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  • The Dirty Streets of Heaven

  • A Bobby Dollar Novel, Book 1
  • By: Tad Williams
  • Narrated by: Joe May
  • Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (363 ratings)
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The Dirty Streets of Heaven cover art

The Dirty Streets of Heaven

By: Tad Williams
Narrated by: Joe May
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Summary

The Dirty Streets of Heaven is the first in a new set of fantasy-fuelled thrillers from the author George R. R. Martin cites as one of the major inspirations behind Game of Thrones: Tad Williams, international best-selling author of The Dragonbone Chair.

Bobby Dollar isn’t your average angel! Sure, he takes the occasional trip to Heaven, but his job as an advocate - arguing the fate of the recently deceased - keeps him pretty busy on Earth, and he's more than happy to spend the rest of his time propping up the bar with his fellow immortals. Until the day a soul goes missing, presumed stolen by "the other side".

A new chapter in the war between heaven and hell is about to open. And Bobby is right in the middle of it, with only a desirable but deadly demon to aid him.

©2012 Tad Williams (P)2012 Hodder & Stoughton

Critic reviews

“When I heard that Tad Williams was writing an urban fantasy novel, I got all tingly. Now I've read it, and it's even better than I'd dared to hope. It's snarky, fast-paced, and above all, original. You should be tingly, too.” (Patrick Rothfuss)
“’Tad Williams' ... famous four-book trilogy was one of the things that inspired me to write my own seven-book trilogy. [ I ] said, "My god, they can do something with this form," and it's Tad doing it.” (George R. R. Martin)
“Exhilarating action, fascinating characters, and high stakes will leave the reader both satisfied and eager for the next installment.” ( Publishers Weekly)
“Williams has managed to create something really special with The Dirty Streets of Heaven that manages to breathe new life into the urban fantasy genre while at the same time retaining the magic of his earlier novels, an incredible start to a promising series.”( SF Book website)
“Williams has managed to create something really special with The Dirty Streets of Heaven that manages to breathe new life into the urban fantasy genre while at the same time retaining the magic of his earlier novels, an incredible start to a promising series.”( SF Book website)

What listeners say about The Dirty Streets of Heaven

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    141
  • 4 Stars
    128
  • 3 Stars
    61
  • 2 Stars
    22
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    11
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
    93
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    40
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    12
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    5
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    116
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

I loved this book. I wasn't very sure about this book when I first started it. I am not usually into Urban fantasy. But this book grabbed me right from the start, I loved Bobby Dollar's character and the tryst with Cas, and the take on the whole heaven and Hell saga. Recommended.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Can't get past the bad accents.

So here's the weird deal.



My review on the book is at least a 3, which will increase once I've read the book myself. But the narrator on this really drags it down. I could have lived with it, moved on, took it in my stride. But then the Solihull Sisters made an appearance. And the Foxy Foxy.



I worry that I'm judging someone based on 2 lousy representations of accents. But hell I'm forking out the cash for it so why not. If you can't do the accents don't bother, I can make it work in my own head. Don't think a poor Irish accent is even vaguely close to a Birmingham accent. I've gone right through the recording but I'm still going to get my credit back. Frankly it will compensate my need to buy the book.



The novel? Yeah. Loving Bobby D and the way its written. I've tried to start reading Otherland by Tad Williams but not got past the first few pages, but a review of this really intrigued me. Its a great pretext and there is so much more for this series to be. Can't wait for the next.



Just think about who reads it out!

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting take on the age old battle

A modern day twist on the eternal battle between heaven and hell. I am a fan of this background setting and Tad Williams introduces some interesting ideas in his take on the subject. The protagonist occasionally lays the wise-cracking on a bit thick, but overall an entertaining read and I'm very much looking forward to the continuation of the series.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Heaven Sent

An excellent story, not really into sci-fi but saw the other reviews and decided to give it a go and found that I really, really enjoyed the book. Leave reality behind and enter the world of Angels and Devils!!! Roll on the next installment!!

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

More, please.

When I started reading this I thought it was going to be a bit like a boring whodunnit, written to a forfmula. I persisted, because I had paid for it! How glad I was. By the time I reached the end, I was searching Audible's store to find a sequel. I hope it's on its way. I can hadly wait.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

For Harry Dresden and Peter Grant fans

When i engage with a great series of books; when I reach the last one it always fills me dread. Will I find the next fun series to follow up? For me, the quality of the narrator is as important as the story. You keep binge listening.I loved DRESDEN and Rivers of London series so much that every recommendation felt short. Mikey Carey’s book we’re good but really awful narration. Same with the Alex Verus series. Good story badly narrated. All this to say TAD’s bobby dollar doesn’t disappoint. It’s excellent. Fun to listen, good development of characters and interesting plots twists. I’m about to listen to the next one and I’m worried as they changed narrator. Joe May voices were perfect. I would definitely recommend this book.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A great tale:

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It's fun and surprising.

Who was your favorite character and why?

"Junior". He's the 'real' person in the tale.

Have you listened to any of Joe May’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No but I really enjoyed this performance. His characterisations are detailed and secure.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. Both.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed it so much I bought the two following books in the series.
2 was a washout; 3 saved it somewhat but neither were as good as this.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A different spin..

Angels and Demons who fight for your soul when death comes!
I enjoyed this offering on the whole and it kept me interested throughout, first time with this author and would like to read more, saying that would like to have had more interaction with other characters, you are in Bobby Dollars head on his own a lot of the time and although his inner thought processes are witty and entertaining. enjoyed the banter and interactions with other characters more.. on the whole a good read..

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Did not live up to what I expected.

Thought this might be a good take on heaven and earth as in the Devil's Detective (which I enjoyed) or be a bit like the Dresden Files which again I enjoyed. This is not a bad story with humour but the main character does not work. He is more like a love struck teenager than a old battle worn warrior of God. The romance with a demon I found cringe worthy and I began to dislike him as much as his awful name. Not for me this one.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • M
  • 26-08-14

$Bobby

Tad Williams set himself quite a task writing a detective noir novel set in heaven, but I think he pulls it off quite nicely. The narration is spot on, getting just the right level of humour in the darkness, and the writing is rich with one-liners and smart descriptions. Overall, pretty damn fine - on to the next one ...

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2 people found this helpful