The Hidden Man

By: David Ellis

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

On a hot summer night in 1980, two-year-old Audrey Culter was snatched from her bedroom and never seen again. Twenty-six years later, her brother, Sammy, fatefully crosses paths with the man the police failed to convict for her abduction and murder. A few weeks later, that man is dead, murdered.

Private attorney Jason Kolarich is engaged to defend Audrey's brother. But can he trust the people who hired him? Why are they paying for Sammy's defense and why do they want the case heard so quickly? Why, when Kolarich's investigations lead the police to a buried cache of children's bodies, do they kidnap his brother and threaten his life? And finally, what is Kolarich's own connection to the case?

©2009 David Ellis (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A well-written, surprising, completely original gem. The best suspense novel I've read in a while." (James Patterson)
"A fresh take on the legal thriller, crackles with unexpected twists - like Patricia Highsmith with an extra shot of adrenaline." (San Francisco Chronicle)
"Who does he think he is - John Grisham? The answer has to be - yes, with any luck. Ellis certainly writes as well as his Georgia colleague, and his plotting is certainly sharper." (Chicago Tribune)

Good Story, bad grammar

What is it about American Authors? They don't seem to know the past perfect tense. They never use it. Sometimes this lack causes ambiguity in their writing.

It's really annoying. This is one of the reasons why I prefer listening to British authors.

Good story

I was well entertained by this book. Gave that 5 stars. Reader was very good with dialogue between characters but in between it bugged me a bit the way he ended sentences. Small thing so 5 over all.

defense attorney solves a crime

First time author for me, book #1 in the Jason Kolarich series by David Ellis. Set in Chicago, Kolarich is a defense attorney that is tasked with solving the cold case abduction/murder of his best friend and next door neighbor's sister twenty eight years before while she was still an infant.. There are some nasty people that come into the story as he works like a police detective to unravel the mystery.

If you like these kinds of stories, you'll like this one. One of my goals of any book is to be entertained and this book was entertaining. Enjoy.

Sad! Too much foul language. Entriguing story.

Would you try another book from David Ellis and/or Luke Daniels?

Yes.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Hidden Man?

Struggle with killer.

Would you be willing to try another one of Luke Daniels’s performances?

Not sure.

Do you think The Hidden Man needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No

Any additional comments?

The profanity is completely unnecessary. The performance was very lacking and the voices sometimes comical.

good plot as always.

tension is high throughout the whole book. do not like the narrator. his even voice sometimes confuses you because you do not instantly realise the a different person is speaking

Took a little adjustment period

I'm not quite done with this one but I must say I'm delighted to have stuck it out this far. Book 1 I was not that thrilled with, just not accustomed to Luke Daniels, not accustomed at all really, I've been listening to Dick Hill every chance I got. It came around, you get to know the characters and get to where it feels familiar, good stories and I'm good with Luke now.

Convoluted story arc - great narrator

Luke Daniels saved what little could be saved of this mish mash of a novel. It was confusing and made little sense much of the time. No real plot or character development.

I bought it because it was narrated by Daniels and I usually enjoy everything he does. I think this one is going back however.

For me it was mediocre though others seem to like it.

Story not bad, Didn't like the reader

The story was pretty good. However, I found the narrator's speech to be distracting and stilted.

A Very Solid Crime Story

The plot is very interesting. I have only listened to one other Ellis book, but it, like this book, offers a BIG surprise at the end that changes ones entire perspective of events in the story. I will most assuredly be reading more of the work of David Ellis, because I love a plot with a good twist!

Luke Daniels does a great job with the characters, and in particular manages to create a solid bond between the listener and the protagonist. Not an easy job as the book is very plot/action heavy and the protagonist is not written as a very appealing individual.I like the fact that Ellis does not feel compelled to make his characters perfect people, to me that makes them more believable, but sometimes his characters are hard to like.

Overall, a well crafted, solid crime story performed well by Daniels.

Narrator Made Me Zone Out Often

What did you like best about The Hidden Man? What did you like least?

The storyline was good; but the narrator was very monotone and I kept finding myself zoning out. I had to "go back 30 seconds or more" so many times, that after hallway thru, I stopped doing it. I just wanted to get the book over and done.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Luke Daniels?

Any narrator that adds emotion and doesn't put me to sleep.

Do you think The Hidden Man needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I am not sure I care for the main character and I am not sure if that is do to the author or the narrator. I am not left wanting a follow-up book or would look forward to a series.

Any additional comments?

I like other books by David Ellis, so I will read another of his - as long as it is another narrator and I listen to a long excerpt.