The Nightmare Thief

A Novel (Jo Beckett, Book 4)

By: Meg Gardiner

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

Audie Award, Thriller and Suspense, 2012

Autumn Reiniger expects something special for her 21st birthday. Daddy’s already bought her the sports car, the apartment, and admission to the private college where she parties away her weekends. Now she wants excitement, and she’s going to get it. Her father signs up Autumn and five friends for an “ultimate urban reality” game: a simulated drug deal, manhunt, and jailbreak. It’s a high-priced version of cops and robbers, played with fake guns and fast cars on the streets of San Francisco. Edge Adventures alerts the SFPD ahead of time that a “crime simulation” is underway, so the authorities can ignore the squealing tires and desperate cries for help. Which is convenient for the gang of real kidnappers zeroing in on their target and a mammoth payday. Because Daddy doesn’t know that someone has spotted his hedge fund’s bulging profits, and the path to those riches runs right through Daddy’s Little Girl. 

Working on a case nearby is forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett and her partner, Gabe Quintana. When the pair encounters a suspicious group of men carting six sullen college kids to the woods for a supposed wilderness adventure, alarm bells ring. Jo takes a closer look and winds up with an invite to Autumn Reiniger’s 21st birthday party - a party she may never leave.

©2011 Meg Gardiner (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

wow... this was bad

What would have made The Nightmare Thief better?

a paper shredder???

Has The Nightmare Thief turned you off from other books in this genre?

the nightmare thief damn near turned me off books forever... there is no way i would ever read another by this author...i thouught the marilyn quayle book done several years ago was the worst i had ever listened to... well step down ,madam second lady... u have been replaced

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

susan ericksen was, as always, wonderful...

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Nightmare Thief?

i would have never let this thing get into print...

Any additional comments?

it is the only book i ever listened to in which i hoped everyone would die

The Ultimate Test!

In this story, Edge Adventures is a company that offers the ultimate in team building games. They set up realistic scenarios and then everyone in the team is tested to their limits. It is an opportunity for his employees to face their fears and concur them. Peter Reiniger uses Edge Adventures to test his employee’s grit.

Edge Adventures isn’t a cheap ole classroom gig either. The scenario is so realistic they have to warn the police in advance. Peter’s daughter, Autumn, has begged to go on an adventure for a long time and now that she will be 21, Peter decides it will make the perfect birthday present. For Autumn and 5 of her friends, Peter has arranged for the Ultra Deluxe package ‘Outlaw’. It is a designer crime spree scenario. You get to hunt a crime boss, or be the crime boss. There will be a prison break, running from the law and much more.

When the scenario starts and the group is taken hostage by an armed team of masked men and forced onto a speed boat, the group thinks it is great fun. Little do they know that the masked group of men doesn’t work for Edge Adventures, they work for someone much more sinister.

There was a lot of action in this book, and I was never sure what was going to happen next. The Bad Cowboy that Peter Reiniger had arranged to exercise his daughter’s demons was much more of a bad guy than everyone was expecting. There were a few spots where I had to stretch my believability sensor to fit with in with the presented facts, but overall it was an enjoyable story.

Even though this is listed as a Jo Beckett series book, you could read this as a stand-alone book. I didn’t realize it was a series until after I listened to it. There were a few times when it mentioned things in the past, but I didn’t feel like I was missing anything for not having read the prior three books.

The Narration Review
This audiobook was narrated by Susan Ericksen. Susan was great and her voice was very clear and easy to understand. She put all the right emphasis and emotions into the voices of the characters. It was very easy to listen to her voice and get drawn into the story. Great voice choice for a police drama type novel.

edge of your seat

Another fantastic novel by Meg Gardiner! This story will takeJo and Gabe through an adventure of terror, mystery, and emotion! Hold on tight, it's quite a ride!

all the characters seem to be the same

all the characters male and female seem to be the same. It has some really good ideas but if you can't tell the characters apart then what is the point.

I think this is the best one yet!!!

As the series goes on the books keep getting better!!!!! I cant wait for the next one.

best audio book I've ever heard!! great story

loved the story great character building. intense to the end. Meg is my new favorite author. can't wait to read more!!