The Passenger

By: Lisa Lutz

Narrated by: Madeleine Maby

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of the New York Times best-selling Spellman Files series, Lisa Lutz's latest blistering thriller is about a woman who creates and sheds new identities as she crisscrosses the country to escape her past: You'll want to buckle up for the ride!

In case you were wondering, I didn't do it. I didn't have anything to do with Frank's death. I don't have an alibi, so you'll have to take my word for it....

Forty-eight hours after leaving her husband's body at the base of the stairs, Tanya Dubois cashes in her credit cards, dyes her hair brown, demands a new name from a shadowy voice over the phone, and flees town. It's not the first time.

She meets Blue, a female bartender who recognizes the hunted look in a fugitive's eyes and offers her a place to stay. With dwindling choices, Tanya-now-Amelia accepts. An uneasy - and dangerous - alliance is born.

It's almost impossible to live off the grid today, but Amelia-now-Debra and Blue have the courage, the ingenuity, and the desperation to try. Hopscotching from city to city, Debra especially is chased by a very dark secret.... Can she outrun her past?

With heart-stopping escapes and devious deceptions, The Passenger is an amazing psychological thriller about defining yourself while you pursue your path to survival. One thing is certain: The ride will leave you breathless.

©2016 Lisa Lutz (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

Message to narrator

Dear Madeline Maby, PLEASE stop reading every supporting character in SLOW MOTION or slow-mo DEEP VOICE. C'mon...this is the second book I've read that you narrated (the luckiest girl, the other) where each character speaks that way. Can you try embellishing their voices differently?

Twisted but very interesting

Wished I had the book edition instead of audible while I was listening. So many times I wanted to go back to an earlier time to check something that would help clear something up. When I was done with the book, it all came together and I realized '"going back" would not have helped. I really liked the main character. A little bad and a lot of good.
Also, it was hard to listen to because of the reader. She spoke very slow for many of the characters. Sometimes they almost sounded ignorant. Then in the end she changed her 'friend' Blue's accent to a southerner. Couldn't figure that one out. A really great story though. Couldn't stop 'reading' it once I started.

A fun thriller ish novel. Couldn't stop listening '

The narration in this story is top- notch .
The story itself is quite different from the tired, formulaic thriller genre.

You'll be sucked right in and happy that you were! It is a fun ride with colorful characters. I highly recommend this tale

Narrator shouldn't do male voices / disappointing

Would you try another book from Lisa Lutz and/or Madeleine Maby?

I would try another Lisa Lutz book. And I might try another Madeleine Maby book depending on reviews.

What could Lisa Lutz have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

This story line, to me, was boring, and really far fetched.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Madeleine Maby?

Not familiar enough with other narrators to make a suggestion

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

The part where she easily opens the car door under water, and the portion concerning the cabin in the woods with the secret stash.

Any additional comments?

I really have enjoyed the Spellman books. I believe Lisa Lutz is a good writer. I just don't think this book did her skills justice. I really had high hopes.

Wow!

I have read all of Lisa Lutz Spellman series, which are light and just enjoyable, and so I thought I knew what I was getting into when I started this book! Whoa! This is so not a light and funny book. I almost don't know how I feel about the main character. I had times when I enjoyed and sympathized with her, and yet there are moments in this book that I really did not like her or her actions! So I am torn. Did this book keep my interest? Absolutely! Was I at times horrified by the events of this story? Again, absolutely. I could not figure out how Ms. Lutz was going to redeem this character or end this book, so again I was surprised. I am not going to even try to summarize this plot because I am still thinking about it and I don't think it can be summarized succinctly. All I can say is, in the end, would I recommend this book! Yes, yes, yes!
As far as narration, I thought she did an admirable job portraying the different voices!

Half-Baked Plot with Considerable Holes

Overwrought in some place andabsurd in others. It largely clunks around like B Hollywood movie or maybe just a daytime soap opera. The more the author tries to show knowledge about certain things (vehicles, guns, etc.) the more the author reveals ignorance.

I get the feeling the main character is the author's idea of a bad ass, but she comes across as more of a sad individual with a drinking problem. Someone who blames others for her repeated terrible decisions.

The narrator reads all of the male lines like the characters are either stoned or brain damaged.

Really enjoyed this book.

Full disclosure, “Spellman" is one of my favorite book series, so when I started Ms. Lutz’s new book, The Passenger, I was worried that I’d miss the characters that I’ve come to love over the years. But within a couple chapters, I was hooked and couldn’t stop listening.  This book is definitely a little darker and more intense than some of her other work, but the author hasn’t lost her zing and flair for dialogue and description… this book felt deeper somehow. I really fell in love with it.  There are similarities (in the best possible way) to Gone Girl, with a character who isn’t who she seems (literally changing identities as we go).  The book is clever without feeling self-satisfied and a very fast read. Highly recommend.

Slow story and terrible narrator

I'm surprised at all the good reviews because this book is so dull I could not finish it. On top of the sluggish pace the narrator was miserable. She was ok for the main character but for everyone else she spoke in this weird, flat, monotone voice. Literally for everyone man or woman. It became so annoying I couldn't finish the book and returned it.

Not much mystery, or suspense.

The Passenger was mostly well written, but was almost completely without dramatic tension. It works as a better-than-average character study of a desperate woman, but not as a mystery.

Also, the narrator should stick to books with only female characters. Her reading made all adult males sound like sleazy creeps...even the good ones.

Wrong place, wrong time and wrong name

Wow, first of all when does the movie come out? This story was really really good and kept me guessing the entire time. As if this book needed something more going for it... the ending was so amazing, shocking and fulfilling. I really enjoyed the premise and characters of this story. Without giving too much away there were several characters I rooted for and many I did not like. you will meet many different walks of life along the way in this one. The main character had me laughing at her sarcastic nature and at times yelling at her to stop being so dumb. I always love a cross country road trip and this story zig and zags all over the US map. Whether it is by foot, car or train this book is always on the move and the descriptions of the landscapes were great. I also enjoyed the resourcefulness and the struggle the main character endures throughout the story and this gave her a more real feeling. I know that with thrillers and action packed books there is times you have to be removed from reality. For the most part this one was on par and extremely enjoyable. The narration was really well done. I liked the pacing and tone as well as the voices the characters were given. When the scene called for a more dramatic voice the narrator delivered. Great job by the author and the narration really brought the author's work to life. Definitely worth a listen I don't think you would be disappointed.