The Listener Audiobook By Robert R. McCammon cover art

The Listener

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The Listener

By: Robert R. McCammon
Narrated by: Marc Vietor
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About this listen

It's 1934. Businesses went under by the hundreds, debt and foreclosures boomed, and breadlines grew in many American cities. In the midst of this misery, some folks explored unscrupulous ways to make money. Angel-faced John Partlow and carnival huckster Ginger LaFrance are among the worst of this lot. Joining together they leave their small-time confidence scams behind to attempt an elaborate kidnapping-for-ransom scheme in New Orleans.

In a different part of town, Curtis Mayhew, a young black man who works as a redcap for the Union Railroad Station, has a reputation for mending quarrels and misunderstandings among his friends. What those friends don't know is that Curtis has a special talent for listening...and he can sometimes hear things that aren't spoken aloud.

One day, Curtis Mayhew's special talent allows him to overhear a child's cry for help (THIS MAN IN THE CAR HE'S GOT A GUN), which draws him into the dangerous world of Partlow and LaFrance.

This gritty Depression-era crime thriller is a complex tale enriched by powerfully observed social commentary and hints of the supernatural, and it represents Robert McCammon writing at the very top of his game.

©2018 Robert McCammon (P)2018 Audible, Inc.
Historical Horror Mystery Supernatural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Scary Paranormal Transportation
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Critic reviews

“McCammon conjures believable characters whose sympathetic plight pulls the reader headlong into the novel’s volatile mix of crime and fantasy. Its tense finale, paced at breakneck speed, will have readers turning pages until its surprise-packed end.” ( Publishers Weekly)"McCammon masterfully combines historical thriller and supernatural horror in a compelling and suspenseful tale of race, class, and family…" ( Booklist)

What listeners say about The Listener

Highly rated for:

Engaging Storyline Compelling Characters Vivid Descriptions Suspenseful Plot Unique Premise Authentic Accents
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Wonderful

This book is full of heart and soul, magic and love. Not hocus locus magic, but the magic of love and the stuff that connects us to one another. A young boy first learns that he can talk telepathically with those possessing the same ability. When a couple of grifters decides to kidnap the children of a wealthy businessman. The resulting story is how he is able to help others with his gift and how all of us are connected and things do happen for a reason. This is a great story with good character developments; I highly recommend this book!

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26 people found this helpful

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disgustingly violent.

the summary does not prepare you for the amount of violence, let alone the descriptions. the story and character development do not outweigh.

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3 people found this helpful

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Good story, excellent narration

I enjoyed the Listener. It has memorable characters and an engaging storyline.

Two things bothered me. The first is that a few threads were left unexplained. They don't break the logic of the story, but they are left hanging. The second was a few anachronisms. I'm not going to specify them here because if you don't notice them, they won't bother you, but they did drive me batty. They weren't obvious, but it's clear that McCammon didn't research the time period (1934) quite well enough to get all the details right.

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WONDERFUL, AMAZING

This book was incredible, hated having to stop listening to it. Loved it, story fabulous.

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Excellent story

I haven't even finished listening to this story yet but feel compelled to write this review all the same. This is an excellent story and the author is so skilled at painting a picture of words that you feel yourself going back in time to Depression era Texas and Louisiana, tasting, smelling and feeling what it would be like to actually be back there in that time and place. The narration is excellent with perfect timing and phrasing. An excellent book.

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Could NOT put it down. A fantastic book

It’s not a ghost story as I read in prior reviews...set in the 1930’s in the south. Love the richness of all the characters. Plot kept me listening late at night.

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Outstanding Read!

This novel pulled me into and enveloped me with outrage, intense drama and wonder. I could see each character as fully developed and complex individuals bound to the plot.

A nonstop listen from start to finish, leaving me awestruck and teary-eyed at the finish.

i highly recommend this book to all as a reflection of this country's racial and societal inequalities past and present.

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Hang in there, it’s worth it !

Slow start as the protagonist was hard to like, but it picks up steam and becomes quite a wild ride - prepare to be fully entranced !

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Strong drama and Suspense

The characters you love to hate and the ones you want to be friends with tangle in a"please don't do it" mystery. Hard to keep reading and hard to put down.

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Good read, great narration, realistic ending

Good read, great narration, realistic ending. I recommend it for anyone looking for books whuch keep you absorbed.

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