The Pied Piper (Nova Audio Books)

Rating:
Summary: Another fine yarn
Review: #5 in the Lou Boldt series delivers. The series shows no wear and tear at all, is as fresh as ever, and if anything just keeps getting stronger with each entry. This particular entry, about someone abducting children, is sure to pull the heartstrings of every parent. Also, there are many, many plot twists (not everyone is as they seem in this thriller). An excellent entry, worthy of the names Lou Boldt and Ridley Pearson.

Rating:
Summary: Utter Confusion
Review: A kidnapper is stealing children from their homes, right under the noses of great sitters. This should've been Lou's case, but he's been promoted and is temporarily running intelligence. LaMoia is running the case quite capably, and would be doing better if the FBI wasn't withholding evidence. A local PI gets killed, and Lou helps LaMoia by following evidence garnered by a somewhat reluctantly won over gorgeous realtor, who recognizer a noncustomer when she sees one. That trail leads directly to a view of his own home. The kids are safe, for now--it's the next day that little Sarah is stolen--and Lou is left with an impossible ransom--let other little ones
b kidnapped and save his daughter, orsolve the case as only ge can asnd sacrifice her on a principle. He puts off telling Liz as long as he can, but eventually he has to tell her,because she finally in remission and coming home from the hospital. Once she's over her initial anger--she comes up with the only solution. Since Lou has already decided he has to do both--save Sarah and solve the case--Liz is going to tell; the rest of the crew. It is touching to see how close this crew is. La Moia is more hurt that Lou didn't confide in him in the beginning, and every one is willing to do what it takes to get her back--even if it appears they're letting the kidnapper get away. The kidnapper doesn't get away, a good chase scene up to Mt Vernon and a trip to New Orleams, ensures it...but there's a lot to figure out...and nobody does it better than Boldt's squad and Ridley Pearson

Rating:
Summary: Exciting and Entertaining
Review: A tightly written thriller. The characters are believable. The twists and turns kept me "on the edge of my seat," but they also made sense -- they were not contrived. It gives real insight into the thinking of police detectives and the difficulties they face in putting the puzzle pieces of evidence together to solve a crime. I highly recommend this book. It's the first Ridley Pearson I've read, but I'll be reading more. I'm delighted to discover another exciting author.

Rating:
Summary: Exciting and Entertaining
Review: A tightly written thriller. The characters are believable. The twists and turns kept me "on the edge of my seat," but they also made sense -- they were not contrived. It gives real insight into the thinking of police detectives and the difficulties they face in putting the puzzle pieces of evidence together to solve a crime. I highly recommend this book. It's the first Ridley Pearson I've read, but I'll be reading more. I'm delighted to discover another exciting author.

Rating:
Summary: As Good As It Gets
Review: I'm rating the audio edition of this title. The reader's halting, stumbling, faltering delivery of this text completely detracts from the story, plot and action. I suffered through the second side of tape one, boxed up the tape and took the "book" to the used book store and traded it for the paperback! The story is ventage Pearson -- you either like his writing or not. I do.

Rating:
Summary: Great twists - good book.
Review: Just to let you know, I heard this book on tape, rather than having read it. I will discuss specific issues about the book on tape aspect of it at the end.

This was a scary, sad thriller. Children are being abducted from their bedrooms across Seattle and, in reality, all across the country and Seattle's finest are out to stop the kidnappings. Obstacles in their path include very poor teamwork with the FBI and there's another kidnapping very close to home...but I won't spoil it for you by telling you who.

Good police work ensues and it is satisfying to go along with the police as they slowly amass their clues and get closer and closer. Once the reader finds out the truth, there's still quite a bit of work to do to wrap it all up - including a cross-country chase.

Its a good, good thriller and I would have given it 5 stars but I am reviewing the abridged book on tape and I have some complaints:
1. The reader does great dialogue but is poor at reading non-dialogue - everything sounds breathless and over-hyped. Very William Shatner-esque, if you catch my meaning.
2. The abridgement apparantly left out a part of the story concerning Idaho - it is barely referenced on the first tape and then the suspect has an injury on the face due to an accident suffered in Idaho that everyone seems to know about.
3. The tape is strangely edited. For example, side one - tape one ends in the middle of a sentence. The sentence starts over again on side 2 but still...

Rating:
Summary: Utter Confusion
Review: Ridley Pearson goes out of his way to make you back track every 5 pages, just to see if you are still reading the same book that you started out with. How anyone can say that this author is "Pure Genious" is beyond me. This book is confusing and nonstimulating and I don't know why I read past page 5.

Rating:
Summary: "PEARSON HAS ANOTHER HIT"
Review: Ridley Pearson has done it again. Written another good book. This one has people going after kids. One of the kids is even named Boldt. They have to be caught before harm comes to them. Te trail leads to many different places. Lou Boldt and company also have to fight the Feds. all the way. Politics is played between many people. The people and the way it plays out, on page 283, paperback, will nearly make you cry. What a warm feeling. From page 428 on I was realy caught up in the action. I could not read fast enough. If you want a good mystery, with lots of action and many good characters you will like this book.