Ghostman

By: Roger Hobbs

Narrated by: Jake Weber

Stunningly dark, hugely intelligent and thoroughly addictive, Ghostman announces the arrival of an exciting and highly distinctive novelist.

When a casino robbery in Atlantic City goes horribly awry, the man who orchestrated it is obliged to call in a favor from someone who's occasionally called Jack. While it's doubtful that anyone knows his actual name or anything at all about his true identity, or even if he's still alive, he's in his mid-30s and lives completely off the grid, a criminal's criminal who does entirely as he pleases and is almost impossible to get in touch with. But within hours a private jet is flying this exceptionally experienced fixer and cleaner-upper from Seattle to New Jersey and right into a spectacular mess: one heister dead in the parking lot, another winged but on the run, the shooter a complete mystery, the $1.2 million in freshly printed bills god knows where and the FBI already waiting for Jack at the airport, to be joined shortly by other extremely interested and elusive parties. He has only 48 hours until the twice-stolen cash literally explodes, taking with it the wider, byzantine ambitions behind the theft. To contend with all this will require every gram of his skill, ingenuity and self-protective instincts, especially when offense and defense soon become meaningless terms. And as he maneuvers these exceedingly slippery slopes, he relives the botched bank robbery in Kuala Lumpur five years earlier that has now landed him this unwanted new assignment.

From its riveting opening, Ghostman effortlessly pulls the listener into Jack's refined and peculiar world - and the sophisticated shadowboxing grows ever more intense as he moves, hour by hour, toward a constantly reimprovised solution. With a quicksilver plot, gripping prose and masterly expertise, Roger Hobbs has given us a novel that will immediately place him in the company of our most esteemed crime writers.

©2013 Roger Hobbs (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Fast, hard and knowing: this is an amazing debut full of intrigue, tradecraft and suspense. Read it immediately!” (Lee Child)

“A slam-bang, pedal-to-the-metal crime story that fires on all cylinders and then some! Ghostman is a gritty, lean, mean adrenaline machine. Mostly, though, it was just plain fun to read. I absolutely loved this book and cannot recommend it highly enough.” (Christopher Reich)

“This watertight debut [is] at once slick and gritty… Straight out of the gate, Hobbs has mastered the essentials of a contemporary thriller: a noirlike tone, no-nonsense prose and a hero with just enough personality to ensure he doesn't come off as an amoral death machine [as well as] heart-stopping scenes that illustrate how small mistakes can turn catastrophic.” ( Kirkus, starred review)

Enthusiasm for the Main Character Wanes over Time

For a first novel, Ghostman is entertaining with an interesting caper. The plot moves along at a good pace, and the action scenes are well-written. Plenty of attention to detail, and Jake Weber does a good job overall with the narration. However, my enthusiasm for the main character (the "Ghostman") waned over time. I felt that this book was a little too over-hyped prior to its release.

Mr. Hobbs has created a protagonist that is difficult to form an emotional connection with, in my opinion. The main character comes across somewhat "flat", and I found myself not caring as to what happens to him by the end of the book. That said, I would try another book by this author as I do feel that he has talent and ability. If you like characters such as Jack Reacher, Joe Pike, John Puller, etc. then you will probably find this book reasonably entertaining, albeit a notch or two below the level you might be hoping for.

Gotta listen to this audiobook.

One of the most entertaining audiobooks I've heard (and I'm very picky) Very well done.

Amazing

This is a great book that keeps you guessing. If you love heists from the criminal stanpoint then read this!

Fantastic.

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

Yes. This book was riveting. I loved the intense detail and the main character being so despicable yet likable.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The book had a dual plot that was wonderful. It was great to see them both play out and see how they informed one another.

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

I found Jake Weber when he did Night Film. I followed him to this book - an even better book. His performance is dynamite. I love his different voices and pacing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wish I could've! I listened to it at work, in the car, while walking my cat...

Any additional comments?

Great plot, great performance. Beautiful mastery of the nitty gritty - good action sequences and great explanations of underworld workings of which I had no previous knowledge (are they even real? Scatters really exist? I'm off to google...) Wish it had blossomed into a love story a little more, but it leaves it open for another book.

Not a "classic", but definitely entertaining

This was definitely an entertaining listen. It seems as though many of the reviewers have unrealistic expectations of this kind of book. It's not a "classic" people, it's just meant to be entertainment! Upon starting the book, the narrator was extremely slow, but that is easily fixed; most devices have the ability to change the speed of the playback and that's all it took to fix it. I found the narration of the book quite enjoyable. I questioned the cash handling in a casino setting. It was lax and I think it could have been tightened up a bit more in the writing of the book. I say this because I work in a Casino and the described cash drop security doesn't come close to what I have experienced. Thus the 4 rating instead of 5. Some books are better reads than listens, but I think this would not have been as enjoyable had I read it instead of listening to it. Really, it's just entertaining; easy to listen to and not hard work to follow the plot.

Keeps you guessing

I enjoyed Ghost Man very much. It is always fun when you get to root for the bad guy...well, the least bad of the bad guys anyway. The time went along quick and I was sorry for the book to end. This is one where I would definitely like to see the main character again in future books.

Fantastic debut novel!

Would you listen to Ghostman again? Why?

Yes.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Ghostman. He's the perfect anti-hero.

Any additional comments?

The story and the narration are exceptional. This is what a crime novel/mystery is supposed to be like.I can't wait for Roger Hobbs next one!

Good story, Haunting narration

What did you love best about Ghostman?

The story was good don't get me wrong. It was very interesting, kept me guessing and wanting more. But the narration was awesome.

Which character – as performed by Jake Weber – was your favorite?

The guy who was looking for ghost man. Weber's narration for this guy was excellent, one of the best I've heard.

I kept listening and could not turn it off

Would you listen to Ghostman again? Why?

No I would not re-listen only because I only listen once. But if I had to pick one why not this one

Which scene was your favorite?

Where Our hero played Russian Roulette with the Wolf.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The story was really three stories in one. The Hero Jack had his rules to live by and sometimes let them slide a bit. The Atlantic City robbery and it's unfolding was well constructed, especially Jacks several times escaping his own end and the backdrop story of a foreign bank job gone bad with it's relationships all kept me in the book.

Any additional comments?

If the author's next book would use the same main character and narrator I for one would snap it up.

New Approach

Good first book and it has garnered a lot of attention. I just don't what I think about it. The hero is no hero at all. He makes some moves that would be considered heroic and then he goes and does something purely for his own self interest. Just not sure how I feel about it.