THE PROTECTOR (audiobook) by David Morrell

Audiobook published in 2003 by Skyboat Productions.

Read by Stefan Rudnicki.

Duration: 11 hours, 7 minutes.

Unabridged.

David Morrell excels at the thriller but he really excels at a subset of the thriller - what I call a "chase novel." His first novel, First Blood, was this type of book. The protagonist is being chased by someone or a group of people and the reader gets taking along for the ride.

The Protector is like that as well. A research scientist named Prescott hires a private security team to guard his life from drug dealers and perhaps a compromised government agency. Either way, Cavanaugh is sent to meet the client and assess his needs. In the middle of that meeting highly trained men storm the building and Cavanaugh and Prescott barely escape.

But, once Cavanaugh and Prescott can take a breather, Cavanaugh realizes that Prescott may be a lot more than he imagined and Cavanaugh may have to protect himself from his own client...

This was an enjoyable, if not truly great audiobook. Stefan Rudnicki is true legend in the world of audiobooks and deservedly so. His rich voice adds a lot to the story, matching well with the main character and his way of life. On top of that, the Cavanaugh character is not some mindless thug - he thinks about the big issues of life as well and Rudnicki covers that aspect just as well.

I rate this audiobook 4 stars out of 5.

This audiobook can be found on Amazon.com here: The Protector.

Double Image by David Morrell

Originally published in 1998.

No one, and I mean no one in modern fiction does a better job of creating the "man on the run" story line than David Morrell. He creates tension and paranoia in his stories that make the reader turn the page. This story is no different in that respect. But, it does have a horrible flaw.

Double Image features photographer Mitch Coltrane. He mostly does news photography but is also quite the talented artistic photographer. When the story starts, Coltrane is in Bosnia photographing Dragan Ilkovic, a war criminal whose men are digging up mass graves in order to more properly dispose of them. Coltrane gets his pictures, barely escapes with his life and decides that it is time to get out of the news business because the sights are starting to give him nightmares.

In the meantime, his pictures cause Ilkovic to become an international criminal. Ilkovic comes to Los Angeles to hunt down Coltrane and Morrell's strengths as an author come to the fore - Coltrane is on the run and death and destruction rain down upon the Los Angeles area as they play a cat and mouse game.  Vintage Morrell and it is only the first half of the book.

The second half is about a famous photographer that is dying from old age that Coltrane meets at a showing. Coltrane and this photographer decide to re-do a famous set of pictures that this man took in the 1930 featuring Los Angeles area homes (one of those "then and now" type of features). In an increasingly convoluted plot line, Coltrane ends up buying one of the homes (which was owned by the aged photographer who has since died), discovers a collection of hundreds and hundreds of photographs of a stunning 1930s actress, meets her granddaughter who looks exactly like her and ends up in another whirlwind of stalking, mayhem and death.

Like I said, lots of good action, but this story just went beyond all hope of credulity.

I rate this book 3 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Double Image

Reviewed on July 19, 2011.

Long Lost (abridged audiobook) by David Morrell

I was very impressed with the audiobook experience.

Published in 2002.

Long Lost is one of the best audiobooks that I have ever heard. Neil Patrick Harris does an absolutely wonderful job of conveying the emotions of Brad Denning, the main character. Harris makes you feel the loss of Denning, the joy of re-discovering his long-lost brother, the horror of having his family kidnapped...Well done!

The plot of the book is compelling. Brad Denning is a successful architect with a happy wife and son. One day, a scruffy stranger approaches him and tells him that he is Petey, Brad's long-lost little brother who was presumed abducted when Brad was 13. Something is not quite right about Petey (who has no real proof as to his identity) and Brad's wife has her doubts. But, Brad's guilt about his part in his brother's disappearance (he told his brother to get lost because he was being a pest and that is when he was disappeared) leads him to let Petey into their lives. 

After several disturbing episodes with Petey, Brad 's entire family is abducted. Brad follows clues across the country

David Morrell

This audiobook was an absolute joy and a thrill to listen to. If you are looking for something to do during a boring commute, this is the book you are looking for. I couldn't wait to hear more.

Note: as I am editing this review for inclusion in this blog I want to remark that the climactic scene of this book was written with such power and read with such force by Neal Patrick Harris that I can still clearly see the scene in my mind, including hearing the flames and imagining the smoke and the heat ripping across the landscape. It is one of the most vivid scenes I have ever had the pleasure of listening to in an audiobook.

