Dead Man's Gift cover art

Dead Man's Gift

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Dead Man's Gift

By: Simon Kernick
Narrated by: Paul Thornley
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About this listen

A race-against-time short story from the bestselling author of Relentless, Siege and Ultimatum, Simon Kernick.

MP Tim Horton arrives home to find his seven year old son has been abducted by a ruthless gang of kidnappers. All they have left behind is the brutally murdered body of the Horton’s nanny.

The gang’s demands are simple: Tim must sacrifice his own life in order to save his son’s.

It’s the ultimate dead man’s gift …

©2014 Simon Kernick (P)2014 Random House Audiobooks Anthologies & Short Stories Crime Thrillers Short Stories Suspense Thriller & Suspense Thriller Crime Fiction

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All stars
Most relevant  

What did you like best about Dead Man's Gift? What did you like least?

It got straight into the story, unlike other Kernick novels this one lacked the twists and turns and the depth of story. All over too quickly, more like a screen play adaptation of a novel

Have you listened to any of Paul Thornley’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I love Paul Thornley as a narrator - just a shame this one was too short

Too short and predictable

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Amazing ride through a roller coaster story that could not be switched off. should be listened to after the other kernick books in the series as the emotional investment in the lead character is built on the familiarity from the previous books. There is not as much charecterisation of lead as he is assumed by the author to be known.

kernick and thornley thrill again

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Is there anything you would change about this book?

Yes.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I don't think Tim should've been killed off, as that's what his wife seemed to want. Also, we don't know how Diane explains it all to Max.

Have you listened to any of Paul Thornley’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

no. I need a break from books with shooting and killing in them.

Any additional comments?

I'm glad I listened to this book, even if I disliked the ending. However, I'm in no hurry to listen to it again.

Gripping though not the ending I wanted.

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I have been totally griped by this thrilling story,the outcome was very justified and nail biting,well done ✔

Superb

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Would you try another book written by Simon Kernick or narrated by Paul Thornley?

Yes

What was most disappointing about Simon Kernick’s story?

Length and plot development

Would you listen to another book narrated by Paul Thornley?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Really disappointed with the 3.5 hour length and I wouldn't have bought it had I checked...my own mistake there. Nevertheless, for a novelist to release a novel that is so short is strange and a real disappointment.

I like Kernick and I really like Thornley's narration. The plot though didn't really go anywhere and was very predictable, the main character Scope hasn't moved on since we first met him and his inclusion was more than a bit far fetched.

It felt like the author had lots of left over edits from previous books and used this short story as a vehicle to make use of them - a waste of a credit :(

Big disappointment

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