The Panther

John Corey Book 6

De: Nelson DeMille

Narrado por: Scott Brick

It's one of the most dangerous and volatile countries in the world: Yemen. A Middle Eastern hotbed of corruption and insurgency and the perfect training ground for Islamic terrorists. When FBI agents John Corey and Kate Mayfield are assigned to overseas posts in Sana'a, Yemen's capital city, they are tasked with hunting down a high-ranking Al Qaeda operative. This man, known as The Panther, is wanted for terrorist acts and multiple murders and the US government is determined to bring him down, no matter the cost. As latecomers to a deadly game, John and Kate don't know the rules, the players or the score. What they do know is that there is more to their assignment than meets the eye - and that the hunters are about to become the hunted. In an action-packed and terrifying race to take down one of the most ruthless men alive, Nelson DeMille reunites readers with his charismatic hero John Corey.

©2012 Nelson DeMille (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"DeMille's strengths are legend. His characters are rounded and appealing... His writing is fluid and accessible and his plots are tremendous." ( The Sun)

"Corey: a wise-ass with a splendid line in sarcasm, even in the most violent of circumstances." ( The Times)

"Written with a neat wry humour, it's full-on and fast-paced." ( Daily Mail)

Alonzo

I very nearly didn't buy this book given other readers reviews. I thought it was more than just very good. Demille has not in my experience written a bad book and this had a great plot , a story well told, and the narration was excellent. If you are a Demille fan then this is for you

My heart sank when I saw who the narrator was ...

If you could sum up The Panther in three words, what would they be?

I've read all of Demille's novels. What keeps me coming back is his use of language - it's precise and evocative where needed, and well-paced at all times. "The Panther" maintains the standard. It's a classical story in the Demille style and isn't let down by mis-steps in plot or characterization. However, the same can't be said for the narration or the narrator.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Scott Brick?

George Guidall - his ability to add mood to a narrative when required and to highlight plot movement is legendary. By contrast, Scott Brick has an annoying and off-putting habit of wringing every ounce of gravitas from the simplest text - particularly irritating when the text is descriptive only. When I saw that he was narrating, I was tossing up whether to buy the audio version or opt for the digital edition to read on my Nexus 7 instead. I persevered with the audio book, hoping that someone at Audible.com might have told Scott to up his game. Sadly, his reading of "The Panther" was worse than most. I found myself screaming at him to wake up and learn his trade. So please, in future Audible.com, don't let him near a book of this quality until he has gone back to school and learnt the art of of story-telling. In writing the above criticism, I am well aware of the plaudits that have gone the way of Scott Brick, not the least of which was the naming of him as "Narrator of the Year". I was incredulous when I read his list of awards and have thought that it must be me who is the idiot here. For those who want an example of the lack of timbre, tempo and depth to which I refer, simply listen to the opening paragraph of Demille's latest masterpiece where Brick breathlessly sets the scene. This intro is meant to be descriptive, but because Scott maintains his anxious and eager enthusiasm from the get-go, we're not gently lead into the plot development. On the contrary, we're expected to maintain our heightened fervour throughout. (Contrast this with George Gudall's introduction in the latest Daniel Silva thriller - "The Fallen Angel". Like "The Panther", the intro sets the scene. It is conveyed to us - the listeners - in a way that demands attention, because the details are important for later plot development. But George knows there's more to come that will need his narrator's skills, and that those skills will need to be attuned most keenly to the overall plot development. His tone and pace tell us exactly where the text before him stands in the totality of the plot. He's not trying to ring some dramatic blood from the story where the author never intended any. He's simply telling it as it is.) I only wish that Scott could do the same.I recently re-played an old copy of Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment" (circa 1984) and was agreeably surprised to have it confirmed that the narrator's skill is not new - in fact, it's something that's been around since cavemen sat in front of their fires regaling each other with tales of their exploits. I have no doubt that the best and most revered of those storytellers were those who were able to build tension based on the development of the plot - not slam into it from the first word. As a final example, and final word, on this topic, Scott Brick's narration of the author's dedication is instructive. It reads: "To the memory of Joan Dillingham, who maintained her Viking spirit throughout her beautiful life." Authors' dedications are a personal tribute to folk who have had an impact on the authors' lives, and it's the author's way of acknowledging that fact. It has nothing to do with the tale being told; it is a statement of fact. One might reasonably expect, therefore, that the dedication, if read, would be delivered with some deadpan solemnity at the very most, just as one might reasonably expect that it would NOT be delivered with the breathless enthusiasm that the climax of the plot deserves. Unfortunately, Scott fails to understand this most basic requirement. In short, (and I'm sorry to say this, Scott), you ruined a fantastic story.

Another masterpiece

Thrilling story scott brick is a talented narrator. Look forward to another great listen highly recommend this audio book wow

Nelson DeMille & Scott Brick do it again

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

I've read (and then listened to) all of Nelson DeMille's John Corey thrillers, and both the writing and the reading are always superb. Scott Brick again does a very fine job in bringing this novel to audio, wonderfully transposing the witty one-liners and the excitement of the story into a listening experience.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Panther?

The overall descriptions of Yemen (the country) and of course the exciting finale.

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

As always: John Corey. Scott Brick IS John Corey.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I chuckled throughout listening... right?

Any additional comments?

Looking forward to the next instalment... keep'em coming, Nelson.

John Corey makes me laugh - no reallly!

I listen to the book whilst travelling to and from work, and at times you can't help but smirk and laugh at some of john's internal musings. I have followed DeMille for many years and he has yet to write a dud in my opinion.