The Unsung Hero

Troubleshooters, Book 1

By: Suzanne Brockmann

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank

Length: 15 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

Suzanne Brockmann's wildly popular Troubleshooters series showcases this master storyteller's rare gift for blending intense adventure with sensuous romance. And it all begins with The Unsung Hero, a heart-pounding tale of love that reveals hidden truths and brings two solitary people together against all odds.

After a near-fatal head injury, Navy SEAL lieutenant Tom Paoletti catches a glimpse of an international terrorist in his New England hometown. When he calls for help, the Navy dismisses the sighting as injury-induced imaginings. In a last-ditch effort to prevent disaster, Tom creates his own makeshift counterterrorism team, assembling his most loyal officers, two elderly war veterans, a couple of misfit teenagers, and Dr. Kelly Ashton. As the town's infamous bad boy, Tom was always in love with Kelly, a sweet "girl next door" who has grown into a remarkable woman. Now he has one final chance for happiness, one last chance to win her heart, and one desperate chance to save the day.

©2000 Suzanne Brockmann (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

New narration breathes life into this for me

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

I enjoyed this newly recorded audiobook better than the e-book.;

What other book might you compare The Unsung Hero to and why?

Other S. Bockmann books in The Troubleshooters series.

Have you listened to any of Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Mr. Lawlor and Ms. Ewbank have become the voices of the Troubleshooters. (Shout out to Rene Raudman on her narration on some titles as well). To have a good portion of this series re-recorded with their narration was a gift from the author and the narrators!

Any additional comments?

Ms. Brockmann's books and audios aren't for everyone. She has multiple points of view and many in this series include flashbacks to WW-II as well as the contemporary storyline. In the audios, Mr. Lawlor reads all characters when the POV is male and Ms. Ewbanks when the POV is female.

I always thought this first book in the series was very good but after struggling to finish the audiobook by the first narrator, I have never done a re-listen of this story. I have really enjoyed this re-listen and may have to continue with the rest of the series now!

Excellent story-tragic narration

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

Incredibly good book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Impossible to choose just one.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I truly enjoyed Patrick Lawlor...but not enough to listen to Melanie Ewbank for another second! I couldn't finish listening to this book; it was just that painful. (I've got the book, and I'll just have to re-read the rest.) Have you ever listened to the pronunciation sample of an online dictionary? THAT is how Ewbank reads!! Every single sound of every single word is deliberately enunciated.

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

I was really engrossed in the book, but when I realized that I was cringing and dreading the POV changing to the heroine's, I turned it off.

Any additional comments?

This is a very well written book. It's the one that hooked me on SEALs. The WWII backstory is woven in seamlessly. I'm sorely disappointed that I couldn't bear to listen to all of it. Ewbank is better suited to reading how-to manuals.

I gave this a three because I just dont know for s

What did you like best about The Unsung Hero? What did you like least?

How are you going to have a male and female narrator and have the woman do girl and boy voices? The man also does both girl and boy voices. This was poorly executed. I abandoned this book in the early stages due to the confusion. Please don't ever do that again, audible.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I don't know. Couldn't get through it due to annoying narrator confusion.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank ?

Their voices were fine, but a little arrangement management will solve the glaring problem of continuity.

1st book read by Suzanne Brockmann

I don't usually want to or like to read romance novels. I was more interested in the military & suspense of it for most of the story. How ever, once the main characters got involved in the plot of the story, I was sucked in and what can I say, I'm a hopeless romantic at heart.

Too much angst for a group of adults

Over 30 years old and the characters still had so much angst it was painful. I couldn’t take it any more. Even the old dad and his friend were up to their necks in angst over a women they knew 50 years before. Grow up. Move on. If you can’t bring yourself to ask someone out then odds are you just don’t want to.

With 8 hours left I couldn’t stand listening any more. DNF

Recommended

What a ride. This book really contains several stories. A life long friendship between 2 WWII vets, a budding romance between a couple new adults and a second chance for our main characters, Tom & Kelly.

Male reader is much better.

The female narrator takes odd pauses and doesn't seem to add much to the story. I truly enjoyed listening to the male narrator, even when he was reading female parts of the story.

One of my fave series

Suspense-Action-Romance
I Admire Brockmann’s knowledge of WWII, and how she weaves two stories into one; past (Charles Ashton, Joe Paoletti, Cybele) and present (Tom Paoletti, Kelly Ashton, the Merchant).
The Publisher’s Summary in Audible has enough info to decide if you’re interested in the basic storyline.
Lt Tom Paoletti, goes home to New England to recover from a severe head injury, and believes he’s seen The Merchant, an international terrorist, at the airport. Is it real, or has he become paranoid due to his injury? Add in his teenage crush Dr Kelly Ashton, who has moved home to keep an eye on her father, Charles Ashton, who is dying from cancer. Tom’s Great Uncle Joe Paoletti is Charles’ best friend since WWII.

The secondary story has Charles lost behind enemy lines, and being rescued by the French Resistance, among whom Joe has been operating for 2 years, since he was shot down. Both are drawn in by their love for a tormented young woman on a mission of retribution.

Lawlor and Ewbanks do a decent job of narration. I didn’t have issues with Ewbanks reading slowly, as my default is 1.25 speed; 1.50 or 1.75 for a book like this, that I previously read in paperback.
Recommend.

nice story but...

Horrible female narrator. Spoke too slowly and made odd word enunciation choices. Hope for a change in the next series book.

The Unsung Hero

Suzanne Brockmann creates such vivid characters that just reading about them brings them to life. I have read Tom and Kelli's story several times over the years and really enjoyed having it read to me. I love the various depth that is given to each character!