Play Audiobook Sample
Iron House: A Novel Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(4.00) - 4,713 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
An old man is dying. When the old man is dead they will come for him. And they will come for her, to make him hurt. John Hart has written three New York Times bestsellers and won an unprecedented two back-to-back Edgar Awards. His books have been called "masterful" (Jeffery Deaver) and "gripping" (People) with "Grisham-style intrigue and Turow-style brooding" (The New York Times). Now he delivers his fourth novel—a gut-wrenching, heart-stopping thriller no reader will soon forget. HE WOULD GO TO HELL At the Iron Mountain Home for Boys, there was nothing but time. Time to burn and time to kill, time for two young orphans to learn that life isn't won without a fight. Julian survives only because his older brother, Michael, is fearless and fiercely protective. When tensions boil over and a boy is brutally killed, there is only one sacrifice left for Michael to make: He flees the orphanage and takes the blame with him. TO KEEP HER SAFE For two decades, Michael has been an enforcer in New York's world of organized crime, a prince of the streets so widely feared he rarely has to kill anymore. But the life he's fought to build unravels when he meets Elena, a beautiful innocent who teaches him the meaning and power of love. He wants a fresh start with her, the chance to start a family like the one he and Julian never had. But someone else is holding the strings. And escape is not that easy. . . . GO TO HELL, AND COME BACK BURNING The mob boss who gave Michael his blessing to begin anew is dying, and his son is intent on making Michael pay for his betrayal. Determined to protect the ones he loves, Michael spirits Elena—who knows nothing of his past crimes, or the peril he's laid at her door— back to North Carolina, to the place he was born and the brother he lost so long ago. There, he will encounter a whole new level of danger, a thicket of deceit and violence that leads inexorably to the one place he's been running from his whole life: Iron House.
Download and start listening now!
"Love John Hart and his writing style. He is the new master of including a major twist at the end of a novel that you (mostly) don't see coming. That said, he is pretty far out with this plot. The extremes just make it hard to completely relate to. New York Mafia meets Southern hill country, senator married to illiterate hill country girl, mass murderer finds love, pregnant woman tortured doesn't lose the baby, lots of gunfire and screams issued but paid professional security staff do not hear a thing, and so forth. Throw in millions of dollars, a fast pace, and lots of mini revelations and it's a good story though. Should appeal to both men and women. Lots of violence; implied sex."
— Gloria (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“An unforgettable novel from a master of popular fiction.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
“This rich, impressive contemporary thriller from two-time Edgar-winner Hart focuses on two brothers, Michael and Julian, both raised and abused at the Iron House of the title, an orphanage in the mountains of North Carolina…Hart deftly interweaves a complex family history story with Stevan’s intense, bloody quest for vengeance…[The book’s] powerful themes and its beautiful prose will delight Hart’s fans—and should earn him many new ones.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Lean, hard, and absolutely riveting, Iron House is a tour de force. With his best book yet, John Hart has clearly joined the top rank of thriller writers.”
— Vince Flynn, #1 New York Times bestselling author -
“There are few books published that can legitimately be called a ‘must-read,’ but this is one of them.”
— Chicago Sun-Times -
“Grisham-style intrigue and Turow-style brooding.”
— New York Times -
“[An] ambitious debut thriller…a gripping performance.”
— People -
“A top-notch debut, Hart’s prose is like Raymond Chandler’s, angular and hard.”
— Entertainment Weekly -
“If you crave thrillers that are vividly beautiful, graphic, will make you bleed, try John Hart.
— Patricia Cornwell -
Lean, hard and absolutely riveting, Iron House is a tour de force. With his best book yet, John Hart has clearly joined the top rank of thriller writers.
— Vince Flynn -
John Hart delivers another outstanding thriller... Secrets, lies and an abandoned former orphanage beckon the reader into a web of violence and emotion. Hart creates such vivid imagery, the reader sees the story slowly unfolding in full color. Iron House immerses the reader in a world that's haunting in its tone and power.
— Associated Press -
Hart 2.0: bullet-fast and super gory, everything amplified and intensified... Hart, again working in multiple voices and from a variety of perspectives, is somehow able to pull together all of the moving parts and to do the near impossible: to transform a bloody tale of murder and mayhem into something of a meditation - or, better yet, a fugue - on familial love. In so doing, he has taken a giant step forward as a writer, demonstrating yet again the impoverished imaginations of those who dismiss popular fiction and automatically relegate "genre writers" to the bargain basement of the house of literature.
— Charlotte Observer -
Using standard ingredients (long-lost brothers, organized crime, a beautiful girl), Hart whips up an intoxicating brew.
— Entertainment Weekly, A- -
Two orphaned boys' lives take vastly different routes in this forceful tale about family bonds and the legacy of violence set in Manhattan and North Carolina. This is Hart's fourth novel, having already earned three Edgar Award nominations, resulting in two back-to-back wins.
