Preview
  • A Killing on the Hill

  • A Thriller
  • By: Robert Dugoni
  • Narrated by: Robert Dugoni
  • Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (561 ratings)

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A Killing on the Hill

By: Robert Dugoni
Narrated by: Robert Dugoni
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Publisher's summary

A gripping new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

The Great Depression. High-level corruption. And a murder that’s about to become Seattle’s hottest mystery. It’s the kind of story that can make a reporter’s career. If he lives to write about it.

Seattle, 1933. The city is in the grips of the Great Depression, Prohibition, and vice. Cutting his teeth on a small-time beat, hungry and ambitious young reporter William “Shoe” Shumacher gets a tip that could change his career. There’s been a murder at a social club on Profanity Hill—an underworld magnet for vice crimes only a privileged few can afford. The story is going to be front-page news, and Shoe is the first reporter on the scene.

The victim, Frankie Ray, is a former prizefighter. His accused killer? Club owner and mobster George Miller, who claims he pulled the trigger in self-defense. Soon the whole town’s talking, and Shoe’s first homicide is fast becoming the Trial of the Century. The more Shoe digs, the more he’s convinced nothing is as it seems. Not with a tangle of conflicting stories, an unlikely motive, and witnesses like Ray’s girlfriend, a glamour girl whose pretty lips are sealed. For now.

In a city steeped in Old West debauchery, Shoe’s following every lead to a very dangerous place—one that could bring him glory and fame or end his life.

©2024 La Mesa Fiction LLC. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
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Critic reviews

“The elements of a scandalous crime are everywhere: a dubiously employed moll who could be a ringer for Jean Harlow, a former boxer with big money problems, a nattily dressed gangster insisting he shot his assailant in self-defense and the illegal nightclub whose patrons are rumored to include the mayor, various council members and even the chief of police.”—Alida Becker, New York Times Book Review

“William’s romantic coming of age takes up almost as many pages as his journalistic work, giving parts of A Killing on the Hill a poignant sweetness reminiscent of Thornton Wilder. But William’s forays into his new hometown’s shadier regions are as hard-boiled as any pulp-magazine novella.”—Tom Nolan, Wall Street Journal

"Dugoni scores a decisive win with this tale of greed, lust, and bloodshed: it’s chock-full of expertly drawn characters and plenty of historical lore, and its note-perfect noir atmosphere could accommodate James Cagney. Here’s hoping this gets the series treatment.”Publishers Weekly (starred review)

What listeners say about A Killing on the Hill

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The era so well portrayed

Loved the narration as well as the story. It held my interest throughout. Great well portrayed characters

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story!

This was a fascinating story. It was very different from his other work but definitely a great one! Loved it!

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely charming and engaging and rather heart wrenching 1930s Seattle depression novel

An overall charming and completely wonderful story. Skilled recreation of 1930s depression, culture. Completely endearing and engaging characters and a wonderful thrilling plot!

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

How different this book is from the other books by this author I have read

It seemed a bit slow but I finally got into the pace and story and enjoyed the read.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fell in love with shoo...schu?

Nothing to dislike about another Dugoni hit. One always falls in love with his characters. Love him as the narrator as well...

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Grit and Desperation

Robert Dugoni has a way of drawing you into his stories. For this novel set in the depression, grit and desperation are practically their own characters.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Story Line

As expected, another fantastic book by Mr. Dugoni. The story was interesting, and unique. Even a couple interesting surprises. Looking forward his next book.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great characters

The author did a magnificent job of character voicing…. My first inclination was he might not be able to do so. 

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great tale of seedy '30s Seatle

Really enjoyed this story and it's "pulpy" feel from the perspective of a newspaper man instead of a hard boiled detective or Private Eye. I don't read many mysteries so it was intriguing enough for me and not too predictable.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Captivating Story

Excellent characterization. Good portrayal of the 30’s in Seattle. The story is well written and was hard to put aside for other activities.

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