Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Defending Billy Ryan

By: George V. Higgins
Narrated by: Adams Morgan
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.22

Buy for $13.22

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In best-selling author George Higgins' electrifying legal thriller, Jerry Kennedy, the guy his ex-wife calls "the classiest sleazy criminal lawyer", must defend the man that no one else will: Billy Ryan.

An excerpt:
"If they didn't have Billy for selling the apple to the serpent who peddled it to Eve, it was because the serpent refused to testify against him. Professional courtesy and all that."
©1992 George V. Higgins (P)1997 by Blackstone Audiobooks
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"Writes with an authenticity that is unmatched." (Washington Post)
"Flawless. Never a false word, phrase, rhythm." (New Republic)

What listeners say about Defending Billy Ryan

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Lawyer book

This is what takes place in the practice of criminal law. The good and the bad.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great story

A very well narrated story featuring great dialogue. Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Higgins Is a Master of Dialogue.

"Show don't tell," that's what they tell you in writer's class, right? And yet there's always someone who breaks the rules so brilliantly that the rule seems stupid. Higgins is one of those. Elmore Leonard almost does that, but he mixes brilliant dialogue with explosive spurts of action....

Higgins takes the next step and almost entirely 'describes' action... second party action. Everything's reported to the listener through the filter of Higgins whacky characters. Perhaps Higgins is an acquired taste? Dunno, but I done got it.

Look, don't start this series with "Defending Billy Ryan". Nope, start learning about Jerry Kennedy with "Kennedy for the Defense" and enjoy the trip along through Billy Ryan's defense. Higgins is as good as any playwright working. And Adams Morgan, even if he affects more of an English than a Boston accent, brings these ensemble casts to life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful