Sysop

Great for us insomniacs

Reviewed: 02-04-16

Ashley Bell
THE MUST-READ THRILLER OF THE YEAR: Featuring the most exhilarating heroine in memory and a sophisticated, endlessly ingenious, brilliantly paced narrative through dark territory and deep mystery, this is a new milestone in literary suspense and a major new breakout book from the long acclaimed master.

It all sounded so good, I could hardly wait to start listening to my new DK book .... I love Dean Koontz. Unfortunately I found it tedious almost beyond words, boring, and way to "fancy wordy" like DK had eaten the dictionary and was intent on using every new (preferably long) word he'd learned regardless of whether it added anything to the story or not.

* the most exhilarating heroine in memory - Nope, I can think of others, I felt that Bibi, and the other characters were very one dimensional
* brilliantly paced narrative - No, really S.L.O.W. and tedious, I kept muttering to myself "Oh for pity's sake, get ON with it!"
* dark territory and deep mystery - Well, if was foggy in one part of the story, does that count?
* new milestone in literary suspense - If it is then there's no hope for us.

This COULD have been a good story, the idea was interesting, but it just didn't get there. I did start to wonder with DK had actually written the book.

From the ending, which felt to me like it was just tacked on to the end because, well, 129 chapters really aren't enough are they? I gather there will be a sequel - I don't think I'll be reading that one.

If you have trouble sleeping as I do, this is the book for you! I listen to books at night to help me with my insomnia, I kept dropping off and then waking up with it still playing an hour or so later... it took me ages to finish the book, what with all the rewinding and finding where I was when I fell asleep, but I did have a few good night's sleeps so it was worth the money just for that.

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True story .....

Reviewed: 01-31-15

... well I guess it must be otherwise it wouldn't have been so boring. Nothing much happened really.

I bought the book after reading the reviews, which all seemed to say it was spooky and a good read. Personally I found it one big yawn and I fell asleep a couple of times while listening to it.
I really wish I hadn't wasted my credit.

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1 person found this helpful

Great story, interesting read, lovely narration

Reviewed: 10-02-14

and believable characters. Recommended.

I liked all the characters, the way the woman drew the main character in (don't want to give any of the story away). Loved the husband and the children were smashing.
If I was to criticize, it would be the ending which in my opinion was a bit twee, but it didn't spoil the book for me in any way.

I would like to listen to more stories like this and books by Eva Pohler.

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1 person found this helpful

I just can't read any more of this dreadful book!

Reviewed: 10-02-14

For once I didn't read the reviews of a book - I had read "How to kill your husband....." and enjoyed that, so thought I'd give it a go. Big mistake! Like so many others, I found the first part of the book interesting and funny - then the author just seemed to go off on a tangent and lose the plot completely.

It's like she wrote down every one-liner she could think of - the more caustic & nasty the better - and then stuck a bit of dialogue in between to pretend there is a story.
It just got stupider and stupider, Lucy is so angry all the time, no wonder she's exhausted!

I am the mother of two sons who have Autism, and whereas it's true that anger and 'why me (again)' is the first stage of grief when you find out your children are different; you move on, you move towards acceptance and get on with living your lives. Lucy seems to have stayed at the first angry stage for 13 years???? No, you couldn't sustain that kind of emotional state, you'd go mad.
During many years working at a special school and meeting all sorts of children and young adults, I can honestly say I never met anyone who even remotely resembled Merlin - small areas of his behaviors sure, but not all in one child.

But back to the characters: Lucy is so horrible, why would any man want her? Let alone two of them! She's nasty, overbearing, overprotective, shrill and controlling.
Her mother is sensible and has raised the two daughters on her own and given them a good life and education. Now she is enjoying her life and the girls resent her for it. The sister says "You're tripping around the world spending our inheritance" For goodness sake - they've had enough already, let the woman have some fun.
Jeremy is just a lying pompous twit.
Archie is the redeeming character, he loves Merlin and Lucy but does Lucy appreciate him? Does she heck as like! And even he is trying to 'make Merlin a man' aged 13 - really? He takes Merlin for a ride on a Harley, the boy loved it but Lucy goes MENTAL and completely spoils it for him.

