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Under the Beetle's Cellar Audiobook
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(4.02) - 673 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The author and heroine of The Red Scream return in a novel so terrifying, so filled with squirming suspense, it's bound for the bestseller lists. When Kirkus Reviews greeted Mary Willis Walker's last book, The Red Scream, with "welcome to the big time," they weren't kidding. That novel established Walker as an author with "the kind of clout that sets publishers' mouths watering" (The Philadelphia Inquirer). And now she has done it again, with an unforgettable tale ripped from the headlines and more terrifying than our worst nightmares. Kidnapped by a cult of religious fanatics, an Austin school bus driver and eleven of his young charges have been held underground at the group's highly fortified compound for forty-six days. While a team of federal negotiators begins to lose all hope of rescuing the hostages, crime reporter Molly Cates sets outto discover everything she can about the cult's iron-willed leader, Samuel Mordecai. And as the clock ticks inexorably, she takes the role of Clarisse Starling opposite Mordecai's Hannibal Lecter, engaging in a psychological confrontation as harrowing as any in The Silence Of The Lambs. Tough, terrifying, and relentlessly heart-wrenching, this is a novel whose images no reader will ever forget.
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"So, I'm not entirely sure if this book deserves the five star rating I'm giving it, because I read it back when I was in high school, something like fourteen years ago, and I'm not sure if my high school self can be trusted to accurately remember how good the book was. HOWEVER, I've remembered how much I enjoyed this book for all these years, so it clearly made quite an impression on me. It's the story of a war vet turned school bus driver who is kidnapped with his entire busload full of kids by a cult leader. He and the kids are imprisoned inside the bus, and the story of their daily lives as prisoners unfolds in a thoroughly thoughtful and riveting way. Very fascinating and suspenseful. Apparently this book is one in a series of books about the adventures of a crime reporter named Molly Cates and I can't exactly recall how she becomes involved in the story, I remember her being a pretty fascinating and cool character as well. I'll have to re-read and see if the five star rating holds up!"
— Stella (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Extraordinary suspense novelist Mary Willis Walker proves why she is one of the best and hottest new writers in the genre…An absorbing tale filled with characters suffering from all too human flaws and strengths. This is a truly powerful and emotional novel that readers will find hard to forget.”
— RT Book Reviews (4½ stars, Top Pick!)
Under the Beetle's Cellar Listener Reviews
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David Smith, 3/4/2016
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" I liked the storyline and the plot of this book. Apart from the necessary action sequence, it could have been a real story. The pace of the storytelling is also good, I read it almost in one sitting. "
— Randa, 2/16/2014 -
" One of the best books I've ever read, I even wanted to cry at the end. That's incredible writing! It's a great story, a great mystery, and you won't want to put it down. "
— Renee, 2/5/2014 -
" Read for Mystery Book Club 3/2004 "
— Debbie, 1/27/2014 -
" I really liked this book, and would have given it 4 stars except that the language is pretty shocking throughout. It is a riveting, fictional, story of a group of school kids and their bus driver who are taken hostage by a religious cult. It is a little slow moving, but intriguing just the same. If foul language doesn't bother you than I would definitely recommend it, otherwise steer clear. "
— Cali, 1/26/2014 -
" I began this book because I thought it was a mystery and I am a huge mystery fan. However, it could be, what might be thought of as a YA book. It is about a group of school kids that are kidnapped and their bus buried, with the kids in it. It has so many literary references in it that no matter which genre is falls into the genre is elevated.. The title of the book is a literary quote, which I leave other readers to find. Suspenseful and educational. Recommended by my daughter, a high school librarian. "
— Linda, 1/26/2014 -
" I loved this thriller. It's fast-paced and you're almost scared to find out what happens next. You keep rooting for the characters and you feel kinda sorry for Mordecai. It's a whirlwind of events and you can't wait to get to the finish. "
— Brigitte, 1/24/2014 -
" Creepy. Suspensful. AMAZING!!! Just go out and read it, okay? "
— Lauren, 1/11/2014 -
" Well done suspense, good human interactions. Ending could have been even better than it was, though. "
— Vasha7, 1/11/2014 -
" Creepy. Suspensful. AMAZING!!! Just go out and read it, okay? "
— Lauren, 1/10/2014 -
" read this Austin author too long ago to remember much more than it was cool that these were all set in Austin. "
— sara, 12/30/2013 -
" One of my favorite books...ever! When I started reading it I wasnt sure I would even enjoy it but as I easily progressed through the book I fell inlove with it! Great story! "
