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Already Gone Audiobook
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(3.01) - 908 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
2012 International Thriller Award Nominee
Jake Reese is a writing teacher at an American university. He lives in a small brick Tudor close to campus with his art buyer wife, Diane. His life is quiet — ordinary even. And he likes it that way. But it wasn’t always quiet. Jake’s distant past was a life on the streets, inflicting damage and suffering on more people than he can count. And now someone from his past, it seems, has come looking for him.
A raw, gripping thriller about the price paid for past sins, John Rector’s third novel is a live wire that crackles with the intensity of a man with nothing left to lose. When two men attack Jake in a parking lot and cut off his finger, he tries to dismiss it as an unlucky case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But when events take a more sinister turn and Diane goes missing, Jake knows he can no longer hide from the truth. As he embarks on a mission to find his wife, he realizes his dark past is refusing to stay buried and that his future is about to unfold in ways he could never have imagined.
With a taut and brooding style, Rector paints a formidable portrait of a reformed man’s slow descent into a life he thought he had walked away from forever. As the intensity becomes almost unbearable, the pace quickens and the suspense applies an unrelenting, vice-like grip, as Already Gone hurtles toward its ultimate, explosive climax.
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"It was an okay book for me. I liked how the plot kept moving constantly and had a investigative feel to it. I always was left wondering what was going to happen next. When I first started to read it I thought it was just going to be another book were the main character was going to be depressed for the rest of the book. However, when things started to unfold, it definitely took me by surprise. I love how every page I read there was something new happening that I was not expecting. The ending was a bit bland. I thought it would be more dramatic but to my surprise the author kept it simple. I like how the story had me constantly thinking about one of the characters and if the person really was how they seemed to be. I was in doubt all the way until the end and I still am. I'm wondering what will happen to the main characters in the future and if they really stay together. It took me a while to finish it only because at first it wasn't really getting my attention."
— Leynette (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Swift and savage and smart, Rector’s thriller delivers high tension with low-key ease, underscoring the way bad karma can disrupt a good life. Literary in the best, most unpretentious sense, Already Gone is superior pulp in the grand James M. Cain tradition.”
— Max Allan Collins, author of Road of Perdition -
“At a time when most suspense is more filler than thriller, John Rector’s third novel drags the genre kicking and screaming back to its roots. Already Gone is a thriller in its purest and most cinematic incarnation—not a word or emotion wasted, it’s a taut, nerve-jangling ride that barrels towards an electrifying conclusion, which will leave you shaken, stirred, and above all else eagerly awaiting the next Rector novel.”
— Ray Banks, author of Saturday’s Child and Gun -
“John Rector really knows how to pour on the intensity and leave his readers with a smile on their faces. Rector has written a fast-moving thriller that will take you on a trip through the life of a man who, in his youth, inflicted pain and suffering.”
— Suspense -
“Rector keeps his plot churning and his prose lean in a narrative that contains both riveting forward momentum and an unsettling view of marriage and friendship. The writing is ever so stylish, and the characters are deeply flawed—an irresistible combination.”
