Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Listen by Rene Gutteridge



2010 has some fantastic fiction releases, and I am privileged to read a handful in advance. Thanks to my friends at Tyndale, I received a sneak peek at a thriller written by one of my all-time favorite multi-genre novelists, Rene Gutteridge!

What would change if you knew the world was listening? Would you watch what you say if you knew someone had the ability to "Listen" in? How would it affect your relationships with family, friends and co-workers? What kind of damage would be done?

That's the basic premise of her new thriller, "Listen", releasing February 2010 from Tyndale. Marlo is a quiet town...rather small and kind of "Mayberry-ish". Until the website appears.

Listentoyourself.net has turned the town upside down. Damien, an op-ed writer for the local newspaper, is now writing investigative pieces, and he's on the trail of the mysterious blogger intent on invading everyone's privacy. But he can't help being torn knowing that his once beloved town has become a hotbed of gossip and slander.

Or does he?

Frank, a veteran of the Marlo police department, has his own concerns about the website. He can't get over his ex-wife, Angela, and suspects that some of the website's contents pertain to her. Plus, Frank has a vested interest in the undoing of the site.

Or does he?

No one is above suspicion, it seems. From the local high school brat pack to the pastor, everyone is looking to find out who would dare to "Listen". I was hooked from page one, and it made me think about what I say.

Rene is a talented author with the ability to draw you in to her stories, whether thriller or clever humor. Her messages about life and the believer are carefully woven into the fabric of the story, preventing the narrative from feeling preachy, yet you most definitely walk away with a powerful message.

None as powerful as found in "Listen". I'm awarding this one five out of five bookmarks, with a cell phone as a charm. Whether you text, chat, or have regular conversations, you may be watching over your shoulder after reading "Listen". Which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

Happy Reading!

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2 comments:

Kahri said...

Thanks so much! Can't wait for this one to come out!!

Celticlady's Reviews said...

I like the sound of this book. COnsidefring it is pretty much all of us do on a daily basis, talk that is whether on blogs of everyday life. Not sure if I owuld like the ability to 'listen' to other people or have them listening to my private thoughts..good review....