The Shallows

The Nils Shapiro Series, Book 3

By: Matt Goldman

Narrated by: Macleod Andrews

Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the words of Lee Child on Gone to Dust, "I want more of Nils Shapiro." New York Times best-selling and Emmy Award-winning author Matt Goldman happily obliges by bringing the Minneapolis private detective back for another thrilling, stand-alone adventure in The Shallows. 

Business is booming for private investigator Nils Shapiro and his partners. 

Lawyer Todd Rabinowitz is found tied to the dock outside his Minnesota home with a fishing stinger through his jaw. His widow, Robin Rabinowitz, calls Nils to the crime scene and asks him to investigate her husband's savage murder. She's not the only one. Soon, Nils has more job offers than he can handle. Robin's boyfriend. Todd's partner at his law firm. One of Todd's clients, a polarizing Congressional candidate. The local police, in over their heads. The FBI. 

Their motives are complicated at best, and as Nils unravels the convoluted case, the bodies pile up. Someone doesn't want him to discover what happened to Todd, and won't stop until they silence Nils as well.

©2019 Matt Goldman (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

💦🎣🐟 Thoroughly Entertaining 🍻🎭⚖️

I love this series, which keeps on getting better and better. What’s not to love**? It’s well-written, fast-paced, lively, full of red herrings, twists and turns, and above all, FUNNY, which no other murder mystery series ever is. And the narrator is an A+ with perfect comic timing. I’d buy Volume Four right now if it were available. **It’s true that this book includes references to our current politics, but if anything it reinforces traditional values, and does not in any way vilify traditional conservatives. The author (and his protagonist) definitely has respect for decent, honest people on both sides of the aisle. Grade: A

Keeps you guessing...

Wow! This third book in the Nils Shapiro series is absolutely fantastic!! This can be listened to as a stand alone but I would suggest listening to the series in order. This is a fast paced story with so many twists and red herrings that by the end of the book you're down to almost no suspects only to find the person behind three murders was never a suspect. This author really put some thought into his plotting out of this book. The character of the protagonist (Nils Shapiro ) has a convoluted personal life and his private investigation firm has more clients than he and his partner can handle. Intricately woven with fleshed out characters that could jump right off the pages. Macleod Andrews does a stellar job narrating. This book has my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION. If you found this review helpful please indicate so. Thank You.

Disappointed, not as good as previous

This is the 3rd i've listened to in the Nils shapiro series, and i guess i wont continue. He just seemed way too sarcastic and snarky at this point. Yes, he always was, but this time, it just felt forced and clumsy. Didnt enjoy (or maybe just not original enough?) Not terrible, just not worth another credit after this.

Good stories only, please

The writing is good. The narration is great. Unfortunately the writer’s political leanings take over at a point that detracts from an otherwise entertaining listen for me. If I want to read about political impacts, I’ll shop in the non-fiction section. I really like this protagonist, but even without my personal frustrations with the condescending tone, it wasn’t as good as the first two books in the series. I’ll listen to the 4th book when it comes out in August. I truly like the primary character so I’ll stick around for book 4.

Matt Goldman is getting better.

Of the three books in the Nils Shapiro series I like this one the best. The writing is smoother and less awkward. In the first two books it felt like you had to be a Minnesotan to really enjoy the plot: no more. Although Mr. Goldman does describe Minneapolis in detail, I appreciated the detail. His description of the wet heaviness of summer was particularly articulate. The character of Nils is also maturing. He is still quirky, but that is fine. One thing I don't like is his need to immediately call someone when anything happens: Ellegard, Annika, Gabrielle, a few cops, etc. Less phone talking, please. A place at which the plot bogs down is in the politics. I really don't appreciate politics, and the subject is oddly out of place in a detective novel. Following the various plot threads is hard enough. When the political machinations get entangled, the book slows down to a crawl, and the dialogue gets clumsy. Further, after Ian the lawyer tried to drug Nils and then kidnaps him, the book threatens to descend into pure BS, for me, anyway. It is just not believable that Nils would continue to treat Ian as if nothing had happened between them. I like the romance between Nils and Gabriella. I hope it continues. I also like Micaela's pregnancy and how it proves to Nils that they are through as a couple. This development is handled very well. McLeod Andrews is the perfect narrator for this series. His range of voices is tremendous, and in each voice he communicates a full range of nuances of emotion. The book would be much weaker without him. Read these three books, possibly in reverse order. I think you will enjoy them.

Series just keeps getting better

Editors description is enough, no need to rehash the plot. Same cast of likable characters, interesting mystery, walks a fine line of politics without offending either side of political correctness wars. Loved the conclusion.

Great book

Best in the Nils series. I have read 3 now and this is the one I enjoyed most.

Always entertaining and fun. Great narration

I have listened to three of Matt Goldman‘s novels starting with Gone to Dust, in the last couple months. Nils Shapiro is a great detective and Macleod Andrews provides terrific narration. These whodunnits are welcome candy for me in between the heavy and often dry biographies that occupy the majority of my listening experience. Looking forward to Matt’s most recent book but am already a little disappointed to know that Macleod won’t be back bringing the characters to life. As most avid audible listeners will attest, the narrator is key to the experience.

Author Insults Trump supporters

This is the second book I was enjoying right up until the author has to inject their political views. He doesn't stop there, he also had to describe Trump supporters as "deplorable" when describing fans enjoying a baseball game. I'm going to have to read more reviews before starting books now. The hatred from authors for people they don't agree with politically has no place in books of fiction. Grow the hell up and stop flaunting you stupidity and ignorance!

Macleod is Nils

Great plus catalog listen. I found this author and series as I am a fan of Mr Andrews. He has a wonderful range of voices including women, who knew?? I love him in Robert Crais SUSPECT. Not to be missed. I do use the 1.2 speed to match the mystery. The publishers summery is spot on and the saga continues for this cast of characters. I feel author could use a bit more humor as our hero is on the sensitive side so no need to add to that category. Good who dunnit story and very entertaining. Give it a try Were my comments of help?