineptness, for being more concerned about inner-governmental rivalries and turf battles, and in the process, forgetting to do much of anything about dealing with the evil people out there. Look at a few of the more recent terror attacks, and you realize Deutermann is exactly right about that. Too many gov agencies are willing to overlook real terrorists in the name of PC, and to fight among themselves for territory and honor, instead of fighting the US' s real enemies. There's an element of realism in Deutermann's books that is seriously refreshing.

All that said, if you like Lee Child, you'll like P.T. Deutermann -- in fact, you'll probably like him better.

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

Addicting

Really good gripping story. I agree with the other reviewers that the ending is a bit of a stretch, but every minute of the book is so absorbing and intense that I had trouble turning it off (for bed, to make a phone call, to hear what someone was saying to me). Dick Hill is good; I've liked him in other books as I do in this one. Read listen and enjoy.

17 of 18 people found this review helpful

Fantastic twists

This plot was so intense I didn't want to quit listening! Enjoyed every minute of it. Of course Dick Hill was fabulous as always. I don't normally go for the whole government conspiracy/spy type novels but I have to say that this book left me wanting more!

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

I'M LOOKING FOR ANOTHER BOOK LIKE THIS!!

This is how a books need to be written. From page 1 you were already in the story trying to figure out what's going on. The setup, character development, etc., etc., was laced into the plot making the story fun and fast paced.

On a side note, I went to Barnes and Noble to pick up a hard copy but they didn't carry it. Only special order, if I wanted to wait, I didn't. Strange how great books aren't recognized but others like Twilight sell (one of the biggest literary failures in the history of publishing).

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

A good listen, but ending defies credulity....

Keeps one's attention until the end wherein the faux-apocalyptic event is a stretch. Dick Hill, however, remains a good narrator. One gets to like protagonist, "Swamp". The author should develop this character a little more. Please bear in mind that my gold standard is PD James whose character development and social commentary has no equal. As thrillers go, this was worth the purchase.

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

Addicting

Really good gripping story. I agree with the other reviewers that the ending is a bit of a stretch, but every minute of the book is so absorbing and intense that I had trouble turning it off (for bed, to make a phone call, to hear what someone was saying to me). Dick Hill is good; I've liked him in other books as I do in this one. Read listen and enjoy.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

really enjoyed it

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is exactly what I expected - a well paced story that kept me listening. What more can you want!

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

Too long for one sitting, but I listened to a lot of it while mowing and the rest while painting a living room and kitchen.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Not bad but a bit confusing

I had trouble keeping all of the characters and who they worked for straight. It kept me on my toes listening and the killer was really different. It kept you wondering where it was going and who the bad guys really were. I will listen to it again.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

One of his best

Really one of his best and his work Is almost always exceptional. While you may lose some sleep and not want to stop listening the story is worth it !

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Ridiculous Ending

Any additional comments?

This book was good until the ridiculous ending. I get having a twist or two but this is so far fetched it had me laughing at the end.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful