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The Good Son: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.02) - 977 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Somewhere in Pakistan, Sonia Laghari and eight fellow members of a symposium on peace are being held captive by armed terrorists. Laghari, a deeply religious woman as well as a Jungian psychologist, has become the de facto leader of the kidnapped group. While her son, Theo, an ex-Delta soldier, uses his military connections to find and free the victims, Sonia Laghari tries to keep them all alive by working her way into the kidnappers’ psyches and interpreting their dreams. With her knowledge of their language, her familiarity with their religion, and her Jungian training, she confounds her captors with her insights and beliefs. When the kidnappers decide to kill their captives one by one in retaliation for perceived crimes against their country, Theo races against the clock to try and save their lives.
Combining masterful storytelling with a deeply thoughtful and provocative attention to the truth in all its permutations, The Good Son is a stellar achievement that expands the thriller genre into something wholly new and unexpected. This is a taut, multilayered, riveting novel of suspense.
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"Gruber is a writer of amazing breadth and depth. This novel focuses on the tribal cultures of Pakistan and Afghanistan with side trips into Jungian psychology and some of the secret agencies of the U.S. government. Most of the main characters have painful divided loyalties. Characterizations are beautifully done, as in all his stories. Again, Gruber shows his fascination with varieties of consciousness, including prophetic dreams, the emotional breakdown of a hostage, and the mentality of a person being tortured. There are many surprising twists here, and a satisfying ending. I regret that there are no more of Gruber's novels for me to read. I've enjoyed every one of them and look forward to a new one planned for 2012."
— Carolyn (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Gruber leaves his own mark on the thriller scene.”
— New York Times -
“Gruber’s seventh novel, The Good Son, is perhaps his most ambitious…[he] serves up a slam-bang ending that involves a nuclear weapon, a gun battle, a plot to blow up Saudi oil terminals and many surprises.”
— Washington Post -
“Superb…The brilliant character development and labyrinthine plot line, not to mention the absorbing history of modern jihadism and the US war on terrorism, make this a provocative thriller that readers won’t soon forget.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Gruber has established an enviable reputation as a writer who both challenges readers’ minds and stirs up their blood. His latest high-stakes thriller—good from start to finish—will enhance this reputation…There are many surprises in this excellent thriller, including its ability to inform. It should appeal broadly to lovers of spy stories and action novels in general.”
— Library Journal -
“Is there anything Gruber can’t write about?…one of many pleasures in The Good Son is the way Gruber confounds simple explanations…there are twists and tension aplenty—ideas, too. If only governments were half as interested in the psychology of violence, maybe war itself might become a work of fiction.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
“Gruber...weaves the threads together masterfully while successfully exploring themes of family, duty, loyalty, cultural identity and more, without ever slowing the momentum. Smart, tense and vastly entertaining.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
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A 2011 CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Finalist
The Good Son Listener Reviews
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" Excellent book; complex characters; fascinating situations. I think of Gruber as writing "anthropological thrillers" and this one is no exception with a learned and erudite examination of the nature of religious violence and the cultural clash between East and West. As it typical of Gruber, there are lots of situations essentially set up so the characters can have those great conversations about Big and Meaningful Things. I've read all of Gruber's adult books now and would only rank this below "Tropic of Night" and "Forgery of Venus." Highly recommended. "
— Nate, 2/8/2014 -
" "A richly layered tale...the absorbing history of modern jihadism and teh U.S. war on terrorism...". I thought this was going to be a light read but it turned out to be quite interesting - characters, plot, history. "
— Joy, 2/4/2014 -
" I couldn't finish it. Maybe I 'll come back to it one day, I think it was just that I wasn't in a patient mood. I've enjoyed his other books much more. "
— Torimac, 1/29/2014 -
" Didn't finish: too unbelievable "
— Nathan, 1/25/2014 -
" Starts off a bit slow but picks up the pace around page 200 or so. A few surprises as well. "
— Nathan, 1/23/2014 -
" Excellent! I see they've made this into a movie... "
— Valerie, 1/20/2014 -