— South Florida Sun-Sentinel -
The book combines suspense, a love story and plenty of twists and surprises. The characters are vivid, and readers can feel the tension build. Hart continues to write literate thrillers.
— The Oklahoman -
It isn't as if Hart's career needed jump-starting. His first three stand-alone thrillers have been greeted by an ever-growing crescendo of praise, including two Edgar Awards. Definitely not the kind of writer who needs a breakthrough book. And, yet, Iron House lifts Hart to an altogether new level of excellence.... The present-time plot--disaffected Mob hit man on the run, trying to carve a new life without endangering those he loves--makes a superb thriller on its own (steadily building tension, magnificently choreographed fight scenes, including a High Noon-like finale), but it's what Hart does with the backstory that gives the novel its beyond-genre depth. Like the great Peter Hoeg in Borderliners (1994), Hart uses the familiar story of mistreatment in an orphanage as a way into the inner lives of his characters, and the blind fear, abject confusion, and yearning for love he finds there are both heartbreaking and curiously hopeful, in an almost postapocalyptic way. An unforgettable novel from a master of popular fiction.
— Booklist, starred review -
This rich, impressive contemporary thriller from two-time Edgar-winner Hart (The Last Child) focuses on two brothers, Michael and Julian, both raised and abused at the Iron House of the title, an orphanage in the mountains of North Carolina.... Hart deftly interweaves a complex family history story with Stevan's intense, bloody quest for vengeance.... [The book's] powerful themes and its beautiful prose will delight Hart's fans--and should earn him many new ones.
— Publishers Weekly, starred review -
Mr. Hart has really stepped things up a notch with Iron House...one of the most interesting and masterful pieces of suspenseful fiction that I have read.
— My Reading Room -
This is one of the best books I have read this summer! It has a little something for every reader.... Romance, politics, mystery, an unpredictable plot line , suspense and lots of murder (warning: some scenes are very graphic)… In addition to the exciting plot, this is a story about the importance of family, the scars that remain from an unstable childhood and the struggle to overcome the past.
— The Book Blurb -
Iron House is…gut wrenching, and keep[s] you on the edge of your seat while your heart is beating in your throat.
— MPL's Book Nook -
It is rare that I give a book a five out of five rating. I feel this one deserves it. Iron House is a hard charging thriller with lots of action and suspense. But it is also an intense psychological thriller, with deep characters that are both flawed and exceptional.
— Reading with Mo -
Hart builds a larger-than-life tale of love postponed, the loyalty of brothers, the sacrifice of blood, and the madness of those inured to violence as a solution.
— CurledUp.com -
Put simply, Iron House is another terrific novel from Hart – the kind of crime thriller that many who don't usually read crime or mystery would heartily enjoy. It's as much about its rich cast of layered, authentic, and damaged characters as its captivating storyline. Hart exhibits some style as he vividly evokes not only the ‘Southern' setting – in all its tarnished glory – but also aspects of the broader human condition. He shows that there can be plenty of thrills without having to resort to ‘world-changing' plotlines, by simply focusing on matters that are life-and-death, spiritually or physically, for characters in their own small world.
— Crime Watch -
Excellent storytelling skills, suspense, and flashbacks make this well worth reading. Hart has brought to life the trials of childhood, of psychological damage, and the power of love and family to overcome it all.
— Reviewing the Evidence -
Iron House, a book that many critics and Hart fans are calling his best ever…is filled with…chaotic twists and turns, and scenes that will long stick in the minds of imaginative readers.
— Book Chase -
A magnificent creation...Huck Finn channeled through Lord of the Flies.
— THE WASHINGTON POST on The Last Child -
A rare accomplishment--a compelling, fast-paced thriller written with a masterful, literary touch.
— Jeffery Deaver on The Last Child -
If you haven't read John Hart...you ought to.
— NEW YORK DAILY NEWS on The Last Child -
This generation's Pat Conroy.
— THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL on The Last Child -
Settles the question of whether thrillers and mysteries can also be literature.
— PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review) on Down River -
There are few books published that can legitimately be called a 'must-read,' but this is one of them.
— CHICAGO SUN-TIMES on Down River -
A beautifully constructed story of personal redemption, family secrets, and murder--a small-town epic....
— BOOKLIST on Down River -
Grisham-style intrigue and Turow-style brooding.
— THE NEW YORK TIMES on King of Lies -
A top-notch debut, Hart's prose is like Raymond Chandler's, angular and hard.
— ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY (Grade A) on King of Lies -
[An] ambitious debut thriller...a gripping performance.