— Christy, 12/29/2013 -
" Again, a very scarey mystery but "Legion" is stil my favorite bad guy. "
— Carole, 12/27/2013 -
" This is a story you will never forget....I recommend highly! "
— Ken, 12/24/2013 -
" read this Austin author too long ago to remember much more than it was cool that these were all set in Austin. "
— sara, 12/19/2013 -
" I liked some of her other work better. "
— Melissa, 12/13/2013 -
" Great audiobook with Anna Fields narrating. Miss her voice so much. It is always a treat to find a book she read that I have not listened to yet. "
— Nan, 11/27/2013 -
" a four and a half/maybe a five "
— Injuneer, 11/24/2013 -
" A very suspensfull read! I can't wait to read more by the author! "
— Teresa, 11/16/2013 -
" One of the scariest books I've ever read--with a tremendous story behind it. "
— Marlene, 11/14/2013 -
" I liked the storyline and the plot of this book. Apart from the necessary action sequence, it could have been a real story. The pace of the storytelling is also good, I read it almost in one sitting. "
— Randa, 10/3/2013 -
" Very Good; Continuing character: crime reporter Molly Cates; religious zealot seals kids and bus driver underground while authorities determine how to rescue them. "
— Joe, 9/5/2013 -
" I loved this thriller. It's fast-paced and you're almost scared to find out what happens next. You keep rooting for the characters and you feel kinda sorry for Mordecai. It's a whirlwind of events and you can't wait to get to the finish. "
— Brigitte, 5/17/2013 -
" I liked some of her other work better. "
— Melissa, 3/24/2013 -
" This book was fanatastic. The bus driver was a hero, and the children were amazingly brave and resilient. I loved the characters, the plot was different, and the author writes like a dream. "
— Gail, 3/18/2013 -
" This book won both the Anthony and Mcavity awards and is one of the most suspenseful books I have ever read. A real I-can't-put-this-down-until-I-finish-it book but you don't want it to end. "
— Penny, 2/9/2013 -
" One of my favorite books...ever! When I started reading it I wasnt sure I would even enjoy it but as I easily progressed through the book I fell inlove with it! Great story! "
— Christy, 1/11/2013 -
" This book won both the Anthony and Mcavity awards and is one of the most suspenseful books I have ever read. A real I-can't-put-this-down-until-I-finish-it book but you don't want it to end. "
— Penny, 11/23/2012 -
" BEST BOOK OF ALL TIME. "
— Kayla, 11/19/2012 -
" One of my favorites! It is so intense and draws you into the situation. "
— Dixie, 9/23/2012 -
" I'd read anything by this Austin author "
— Gloria, 2/22/2012 -
" This is a story you will never forget....I recommend highly! "
— Ken, 10/7/2011 -
" Read for Mystery Book Club 3/2004 "
— Debbie, 8/18/2011 -
" Well done suspense, good human interactions. Ending could have been even better than it was, though. "
— Vasha7, 7/17/2011 -
" a four and a half/maybe a five "
— Injuneer, 6/11/2011 -
" I'd read anything by this Austin author "
— Gloria, 5/29/2011 -
" This book was a surprise. I picked it up on a whim. It turned out to be a pretty good story. It deals with a cult who is holding 11 school children and their bus driver hostage. "
— Stephanie, 5/7/2011 -
" Again, a very scarey mystery but "Legion" is stil my favorite bad guy. "
— Carole, 1/28/2011 -
" One of the best books I've ever read, I even wanted to cry at the end. That's incredible writing! It's a great story, a great mystery, and you won't want to put it down. "
— Renee, 1/25/2011 -
" One of the scariest books I've ever read--with a tremendous story behind it. "
— Marlene, 1/5/2011 -
" BEST BOOK OF ALL TIME. "
— Kayla, 12/18/2010 -
" One of my favorites! It is so intense and draws you into the situation. "
— Dixie, 6/17/2010 -
" Great audiobook with Anna Fields narrating. Miss her voice so much. It is always a treat to find a book she read that I have not listened to yet. "
— Nan, 5/5/2010 -
" This book was fanatastic. The bus driver was a hero, and the children were amazingly brave and resilient. I loved the characters, the plot was different, and the author writes like a dream. "
— Gail, 4/3/2010 -
" Very Good; Continuing character: crime reporter Molly Cates; religious zealot seals kids and bus driver underground while authorities determine how to rescue them. "
— Joe, 1/12/2010 -
" A very suspensfull read! I can't wait to read more by the author! "
— Teresa, 9/3/2009 -
" This book was a surprise. I picked it up on a whim. It turned out to be a pretty good story. It deals with a cult who is holding 11 school children and their bus driver hostage. "
— Stephanie, 7/4/2009 -
" I read this book when I was around 11 years old and I carried it with me everywhere. I think it's not only an excellent read but one which is easy to relate with and true. None of the characters are perfect and none of them are evil. There is dimension and depth to each. "
— Liz, 9/20/2008
About Mary Willis Walker
Mary Willis Walker is an American crime fiction author.
About Anna Fields
Kate Fleming (a.k.a. Anna Fields) (1965–2006), winner of more than a dozen Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award in 2004, was one of the most respected narrators in the industry. Trained at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, she was also a director, producer, and technician at her own studio, Cedar House Audio.