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The Listener
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
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The Listener
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Summary
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ann G.
- 11-06-22
A great listen
Skilfully told by the narrator, the Listener captures the contrasting lives and culture of 1930s America. With a compelling storyline and well developed characters, I was enthralled. This is the first book I’ve read by Robert McCammon. I will look for others by the same author.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Joanna Michelle Payen
- 30-11-18
What can I say!
Beautifully written, beautifully read, totally engrossing. I did not want to stop listening! Absolutely heart wrenching ending! Be warned! The story will suck you in like a rube and then churn your emotions so you don't know whether you're buying snake oil or rattlesnake antidote. Don't read if you want a fairy tale ending!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stephen
- 05-07-18
Another triumph
How does this author introduce an element of the supernatural and make it seem normal and unquestionable and weave it into such a great story. He truly is a master.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nick
- 22-02-20
Beautiful.
Marc Vietor's voice is just so capturing!
recommend for any fans of suspense thrillers. You won't regret it.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Interceptor
- 29-05-22
Not his best book but still has moments.
A good, if not original, start to the book is followed by quite a few chapters stretching out a simple plot and explaining the background to the supernatural twist to the tale. It picks up towards the end but each new twist just feels like the author is padding out what he knows to be a thin storyline.
Having said that, he's a great writer and, whilst certainly not his best book, I can't criticise the quality or structure of the writing. It's simply the story which doesn't thrill.
Great narration, though, keeps you listening.
ps. His other works are very good. Start with Speaks the Nightbird - now that's worthy of praise.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 27-09-19
At his best
Everything about this book is excellent, thoroughly enjoyed this read. Robert McCammon at his best.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Graham G.
- 04-03-18
Absolutely great!
The story is well developed from start to finish as are the characters. Marc Vietor's narration is perfect for this book. Highly recommended.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Bob
- 10-04-22
Well Performed 1920s America
Marc Vietor performed this work very well. I had no difficulty discerning the characters.
The story started quite well and got me interested. About halfway through I started to get a little bored as the narrative seemed to slow and go all around the houses. It sped up towards the end but still felt frustrating as the characters seemed to hit one obstacle after another.
Sometimes the solutions seemed very obvious but were not taken.
I probably won't go back to this author
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Sometimes it's a Zebra 🦓
- 23-04-23
The Listener
I mostly liked this book. Good character development, the story was well told and it all flowed nicely, even if it was a bit far fetched. It kept my attention the whole way through.
The narrator was good too, although I did need to speed it up more than usual as the pacing was way too slow for me.
My only issues about the book are that in places it was a bit over written. I'm not sure if that's a real term! If not, I mean it in the way people might say someone over acted a part, but in this case it's the author that has tried a bit too hard to write well and ended up overshooting, leaving it sounding trite and contrived.
Also, endings that tie everything up neatly get on my nerves but that's just personal preference.
p.s. What is the colour of "summer smoke"?? Does it somehow have a different hue than smoke at any other time of the year??! 🤔
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- ziiigggg
- 25-04-20
sorry, got a bit bored.
love this author, didnt love this book.
it wouldve been much better if it was a romp through the south with pearly and ginger scamming people, a bonnie and clyde story.
half of the story is a kidnap rescue that goes on and on im an unbelievable way and gets boring, i skipped chunks.
mccammon wrote the wrong story after a great start. shame.
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1 person found this helpful