— PEOPLE on King of Lies
Awards
-
A 2012 Barry Award Finalist for Best Novel
-
Selected for the February 2010 Indie Next List
-
A New York Times bestseller
Iron House Listener Reviews
-
" I thought the book was a slow read. I thought the ending was contrived, not a realistic story. "
— Marilyn, 2/9/2014 -
" Wow! Great mystery and horror story. Loved it. Very well written. "
— Theresa, 1/15/2014 -
" I'm DYING to read this book! "
— Sherry, 12/13/2013 -
" A nice change from the run-of-the-mill mystery/drama novels. Picked it up in the airport after I finished my other two books and enjoyed it- looked forward to getting back to it. Easy and pretty quick read. "
— Colleen, 12/10/2013 -
" Fantastic book! I always enjoy it when you start a new author and the book is totally captivating! I have to admit some parts did require an iron stomach as well! Great book - thanks for the reference, Susan! "
— Ernie, 12/4/2013 -
" What a thriller. Very well written with lots of twists and turns. "
— Karen, 11/29/2013 -
" I did enjoy reading this - it had a really enjoyable story, but I don't think the writing flowed quite as fluidly as his other books. "
— Karen, 11/13/2013 -
" could hardly put it down. "
— Mary, 11/8/2013 -
" John Hart continues to grow. His best book yet. Can't wait for the next one. "
— Connie, 11/7/2013 -
" I usually enjoy John Hart's novels. However this one was just too dark and painful to read. I found myself skipping pages just to get to the end. A very sad story. "
— Benchpress, 10/28/2013 -
" Really do enjoy this Author well worth a read! "
— Karen, 10/21/2013 -
" An excellent book that I found so hard to put down. Full of twists and turns, the polt gets you and keeps you in suspense right to the last sentance. "
— Jill, 10/10/2013 -
" Book certainly kept my attention, but I decided there were entirely too many murders for my liking. "
— Janet, 8/25/2012 -
" Good suspense murder and mystery. Fast read. My first book by John Hart- really liked it. "
— Trish, 8/10/2012 -
" I loved this book. Intrique, nasty characters, and psychological messiness! "
— SusanE, 7/28/2012 -
" Very entertaining. John Hart writes very readable books. You want to see what happens next. "
— Kevin, 3/25/2012 -
" This book is not for the faint of heart! It is dark and disturbing with some of the most despicable characters I've seen in a book. But, there is also a strong theme of redemption for those who seek it. I have read all of his books and this one is my favorite. "
— Janis, 12/23/2011 -
" John Hart's character development, setting, fast pace and good writing kept me engaged in the book. However, there were a few things that seemed a bit far fetched. Good summer read. "
— Ann, 12/14/2011 -
" This book held my attention really well, which is why I listen to this genre (while I am working.) It wasn't too predictible and didn't have a forced happy ending. Not sure I liked how it all turned out but I did like the very very end. Definitely an R rating for violence and some language. "
— Tonya, 10/22/2011 -
" Excellent. A thriller with some depth of character and setting. I've really liked all his books. "
— Leslie, 7/21/2011 -
" A real page turner. You really care about the characters. "
— Deborah, 7/19/2011 -
" Great thriller. Well written. Couldn't put it down. "
— Maureen, 7/17/2011 -
" I won this book through the Good Reads Giveaway. This was my first John Hart book, and definately won't be my last. I was surprised at how quickly I was drawn into the story and didn't want to put the book down once I started reading. "
— Wendy, 7/16/2011 -
" I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway and was pleased with it. I've never read any of John Hart's books and will definitely read more. I am interested in comparing his earlier books to this one. I liked his writing style a lot. "
— Christy, 7/15/2011 -
" Interesting story...the violence made me nervous in anticipating what might occur next...so I only read a bit at a time...I generally don't like reading about cruel evil violence. But overall I did enjoy this book. "
— Maureen, 7/13/2011
About the Authors
Erin Kelly has worked as a freelance journalist for ten years. A regular contributor to the Daily Mail, Psychologies, Red, and Look, she has also written for Elle, Marie Claire, and Glamour. Also the author of the acclaimed psychological thrillers Poison Tree and The Sick Rose, Kelly lives in north London with her husband and daughter.
John Hart is the author of several New York Times bestsellers. He is the only author in history to win the Edgar Award for Best Novel in consecutive years, and he has also won the Barry Award, the Southern Independent Bookseller’s Award for Fiction, the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award, and the North Carolina Award for Literature. His novels have been translated into thirty languages and can be found in more than seventy countries.
Chris Chibnall is the creator, writer, and executive producer of the award-winning BBC America drama Broadchurch. He has also written for such television shows as Life on Mars, Law & Order, Doctor Who, and its spin-off, Torchwood. He lives in Dorset with his family.
About Carolyn Pickles
Scott Sowers is an actor and audiobook narrator. AudioFile magazine named him the 2008 Best Voice in Mystery and Suspense. He is the winner of seven Earphones Awards.