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Dark Lady (Abridged) Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,008 listener ratings
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In Dark Lady, Richard North Patterson displays the mastery of setting, psychology, and story that makes him unique among writers of suspense, and one of today's most original and enthralling novelists. In Steelton, a struggling Midwestern city on the cusp of an economic turnaround, two prominent men are found dead within days of each other. One is Tommy Fielding, a senior officer of the company building a new baseball stadium, the city's hope for the future. The other is Jack Novak, the local drug dealers' attorney of choice. Fielding's death with a prostitute, from an overdose of heroin, seems accidental; Novak is apparently the victim of a ritual murder. But in each case the character of the dead man seems contradicted by the particulars of his death. Coincidence or connection? The question falls to Assistant County Prosecutor Stella Marz. Despite a traumatic breach with her alcoholic and embittered father, she has risen from a working-class background to become head of the prosecutor's homicide unit. A driven woman, she is called the Dark Lady by defense lawyers for her relentless, sometimes ruthless, style: in seven years only one case has gotten away from her, and only because the defendant took his own life. She has earned every inch of both her official and her off-the-record titles, and recently she's decided to go after another: to become the first woman elected Prosecutor of Erie County. But that was before the brutal murder of her ex-lover--Jack Novak. Novak's death leads her into a labyrinth where her personal and professional lives become dangerously intertwined. There is the possibility that Novak fixed drug cases for the city's crime lord, Vincent Moro, with the help of law enforcement personnel, and perhaps with someone in Stella's own office . . . the bitter mayoral race which threatens to undermine her own ambitions . . . her attraction to a colleague who may not be what he seems . . . the lingering, complicated effects of her painful affair with Novak . . . the growing certainty that she is being watched and followed. Making her way through a maze of corruption, deceit, and greed, trusting no one, Stella comes to believe that the search for the truth involves the bleak history of Steelton itself--a history that now endangers her future, and perhaps her life. For his uncanny dialogue, subtle delineation of character, and hypnotic narrative, critics have compared Richard North Patterson to John O'Hara and Dashiell Hammett. Now, in the character of the Dark Lady, he has created a woman as fascinating as her world is haunting. Dark Lady is his signature work.
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"Patterson weaves an intricate web of intrigue about a down-and-out old mill town in the Midwest that is trying to re-define itself. The corruption, back-stabbing, twisted fantasies, and ultimate resolution are well-crafted and enjoyable. Recommended. "
— Jonathan (4 out of 5 stars)
Dark Lady Listener Reviews
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" Good mixture of politics and intrigue. It took a little time to get going, but was worth it. "
— Joel, 1/20/2014 -
" Nancy 3 stars; Ron 3 stars "
— Ron, 1/20/2014 -
" I realy enjoyed this and I like his books but don't have many of them for some reason. "
— Lynda, 1/19/2014 -
" Just okay. Patterson's more recent books are thought provoking and interesting. This is formulaic. "
— Linda, 12/23/2013 -
" good characters. Interesting plot on corruption & public projects "
— B, 12/19/2013 -
" I enjoy reading Richard North Patterson, he's intriguing and keeps you interested the whole way through the book. This was another hit. "
— Cindy, 12/4/2013 -
" blah blah legal thriller blah. fake cleveland setting and intrigue around the baseball stadium and race relations and just watch the wire instead. "
— Abby, 12/4/2013 -
" Dark Lady by Richard North Patterson (2000) "
— Julie, 10/4/2013 -
" If you like a "who dunnit", this is the one for you. An intriguing storyline with lots of detail. Very easy to read and had the ability to keep me turning the pages. "
— Audrey, 9/10/2013 -
" Nancy 3 stars; Ron 3 stars "
— Nancy, 12/22/2012 -
" love a book that I can't put down "
— Teresa, 10/31/2012 -
" Patterson weaves an intricate web of intrigue about a down-and-out old mill town in the Midwest that is trying to re-define itself. The corruption, back-stabbing, twisted fantasies, and ultimate resolution are well-crafted and enjoyable. Recommended. "
— Jonathan, 3/14/2012 -
" I picked this up on a whim and was lucky enough to have made a good choice. This is the first I read by Richard North Patterson and while it was dark, with some complex characters, it was a difficult book to walk away from. "
— Lou, 1/28/2012 -
" This is one of my most favorite authors, but I have to admit that, though I enjoyed it, it is not one of his best books. "
— Andrew, 12/27/2011 -
" I had a hard time putting this book down. It is a dark story - some supposedly good people are not who they appear to be, others are just evil and don't care. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing - I liked it! "
— Janne, 10/4/2011 -
" A good political thriller.... Enjoyed it thoroughly. "
— Ed, 9/26/2011 -
" Interesting story, good main character development. "
— Debbie, 9/2/2011 -
" Not for the squeamish "
— Meghan, 7/21/2011 -
" still same series...great author "
— Dee, 6/20/2011 -
" Pretty intense. I'm surprised this one was never made into a movie. "
— Dad, 6/15/2011 -
" I love mysteries and this one was a great read! Realistic characters and an awesome story that kept me turning the pages! "
— Lisa, 1/17/2011 -
" I had a hard time putting this book down. It is a dark story - some supposedly good people are not who they appear to be, others are just evil and don't care. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing - I liked it! "
— Janne, 1/17/2011 -
" Solid research add details to the plot which equal a good story and strong characters, who are very believable. I liked this book very much. "
— April, 9/20/2010 -
" I realy enjoyed this and I like his books but don't have many of them for some reason. "
— Lynda, 4/12/2010 -
" blah blah legal thriller blah. fake cleveland setting and intrigue around the baseball stadium and race relations and just watch the wire instead. "
— Abby, 11/4/2009 -
" Interesting story, good main character development. "
— Debbie, 3/4/2009 -
" Dark Lady by Richard North Patterson (2000) "
— Julie, 1/18/2009 -
" love a book that I can't put down "
— Teresa, 12/19/2008 -
" good characters. Interesting plot on corruption & public projects "
— Bob, 1/4/2008
About Richard North Patterson
Richard North Patterson is the New York Times bestselling author of The Devil’s Light, In the Name of Honor, The Spire, and a number of other bestselling and critically acclaimed novels. Formerly a trial lawyer, he was the SEC’s liaison to the Watergate special prosecutor and has served on the boards of several Washington advocacy groups. Patterson has appeared on such programs as the Today show, Good Morning America, Hardball with Chris Matthews, and Buchanan and Press.