Samyann
The Cornwalls Are Gone by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Written by James Patterson, Brendan DuBois – contributor. That’s a bit deceptive, IMO. Patterson is richer than Croesus and has been getting a lot of co-author help. Personally, don’t believe Patterson books get more than a quick once-over, and he has a team of co-authors; it’s well known. So does Clive Cussler. Some of these authors even keep writing after they’ve been dead for years, like Vince Flynn. Flynn’s got a new book soon! 🙄 Really!
Anyway, plot: The Cornwalls aren’t really “gone.” The father and daughter have been abducted, and the mom goes on the hunt. She goes AWOL from the military and gets help in her quest to save her family. Those in higher positions have been using her and eventually get their comeuppance. Not great literature, Patterson doesn’t try anymore, just a listenable story. Eye-rolling in spots. Example? The man she must escort across the country could have escaped. She’s a professional, needed him desperately, and leaves him out of her sight more times than you can count. Really? I don’t think so… No spoilers, but some of the story is a bit hard to swallow – but, hey … it is fiction.
Narration. The male voices are read by Edoardo Ballerini, and he’s terrific. Female voices read by Lauren Fortgang. Her interpretation doesn’t convey the desperate state of the lead character, in my opinion. She should read children’s literature, way too girly-childlike in her tone, not reflecting the terror you’d expect. You may find it peachy – but, listen to the free sample, first.
About nine hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format, released in March of 2019 by Hachette Audio.
