The Poet

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Buck Schirner

Length: 15 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE HARRY BOSCH AND LINCOLN LAWYER SERIES

An electrifying standalone thriller that breaks all the rules!

Death is reporter Jack McEvoy's beat: his calling, his obsession. But this time, death brings McEvoy the story he never wanted to write - and the mystery he desperately needs to solve. A serial killer of unprecedented savagery and cunning is at large. His targets: homicide cops, each haunted by a murder case he couldn't crack. The killer's calling card: a quotation from the works of Edgar Allan Poe. His latest victim is McEvoy's own brother. And his last...may be McEvoy himself.

©1996 by Michael Connelly. (P)1996 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Not his best effort

Long sections of the book were boring, especially his relationship stuff, plot twist at the end poorly developed. I loved many of his books but I would pass on this one. McEvoy is a weak character.

Not for the week of heart

I almost gave up after the first two chapters. It was obvious this was one of his early works. He had not found his groove yet. There is some really really dark gut wrenching descriptions. You’d have to be pretty morbid to enjoy this book.

A journalist who is no superhero

The FBI, A journalist, and a serial killer. This time it’s not the cops who are the only good guys(and bad guys). The narrator does a great job with most of the characters.

mournful story

2+2=3 nothing adds up in this story until the end, The psychological twists and turns kept me glued to this story. The narrator's accent was a distraction at times.

One of his finest

Well done Connelly! I loved listening to this book it was well written. Loved the twists and turns.

Pretty Good, Not Bosch

it's a good story, but having read all the Harry Bosch novels and watched the TV series twice through, it's a bit of a disappointment. Had I no experience with Bosch, I'd give it all 5 stars, but McElvoy is a bit of a whiner and apologist.

Gripping

Clever plot, and everything made sense. The author didn’t have to explain the plot to the reader at the end because all the clues were contained in the story. Well done.

Is Connelly the Best Crime Writer Or What?

Michael Connelly is a master. Connelly started out as a writer for a newspaper so it makes sense he would have a story about a reporter. I really like how he switched the point of view between Jack McEvoy (the reporter) and a creepy pedophile/murderer. At first there seems to be no connection in the storyline, but eventually it becomes apparant that these two are destined to clash. When I realized how early the book was was climaxing I was happy that my radar for the bad guy seemed to be intact. I was wrong.

Isn't it fun to read 20 year old books? People having to find pay phones, dial-up internet connections and no cell phone tracking.

Story good; narrator awful

I hate knowing I would have enjoyed this book, but for the narrator.

Or, as the narrator would say,

'Twould have been good; 'twas not I but the reader. 'Twas a good story read by a narrator with the audible emotion of a canned yam. 'Twould have been much better 'fth Mr. NarratorMan recognized the "i" nth words "if," "in" and especially "it." 'Twould have been a good one ndeed.

Masterful

I have enjoyed every Michael Connelly book so far. The Poet was a standout. The story line moved quickly and the characters were varied and well developed. The plot twists kept you wondering what would happen next. I hope there are more books based on these main characters.