Disappointingly Predictable

One of my favorite reviewer's gave this audiobook 5 stars but I could not make it past chapter 7. Shaking my head I jumped to the last four chapters to see if I was right and found I was.
This audiobook is too predictable.
I like this author very much, but he preached to the point of making me bored.
The ending is so neatly wrapped up that it needs a bow.
I recommend sticking with the earlier audiobooks in this series.

8 people found this helpful

Not the author best, actually the worst

Great narration as usual. The story was cliche and predictable. It felt like the main characters were after thought to a story that was far fetched and spent more time trying to prove a point. Things are not always what they seem, but this book was what it seemed to be. The book tried to hit the point of not judging all people on the action of few, or rush to judgement, got it, but using a cliche story line, and adding a “far right” person as villain far more then those who actually commit violence missed the mark and dated. Do not judge a book by it cover. This author has many great books, after listening to this one, this is not good, could not finish it. First book I returned. Hopefully the next book gets back the same quality

6 people found this helpful

Stop with the preaching!!!

I actually AGREE with the author's message, but pleeeease: don't LECTURE! I listen to audiobooks to escape what is currently going on in this country (the demonizing of immigrants being just one of the catastrophes). If the author had managed to convey his point in a less plodding and obvious way, it would have been "a novel." THIS was unbearable. Obvious and manipulative ( I could not finish it, hard as I tried simply because I have been a fan of the author). Love this series and hope the author gets back on track. This one was just plain lazy.

12 people found this helpful

Too Politically Correct for me

What would have made Marathon better?

Treating the free speech movement with fairness

What could Brian Freeman have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not treating American values as the villian

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It was a good mystery, but the political message hurt any entertainment value.

Any additional comments?

In this age of free speech being blown away on campus, I don't understand Brian Freeman's intense dislike of women in the movement.

8 people found this helpful

A Heavy Handed Morality Tale

As much as I love this series, this particular installment was disappointing. I didn't appreciate how it rubbed my nose in its message and telegraphed all its outcomes early and often. All the obviously misplaced outrage got a bit tedious after a while. Joe Barrett, as always, did a fine job with the narration . . . as he has done on all the Stride audiobooks.

6 people found this helpful

EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT!!!!

Any additional comments?

This is another one of my favorite series. I have listened to all of the Jonathan Stride books at least twice (I like reruns when I have nothing new to listen to). I can't say enough about the books other than to recommend them all.
In this book there is a marathon going on in the city of Duluth, Minnesota. As the runners begin crossing the finish line a knapsack containing a bomb inside a glass fronted store is detonated. A few people die, many are injured.
One man believes he saw the culprit and finds a picture of him on the internet, he posts the picture and tells people that this is the man responsible. One problem, the picture is that of an innocent man. What follows is a series of tragedies, more people die unnecessarily. An entire city is out for vengeance/justice and an innocent man is on the run but not without suffering a personal tragedy himself because of the vigilantes.
While all this is going on there is another background storyline. A woman has moved into town who is an advocate of civil rights and racial profiling, meaning she is very outspoken about people who appear to be middle eastern and calling all believers in the Muslim religion murderers. She incites people to take action.
The two plots collide in an explosive (but believable) ending.
EXCELLENT book, fast paced with out a single dull moment.
Joe Barrett narrates the book (as well as all the other Stride books). He does an Outstanding job.
This book has my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!!!!
If you found this review helpful please indicate so.
Thank You.

21 people found this helpful

very impersonal for the usual stride books

good plot premise but considering it's a Jonathan Stride book I was surprised at how rarely Stride actually made an appearance in this book. I'm used to reading this series from his point of view and that's just gone in this book. I am going to read the next one but if it's the same way I'll sadly have to move on to something else. Also, the narrator went a little overboard with Stride's "gravelly voice" to the point where he sounded like Christian Bale's Batman character, I miss the Stride we met before he messed up and slept with Maggie (don't even get me started!). Lastly this is the first book of the series I paid for because of how the prior book ended, needless to say I was really disappointed to find out Freeman skipped past the proposal to Serena and the wedding and had them already married for the start of this book! If we're going to have to suffer the heartbreaks that Stride experiences I think we deserve to experience the really great moments too!

2 people found this helpful

Go Past The Concept of Predictability

I read a couple reviews saying that this was a predictable story. It had me questioning a little bit because I love the Jonathan stride books. Yes there are things that are predictable but that doesn't distract or detract iat all from the point of the story. It is well worth reading and it has a wonderful theme to it that is well told.

2 people found this helpful

thought provoking

I think everyone should read or listen to this book, it shows you how hate and assumptions can be so very destructive.

2 people found this helpful

Great story; great narration!

Author Brian Freeman is relatively new to me, but I have listened to 6 of his audio novels during recent months as he is becoming one of my favorites. Marathon is Freeman's latest release. The subject is a bomb in a backpack exploding near the finish line of the annual marathon in Duluth MN. Several people are killed and many injured. Many people rush to judgment and a well known provocateur comes to town to further inflame ethnic/religious mistrust and hatred. The FBI also arrives to help with the investigation.

Marathon is an outstanding mystery and suspense police procedural which deals openly with the horrible impact of false assumptions of responsibility on the lives of innocent individuals and families. Joe Barrett narrates. This novel has my highest recommendation.

14 people found this helpful