Sarah Castleberry

Good story and action!

Reviewed: 06-22-22

The author does a great job keeping the characters “in trouble” and uncomfortable and making things worse for them.
And she pits their main goals against each other in a way that creates good tension.
The narrator was pretty stiff and so slow and breathy I listened to it on 1.3x speed and it was about right!

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Really fantastic

Reviewed: 08-20-21

This is one I’ve listened to again and again. The author reading his own story makes it very authentic and entertaining.
My daughter in Army has read this multiple times, as well, and finds it helpful and inspiring.

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Powerful

Reviewed: 05-26-21

He is able to articulate so many ideas that need to be said. I appreciate his frankness, confidence, and hearing some of his personal life journey.
This book helps confirm for me that most of what is going wrong in America today has its roots in the 60s.
He talks about the lack of moral authority in America after admitting to the evil of slavery.

One main aspect I think he leaves out is that, unfortunately, any human means of trying to “regain” moral authority are all worthless — when you no longer acknowledge a higher, objective moral truth and authority above humanity.
In post-modernism and moral relatively, the “moral” authority just goes to whomever comes up with the best way to gain power - who can then shame and silence those who won’t confirm.
Great book - so wise and thought-provoking.

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Not sure I'm going to finish it

Reviewed: 05-01-19

I love the Harry Bosch books and have listened to the whole series more than once.
Maybe it's the stiff narration, but the main character is so unsympathetic that I'm not sure I can get into the story. I'm over 3 hrs in, and it's not progressing very quickly.
The detective is apparently the only one who is concerned about a transgender prostitute who was assaulted, so she's going out of her way to head the investigation. And every single person she has in encountered is apparently not as inclusive as herself, so it is up to her to carry this torch.
No lie, every person has said "oh, you know he's male"... Other cops, the lab techs, the nurse at the hospital. And Ballard responds "I know, I'm using the gender that she has chosen."
The doctor calls, and it's stressed that he went "biological" and called the prostitute "Ramon" instead of "Ramona" so Ballard went along that time.
Other officers blow off the crime scene, call the person by slang terms or "disgusting" - but not Ballard.
Ok fine.
Then Ballard takes it upon herself to go to the victim's trailer in a homeless camp. One of the homeless men is somewhat in charge, and he sticks out his hand to shake hers.
Internally, she thinks "gross" and is so glad she's holding her radio so she doesn't have to touch him... She offers him her elbow! But of course, this slow-witted man doesn't understand, so they don't bump elbows.
And then she proceeds to tell him "oh, I'm using the gender she's chosen to identify with.".... Ballard doesn't want to touch this other human being out of disgust... While she's on her mission of acceptance and inclusiveness... Just badly done.

She's also not above using her "sex appeal" to get men to do what she wants -- said those exact words, not just my interpretation-- like getting a probation officer to come out to a scene late at night.
Totally written by a man.
Just disappointed.

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Not my favorite

Reviewed: 08-31-18

Love all the Bosch books. This has a different feel to it - maybe because of the change to Titus Welliver as the narrator.
Bosch didn’t seem to have the same intensity. So much so that I almost wondered if Michael Connelly used a ghost writer. Or he was just trying to portray Bosch as older...
Anyway - still a good story!

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2 people found this helpful

Characters so-so, but love the details!!!

Reviewed: 12-12-17

Yes there are flaws with the characters and story, yes the female protagonist talks like a teenage boy, but Andy Weir is a genius with the details that make it so realistic you feel like you’re there and don’t want to leave the world of the story.
Narrator is crazy impressive.
Definitely an entertaining listen that is worth the credit

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Returned for credit - Couldn’t get past the first few chapters

Reviewed: 10-20-17

Attempts the humor/style of Janet Evanovich with Stephanie Plum... but was just too ridiculous for me.
A little too crude overall, the main character spent way too much energy judging the nanny’s big bust, the main character marches over to give someone a piece of her mind and trips and smashes face first into the person’s butt (during a crime scene, professional situation).
Just not funny. Sorry! :(
Narrator was good, did their best.

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Pointless

Reviewed: 05-10-17

I enjoyed the depth of the main character, the writing is good, and the narrator's performance.
But the story itself went nowhere.

I skipped over long sections of dialogue about obscure fringe science. Each person he encountered spoke more obliquely than the last - never quite reaching much of a reveal or a climax.

I wish it would have been better, because of the character.

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Entertaining

Reviewed: 04-12-17

It's a new take on alien invasion - very creative!
I wish there was more character development -- only the main character has any depth of backstory that we know of. Other people around him are very one-dimensional and exchangeable.
However - there was a LOT of world building and plot to get across.
So it's more of a fun, block-buster romp, and overall and entertaining read.
Looking forward to the sequels!

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5 people found this helpful

Couldn't get past the first gory scenes

Reviewed: 12-07-16

Gregg Hurwitz is my number one auto-buy author.
And I'm a fan of many young adult series like Hunger Games, Maze Runner.
So this was horribly disappointing.
His thriller books often reach a line of horror/disturbing images when dealing with evil bad guys.
This book crosses the line into gratuitous gore.
And even cheesy/ridiculous gore.
The one zombie from the first scene had holes bored where the eye sockets should be. All the way through the skull - so the zombie's shadow on the wall showed points of light through the eye holes in the head. Really?
It was too much gore for me in the first few minutes - turned my stomach, and combined with poor writing, I got a refund from audible and deleted the book.
The character and place names were so cheesy -- so it's an odd mix of "playing down" to a younger audience and heightened gore.
Maybe for teenage/YA boys it's a fit, but I would discourage my teens from listening to this.
Sorry Gregg!

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1 person found this helpful