The Bishop

By: Steven James

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

Gold Medallion and Christy Award nominee Steven James crafts pulse-pounding psychological thrillers that hold listeners spellbound. This fourth in his CBA bestselling series pushes FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers’ cutting-edge skills to the limit when a woman is found brutally murdered near Washington, D.C. While her killers continue a spree of perfect crimes, Bowers struggles to discover a pattern and crack his most difficult case yet.

©2010 Steven James (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

good first read

First time author, Steven James. This book was suggested by audible as a book I'd like based on other books I've read. Since it was rated 4.5 on the 5.0 scale I figured it had to be good and the story line seemed interesting so I got it. This is called a psychological thriller and it did get into your head. Based on a series where the protagonist is an FBI agent that does geospatial investigations (you have to read/listen to it to understand what that means). The author has won some Cristy Awards which are for books written with a Christian worldview. I didn't see much of being a Christian written into this book as the crimes were really horific and gruesome. A lot of the book is spent profiling and looking into the minds of killers, animals, and humans in general and what makes some turn to the dark side and asks the question of whether we all have that dark side in us. It delves into preemptive killing where if you know someone is going to be bad should they be eliminated ahead of time. It really does look into human nature, both the good and the bad, and the author crafts an excellent thriller that keeps you turning the pages while comtemplating all these issues. I will for sure go on to the next book in the series.

Good read....keeps you coming back

Any additional comments?

This is the first book I've read in this series and yet it was complete and there was enough explanation of the past without being a distraction to the present story. Good characters; captures the ilk of a 17-yr-old (girl) well. Main character, Bower, has patience and perseveres - like any good detective.

Excellent story

Absolutely love Steven James and the Bowers files. His stories and characters are so immeasurably captivating and I feel like I learn something new after reading each one! For years, I’ve wanted to see them translated into a tv series of movies, but after seeing so many films and productions based on books I’ve read, I feel they would leave out some of the best parts of his writing and books. Forever a fan of his books :)

Deep and intriguing, the series really starts here

With this 4th book in the series, the author has really hit his stride. The characters are well developed, and the dialogue is so realistic and natural, it's amazing. The book is not a fast paced thrill ride, but an evenly paced story with plenty of twists and surprises. Additionally, there are some aspects of this character and story that offer a unique perspective on detective stories. It's not just the same old stuff you read over and over in other novels. With the first three books, there were some aspects that broke the spell, taking you out of the story, maybe to roll your eyes. But with this story, he's got it together. I stumbled upon this series when looking for Richard Ferrrone books, after exhausting the supply of Sanford books, and it's a great find ... similar to Sanford in many ways too. I've read hundreds of thrillers, and this author is truly one of the very best.

A philosophical treatise masquerading as a mystery

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

I would recommend this book with reservations. Depends on what you're looking for. The mystery part of the story is pretty good; the suspense is intense at times. The characters are likeable. But I soon discovered why it's published by a religious press. There is a lot of deep discussion of philosophical questions: the nature of humanity, free will, eugenics, etc. Most of the characters engage in these lengthy discussions, including the 17 year old girl. Really? No teenager I know talks like that. Sometimes the philosophizing interrupts the flow of the story itself. But if you're interested in questions like that, this could be the book for you.

What about Richard Ferrone’s performance did you like?

Good performance. Once in a great while it was difficult to distinguish among characters, but that was rare. Good expression to go with the context.

Awesome Book if You Can Take the Graphic Detail

What did you love best about The Bishop?

The suspense and the narrator. The narrator is how I found this book. I like how Richard reads and his voice so I looked up all the books he has narrated.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Patrick Bowers the lead character...he's invincible.

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

Yes....although there were some slow parts...it picked back up quickly.

Any additional comments?

This is my first in the series and I plan to go back to the Pawn and listen to them all.

Love

Love this series. Only complaint is that there is some editing issues. Not the performers fault.

Great story, I just wish there was better editing... does anyone listen to the recording before publishing it?

Another great story with a mostly good performance. It just really bothers me when the narrator misreads common English words and somehow they miss it in editing. Occasional mis-pronunciations are understandable if it is rarely, after all, this is a book and you are being paid to read it. But it interrupts the flow when that sentence is pronounced "...paid to 'red' it.". There were more than just a couple of times the narrator chose the wrong pronunciation/word, changing the meaning of a sentence or just plain not making sense. Naturally, I didn't jot them down, but things like "You don't mind if I record (pronounced with the short e) this do you" and other such silliness. After a few of them I begin to lose the flow of the story, or it just grates on my ruining the relaxing experience I am looking for.

Riveting

Edge of you car seat listening experience.
Love Patrick, Tessa, Lien Wah and Cheyenne.
Great listen.

Good

I wasn't a super fan of the narrator but I love the stories. I look forward to finding out who is in the fridge.