Ugh. This sequel to The Forgers is frustratingly boring and unsatisfying. By employing his too-clever “unreliable narrator” gimmick in the first book, the author makes Will maddeningly unsympathetic at the end. While Morrow could pat himself on the back for springing the surprise, it also meant that any sequel was going to be tricky. Anyone who read the first book already knows that the protagonist is actually unreliable and unsympathetic. So, who cares that Will is again pursued by his old foe – you know he damn well deserves it! All his supposed concern for his family does nothing to change the reader’s antipathy towards him and, worse, renders the plot ridiculous instead of gripping. Morrow refuses to explicitly divulge in this sequel the big reveal of his first book which is central to understanding Will. So, a reader who did not read the first book actually might find Will sympathetic in the sequel. Wow, another unreliable narrator gimmick. In essence, Morrow allows his unsympathetic protagonist to start fresh in the sequel and dupe the unwitting reader! Very clever – if you have no respect for your readers.
Just as bad, the audiobook production was terrible Both of the narrators make the book painful listening. The female narrator performs her part with a dreadful bottom-of-the-register melodramatic voice that borders on parody. Even worse is when she performs the part of Will, the husband. The male narrator reads his part like a radio broadcaster reporting polling numbers. Double ugh.