String of Beads

A Jane Whitefield Novel, Book 8

By: Thomas Perry

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

Length: 12 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

After two decades protecting innocent victims on the run, and a year after getting shot on a job that took a dangerous turn for the worse, Jane McKinnon, née Whitefield, has settled into the quiet life of a suburban housewife in Amherst, New York - or so she thinks. One morning as she comes back from a long run, Jane is met by an unusual sight: all eight clan mothers, the female leaders of the Seneca clans, parked in her driveway in two black cars. A childhood friend of Jane's from the reservation, Jimmy, is wanted by the police for the murder of a local white man. But instead of turning himself in, he's fled, and no one knows where he is hiding out. At the clan mothers' request, Jane retraces a walking trip she and Jimmy took together when they were 14 in hopes that he has gone the same way again. But it soon becomes clear that the police aren't the only ones after him.

As the chase intensifies, the number of people caught up in this twisted plot multiplies, and Jane is the only one who can protect those endangered by it. A String of Beads is an addictive, fast-paced thriller about how abandoning the past can sometimes be the hardest thing to do, even when your life - and the life of those you love - depends on it.

©2015 Thomas Perry (P)2015 HighBridge, a Division of Recorded Books.

Great author

I can always count on Thomas Perry for a great story. He did it again!

Another great story

Loved it. Jane did her usual awesome job, and the reader was excellent. Definitely recommend

Jane's stories keep getting better

The Jane Whitfield character keeps evolving. The storyline are getting better, there a definite repetition to the series. But the author is terrific.

robotic reading

I have always liked this character and her stories but the reader was awful and it distracted from the book.

Another interesting Jane Whitfield runner.

Another interesting story in an intriguing series. I hope to read more by this author in Jane Whitfield series or other.

Slow starter 

The story was slow starting for me. I would listen, but not feeling engaged. It took me several different times to listen long enough for my interest to be piqued. however, once it was, I finished in one day. I don’t know if my resistance to the story was because of the storyline or because I’m disappointed that Jane broke her promise to her husband. But if she hadn’t, there wouldn’t be a story to listen to.

Love books, tired of stupid victims

Would you listen to String of Beads again? Why?

Yes. I like the series overall.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jane of course.

Any additional comments?

I enjoy the stories and the Native American references- though I really don't know enough to judge the validity of them.
I'm tired of the consistent portrayal of "runners" as very stupid and unable to follow directions and/or use common sense.

string of beads

loved it. these are always a good good and interesting to try to figure out

Hollow story with loose character development

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I listened through to the end, but almost gave up several times along the way.

What was most disappointing about Thomas Perry’s story?

Narration was stiff and hard to listen to; plot was weak; Characters were very underdeveloped.

Would you be willing to try another one of Joyce Bean’s performances?

Maybe

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

I like the strong female characters. I really wanted this book to be better than it was, but in the end, I came away feeling like it could have been half as long and twice as interesting.

Another enjoyable book by Perry

I learn so much about remaining safe & becoming invisible from his books. And the history of the Seneca Indians is interesting since i am from NYS. I do get a little tired out though from following along, haha