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Peter James is the quintessential storyteller,

Revisado: 01-23-19

“Absolute Proof” by Peter James is an ingeniously book that combines religion and investigative reporting. The book begins with two seemingly unrelated and perhaps unimportant segments, but do not be deceived, both will prove to be very significant.

Investigative reporter Ross Hunter gets a call that will change his life. Dr. Harry claims that he has absolute proof of God’s existence, and he has chosen Hunter to tell the story to world. Thus begins a quest that will take Hunter to the far-reaches of the world, plunge him into an abyss of information and misinformation, pit him against the established religions of the world, and put his life in imminent danger.

Peter James is the quintessential storyteller, and he has created a compelling story of exploration, mystery, and murder. Multiple plot lines intertwine with the chronicle of Hunter’s investigation. Each thread is well developed and complete; every segment adds value and detail to the total account. The characters are complex, troubled, and yet dedicated; they include Hunter and an array of treasure hunters, religious fanatics, devoted clergy people, money-hungry hustlers, million-dollar businesses people, and brazen assassins. It seems that many people have stakes in either acquiring this proof or preventing its acquisition by others.

This is an innovative treasure hunt based in reality. Hunter’s quest for proof centers around objects found at certain longitude and latitude coordinates. Astute readers can follow Hunter on Google maps as the journey progresses. Tension hangs on every page and peril lurks in the most unlikely places. Hunter’s every move, every conversation, and every exploration is being monitored by someone, friend, foe, or both. The quest is filled with conflict, greed, and unmatched perseverance.

James does not circumvent philosophical questions. If God’s existence were proven, would it unite the world or divide it even further? James speculates through action and adventure, and answers are left to the reader to contemplate and decide.

“And the irony is that science is asking questions that only religion can answer, but to accept those answers would mean admitting defeat for the scientists.”

Absolute Proof is mixture of mystery philosophy, religion, thrills, and a search for truth, but above all, it is a compelling story of people, one that readers will not soon forget.

“Absolute Proof” is now available in The United States as an audio book and will be available in print later this year. I could not wait, so The Book Carnival in Orange, California ordered me a print copy from England. I found it so compelling and absorbing that purchased the audio book as well. Hugh Bonneville provides convincing narration, delivering diverse characters and action that springs to life. He brought the story to life. James has written a well-researched book with non-stop thrills, and historical elements. It is a captivating story, and enjoyable story, a story that gives readers a lot to contemplate.

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When a job is too good to be ture, it probably is.

Revisado: 04-09-18

Would you listen to The Hanged Man's Noose again? Why?

I rarely listen to mysteries a second time, but I will certainly listen to the next in this series. The quirky people who live in Lount’s Landing Landing are very entertaining. I am sure at least one of them will be dead soon.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All the characters were complex with secrets galore. I likes them and at the same time thought they were too scheming and self centered. They are people readers love to hate.

What about Suzanne T. Fortin’s performance did you like?

The audio was a pleasant and clearly articulated. Fortin was able to deliver the diverse personalities of both female and male characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were twists and turns right up to the end.

Any additional comments?

I listen to audio books as I go for a morning run because the suspense motivates me to get out. I did a lot of running during this book because I was compelled to listen to find out what happened next.

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The end of the beginning

Revisado: 01-30-17

What did you love best about Patchwork People, Book 2?

While “Patchwork People” starts with a short summary of the events of the previous book, one should really read “Patchwork man” to fully grasp the plot details. The author, D. B. Martin, does not waste the reader’s time by retelling and rehashing the events of the first book. Not a second is misused; and the action jumps right in where book one left off. It is a fast-paced book with twists and turns at every juncture.

What other book might you compare Patchwork People, Book 2 to and why?

I usually don't enjoy books written in first person, but I loved this series. Sometimes in other "first person" books I find that the main character spends a lot of time in superficial thought or pondering, and the author reveals important details in artificial reflections, but that is NOT the case with in these books. D. B. Martin unfolds the action before both the character and the reader together. There are no wasted passages with characters "thinking" about unrelated details just to get them into the plot line.

Which scene was your favorite?

Just as with book one (Patchwork Man) “Patchwork People” peels off layer after layer of the past and dumps the past right onto the stage of the present. As the past is revealed, one would think that the present would become clearer, but it remains as murky as ever, in fact it becomes even more complicated. The characters become more complex as their past miscalculations are revealed.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I had the time, I would certainly have listened to this book all in one setting just so I could keep up with the almost frantic pace as the characters seek answers to their "problems." As it was, I made the time to listen so I could finish and find out the answers.

Any additional comments?

Rob Groves did a great job with the audio as he did with book one. The narration was easy to follow, and his articulation and intonation were excellent. He was able to produce the different voices and expressions needed for the varied characters. He did a nice job with the voices of the female characters as well, which is often difficult for male narrators. I listened both on a portable device with headphones and with an external speaker attached to my device. The dynamic range of the production was appropriate for both listening devices. There were no distortions or other difficulties that interfered with listening.

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One can't run from the past

Revisado: 01-22-17

If you could sum up Patchwork Man in three words, what would they be?

fast, surprising, unexpected

What did you like best about this story?

Listening to“Patchwork Man” was like looking for some lost relic stored in a dark attic – shafts of light filtering down through the roof let me see the vague outlines of some “objects,” but every few minutes the story dropped an upsetting spider web onto my face. As I frantically tried to brush it off, I would encounter a new, even more startling sticky, filmy web in my path.

Have you listened to any of Rob Groves’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Rob Groves did a great job with the audio. The narration was easy to follow, and his articulation and intonation were excellent. He was able to produce the different voices and expressions needed for the varied characters. He did a nice job with the voices of the female characters as well, which is often difficult for male narrators. I listened on a portable device with headphones, and the dynamic range of the production was appropriate. There were no distortions or other difficulties.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

You can run, but you cannot hide

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed the book. The other books in this series on audio, and I will certainly be listening and reviewing them as well. A big “Thank you” goes out to D.B. Martin for giving me the opportunity to listen to this great series.

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