I give this one 5 enthusiastic stars out of a possible 5 stars. Kudos all around!

This audiobook can be found on Amazon.com here: Long Lost.

Reviewed March 24, 2006.

Brotherhood of the Rose by David Morrell

Like all Morrell books, it has a good bit of action

Synopsis:

Brotherhood of the Rose is set in the Cold War era in the world of big time spies. Two orphans living in an orphanage, Saul and Chris, were singled out for education and training that led to them being paired together as super spies working for the CIA. Now, the man who trained them - the man they consider to be their father - has betrayed them. Saul and Chris avoid all sorts of troubles as they unravel an international plot against them and combat the international forces arrayed against them.

My review:

Like in all of Morrell's books, there is plenty of well-written action and interesting characters. Plenty of thought went into this world of conspiracy. The action is detailed, but not overly so. It is not Morrell's best work, but it is certainly worth the read.

I give this one a solid 4 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: The Brotherhood of the Rose

Reviewed on March 4, 2006.

Black Evening: Tales of Dark Suspense (audiobook) by David Morrell

Originally published in 1999.
Audiobook cassette version published in 2001.

David Morrell's Black Evening: Tales of Dark Suspense is a collection of horror short stories. This is a change of pace from Morrell's normal fare of action/suspense/thriller novels, but this is a strong collection that is a great read and will be especially rewarding for Morrell's fans.

There are 7 short stories in this collection. The weakest by far is the first one, "The Dripping". I'd rate it 3 stars. But the rest are 4 or 5 star short stories which is high praise from me since I am not normally a fan of the short story format. Of especially high quality are "But At My Back I Always Hear" and "Orange Is For Anguish, Blue For Insanity." Those stand up with the best short format horror stories that you can put against them, from Poe to King.

Each story is introduced by the author who includes plenty of details about how he started writing, what was going on in his life when he wrote the stories. These introductory pieces are, in some ways, the most enjoyable parts of the book. I very much enjoyed his tales of what inspired him and of the authors who pointed him along the way to being one of just a handful of authors in the country that completely make a living by writing.

Audiobook details:

Approximately 6 hours. Each story is read by a different narrator. The introductory pieces are read by David Morrell himself and are quite good.

Highly recommended - 5 stars out of 5.

This audiobook can be found on Amazon.com here: 
Black Evening: Tales of Dark Suspense

Reviewed on April 20, 2009.

First Blood by David Morrell

Decent, but not Morrell's best work

Originally published in 1972.

The copy I have of First Blood includes an interesting forward by the author in which he discusses the Rambo phenomenon that swept the world after the Stallone movies were made. That forward was written several years ago and the Rambo legacy continues today. Just last night I saw a commercial for a Nicholas Cage movie that mentions Rambo twice.

Anyway, this is Morrell's first novel and it is not bad. Morrell tries to work in several serious themes and tries to make it a piece of really violent literature rather than settle for just a bit of escapism. In fact, this novel was used for several college and high school classes as a novel to discuss until the Rambo movie phenomenon overwhelmed the books.

Even though this was regarded highly enough by some instructors to be used in the classroom, I think that it missed the mark a bit too much - the rivalry between Rambo and the sheriff was a bit too contrived and the Special Forces officer sent to help with Rambo never really worked well for me. He was too aloof, too uncommitted to his soldier (Rambo) or to the people he was sent to protect.

David Morrell

As an action thriller this book seemed overblown - it reminded me, ironically, of the Rambo II movie (Morrell discounts Rambo II and Rambo III because he had little say in the screenplays. He wrote the novelizations in an attempt to salvage a bit of the flavor of his original character) - too over the top. Just too much.

I rarely say this, but now I have said it in two of my last three reviews - the movie is better than the book. The motivations of the Rambo character are more defined (even though the sheriff and deputies are reduced to stereotypes of redneck country cops) and, ironically, the action in the blockbuster Hollywood action flick is more believable than in the book.

I rate this book 3 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: First Blood

Last Reveille by David Morrell

A change of pace for Morrell

Originally Published in 1977.

