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.

Riding the Snake by Stephen J. Cannell

A thrill ride - and a joy to read

Published in 1999

After having slogged my way through a couple of books lately Riding the Snake was a real pleasure. Now, don't get me wrong with the 5 star rating here - it's not a life-changing book. It's just a whole lot of fun.

And it should be since it comes from famed television producer and writer Stephen J. Cannell (1941-2010). One can tell that he has plenty of experience (what kind of experience? How about working on Adam-12 and Columbo, creating the Rockford Files, Baretta, 21 Jump Street, The A-Team , The Greatest American Hero and at least a dozen more) with creating likable, interesting characters and putting them over their heads in difficult situations.

In this case, a white ne'er-do-well playboy from Beverly Hills and a black female street-hardened cop from South Central team up (out of desperation) to take on the Chinese Triad criminal syndicate in Los Angeles and Hong Kong while trying to solve two murders.

Sound hoaky? Sure, it does.

But, it works anyway.

Lots of fun and a breeze to read means that this reader gives this one 5 stars out of 5.

This book can be found here: Riding the Snake.

Reviewed on March 22, 2006.

Chromosome 6 (audiobook) by Robin Cook

Published in 1997 by Putnam Berkley Audio.

Unabridged.

 I've read 2 or 3 Robin Cook books and Chromosome 6 will most likely be my last. To be completely truthful, I didn't read this one, I heard it as an audiobook.

A bonobo mother and infant

The story idea is quite original - scientists are using bonobos (a chimp-like primate in West Africa) to grow hybrid human/bonobo organs for the ultra-rich. These are specifically matched to each client and held in an animal preserve until needed. Unfortunately, there may be unintended results by mixing animal and human DNA...

Good premise for the story. Poor, poor, poor dialogue and awful follow through. There are stilted, silly sentences that sound unnatural when spoken out loud. Unexplained odd illogical behavior such as the downright stupid employees at the morgue. How stupid are they? The body of a mob boss disappears in the city morgue. The mayor is super angry and making telephone calls. People's jobs are on the line. The media is everywhere and asking questions. Do the morgue employees even bother to open up ALL of the body drawers just to see if the body was just misplaced? NO, because if they did they would have found one of the biggest clues of the mystery at the beginning of the book rather than towards the end.

The premise of the book is a sound one and it would have been a heckuva read if it had been placed in the hands of a different author.

I rate this review 2 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon here: Chromosome 6.

Reviewed on March 17, 2006.

Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brian

An original - I appreciate the effort but...

Originally published in 1969.

Beware all readers who are looking for the literary counterpart to the Russel Crowe movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. While the books share the same title, the same premise (Napoleonic-era British ship HMS Surprise goes after an enemy that is attacking British whalers in the South Pacific) and many, but not all, of the same characters, they are in no way the same story.

Patrick O'Brian's attention to historical detail is almost unparalleled in historical fiction. He even extends this to his writing style. He writes in a style similar to the style that was used in the 1800s. To me, reading this book was akin to reading a Dickens novel or Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. The words and phrases were often archaic and I found that I had to re-read passages from time to time. While some may appreciate this unique trait of the series, I found it distracting and, at times, discouraging.

So, in summary, great historical detail but the writing style gets in the way.

I rate this book 3 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brian.

Reviewed on March 16, 2006.

The Judge (audiobook) by Steve Martini

Strong plot + annoying writing habits = 4 stars

Published in 1996.

The Judge is my second Martini book (the first as an audiobook) and I am almost embarrassed to say that I really liked it. I didn't realize that I was such a literary elitist (especially if you looked at the stuff I've reviewed) but deep-down inside I guess that there are just some books that I want to hate simply because everyone else likes them.

Well, there's a reason why Martini's books have been perennial best-sellers - they're entertaining legal thrillers.

Plot synopsis:

Shenanigans in the police union have attracted the attention of an abrasive judge. He is leading a grand jury investigation into the union's finances when he is arrested for prostitution and later murder.

Steve Martini

Paul Madriani is dragged into the case as the judge's defense attorney as a favor to a friend and soon everyone is stuck in a web of intrigue that involves the police, the prosecutor and Madriani's family.

The plot works well but Madriani overuses the 'simile' as a literary device. As I listened to this book on tape I started to become distracted by the sheer number of them. If I'd have had a notepad I would have started a tally sheet!

I rate this audiobook 4 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: The Judge by Steve Martini.

Reviewed on March 6, 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.

L.A. Requiem (Elvis Cole #8) by Robert Crais

Great Elvis Cole novel

Published in 2000 by Ballantine Books.

L.A. Requiem is a wonderful hard-boiled detective novel - a real pleasure, especially since I've run across a string of sub-par books lately.

No worries with that here.

The reader does not have to have read the previous Elvis Cole novels to read and enjoy this one - in fact, you will discover more about Cole's mysterious partner, Joe Pike, in this one book than you will have read about in all of the previous books combined.

L.A. Requiem is book #8 in the Elvis Cole series and well worth the read. Rather than ruin it with lots of spoilers, let me describe it like this: lots of action, good old-fashioned detective work, flashbacks, tragedy, revenge, honor, loss and re-dedication. Very well done.

Crais is definitely on my short list of authors to watch out for!

I rate this book 5 stars out of 5 and it can be found on Amazon.com here: L.A. Requiem (Elvis Cole #8) by Robert Crais.

Reviewed February 28, 2006