Badlands
A Novel of Suspense
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Narrated by:
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Scott Brick
About this listen
Philadelphia police detectives Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano are working a new beat: the Special Investigations Unit, aka the cold case squad. Ironic, given that it’s the height of a blazing hot August. But even these hardened homicide veterans are chilled to the bone as a dormant murder case stirs to life - leading Byrne and Balzano into the dark heart of their city, their souls, and a psyche of pure evil.
Months before, a teenage runaway’s body was found in the desolate, dangerous North Philly district dubbed the Badlands. Dead runaways were no novelty on these mean streets, but the Caitlin O’Riordan case was different. Her corpse was found in the basement of a rancid tenement apartment, the inexplicable cause of death: drowning. In the end, nothing was solved and the case was closed.
Now a confession to the bizarre murder on the police tipline sends Byrne and Balzano rushing to make an arrest. But instead of a killer, they discover a ghastly scene: a jar containing human remains - along with a cryptic clue leading to an unlikely witness. Laura Somerville lives far from the squalor of the Badlands, and seemingly light-years from any connection to a murdered runaway. But moments after discussing the case with this elegant lady, Byrne and Balzano make another grisly discovery, and find an enigmatic word spelled out in Scrabble tiles.
Across town, another victim’s shallow grave reveals deeper mysteries. Her secret diaries portray a woman haunted by a shocking past, and obsessed with finding a depraved killer.
Now, as the body count grows, a terrifying design literally takes shape. Pieces of a gruesome puzzle are being set into place by the cruel hands of a madman using the city as his game board. His playthings are the innocent, and his opponents - and pawns - are Byrne and Balzano, who must, before time runs out, decipher the truth about a shadowy house of horrors and its elusive master.Internationally acclaimed author Richard Montanari works his black magic to spine-tingling perfection in Badlands, conjuring all the relentless suspense, dark twists of intrigue, and full-throttle action that make his brilliant, engrossing novels required listening for thriller fans.
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Six years have passed since Jake Fisher watched Natalie, the love of his life, marry another man. Six years of hiding a broken heart by throwing himself into his career as a college professor. Six years of keeping his promise to leave Natalie alone, and six years of tortured dreams of her life with her new husband, Todd. But six years haven’t come close to extinguishing his feelings, and when Jake comes across Todd’s obituary, he can’t keep himself away from the funeral. There he gets the glimpse of Todd’s wife he’s hoping for...but she is not Natalie....
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Critic reviews
"The new Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne mystery is also, by far, the best is the series, a novel worthy of comparison with such elite procedural authors as Michael Connelly. Philadelphia homicide cops Balzano and Byrne are working a cold case, the disappearance of a young girl. Following some new evidence, the partners discover that a serial killer is stalking runaways, abducting and killing them in bizarre ways. This is a stunning novel, combining the best elements of the police procedural with the most unsettling aspects of the psycho serial-killer genre. The villain is not merely a psychopath but a fully realized human being, with a backstory that explains his obsessions. We feel a certain amount of compassion for him even as we’re seriously creeped out by his actions and what goes on inside his head. Along with such Connelly jewels as The Narrows (2004), this outstanding, truly memorable novel will remind readers of Ridley Pearson’s Lou Boldt and Daphne Matthews series, especially The Pied Piper (1998), which also includes a riveting portrait of a deranged serial killer. Montanari seems poised to take his place on the top ranks of the mystery field." (Booklist)
“Taut...chilling...the story is ingenious.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
“Sensational.” (Chicago Tribune)
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Tim Hess is a semiretired veteran cop staring at a death sentence - his own. Detective Merci Rayborn, young enough to be his daughter, is brash, impatient, and not someone from whom Hess wants to be taking orders. He certainly isn't planning on falling in love with her. Together, they must track down a psychopathic killer who's been abducting beautiful young women from the malls of Orange County.
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Outstanding book, exceptional reader
- By Jan on 03-24-10
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The Night Market
- By: Jonathan Moore
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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It's late Thursday night, and Inspector Ross Carver is at a crime scene in one of the city's last luxury homes. The dead man on the floor is covered by an unknown substance that's eating through his skin. Before Carver can identify it, six FBI agents burst in and remove him from the premises. He's pushed into a disinfectant trailer, forced to drink a liquid that sends him into seizures, and is shocked unconscious. When he awakens, Carver works to find out what happened to him, soon realizing he's entangled in a web of conspiracy that spans the nation.
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Can’t believe there aren’t more reviews
- By Emily McDonald on 01-24-18
By: Jonathan Moore
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The Man in the Crooked Hat
- By: Harry Dolan
- Narrated by: Joel Richards
- Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Private investigator Jack Pellum has spent two years searching for the man he believes murdered his wife - a man he last saw wearing a peacoat and a fedora. Months of posting flyers and combing through crime records yields no leads. Then a local writer commits suicide, and he leaves a bewildering message that may be the first breadcrumb in a winding trail of unsolved murders....
