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Fifty Grand: A Novel of Suspense Audiobook
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(3.04) - 286 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
An illegal immigrant is killed in a hit-and-run on a frozen mountain road in the rich Hollywood resort town of Fairview, Colorado. No one is prosecuted for his death, and his case is quietly forgotten.
Six months later, posing as an illegal immigrant and working as a maid in Fairview, Havana police officer Detective Mercado begins to secretly investigate the shadowy collision that left her father dead. Who killed him? Was it one of the smooth-talking Hollywood types or a minion of the terrifying county sheriff? And why was her father, a celebrated defector to the United States, hiding in Colorado as the town ratcatcher?
In Fifty Grand, Adrian McKinty’s live-wire prose crackles with intensity as we follow Mercado through the emotion and violence that lead to a final, shocking confrontation.
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"This is a very smart thriller, something I've come to expect from Adrian McKinty, even though I was late to discover this author and am experiencing his books in non-sequential order. This actress, Paula Christensen, who did the narration, was especially remarkable at expressing the intelligence of the protagonist. An extraordinary audio experience. "
— Richard L. Pangburn (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“He is a cross between Mickey Spillane and Damon Runyon—the toughest, the best. Beware of McKinty.”
— Frank McCourt, New York Times bestselling author -
“[McKinty is] a master of modern noir, up there with Dennis Lehane and James Ellroy…Fifty Grand is a blast: a standalone effort which again showcases McKinty’s brutal lyricism as well as his sensitivity to the indignities of the immigrant experience.”
— Guardian (London) -
“Violence, a tightly wound plot, and suspense that leaves the heart pounding combine for a thrilling first-person story. The violence level is high, so this isn’t a book for everyone. The plot is complicated with real surprises, and the detective reacts to the violence she has to inflict to get what she wants with reservations, yet it’s possible to see what the brutality does to her psyche. All in all, a riveting book.”
— RT Book Reviews (4½ stars) -
“An intelligent novel of suspense about cultural identity…In trademark fashion, McKinty winds up his provocative tale with a violent and memorable final act.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“McKinty tightens the screws on his heroine effectively, forcing her into a classic noir conundrum from which there appears to be no escape. An impeccably constructed thriller supported by a cast of finely rounded, Elmore Leonard–like characters.”
— Booklist -
“An unusual and innovative new thriller…Fifty Grand crackles with tension, surprising the reader again and again until its riveting conclusion.”
— BookPage -
“The talented McKinty does his usual first-rate job of making you like the characters he likes.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“An abandoned daughter’s search for vengeance in the hit-and-run death of her father fires this action-filled mystery. Narrator Paula Christensen brings just enough of a Spanish accent to the feature role of Cuban police detective Mercado Suraz to be convincing without seeming overdone or forced. Christensen also masters the necessary variations in pace and intensity while navigating numerous flashbacks and scene changes. She is less adept, however, at portraying the male characters, especially at moments of high drama and emotion. Nonetheless, McKinty and Christensen offer the listener a story filled with strong characters, situations, and language. Fifty Grand is definitely worth the trip.”
— AudioFile -
“Adrian McKinty has been blowing us out of the mystery water for quite some time now, but phew-oh, he has totally taken over the whole field with Fifty Grand...It has riveting mystery, politics of just about every shade, and thrills on almost every page...This is going to be the BIG BOOK of 2009.”
— Ken Bruen, author of The Guards and Once Were Cops -
“McKinty and Christensen offer the listener a story filled with strong characters, situations, and language. Fifty Grand is definitely worth the trip.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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Winner of the 2010 Spinetingler Award for Best Novel
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Longlisted for the 2011 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award
Fifty Grand Listener Reviews
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" An okay mystery/suspense. Learned somethings about Cuba "
— Sandra, 2/11/2014 -
" I had a difficult time getting through this book. The premise was intriguing and I really wanted to like it, but it was disturbing and violent. I was unable to make any emotional connection to the main character. "
— Jacque, 2/9/2014 -
" This was a like for me, but not a really strong like. The writing was fine and the story was engaging, the trouble was just that I couldn't relate to any of it. That is my issue, not the book. I thought the characters were strong for the most part and I could believe the paths they took, but this just wasn't something I connected with. Though saying that, I finished reading it in a matter of two days, so clearly it held my interest enough to keep reading. "
— Cheryl, 2/8/2014 -
" This story starts out slowly, and then takes a long, long time to go pretty much nowhere. The only mysteries are how and why I finished it! "
— Jessica, 2/5/2014 -
