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lurker_stalker's review
3.0
It was fine. I liked it more than 2 stars but would have gone 2.5 if Goodreads gave that option.
It was much more of a performance than an audio book and that made it a bit more fun. Although I had to chuckle whenever a gun was in the scene because the slide sound effect was used every time someone was threatened or coming into possession of a gun - even if the same gun had a round chambered several times before actually firing. I imagined a path of unspent rounds as the shooter moved through the scene.
I don't usually read/listen to political thrillers so the story was something different. I did mostly enjoy it but I don't know if I'd pick up a second if this is a series. Unless it was a couple of dollars like this one was.
It was much more of a performance than an audio book and that made it a bit more fun. Although I had to chuckle whenever a gun was in the scene because the slide sound effect was used every time someone was threatened or coming into possession of a gun - even if the same gun had a round chambered several times before actually firing. I imagined a path of unspent rounds as the shooter moved through the scene.
I don't usually read/listen to political thrillers so the story was something different. I did mostly enjoy it but I don't know if I'd pick up a second if this is a series. Unless it was a couple of dollars like this one was.
pewterwolf's review
4.0
Review Taken From The Pewter Wolf
On one day in July, ten years after the horrible events of 7/7, the new Prime Minster visits a charity in East London. The coalition is becoming a distant memory, the economy is on the mend and the country is looking to the future with John Campbell being the leader of the country. Until a man comes out of the crowd and shoots the Prime Minister...
MI5 has to find out who this man is and why he did it. Alex Cartwright (Andrew Scott), MI5 Chief Counter Terrorism Officer, must find the truth. With his trusted second-in-command, Ellen Townsend (Freema Agyeman), Cartwright must look for the truth as clues seem to point to characters all over the world. But with the country in a state of shock, John Campbell's political party beginning to fight over who will lead them and the United Kingdom and MI5 find out that whoever ordered the hit has covered their tracks very well indeed, will they catch the mastermind behind it? And how close to home will the truth be?
This audiobook has a feel of the early series of Spooks, where I was on the edge of my seat. There never felt like a dull moment as the story jumped between MI5 (trying to find out who shot the Prime Minster and why) and Campbell's political party (which goes through shock before the backstabbing began on who should take John's place).
The acting in this was strong and, barring one or two actors, the cast was great and the writing to this was just as strong (though there was one or two times when a character would swear [yes, there is swear words in this] and it felt odd, as if the actor saying the word wasn't sure how their character would say it...).
My only nag with this was the subplot with Alex Cartwright's marriage problems, which (when we started) I felt was a bit pointless and we had seen it in pratically every crime show/book/etc. But then it got important in the middle of the story, although I sense some people would wonder, if the whole subplot of Cartwright's marriage wasn't written in, would it have effort the overall story? I doubt it, but it added to the drama.
Another problem I think most of you guys might have (but I didn't) is the music. I have seen on Audible that some people felt that, at places, it got very loud. I never thought that myself, but it's one of those things.
I can see this being turned into a mini-series for TV (BBC One or ITV, mainly) and I hope Audible Studios continues to work with [a:M J Arlidge|9783603|M J Arlidge|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-ccc56e79bcc2db9e6cdcd450a4940d46.png] as I think these characters could have another outing...
On one day in July, ten years after the horrible events of 7/7, the new Prime Minster visits a charity in East London. The coalition is becoming a distant memory, the economy is on the mend and the country is looking to the future with John Campbell being the leader of the country. Until a man comes out of the crowd and shoots the Prime Minister...
MI5 has to find out who this man is and why he did it. Alex Cartwright (Andrew Scott), MI5 Chief Counter Terrorism Officer, must find the truth. With his trusted second-in-command, Ellen Townsend (Freema Agyeman), Cartwright must look for the truth as clues seem to point to characters all over the world. But with the country in a state of shock, John Campbell's political party beginning to fight over who will lead them and the United Kingdom and MI5 find out that whoever ordered the hit has covered their tracks very well indeed, will they catch the mastermind behind it? And how close to home will the truth be?
This audiobook has a feel of the early series of Spooks, where I was on the edge of my seat. There never felt like a dull moment as the story jumped between MI5 (trying to find out who shot the Prime Minster and why) and Campbell's political party (which goes through shock before the backstabbing began on who should take John's place).
