The Scribe

A Novel

By: Matthew Guinn

Narrated by: Lloyd James

A reckoning with the persistence of evil in post-Civil War Atlanta. After leaving Atlanta in disgrace three years before, detective Thomas Canby is called back to the city on the eve of Atlanta's 1881 International Cotton Exposition to partner with Atlanta's first African American police officer, Cyrus Underwood. The case they're assigned is chilling: a serial murderer who seems to be violently targeting Atlanta's wealthiest black entrepreneurs. The killer's method is both strange and unusually gruesome. On each victim's mutilated body is inscribed a letter of the alphabet, beginning with "M." The oligarchy of Atlanta's most prominent white businessmen - the same men who ran Canby out of town, known more openly before Reconstruction as "the Ring" - is anxious to solve the murders before they lose the money they've invested in both the exposition and the city's industrialization, even if resolution comes at the expense of justice. After Canby's arrival the murders become increasingly disturbing and unpredictable, and his interference threatens to send the investigation spinning off in the wrong direction. As the toll of innocent victims rises, Canby must face down enduring racism and his own prejudices to see clearly the source of these bloody crimes. Meanwhile, if he can restore his reputation, he might win back the woman he loves. With scrupulous attention to historical detail, Edgar Award finalist Matthew Guinn draws listeners into a vortex of tense, atmospheric storytelling, confronting the sins and fears of both old South and new.

©2015 Matthew Guinn (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Enjoyed

The story was interesting, thoughtful, and disturbing all wrapped into one package. The narrator was great and did an amazing job of the multiple characters

Loved the historical aspect, not the story

Would you try another book from Matthew Guinn and/or Lloyd James?

I don't think so. Maybe it was me but I found little about the characters to be interesting. I liked the setting, post civil war, but thought the characters were one dimensional. Also, facts were thrown in as if I was suppose to know them from somewhere else.

What could Matthew Guinn have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Developed the characters. I didn't know them very well, so when one is killed I didn't care much

Could you see The Scribe being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I hope not

Wow!!!!

This is not a story I would have chosen if I'd known more about it, but it was well worth the journey once begun. Some of the language was difficult to listen to and some of the imagery grotesquely vivid, but both were critical to the story's historical accuracy and not gratuitous in use.

The narrator's performance was superb.

All in all I would recommend this book, but know the period and that the themes are heavy ones. This book lead to great discussions.

Bloody fantasy

What would have made The Scribe better?

Perhaps my choosing a less graphic listen. While I wasn't particularly put off by all the details, my mind would wander and I'd lose where I was in the story.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Whatever pleases my fancy on my Kindle Unlimited with Narration list, although I paid for this entertainment through the Daily Deal offering.

What about Lloyd James’s performance did you like?

He gave personality to the various voices.

Any additional comments?

Am i being needlessly harsh? Perhaps. The book mostly held my interest to the end--and Matthew Guinn did a fine job of writing it. Maybe it was a passing mood on my part.

History and mystery perfectly combined.

Loved the travel back in time. Really put the reader in the time of reconstruction.

Worth the buy

The story was original. It kept my interest and the pace of it was like that of a movie. I was surprisingly pleased as I selected the book on a whim. Naturally, I think this would be great in a visual medium. The narrator also did a good job voicing the various characters. This was also a plus. I give it a 4.5 only as I don't fancy antebellum/reconstruction South stories BUT this author told a good story that I cared about the plot & characters. Worth the buy/listen.

By The Numbers

Largely by the numbers, though I've read worse. Narrator was fine, though some of his accents were a bit overly stereotypical. [AUDIBLE]

Good mystery

Well written novel. The one thing this story was missing was a little more character development. Aside from this, there are many exciting scenes and vivid imagery. If you like a darker Sherlock Holmes this is your story.

Glad this is over

In Historical Fiction I like to learn a little something. Didn't find that here
The story jumps around. Found myself rewinding a lot thinking I missed something.
The narrator lacked interest. Kept nodding off.
The only reason it gets 3 stars is because I laboriously finished it.

A chilling,captivating journey into America's past

Between the author and the narrator, the reader is transported to a world that can't be shared through history books. Characters are created with compassion and a good grasp of the strengths and frailties of human nature. The plot was strong from beginning to end. This reader is haunted by the story but satisfied by a great read.