The Queen

A Patrick Bowers Thriller, Book 5

By: Steven James

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

With this fifth pulse-pounding entry in his Christy Award-winning series, best-selling author Steven James explores the rippling effects of life’s everyday choices. While investigating a double homicide in an isolated Wisconsin town, Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiracy that twists through long-buried Cold War secrets and targets present-day tensions in the Middle East.

©2011 Steven James (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"[W]ith a brilliant strategy, James manages a checkmate." ( Publishers Weekly)

Mr Ferrone, please....

I am loving the Patrick Bower stories as written by Steve James. I am, however, having the hardest time with Mr. Farone, not pronouncing words correctly. This just doesn't happen occasionally. It happens often enough that as I listen to each book I get a little more irritated. I wish I didn't love this series so much because it's hard to listen to. In the end I am hooked, so alas I will be gritting my teeth with each and every mis-pronunciation.

Really enjoyed this one

What did you love best about The Queen?

The twists, the ending(s), the scenery. All good

Who was your favorite character and why?

I like the complexity that is brewing in Raven.

What does Richard Ferrone bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His gruffiness. He plays all the characters very well.

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

Yes!~

different kind of crime/spy thriller

Even though this is book #5 in the series, this is my second book in the series and second by the author. I enjoyed the first one, "The Bishop", but I wasn't overwhelmed with excitement. So, I chose the book in the series that was highest rated, this one. In the crime/spy action thriller genre the authors must try hard to differentiate their stories from all of the others. This author does it in a different way than most. At the beginning of the book it says the book is recorded by Recorded Book Inspirational so you think there must be some goody two shoes overtones in the story and I'm OK with that. But, for instance, the crimes are heinous and the violence gruesome in this series. Then I don't know that I really understand why the author involves his senior in high school step daughter in the investigation the way he does as in real life I can't believe an FBI agent would or could in any way, shape or form involve a family member the way Tessa gets involved. It almost seems hokey. But, maybe that's where the inspirational part comes into the story as the author uses the daughter and her life events to pontificate somewhat on life and right versus wrong. But this was an easy story to listen to, to stick with. I mostly want to be entertained when I listen to a book and this was definitely entertaining.

Great Books In Spite Of the Lead Character

The second book where someone who Pat feels is as smart, if not smarter than him turns out to be a rouge agent? Who’s next Lian Wah? I love all the characters, save the lead. He has to always be the one to figure things out and seems to think nothing will get done or solved unless he’s front and center leading the charge. The way he refers to the now Director of the FBI by her first name after she’s continually asked to be called by her title baffles me as to why he hasn’t been written up for insubordination. Overall, this was a great storyline and I can see where the writer has improved greatly. This book covered several topics, but never became confusing. Lastly, love the Narrator, as always!!!!

last in the series for me

The narrator is one of my favorites and I've enjoyed the previous in the series because the "faith based" sponsorship of these books has been minor. This one not so, morality all over the book and a dose of religious fervor in the form of Muslim bashing. Unfortunately because the stories are actually good, this will be my last in this series. This one felt like a second rate editor spliced in poorly written sophomoric Sunday school lessons.

Not as good as Bishop, but some high points

The first thing that bothered me was that the author spent way too much time reviewing things that happened in previous books. There are some really neat characters and happenings in this book to make it worthwhile, but it's not a very tidy work. The enigmatic assassin Alexei and his bone gun were the best part. James always adds a dialogue about a moral issue in each of his books, using Tessa as the devil's advocate. This one was about forgiveness, and there was a little too much focus on it, distracting from the story.

This is the worst story so far!

You can skip this book and not miss a beat. what a waste of time.