The acting in this was strong and, barring one or two actors, the cast was great and the writing to this was just as strong (though there was one or two times when a character would swear [yes, there is swear words in this] and it felt odd, as if the actor saying the word wasn't sure how their character would say it...).
My only nag with this was the subplot with Alex Cartwright's marriage problems, which (when we started) I felt was a bit pointless and we had seen it in pratically every crime show/book/etc. But then it got important in the middle of the story, although I sense some people would wonder, if the whole subplot of Cartwright's marriage wasn't written in, would it have effort the overall story? I doubt it, but it added to the drama.
Another problem I think most of you guys might have (but I didn't) is the music. I have seen on Audible that some people felt that, at places, it got very loud. I never thought that myself, but it's one of those things.
I can see this being turned into a mini-series for TV (BBC One or ITV, mainly) and I hope Audible Studios continues to work with [a:M J Arlidge|9783603|M J Arlidge|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-ccc56e79bcc2db9e6cdcd450a4940d46.png] as I think these characters could have another outing...
kcfromaustcrime's review
4.0
A radio play available on Audible, this was one of those "why not" picks from the list when I was looking for something to listen to a while ago. Told in a series of short episodes with lots of lead in music, lots of noise and drama, and a reasonably good cast in terms of being distinguishable in audio format, and believability in their parts.
Of course Andrew Scott (who plays the main character - Alex Cartwright) does have a delivery style which is low key, almost velvety for want of a better description, which will work well for some listeners. I thought it made the whole thing sound slightly more believable as he never resorted to much in the way of yelling or over-excited over-reaction. The other main part, Ellen Townsend, is voiced by Freema Agyeman and she's also very good at delivering a sense of urgency and threat without sounding overblown or over-excited.
A good plot for a thriller styled series, with some extra street-cred given the coincidence of dates etc, I really rather enjoyed this Audible-Exclusive series.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/six-degrees-assassination-mj-arlidge
Of course Andrew Scott (who plays the main character - Alex Cartwright) does have a delivery style which is low key, almost velvety for want of a better description, which will work well for some listeners. I thought it made the whole thing sound slightly more believable as he never resorted to much in the way of yelling or over-excited over-reaction. The other main part, Ellen Townsend, is voiced by Freema Agyeman and she's also very good at delivering a sense of urgency and threat without sounding overblown or over-excited.
A good plot for a thriller styled series, with some extra street-cred given the coincidence of dates etc, I really rather enjoyed this Audible-Exclusive series.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/six-degrees-assassination-mj-arlidge
violinknitter's review
1.0
I got this as an Audible Daily Deal because how could I not get a drama with both Andrew Scott & Freema Agyeman? Sadly, not even their voices can save this truly lousily-written drama. The dialogue is full of cliched phrases and non-sequiturs. The story-logic is... um... illogical to say the least. Characters were constantly saying the exact *opposite* thing from what an intelligent person in their place would say. (E.g. wife beside the bed of seriously injured, unconscious spouse: "I know it's useless for me to be here with him." Um, what??? Why????? And don't get me started on the political conversations that make NO sense!)
I gave up on the drama not even an hour into it. I'll just have to find another drama w/Scott and/or Agyeman in it, preferably one actually produced by the BBC.
I gave up on the drama not even an hour into it. I'll just have to find another drama w/Scott and/or Agyeman in it, preferably one actually produced by the BBC.
kidgoldenarm's review
1.0
Apparently this was written specifically for audible or audio books in general.
This is the most hilariously over the top political assassination thriller ever made. But the best thing than the over-acting and scenery chewing by the actors that actually help sell this piece....
BWWWWAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMM! DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH!
THIS sound effect alone made me wish that I had this going in the background everytime I did something mundane in my life to make it oh so dramatic and all 24-Jack Bauer-ass-kicking badassery.
The story is ludicrous and a bit of a hot mess, but it does have a pace that is unforgiving. It's fun if you think of it as just ridiculous fun.
BWWWWAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMM! DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH!
This is the most hilariously over the top political assassination thriller ever made. But the best thing than the over-acting and scenery chewing by the actors that actually help sell this piece....
BWWWWAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMM! DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH!
THIS sound effect alone made me wish that I had this going in the background everytime I did something mundane in my life to make it oh so dramatic and all 24-Jack Bauer-ass-kicking badassery.
The story is ludicrous and a bit of a hot mess, but it does have a pace that is unforgiving. It's fun if you think of it as just ridiculous fun.
BWWWWAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMM! DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH-DUKUH!