David Morrell is one of my favorite authors. The only problem with being a Morrell fan is that he's not a big name author like King, Koontz or Grisham. You have to explain who he is to author book people and they usually get turned off when you mention one of the most famous characters in fiction: Rambo. Too bad because Morrell writes multiple genres - suspense, historical fiction, horror - and he does them well and he is definitely should be known more as the creator of the cartoonish image most people have of Rambo. Anyway, I'm slowly working my way through his older books and enjoying myself.

David Morrell

Last Reveille is Morrell's first foray into historical fiction. First published in 1977, the 1994 edition has an eight page introduction to the book that sets the book up quite well. He notes that it is similar to the John Wayne movie The Shootist in that there is an aging character that becomes a composite, a symbol of America's past (note that the book was nearly done when the movie came out).

The aging character is Miles Calender, a name designed to evoke his age and the distance he has traveled. The young soldier that is learning his ways is Prentice, a named taken from apprentice. They are involved in Blackjack Pershing's expedition into Mexico to try to capture Pancho Villa.

Is it good historical fiction?

Yeah. It seems solid to me. I am a history teacher but I do not claim to be an expert on Pancho Villa, Pershing or the military hardware of the time, but it sounded good.

Is it a good book?

While not Morrell's best, it is a good book, worthy of your time. Kind of like a western with some real nuggets of literature thrown in. There are themes, exploration of the male psyche (father figures, friendship, etc.) and gunfire. What's not to like?

I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Last Reveille by David Morrell.

Reviewed on June 19, 2009.

Assumed Identity by David Morrell

A good read, not Morrell's best work.

Originally published in 1993.

No one writes better than Morrell when it comes to the "fugitive" novel - one man hunted by many in a cross-country chase.

David Morrell

In Assumed Identity, a military intelligence deep cover operative has been accidentally exposed and an operation goes sour. Soon, the operative is being blackmailed and chased by an attractive reporter and the unwanted attention causes the operative's handlers to "terminate" a number of people and the operative comes to believe that his own life is in danger as well. Throw in a damsel in distress (actually two) and a James Bond-esque villain and the chase is on!

Unfortunately, a great story is slightly marred by the protagonist's constant internal psychobabble about who he really is (he confuses himself with the various personas he's become over the years). An even bigger problem is the ultra-rich villain. He's a parody of the James Bond super villain. The climax of the book is hokey and almost laughable. Too bad that a 400+ page book is marred by 10 pages at the end. A worthwhile read but be prepared.

I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Assumed Identity.

Reviewed March 10, 2005.

Desperate Measures by David Morrell

Once you get past the first 35 pages, its quite a ride!

Originally published in 1994.

Desperate Measures begins with newspaper reporter Matt Pittman, the protagonist, who is literally preparing to kill himself with his pistol out of grief for his son that has died from cancer when the phone rings.

Pittman decides to answer it because he wants to make sure that he exits this life without owing anything to anyone. It is his best friend and his boss who covered for him innumerable times when his son was sick. He asks for one more favor and Pittman reluctantly goes back on the job for one more story.

It was at this point in the book that I was about ready to close it up and start another book because the whole "I'm going to kill myself" angle was getting very, very old. I realize that Morrell was writing out of the pain of losing his own son to cancer, but the book was rapidly losing interest for me.

David Morrell

Suddenly, the pace of the book changed and Pittman's research into a well-connected diplomat leads to murder, mayhem and a multi-state manhunt for Pittman. From about page 35 on the book is a roller-coaster of a ride, very reminiscent of The Fugitive. It is well worth the read - despite the fact that you have to slog through the first 35 pages.

I rate this book 5 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Desperate Measures by David Morrell.

Reviewed on October 20, 2004.

The Covenant of the Flame by David Morrell

I'm a huge Morrell fan but this one was just paint by numbers

Originally published in 1991.

No one writes books about a little guy vs. a vast conspiracy better than David Morrell. Morrell is one of the few authors that I will snatch up when I come across a new (or "new to me") title.

The Covenant of the Flame tries to go for that "on the run" feel that Morrell usually establishes, but it just comes off as more of a "paint by the numbers" effort. The DaVinci Code covers similar material but the The Covenant of the Flame is the more plausible and older of the two. That being said, Covenant still just doesn't have "it."

This is not a bad book per se and I certainly would encourage readers to read other Morrell books such as Extreme Denial and Desperate Measures to get a feel for what this author is truly capable of.

I rate this book 3 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: The Covenant of the Flame by David Morrell.

Reviewed on December 22, 2009.