" I love every one of Gruber's books. I think he can write in any genre, and never disappoints!! This is one of the most engrossing books I've read thus far this summer season. "
— Lauri, 1/20/2014 -
" A great read by someone whom I had never read before. "
— Art, 1/15/2014 -
" VERY disappointed with the ending "
— Andrea, 12/27/2013 -
" A facinating, well written political thriller. Unexpected twists. Well painted story. "
— Monnie, 12/19/2013 -
" I am loving this book and cannot put it down. Set in Pakistan and Afghanistan, it's a great insight into the muslim and sufi cultures -- with the backdrop of the CIA, hostages, taliban, etc. Nick and Jan...you'd love it. "
— Allison, 12/13/2013 -
" Twenty-five pages in I knew everything that was going to happen. Skipped to the end. I was right. "
— Dana, 12/4/2013 -
" well written book about a pakistan/american man, his mother and the differences between the cultures "
— Adrianne, 10/1/2013 -
" Definitely a book of ideas. Not every author can successfully weave different stories successfully with the past and present, but Dr. Gruber does. "
— Jennifer, 8/2/2013 -
" Liked it, didn't love it. An interesting fictional look into our entanglements in the Middle East. Gruber writes beautifully, which makes up for the fact that his thrillers just aren't that thrilling. If you haven't read him before, stick with The Book of Air and Shadows. "
— Eugenie, 6/16/2013 -
" SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!Terrible writing, maybe military freaks would like it. "
— Druie, 4/25/2013 -
" This book was great. I learned more about the terroist mindset in this book than all the news articles I've ever read about the Middle East. And, all wraped up in a slick Clanceyish story. Glad I didn't let the lame title turn me off. "
— Stephan, 2/11/2013 -
" After a slow start, this is a very intelligent, psychological thriller "
— Kathyred, 1/26/2013 -
" Sort of like The Kite Runner, but with more beheadings and less redemption. "
— Debra, 3/7/2012 -
" I do not usually read thrillers but man this one had me really in its grips. My body was in Hanoi but my mind was in Peshwar... "
— Joke, 2/26/2012 -
" Interesting story with intriguing characters. I am still thinking about it a week later! "
— Sheridan, 7/18/2011 -
" Very different from other Gruber novels I've read. A thrilling story that, in a very matter-of-fact way, brings the reader into the world of Pakistani hill fighters. Really great. "
— Sean, 5/4/2011 -
" I listened to the audio book. Great reader. I learned a lot, even though it is fiction. I would read other books by Gruber, although I understand from others' posts that this book is atypical. "
— Dianne, 5/2/2011 -
" I do not usually read thrillers but man this one had me really in its grips. My body was in Hanoi but my mind was in Peshwar... "
— Joke, 5/2/2011 -
" 2.5 stars - got a little slow at times "
— Mike, 4/21/2011 -
" Incredible insight into the war in Afghanistan and Islam. "
— Randy, 4/6/2011 -
" I've read several books about the Pakistan/Afghanistan region, some nonfiction/memoirs and some fiction. I really enjoyed this story and got into it. It's fascinating to learn more about this region where we are embroiled in conflict. "
— Sara, 4/6/2011 -
" Liked it, didn't love it. An interesting fictional look into our entanglements in the Middle East. Gruber writes beautifully, which makes up for the fact that his thrillers just aren't that thrilling. If you haven't read him before, stick with The Book of Air and Shadows. <br/> "
— Eugenie, 4/5/2011 -
" Gruber writes on a wide range of topics with knowledge and insight. While ficitonal, this book gave me a better feeling for the tribal loyalties in Pakistan and Afghanistan than anything else I have read. "
— Fred, 3/25/2011 -
" Ahhh, don't know. A well constructed plot, but the characters remain shallow and hard to believe. The main character - not the son, but the mother - is left strangely unlikeable. I did like, however, that the author basically subtly portrays religiousness as a mental (dis)order. "
— Diderot, 3/11/2011 -
" A bit implausible still it's a fast action spy story set in today's Pakistan and environs. I think it would make a very entertaining movie. "
— Diana, 3/7/2011
About Michael Gruber
Michael Gruber, a former marine biologist, restaurant cook, federal government official, and political speechwriter, traveled a fascinating path toward his latest occupation as the bestselling author of critically acclaimed thrillers such as The Book of Air and Shadows.
About Neil Shah
Neil Shah is an Audie-nominated and multi AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator who has recorded over 250 audiobooks spanning across almost every genre, as well as numerous long-form journalism articles. AudioFile magazine has commended him for “an absolutely mesmerizing listening experience” and as “an outstanding narrator who adds a healthy dose of personality to each of the characters.” As a classically trained actor, he has appeared off Broadway and on regional stages, as well as in film and television. He records from his home studio in Oregon’s beautiful Wine Country.