I have got as far as the aftermath of the brothel episode, and I'm afraid I just can't listen to any more of this twaddle - I'm rolling my eyes and thinking to myself "How much longer is this stupid book?" so I'm going to ask for a refund and delete the book.

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Fantastic Book! I loved every minute of it.

Reviewed: 07-30-14

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have recommended this book to several of my friends and family.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well, Maud of course, but also the granddaughter who was so kind to her when everyone else was treating her like a silly old woman. She didn't assume that Maud had lost her sense of humour just because she was old.

Which character – as performed by Anna Bentinck – was your favorite?

All of them! They were all well rounded characters and either lovable or loath-able (is that even a word?) The range of 'Maud voices' was very well done and gave great depth to the story.

Who was the most memorable character of Elizabeth Is Missing and why?

Maud, Helen and Peter - was that man annoying or what! Such a pompous windbag - I wanted to give him a good slap!

Any additional comments?

The only thing that I kept on thinking was, why didn't Maud make a note of Elizabeth's whereabouts once she knew of them? She wrote everything else she wanted to remember down, but not that most important thing ... but then, there wouldn't have been this wonderful story.

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4 people found this helpful

BONG!

Reviewed: 07-16-14

Loved it! I can't wait for the next installment. It started off a little slow, but by the time I got to the 5th book it was racing along. Very good narration, easy to listen to and plenty of difference between the characters. Recommended listen.

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4 people found this helpful

A good basic SK story

Reviewed: 07-07-14

Would you listen to A Face in the Crowd again? Why?

I would, which is very unusual for me because I don't usually like to re-listen to books. This one though, yes...

Any additional comments?

I kind of guessed what the plot was early on, but it didn't spoil the story for me and I enjoyed it immensely.

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Oh, Mr King - You've done it again!

Reviewed: 07-07-14

What did you love best about Mr Mercedes?

Took a bit of getting in to, but then - BAM! Well paced, plenty of action, great characters. The thing is with Stephen King, you're never quite sure if he's going to kill off the lead characters at any moment, keeps you on the edge of your seat!

What other book might you compare Mr Mercedes to and why?

I don't think I've ever read anything like this before.

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

Fantastic. Loved listening to him and his lovely gravelly voice was perfect for the story.

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

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the job fair.

Any additional comments?

Ah Stephen - you just get better and better!

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Hightly enjoyable read with a deeper sub-plot

Reviewed: 07-07-14

What did you love best about Mother's Day Out?

I must admit I didn't expect much from this story. I bought it as a bit of 'fluff' to read in-between my more usual horror & mystery books, but I was very pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be a pretty good story.I've read all the "Plumb" books and it sounded like this would be similar, but I didn't find that at all - I think it's better, fresher and (in the realms of a story) more believable than those others. This was her first week as a private investigator, Margi is a housewife with no training or much of an idea of what she's supposed to be doing and no real back-up. Stephanie Plumb is a bounty hunter with years of experience and a wide support system. So I don't really think you can compare the two. I loved all the characters, especially "Mr Legs", and I am sure that I've met that headmistress!

What did you like best about this story?

Without giving too much away, I'll just say: motel + saran wrap + a Micky D's fry phone! LOL

What about Cris Dukehart’s performance did you like?

Very easy to listen to, great diction and I could hear her clearly and understand every word.

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

Not 'JUST' a Housewife.

Any additional comments?

I'm looking forward to book 2. Although it is a humorous story there is a deeper, sadder part to it as well, and I want to know what happens regarding that situation.

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Did Lee Child actually write this book?

Reviewed: 06-24-14

What was most disappointing about Lee Child’s story?

I've always enjoyed a 'bit of Reacher' but the last book wasn't much to write home about (in my opinion) and this one is even worse! I am listening to it thinking "come ON already, get on with it!". I won't be finishing it, in fact I'm about to take it off my player.

What didn’t you like about Jeff Harding’s performance?

I generally like Jeff Harding, but I kept hearing "Angel" and other female characters from Paul Wilson's books.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom

Any additional comments?

If you are going to read the Reacher books, go for the earlier ones which were an exciting and interesting read.

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