The Concealers

The Collectibles Trilogy, Book 2

By: James J. Kaufman

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Katherine Kelly's mentor says she has the makings of a good reporter, but to be great she must learn to find the emotional core of a story and not hold back in its telling. Then he suggests one last graduate-school assignment: Find someone who has influenced her family, and tell that story.

Katherine decides to pursue the only family story that has eluded her all her life: the identity of the father she never knew. Her mother, knowing her persistent daughter won't stop until she gets the truth, breaks her years of silence and makes the call she always swore she would never make. The reality of her father stands in stark contrast to the father of her dreams, and Katherine realizes she must decide for herself who her father really is: the guardian of a group of wounded souls he calls the Collectibles, the attentive father of a newly discovered daughter, the person of interest in a bank-fraud investigation, or a little of all three. Blood is deeper than principle, or so she is told. And a great journalist follows a story wherever it leads. It's Katherine's call, and only she can make it.

©2016 James J. Kaufman (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Telling the truth, does it matter?

Yes, I can recommend the sequel "The Concealers". "Let justice be done though the heavens fall" meaning must justice be realized regardless of consequences? That's the protagonist Katherine's call.
Great narration by Joe Barret.

Author is a True Wordsmith, wonderful narration

I was taken back to a time when real command of the English language in both speech and in print was expected and encouraged in both public and private life. Mr. Kaufman describes places in a way that makes you see them, feel them, smell them with just a few phrases, highlighting details of a scene that a real person would remember, as though he has been to each location, not just imagined them.
The dialog and interactions between characters is gracious, again in a way that I remember people talking and acting when I was young, showing respect and consideration to people, regardless of what others might use to assess their "worth."
Mr. Kaufman builds part of the story around complex banking and fraud issues, but in a way that makes them clear enough not to get in the way of the story.
This book is part voyage of self a discovery and part detective novel, in the guise of investigative journalism. These two main threads are woven together seamlessly.
Joe Barrett actually enhanced the writing style with his delivery, particularly in descriptive passages and dialog. It was a pleasure throughout.
I think we could benefit, as a society, from more books that portray people being decent, rather than destructive to each other. Well done.

Most Interesting if the Three

Lots of meat on the bone here. Plenty of background. The third was wishy-washy. I got a lot more digging into the story. It made the others more believable.

Great story line. Wells Fargo scheme going on in the news too

This is a great story line and loving the series. Sort of ironic that as I'm listening to this story Wells Fargo has a corrupt scheme going on in the news. It sure puts my thinking cap on about relationships.

Hmmm I never write reviews but…..

I have written possibly three reviews of over 500 books I have from Audible.
This I write because The Collectibles was likely one of the best book I have ever listened to or read. That being said; this trilogy so far is fantastic. I highly recommend it to both adults and teens to learn about life, the choices we make and having the courage to accept the results of those choices. Very moving and inspiring books so far going to listen to the last book enjoy. Thank you Mr Kaufman