James P. Sumner and Gary Bennett pull of a great action thriller that will keep you guessing from start to finish. “True Conviction” is the first audiobook in the Adrian Hill series, and I had the pleasure of listening and reviewing the second audiobook (Hunter’s Games) prior to this one; audiobook number three was also just recently released. I can say that I enjoyed both books quite a bit. They are good olde fashion action tales in the likes of the movie Rambo along with a few others. At times I felt like I was sitting in a theatre watching this on the big screen. Yes, there are times the story is over the top, and in parts it blurs the line between fantasy and reality, but if you go in listening for entertainment and excitement, the story does not disappoint. Because I had listened to the two audiobooks out of order (which you can), I found learning some additional details about a few of the main characters even more interesting. In some ways, this audiobook reminded me of a twist on a James Bond story. We have the tech savvy assistant (James), and our main character is a killer for hire. If you like your stories with plenty of action, you can pick up this audiobook and enjoy it from the front cover to its end.
This audiobook, from a high-level, centers around betrayal and deception when one deals with criminals such as the mob, assassins, etc. However, our main character has a heart and is not afraid to allow his emotions to show when needed. I know it sounds like some form of bi-polar disorder, but he is kind to those he cares about and yet a ruthless killer then called upon. I can say that I found the writing style a bit less polished then the second audiobook, but that would make sense with this being the author’s premiere work. I look forward to listening to the third in the series which was recently released. Throw in some uranium, covert agencies and a female assassin to elevate the story even more.
I can say that the author appears to have an in-depth knowledge of technology and weapons, or he did quite a bit of research prior to writing this story. The writing is descriptive yet leaves room for the listener to also build upon. The main character has quite a few puzzles needing to be solved and he is not someone that is afraid to use others to achieve his ultimate goal. There was always a bit of time pressure as well hanging over the main character’s head before there would be a point of no return, I enjoyed that sense of tension. Even with the pressure and action, the author left some time for light humor and pop culture references. I have to say that the Kansas song “carry on wayward son” was stuck in my head for hours after finishing the audiobook.
The audiobook’s narration was well performed by Gary Bennett. I have always enjoyed his expressive reading and his ability to master the subject material given. His voice is pleasant to listen to for long periods of time, which I did for this series. His continued ability to voice many different characters, and a few with difficult accents, is always spot on. I thought all of this was done at a level that keeps me coming back to his narration work. The narration was read at a good pace and the overall flow was solid. There were no noticeable audio issues that I can recall, and with this narrator, I often can say that his works have been professional and of high quality.
For parents and younger audiences, like the second audiobook in the series, this one as well contains a fair amount of profanity, mature themes, and adult subject matter. I would not recommend it to younger listeners.
In summary, if you are one that seeks realism in all aspects of the stories you listen to, this story line plays both sides of the fence. There are places it is over the top, but again, if you go into it with this in mind you will find it entertaining. I still found the story to be enjoyable, the narration to be solid, and it was worth my time listening. I would recommend this audiobook and the second one in the series to people who like action and thriller genres.