Reviews by John

I like Harry Hole ... he reminds me in many ways of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch (never a bad thing)

I bought The Snowman because the cover said he was the new Stieg Larrson. He isn't, but that little marketing ploy introduced me to an author I am thoroughly enjoying

Densely plotted, and filled with well-drawn characters, the book is narrated in a way that brings it all to life. You feel like you know Norway really well and the characters are people you might actually know.

highly recommended to all crime fiction fans

The American Civil War is one of my favourite chapters in world history. I devour books, documentaries and films on the subject. Accordingly, was really excited when I saw this series was available to download.

Unfortunately, totally let down by the narrator who reads the book so flatly that he makes the whole thing sound very boring indeed. It's even worse during the battle scenes .... the book sets the scene by explaining the terrain and the positioning of the rival forces. However, the way the narrator reads it, you really have no idea who is where, or why?

A book for reading, not listening to

Myron usually makes me laugh, but this chapter in his story takes him down dark and sinister roads. I missed the wisecracks, but loved the story.

I don't read chick-lit and, on the face of it, everything about this book screams "CHICK-LIT". In fact, I have no idea why I downloaded it.

So glad I did. Warm, witty, and very true-to-life. Laughed out loud in places, and nearly crashed the car at one "OMG" moment (those that have read it know what I'm talking about).

I grew to like Dex over the 20 year period, and fell hopelessly in love with Emma

Anyone downloading this book will be doing themselves a big favour,

Without doubt, the best audiobook I've ever listened to and already one of my favourite books of all time.

It is actually very cleverly written, because it is not one book but three books that tell a compelling (and scarily believable) story. Mr Cronin is one great author, and I suspect a fan of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series - has a similar post-apocalyptic feel for much of the book.

However, it is the characterisation that really hooked me in. Totally believable people in scenarios that should be too fantastic for words, but are not.

There are to be two sequels, apparently. This could well be the "Lord of the Rings" for the 21st century. my only complaint is that the next part of the trilogy is still another year away.

You will not listen to a better book this year

I downloaded this thinking it was a new Coben who, on his day, is one of the sharpest writers around.

It wasn't - this is a real con; his second attempt at novel writing.

Set during the advent of the AIDS panic, it is weakly plotted with unbelievable characters. It is also hindered by the fact that time has moved on and thus is incredibly dated

Don't let this put you off Harlen Coben - his books after this one range from very good to great.

What is it about Jeff Abbott? He's an even worse author than John Grisham, his plots are ludicrous and usually identical to the plot of all his other books; they never stand up to any sensible examination. He piles coincidence upon coincidence to the point that they become laughable, and his "heroes" are more often than not complete wimps who achieve astonishing physical feats with amazing powers of recovery from the serious injuries they sustain.

Yet ... I listened to the end and will probably listen to his next book.

OK ... I'll admit it right at the outset .... I'm much more of a Harry Bosch fan than a Mickey Haller fan ... Harry is a much more complicated individual and Haller can often come across as not the most pleasant man ever written about.

But Michael Connelly is one of my favourite all-time authors and definitely the master of the procedural crime novel. This, as always, is excellently written but the story is just a little ... strained. the problem starts right at the outset, because I do not believe that, even in America, there was enough evidence for the police to charge Haller's client with the murder at the centre of the book. A real lawyer would have made a motion to dismiss (and almost certainly had it granted) right at the outset. However, without the charge, there is no novel.

Having said that, I do like the way the novel expands on and promises more of the Haller story.

Not his best, then, but even a below-par Connelly is a better bet than the vast majority of crime authors

I have my favourite crime authors (Lehane, Coben, Crais, Connelly) but had exhausted all their books and was desperate to find a new author to enjoy. Step forward, Richard Montanari!

I actually listened to the third book in the series before listening to this, the first in the series. Like his other books, this moves along at a cracking pace with a couple of nice sub-plots and chock-ful of likely suspects. Never yet guessed the perp before the denouement, though. Always the sign of a good author!

And the two main characters are very well-rounded and their personalities develop with each book

If I have any criticism, it is that all his villains are always devilishly clever which gets a little formulaic after you've read several books.

However, that apart, I strongly recommend this book to all fans of Amercian crime fiction. His latest is already on my wishlist

Was looking forward to listening to this book but actually found it a bit of a chore. Don't get me wrong - I like a book with a flawed hero, and I like books that explores the character of the protagonist, but the author spends far too much of the book concentrating on character and nowhere near enough on plot. I also found that a couple of the plot developments did not ring true. I will say that it is extremely well read, however.