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The Blue Hour  By  cover art

The Blue Hour

By: T. Jefferson Parker
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
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Publisher's summary

Tim Hess is a semiretired veteran cop staring at a death sentence - his own. Detective Merci Rayborn, young enough to be his daughter, is brash, impatient, and not someone from whom Hess wants to be taking orders. He certainly isn't planning on falling in love with her....
Together, they must track down a psychopathic killer who's been abducting beautiful young women from the malls of Orange County. Dubbed the "Purse Snatcher" for the chilling way he brags about his shockingly distinctive crimes, he is one of T. Jefferson Parker's most original creations.
©2000 T. Jefferson Parker (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Ingenious, intricate, complicated yet credible, a real page-turner. There are leaks, leads, false leads, and an express train of an ending. Within the crackling tale, a quieter current carries an unforeseen and ill-starred love affair. A man much praised doesn't need more encomiums; T. Jefferson Parker deserves all he gets." ( Los Angeles Times)
"One of Parker's best - and that's a major statement considering his track record." ( Chicago Tribune)

What listeners say about The Blue Hour

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    80
  • 4 Stars
    76
  • 3 Stars
    45
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    10
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    72
  • 4 Stars
    66
  • 3 Stars
    38
  • 2 Stars
    6
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    5
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    69
  • 4 Stars
    55
  • 3 Stars
    39
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    5

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding book, exceptional reader

I've read most Parker books, he's generally very, very good with an occasional clunker. This is not one of them. The story starts slow with two characters that are initially unlikeable, but gains momentum throughout. I found myself marveling at the complexity of the police work as the two detectives chase the bad guy.

I've not heard the reader before. I'll say that very good readers - Scott Brick and Dick Hill come to mind - often have me admiring their range of voices or accents. Exceptional readers, though, seem to deliver the book directly to your brain without you even noticing that it's being read - it's seamless, flawless, always in character and compelling. That was Tavia Gilbert.

Overall, the last ten minutes are a bit superfluous and a bit corny, but it was great ride getting there and this is one book I'm sorry had to end.

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10 people found this helpful

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

Mixed feelings, ending was bad, very bad

Would you try another book from T. Jefferson Parker and/or Tavia Gilbert?

It is very unlikely I would try another Parker book. I seek out Tavia Gilbert. She is why I bought the book and I think it might have been on sale. I wouldn't seek out Parker.

Has The Blue Hour turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

Have you listened to any of Tavia Gilbert’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to many of her books. She did well with this one. Her Night Huntress books are a work of art. In those she played many characters and you wouldn't know it was one person doing all the voices and languages.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Blue Hour?

The last chapter, it was frustrating, disappointing and just bad.

Any additional comments?

If this is your first Tavia book, try others. She is an amazing performer.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting story

Great narrator and mostly believable action. Much better than other 4 star books. Plan on getting the others in the series.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Sometimes you find a prize

Good character blend and unlikely relationships.
Teaching life lessons and learning to give in order to earn respect. I enjoyer the book maybe this isn't the best book on audible but it is better than many I have chosen to listen, both the reader and author turned s good piece of work

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1 person found this helpful

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

Fascinating plot line

Tried this because it was on sale. enjoyed the plot line and construction as well as the characters. The only drawback was the narrator. I found it difficult to pay attention to the voice for any extended length of time. It may have been the tone of voice, the speed of narration, or something else. I'm going to find this and purchase the print version.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Disappointed in story flow and narration

Would you try another book from T. Jefferson Parker and/or Tavia Gilbert?

Probably not

What do you think your next listen will be?

Harlan Coben

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Nothing against women narrators, but the main character Tim Hess is supposed to be a gruff, seasoned detective and hearing a woman try and do his voice did not do it justice. I just feel the main character and the narrator probably need to be the same gender.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The story had promise, but there were too many things that distracted from the story.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Mercy Rayborn is unlikable

There’s just nothing about this character that I like I read the first book and the second book not doing the third. I’m wondering if T Jefferson Parker isn’t good at riding a female narrator.

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

Author is too verbose

Story line was good but the amount of descriptive writing describing characters and scenes multiple times ruined the plot line. I listened to this on auditable and Often found myself skipping to end of chapters that just seemed to drag on with filler.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story


My first listen to this author. One of the best books I have listened to in a long time. Will read him again!

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

very bad

Bad storyline. Unlikeable main character. Terrible narrator. Very disappointing. Will not purchase this author again.

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