It’s like listening to Donald Trump

The story seems quite good, to be fair. I’d definitely continue listening to it and possibly get more in the series but I just can’t get past the hideous narrator who sounds exactly like Donald trump. I just want to punch someone every time I try to listen.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great read/listen

Time well spent. Really enjoyed this book and the other two in the series. Good characters, well researched locations and nicely guaged action. I'll be looking for more from Mr McDermott.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Good plot. Great listening

Loved this and will start out listening to the sequel in a few short minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Some Genuine Strait Talking

A debut novel from a self-published author. Always interesting territory and in this case it brings a decent reward for the time invested. Initially when I read the blurb for this one it sounded just a little out there to me. For some reason I imagined this Dugan character as being some shipping world version of James Bond. Luckily for us readers McDermott never falls into the traps of investing his lead with unlikely powers or making him another ultra-smug super character constantly out-thinking the others. Instead we have an author that likes to build fairly large casts of characters and allow each one of them to own their part of the plot which adds greatly to the realism.

What also adds to the realism is his undoubted expertise in maritime practices born of thirty years real world experience. Again McDermott avoids the pitfall of overdoing the technical detail and while the plot is made fairly convincing by the depth of his knowledge it is rarely allowed to bog the book down. As a result the book moves at a very decent pace and there is plenty of action to get stuck into. The narration is smooth and Todd Haberkorn rises manfully to the challenge of the culturally diverse characters. For us Brits one or two Americanisms do creep in but by and large it’s a fine performance will well delineated characters.

As mentioned above there is a large cast and fairly complex plot so not one to listen to while distracted for sure. That cast is well looked after though and all the loose ends are neatly tied up and the characters each tended through to their own personal endings. I did actually receive a free copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for a fair review. I feel like I’ve ripped him off as a result so I will in the future proceed to buy the rest of the series and surely there is no more genuine recommendation than that?

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

I’ve discovered a new favourite!

A really good read (listen). Plot line strong and coherent making it ideal enjoyment in hectic times as I necessarily moved from one device to another: home to car and back for example.

The shipping scenario was interesting in itself, especially as I am unfamiliar with the international maritime world - another bonus. Look forward to devouring the next in the series.

Always fascinated by the art of matching narrator to theme and story. No disappointment here - a tour de force!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!