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Crazy Glue'd Me To Story
- By Ted on 01-11-18
By: Harry Dolan
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Damage Control
- A Novel
- By: Robert Dugoni
- Narrated by: Christopher Lane
- Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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A rising star at her prestigious Seattle law firm, Dana Hill knows all about stress. She pours herself into her work and family with all the energy she has. But her carefully balanced life is about to be turned upside down. First a frightening medical diagnosis forces her to reassess her roles as a lawyer, mother, and wife to a man she suddenly no longer trusts. Then her life is rocked further by the shocking and brutal murder of her twin brother.
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Better than average mystery/thriller
- By T. McCloskey on 10-08-15
By: Robert Dugoni
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City of the Sun
- A Novel
- By: David Levien
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Jamie Gabriel gets on his bike before dawn to deliver newspapers in his suburban Indianapolis neighborhood. He is 12 years old. Somewhere en route, he vanishes without a trace. Crushed by frustrating dead ends and exhausted by a police force that cannot (or will not) find their son, the Gabriels finally stumble upon a name - an elusive private investigator who may represent their last chance for answers.
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Workmanlike thriller. Scott Brick is annoying.
- By Richard Delman on 01-13-13
By: David Levien
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Heat Wave
- By: Richard Castle
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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The title character from ABC's hit television series Castle kicks off his new series of books featuring tough and sexy New York police detective Nikki Heat with a bang.
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Good book terrible narrator
- By Patti on 12-29-09
By: Richard Castle
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The Blackbird Papers
- A Novel
- By: Ian Smith
- Narrated by: Brent Jennings
- Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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When Professor Wilson Bledsoe is brutally murdered, two loathsome white supremacists seem like the obvious culprits. But Bledsoe's younger brother Sterling, an FBI agent in New York, has other ideas. A look around Wilson's lab and interviews with his students, his fellow professors, and the college's president pique Sterling's curiosity about Wilson's nearly-completed project on the mysterious death of hundreds of local blackbirds.
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Predictable plot, awful narration
- By Woody on 07-20-04
By: Ian Smith
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The Cutting
- A McCabe and Savage Thriller, Book 1
- By: James Hayman
- Narrated by: Stephen Mendel
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Detective Mike McCabe moved from a top homicide job with the NYPD to Portland, Maine, to leave his failed marriage and suspicions of wrongdoing behind, and to find a more peaceful life for himself and his 13-year-old daughter. But the small New England city is not nearly as safe as he thought. On a warm September night, a missing high school athlete is found dead in a scrap-metal yard, her heart removed from her body with surgical precision. As outrage over the killing spreads, a young businesswoman disappears while out on a morning jog.
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Is It The Story? Or Its Telling? Hmmmm...
- By Ted on 12-01-15
By: James Hayman
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Truly Devious
- A Mystery
- By: Maureen Johnson
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early 20th century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. "A place", he said, "where learning is a game." Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym "Truly, Devious".
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I enjoyed it, but I’m pissed about the ending
- By Laura on 04-08-19
By: Maureen Johnson
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Pillow Stalk
- A Mad for Mod Mystery, Book 1
- By: Diane Vallere
- Narrated by: Susie Berneis
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Interior decorator Madison Night might look like a throwback to the 60s, but as business owner and landlord, she proves that independent women can have it all. When a killer targets women dressed in her signature style - estate sale vintage to play up her resemblance to fave actress Doris Day - what makes her unique might make her dead. The local detective connects the new crime to a 20-year-old cold case, and Madison's long-trusted contractor emerges as the leading suspect.
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astonishingly bad
- By Amazon Customer on 08-04-18
By: Diane Vallere
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A Nail Through The Heart
- A Poke Rafferty Thriller
- By: Timothy Hallinan
- Narrated by: Victor Bevine
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Poke Rafferty was writing offbeat travel guides for the young and terminally bored when Bangkok stole his heart. Now the American expat is assembling a new family with Rose, the former go-go dancer he wants to marry, and Miaow, the tiny, streetwise urchin he wants to adopt. But trouble in the guise of good intentions comes calling just when everything is beginning to work out.
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Ever been to Bangkok?
- By Richard Delman on 12-11-11
By: Timothy Hallinan
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Undercurrents
- A Lou Boldt - Daphne Matthews Novel, Book 1
- By: Ridley Pearson
- Narrated by: Jeff Cummings
- Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Police Sergeant Lou Boldt heads a special task force within Seattle’s Homicide bureau. His job: find and stop the Cross Killer, a twisted, perverse serial murderer who has eluded police for six months and paralyzed the city. But when a body washes up on the shore of Puget Sound, Boldt thinks the killer has finally made a mistake. This body shows some of the work of the Cross Killer - but a job badly botched. Did this woman die while trying to escape? Did she knowingly jump in the water to preserve a clue? And is she now desperately trying to tell Boldt something?