" Story had promise, but narration felt like a male author trying hard to write as a female, and it just didn't work for me. "
— Tania, 2/4/2014 -
" This book was really hard to get into until over half way through, then it was just ok. "
— Laura, 1/22/2014 -
" It was OK. Not my favorite from this author. "
— Barbara, 1/21/2014 -
" Good mystery, mostly because of the unusual character (female Cuban cop) and setting (US/Mex border, ski resort), "
— Wendy, 1/20/2014 -
" A mystery novel set in contemporary Cuba and Colorado. I could have done without the sex scenes but otherwise I really liked this book. My favourite of McKinty's novels. (Ok, I have only read 1 other one!) "
— Carol, 1/18/2014 -
" One of the best new writers I have discovered this year. Intelligent, lyrical writing. A step up from The Dead Trilogy (which was pretty good!) "
— Markyb, 1/9/2014 -
" ok. interesting plot. well developed but i made no emotional connection to any of the characters. "
— Ruth, 11/18/2013 -
" Well done, well read (audible). Loved this book, loved the imagery, read it twice. "
— Rhonda, 10/24/2013 -
" There are a lot of hard truths in this book. If you dont like to be confronted by whats happening in America, Mexico and elsewhere you should probably read something else. I loved this book. I cried at the end and played the final CD three times. FIVE STARS. "
— Fiona, 10/15/2013 -
" Listened to the audio version of this on a road trip. We couldn't wait to get in the car each day. Fascinating main character. "
— Jenny, 9/26/2013 -
" A suspenseful book with many unexpected twists and turns. A Cuban woman travels to Colorado to avenge the death of her father by a hit-and-run driver near a posh ski town. "
— Janet, 9/2/2013 -
" Not as good as the Michael Forsyth books, but still worth reading. "
— Oliver, 3/4/2013 -
" A smart, tough and relentless Cuban homicide detective - a woman who channels the soul of Arkady Renko. "
— Michael, 10/2/2012 -
" This book is not just a wonderful thriller, but also a fascinating portrait of Cuban life today, the history of Cuba, and the situation with Hispanic immigrants in Colorado. Disturbing. "
— Catherine, 8/18/2012 -
" I couldn't relate to the main character. Did enjoy the suspense and the unique raw dialogue. "
— Kristi, 4/6/2012 -
" I enjoyed this book and it really surprised me at several turns as it moves from Cuba, to Mexico to the U.S. The plot and changing points of view were occasionally confusing, but it all became clear by the end. "
— Chris, 11/20/2011 -
" I couldn't relate to the main character. Did enjoy the suspense and the unique raw dialogue. "
— Kristi, 6/23/2011 -
" Good mystery, mostly because of the unusual character (female Cuban cop) and setting (US/Mex border, ski resort), "
— Wendy, 9/14/2010 -
" I had a difficult time getting through this book. The premise was intriguing and I really wanted to like it, but it was disturbing and violent. I was unable to make any emotional connection to the main character. "
— Jacque, 6/15/2010 -
" I won this on first reads. <br/> <br/>This book shows that a daughter's love and the clues can solve a murder over time, distance and culture as well as laws. I found this to be a good read. The distance she went to solve her father's murder was interesting. How she got there was also. "
— Melissa, 6/15/2010 -
" Not as good as the Michael Forsyth books, but still worth reading. "
— Oliver, 5/7/2010 -
" A suspenseful book with many unexpected twists and turns. A Cuban woman travels to Colorado to avenge the death of her father by a hit-and-run driver near a posh ski town. "
— Janet, 4/30/2010 -
" An okay mystery/suspense. Learned somethings about Cuba "
— Sandra, 1/3/2010 -
" ok. interesting plot. well developed but i made no emotional connection to any of the characters. "
— Ruth, 11/5/2009
About Adrian McKinty
Adrian McKinty was born and grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during the Troubles. His father was a welder in Harland and Wolff—the shipyard where they built the Titanic; his mother was a school lunch lady and secretary. Adrian went to Oxford University on a full scholarship where he studied philosophy.
Emigrating first to America and then Australia he found work as a door-to-door salesman, a driver, a bookstore clerk, a barman, a high school English teacher, and a semipro rugby player.
His debut crime novel, Dead I Well May Be, was shortlisted for the 2004 Dagger Award and was optioned by Universal Pictures. He is the author of more than a dozen crime novels that have been translated into over forty languages. He has won the Edgar Award, the Anthony Award, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, the Barry Award, the Macavity Award, the International Thriller Writers Award, and is a three-time winner of the Ned Kelly Award.
His 2020 novel The Chain was a New York Times bestseller and appeared on twenty-five best-of-the-year lists. His 2022 novel The Island was an instant New York Times bestseller and made five best-of-the-year lists including those of the London Times and the New York Times.
Adrian is a member of the Linnean Society and the National Audubon Society. He lives in New York City with his wife and two children.
About Paula Christensen
Paula Christensen was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and raised in the suburbs of New York City. She studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Michael Howard Studios in New York City, and the Antaeus Company. Christensen is a graduate of Amherst College, where she received her BA with honors in theater, dance, and anthropology. She currently resides in Los Angeles, where she teaches dance and continues to work on both stage and screen.