The Silent Hour

By: Michael Koryta

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

Whisper Ridge, a multimillion-dollar architectural project built to house paroled murderers, was the passion of Alexandra Sanabria, the daughter of a deceased Mafia don. But the program never got off the ground. Uninhabited but also kept off the market, with taxes paid by a legal trust that Sanabria established just before she and her husband left town, the home remains as a strange monument to dangerous secrets.

While the couple's abrupt exit was unique, it was also not regarded as criminal until the bones of Alexandra's husband were found more than a decade later. Private investigator Lincoln Perry has mixed feelings when an ex-con hires him to find Alexandra. It is a task that will challenge both Perry's abilities as a detective and his commitment to that calling.

©2009 Michael Koryta (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Edgar-finalist Koryta spins a dark tale of broken dreams and second chances in his stunning fourth mystery to feature Cleveland, Ohio, PI Lincoln Perry." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Feisty plotting and the most memorable prose since Chandler. Koryta belongs on every genre reader's bookshelf." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"Koryta writes with maturity and grace, delivering clipped, crisp prose and crackling suspense." ( Booklist)

Fine Book

Any additional comments?

Michael Koryta is a gifted writer, probably in the top three writing in this genre today. The story was entertaining and usually engrossing, with only a few flat spots. As I often find, certain narrators are well matched for the book and Scott Brick does a masterful job setting the mood and defining the characters through his interpretation and delivery.

This is my second Koryta book and neither has disappointed. This was a credit well spent.

Highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Scott Brick cost this one a star.

This is my second Koryta novel. Both are good. I see why Michael Connelly recommends him. That said, I liked the one from my eReader a lot better because Scott Brick is getting a bad case of DickHillitis. I can't/won't listen to Dick Hill anymore and am close to cutting off Scott Brick. Every word they deliver is with the utmost gravity. This is the very definition of over-acting. Michael, PLEASE get a new narrator. Scott was good. He needs to dial it back. Send him to study under George Guidall for a while maybe.

30 of 39 people found this review helpful

Don't bother!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Yes -- I would put some action into this book! Nothing happens and it takes a very long time for nothing!

Has The Silent Hour turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not at all. However, I would choose another author.

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Even Scott Brick's narration could not breathe life into this dull plot. He's great; the story line is not.

Could you see The Silent Hour being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I would sleep through the entire movie if it were actually made.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Loved it

Great book why do I have to give a review on your terms of how many words when one sums it up

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Disappointing

Brick can save any book ! So I was able to listen to the whole book .

But I really disliked Lincoln's character in this book. He was petty, whiney, and not a very good detective.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Strange Mystery

This story was a little strange--but it kept my interest. Many writers use too much filler, descriptions, unnecessary stuff--but Koryta was pretty much to the point. This was an involved mystery with a "backstory" that was eventually revealed. While interesting, it was basically unbelievable. However, I am planning to read more of his books.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I'm Out of This!

That seemed to be a constant statement of Lincoln Perry in this novel. Not too far into the book I wanted to be out of it too! Perry is hired by an ex-con to find the con's previous employer. This client told Perry a story about his close, meaningful, platonic friendship with the wife, and how much she had helped him. Then, one day, she and her husband just disappeared off of the face of the earth. He wanted to know, once and for all, what happened to her.

Perry doesn't want to take the case, but reluctantly agrees to make a few quick inquiries because this convicted murderer seems to have been rehabilitated, and seems sincere. One thing leads to another, and every time Perry thinks he has washed his hands of this case, something else comes along and he reluctantly agrees to stay involved in solving the mystery of the disappearance of this couple. The annoying part of this story is that Perry complains about his involvement all the way through the book. I'm not talking about once or twice. I'm talking about what seemed to be about every 30 minutes in the story! It drove me nuts! If Koryta wanted Perry to be effective in his role as a detective, let the man be a detective, and stop complaining about it! I think Koryta made a huge error in his development of the story and Perry's lack of interest in this case. It brought me to the point that I lost interest in the mystery, and just wanted it to be over with, right along with Perry.

Aside from that, I chose this book because it was Koryta's most recent book, and I erroneously presumed that after four books, this fledgling novelist would have been able to grow and develop his writing skills. I was extremely disappointed in the writing in this book, and I found Koryta to be one of the worst authors I have discovered on Audible. I really only finished the book because I hate to waste credits, and I kept hoping it would get better. It didn't.

Save your credit on this one, and use it for a really good book!

9 of 13 people found this review helpful

Couldn't have been more disappointed!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Scott Brick's narration was absolutely awful! To differentiate people, he just used a soft voice for everyone except Lincoln. And every conversation was SO intense and dramatic. Very unrealistic. I couldn't wait for him to stop. I have really enjoyed a lot of other Michael Koryta books, but between the really stupid plot and horrible narration, I feel duped.

Would you be willing to try another one of Scott Brick’s performances?

I'll possibly listen to an earlier performance, but for now, as another reviewer said he goes on the Dick Hill list of narrators to avoid.

Any additional comments?

My first Audible review, and I have listened to hundreds of books, but I couldn't help but relate my absolute disappoint in the story and narration. Sorry.

okay but didn't live up to expectations

I still love the characters but this particular narrative felt tedious. Almost as if the author channeled his own apathy into the story

Love Michael Koryta,

You must read all his books. they are awesome, can't wait till August 18th for his new one.