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The Scarecrow

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The Scarecrow

Written by: Michael Connelly
Narrated by: Peter Giles
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Forced out of the Los Angeles Times amid the latest budget cuts, newspaperman Jack McEvoy decides to go out with a bang, using his final days at the paperto write the definitive murder story of his career.

He focuses on Alonzo Winslow, a 16-year-old drug dealer in jail after confessing to a brutal murder. But as he delves into the story, Jack realizes that Winslow's so-called confession is bogus. The kid might actually be innocent.

Jack is soon running with his biggest story since The Poetmade his career years ago. He is tracking a killer who operates completely below police radar--and with perfect knowledge of any move against him. Including Jack's. Amateur Sleuth Fiction Legal Mystery Police Procedural Thriller & Suspense Detective Crime Suspense Murder
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What the critics say

"Narrator Peter Giles delivers the crisp and compelling copy with a deadpan tone and a pace that advances like Patton through Italy. Scenes involving the stalking of McEvoy and Walling raise hairs at the back of the listener's neck. Great characters and a satisfying ending cement Connelly's place as one of the best crime novelists working today."—AudioFile

Continue the series
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The book and actor were both really good. I listened to the John McAvoy books in the reversed order. I didn't realize how big of a difference Peter Giles made untill I listened the Poet, which has another actor. I couldn't get into the Poet because it felt like someone was just reading a book outloud.

Peter Giles is makes the story come to life

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I'm admittedly quite a fan of Michael Connelly. His Mystery-Thrillers are well-written, paced beautifully, and plotted with plenty of plausible twists, turns, revelations, and surprises. Whether you're reading Detective Harry Bosch, FBI Agent Terry McCaleb, "Lincoln Lawyer" Mickey Haller, or (as in this offering) Reporter Jack McEvoy.. Connelly delivers entertainment.
Unfortunately, this is one of his weaker efforts. The villain is a little bit too clever, the romantic elements are a little bit too contrived, the dialogue is a little bit too melodramatic, and the suspension of disbelief is a little bit too difficult. That's not to say that the book isn't a great distraction.. it's just that 'The Scarecrow' doesn't reach Connelly's typical cinematic-quality standards.

More fortuitously, Hachette Audio provides exemplary technical support for a truly excellent reader. Peter Giles reads with spot-on diction, timbre, cadence, and voice-acting - and with a praiseworthy interested/emotive tone.
It's too bad that slow pacing (listen at 1.15X) and awkward musical bumpers at the end of chapters reduce this performance from "outstanding" to "above-average".

Taken altogether, I rate the audiobook 7.5 stars out of 10. It was a great listen for a couple of quiet afternoons.

Not Connelly's Best

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