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Waste of a credit
- By Elizabeth on 08-07-12
By: Ridley Pearson
What listeners say about Badlands
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Shirley
- 02-23-18
Young girls are not aware of the evil lurking around them!
One would wish that there is no evil like the main character, that it would only be the imagination of the authoe, bit sadly evil person do exist. Well written and a very good narrator. Makes one wonder how homicide detectives can do their jobs and stay sane.
Well written to shine the light on how young people must be vigilant, unfortunately not enough young people will read or listen to begin to ponder the evil around!
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- Therese
- 04-17-18
Marvelous
Any story read by Scott Brick is enthralling but combine these: author and narrator, wonderful.
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- bethom2011
- 10-24-17
Finished
I couldn't put it down, so I finished it in one sitting. Now I have to find another good book.
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- David W Cochrane
- 12-19-17
Another creepy villian one loves to hate.
This installment of Byrne and Balzano series shows the author's never ending talent at making creepy bad guys. This guy is a master of disguise and Byrne meets with him and has coffee. But no more spoilers. I certainly hope Richard Montanari is awake when these characters invade his brain.
One has to pay attention to keep track of the various stories and events from the past. Which girl is still living and which ones were killed in the past. A bit of revenge thrown in for good measure. Balzano is still a crash trough the door first and signal for backup later girl. I enjoy strong female characters.
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- Eden2016
- 02-08-21
Great Read!
If you liked the other books in the series, you will enjoy this one just as much. Narrator was great. Story had the usual twists, turns and surprises. I highly recommend it.
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- Lupo
- 05-07-09
Good with some left dangling
I enjoyed this book and loved Scott Brick's narration. The style is very similar to Montanari's other works. He did a great job developing a complex villian. I did feel like he left too many loose ends in a continued effort to add depth to Byrne and Balzano. Pieces were introduced, such as the meeting with the ex-wife, and then not discussed further. Overall though, a good read.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Dee Dee Bee
- 07-11-15
Great listening experience!
This author was recommended reading on the Audible website-and I am thrilled to have found him! Badlands did not disappoint me! Full of twists and turns; suspense, creative storytelling and relationship building between the 2 lead characters. Scott Brick continues to excel. His performance amazes and delights. Listening to a book, rather than reading one, has become my addiction!!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Lauren
- 01-04-16
A Disheartened Scott Brick and Confusing Time Line
What made the experience of listening to Badlands the most enjoyable?
I have been on a Richard Montanari kick as of late and I have greatly enjoyed all the books in his series without question, until this one. Scott Brick seems un-enthused, which is unusual because he is always a joy to listen to, and the timeline for this book jumps backwards at a few points, which confused me, so I had to re-listen to capture what exactly had happened.
The story made this experience enjoyable.
What did you like best about this story?
The descriptive details that paint beautiful and haunting images in the mind.
Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I love Scott Brick's voice. His Impressions and ability to create a unique voice for each character really makes the story come alive for me. It's like listening to a movie with your eyes closed.
Unfortunately, I feel like his heart wasn't all in for this one. His 'Philly' accent for the primary characters comes and goes, and characters from previous books have completely different tangs, which threw me off.
He usually adds edge to his voice when certain events are happening, or changes the inflection of things to add mystery to it all, but for most of this book it felt let he was uninterested, if not bored, with the story.
Still a good listen, but not his best work.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
"Freaking Magicians."
Any additional comments?
What's up with "The Echo Man" and "The Killing Room"?
Why are they unavailable? And why is no one poking Scott Brick with a money stick to get a move on?
He did the "Stolen Ones". Why skip two whole books?
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1 person found this helpful
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- MM
- 09-08-15
Disappointed but won't give up
I have like all the other books in the series that I've listened to but this one just didn't do it for me. I lost track of people and what was what, etc. Seemed convoluted. Not terrible but I have enjoyed the other books with these two characters. I'll try another when one comes out, however.
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- Kimberly Allen
- 04-04-16
Overwritten, overperformed
I'm on my third Montenari book and while I find he has some of the most creative and complex villains I've ever read, I find his prose borders on purple...just too overwritten. Uses three similar phrases to drive home a point that he's made in one. And after three books performed by Scott Brick, I think I'll read my future Montenari mysteries in book form, rather than audible. He is So. Dramatic. Pause for Effect. Emphasize THAT point. This. Is. Important. While his overacting is probably a perfect match for the purple prose, it just drives me nuts. Gaaaaaah!!!!
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3 people found this helpful