The Throat

Blue Rose Trilogy, Book 3

By: Peter Straub

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Length: 27 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Tim Underhill, now an acclaimed novelist, travels back to his home - town of Millhaven, Illinois after he gets a call from John Ransom, an old army buddy. Ransom believes there’s a copycat killer on the loose, mimicking the Blue Rose murders from decades earlier - he thinks his wife could be a potential victim. Underhill seeks out his friend Tom Pasmore, an aging hermit who has attained minor celebrity as an expert sleuth, to help him investigate.

They quickly discover that Millhaven is a town plagued by horrifying secrets and there is a twisted killer on the loose who is far more dangerous than they ever imagined. Expertly tying together the events of Koko and Mystery, The Throat proves Peter Straub to be the master of the suspense novel.

©1991 Peter Straub (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Terrifying psychological horror... Rich in detail and character.” ( The Plain Dealer)

“Disturbing... Satisfying entertainment.... A bloodstained tapestry of stunning emotional power.” ( San Francisco Chronicle)

“A classic mystery novel.... Deft, impressive.” ( The New York Times Book Review)

Enjoyable, keeps my attention

I started this book not realizing it was third in a trilogy, but found myself so intrigued I didn't want to quit listening to go back and start from the first in the series. I've been a Peter Straub written stories fan since my first trip to the public library as a pre-teen, and am not disappointed at my first Straub audio experience. Five stars!

Another great one from Straub!

More than met my expectations, another great one from Straub! Twists and turns galore.too bad about the friend!great news for Allen!

Very enjoyable culmination of Mystery & Koko

Would you consider the audio edition of The Throat to be better than the print version?

Have read the book and liestened to it, Patrick Lawlor's voice is superior to the voice in my head while reading.

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

Not to give too much away, the confrontation between Tim and the killer at the end of the book is very memorable.

What about Patrick Lawlor’s performance did you like?

Mr. Lawlor is the voice of the characters, he understands the material. He is the story.

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

No extreme reaction but I certainly was riveted by it.

Any additional comments?

I recommend this book to any myestery lovers, but read Mystery and Koko first!!

Straub is Superb

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

The story. Narration is also very good. The midwest accents are spot on. It takes a moment to get used to the TV Weatherman type of narrative delivery, but that sense soon passes. His dialogue is consistently excellent. I can always tell when a different character is speaking, and that's all I need.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot is a slow accretion of character elements and events that accumulate into a story that involves many lives, with threads that lead in many directions and incidents from decades past. It is a novel you can brood about and parse and enjoy just thinking about. The characters are very real and authentic. The conflicts are external and internal. It is everything you want in a novel.

Which scene was your favorite?

All of the scenes from Tim Underhill's point of view regarding Vietnam. Especially the body detail scenes.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The Heart of Darkness is closer than you think.

Any additional comments?

Other reviewers are unfairly critical of Patrick Lawlor's performance. Give it half a chance already.

Perennial Favorite

I listen to the Blue Rose trilogy every few years. Life , and my perspective, changes so vastly that it's like a new series every time. An old friend made new again.

Blue Rose

What did you love best about The Throat?

Great Book, but you really are missing the full experience of the book, if you have not read Mystery.

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

Love "just call my Joyce" section~!!!

Hard to follow

It was an intricate story and quite interesting but I had to keep listening to chapters more than once to keep up with so many details.

Even better on Audible

Read this book years ago and love it then. Just finished the trilogy on Audible.

A Book worth reading.

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

Of our time.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Vietnam was more than a war.

Any additional comments?

This is a complex book that for baby boomers is an interesting read. The Vietnam war is an integral part of the plot, and the book shows that in the name of "war", we can lose our way, that we can sacrifice our values for not a goddamn thing.

Excellent

This book captured my attention from the start and kept it throughout the story. It was a great final installment in the Blue Rose trilogy.