— Booklist
Awards
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A 2012 International Thriller Writers Award Nominee for Best Paperback Original
Already Gone Listener Reviews
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" Almost read the whole book in one day! It definitely hooked me! A little disappointed by te ending. "
— Nicole, 2/2/2014 -
" I really enjoyed this book, until the end! Throughout the whole book John Rector manages to build tension and suspense excellently, but I found the ending a bit flat. It just ended without giving any prior warning! "
— Emily, 1/15/2014 -
" Not a bad read. Fast paced and full of action. Somewhat predictable. "
— Allison, 1/13/2014 -
" This is a page-turning thriller. Jake gets jumped at a local bar, leading to his life spinning more and more out of control. The characters are a rather flat and sometimes the story has a few too many twists, dead ends and unexplained circumstances. That didn't stop me turning page after page. "
— Doug, 1/12/2014 -
" The story was a good one but I thought the main character's victimization level was a bit over-dramatized. I can't count how many times someone was beating him to a pulp - in fact, that's how the book started out. So, if you like fist fights, gun fire, and constantly being on the run, then you'll like this book. "
— April, 1/9/2014 -
" Supremely disappointing ending. :( "
— Kim, 12/31/2013 -
" very gory, very dark, just OK "
— Veriance, 12/29/2013 -
" I enjoyed this book, despite the protagonist being stubbornly cluelesS. It reminded me of Harlan Coben's books. "
— Marguerite, 12/28/2013 -
" What a crappy NO ending. Mediocre plot, dull characters. "
— Amy, 12/19/2013 -
" From page one I was hooked. Writing was pretty straight forward and I needed to keep turning the pages just to find out what was happening next.Jake had some real annoying moments where I rolled my eyes or huffed out "really" but overall pretty good read. "
— Tonesha, 12/3/2013 -
" I read this book by accident. I thought I was reading something my friend recommended. It was pretty violent. Not my usual type of reading. Had an okay story line. "
— Kristi, 10/31/2013 -
" This was a good book - got your interest from the very beginning. The plot was good but, to me, sinewgat unbelievable in places. All in all, a good read. "
— MaryHelen, 9/8/2013 -
" I would probably rate this 3.5, but I got it free through Kindle lending library, so I nudged it up. I would have liked a little more character development, but it was a good read and compelling enough for me to want to see what was going to happen. "
— Jennifer, 7/21/2013 -
" This book would translate well into a movie!!! "
— Kimberly, 6/23/2013 -
" Another new author for me! Cd'nt put it down. "
— Sandy, 6/6/2013 -
" Good thriller with some surprising twists. I enjoyed it. "
— Erika, 5/2/2013 -
" Very cool book. The writing reminds me of one of my all-time favorites, Jim Thompson. I can't wait to read more by this author. "
— Laura, 11/21/2012 -
" Interesting mystery. "
— Margaret, 7/29/2012 -
" It starts with what seems like a hackneyed set-up: male protagonist's past criminal life catches up with him, but goes in directions you don't necessarily expect. "
— Steven, 5/27/2012 -
" This was a quick read and fun but not great. I'll probably read other books by this author if I'm looking for a "beach read". "
— Celia, 4/8/2012 -
" Another 99 cent special, but had gotten good reviews, so I was hopeful. After a gory but interesting start, I became disenchanted by the constant description of bloody violence. I would not recommend except to someone who likes that sort of thing. "
— Terry, 1/11/2012 -
" You certainly don't need to strain your brain to read this one. Although the book ends with a twist, the fact that the author had to sacrifice character development to do it does not make it a nice surprise. Guess I'll actually have to pay for an ebook to get to read something with quality. "
— Linda, 1/2/2012 -
" I enjoyed The Grove a little more. "
— Km8688hotmail.com, 11/16/2011 -
" A fun mystery..a page-turner. A break from my normal fare. "
— Amy, 11/7/2011 -
" It was very entertaining, but I had some issues:<br/><br/>1. Predictable. I knew the wife wasn't dead.<br/>2. She lies to Jake the whole time, and he chooses her over the man who raised him. Please. "
— Verena, 11/3/2011 -
" This book had me from the very fist pages. It is a very fast & action packed. There was alot of twists and turns and left you at your edge of seat wanting to know more. In the end do I think Jake was fooled? yep, I do. He took what he thought was love over true loyalty. "
— Dana, 11/1/2011 -
" I'd rate this book 3.5 stars if they were available. A quick, enjoyable read - perfect for the beach, travel or a rainy day at work. :-) "
— Kat, 10/26/2011 -
" Great read...fast and action-packed. Will post full review in Suspense Mag. "
— DJ, 10/5/2011
About John Rector
John Rector is the bestselling author of The Grove, The Cold Kiss, Already Gone, and Out of the Black. His short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and has won several awards, including the International Thriller Award for his novella, Lost Things. He lives in Omaha.
About Malcolm Hillgartner
Malcolm Hillgartner is an accomplished actor, writer, and musician. Named an AudioFile Best Voice of 2013 and the recipient of several Earphones Awards, he has narrated over 250 audiobooks.