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Preview
  • Before the Fall

  • By: Noah Hawley
  • Narrated by: Jeff Harding
  • Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (242 ratings)

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Before the Fall

By: Noah Hawley
Narrated by: Jeff Harding
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Summary

Winner of the 2017 Edgar Award for Best Novel.

Selected by The Sunday Times as one of the top page-turners of summer 2017.

From the creator of the award winning Fargo and Legion TV series.

The rich are different. But fate is blind. A private jet plunges into the sea. The only survivors are down-on-his-luck artist Scott Burroughs and JJ Bateman, the four-year-old son of a super-rich TV executive. For saving the boy, Scott is suddenly a hero. And then, as the official investigation is rapidly overtaken by a media frenzy, it seems he may also be a villain. Why was he on the plane in the first place, and why did it crash?

©2016 26 Keys, Inc (P)2017 Oakhill Publishing
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Critic reviews

"Hawley's sublime prose glows on every page in this literary thriller of the highest quality." ( Daily Mail)

What listeners say about Before the Fall

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book for lockdown

I really liked this book. It's a nice conceit, ten people each with a story brought together by a calamitous event. The book has pace, interesting characters, a who-done-it and why. It's engaging and easy to listen to, while walking exercising cooking or gardening, perfect for those in lock-down.

A private jet takes off from Martha's Vineyard with 10 people on board. A media mogul's family,- husband, wife and two children, his rich banker friend and wife, an artist (a casual acquaintance) and the crew of three, Over the sea the plane comes down and all except the artist and a three year old boy are lost. The story is told mostly from the artist-survivor's point of view but throughout the novel each of the other passengers reveals their story. The unravelling is set against the background of current American media, including a 'shock jock' who is an unscrupulous and loathsome character set on exploiting the situation. He appears more repulsive because of my suspicions that there are many real live 'commentators' in the US who are in this mould.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

So well written and beautifully narrated. I loved this book, particularly the way the story unfolded- the main story with a mystery and then an in depth look at each character; their motives, their flaws etc ..I didn't see the ending until very near the end( a refreshing change). Bravo!!!!!👏🏻👏🏻

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A clever story well told

I bought this thanks to the Daily Deal and because I like listening to Jeff Harding so I was delighted to find that I really enjoyed this story which takes the view of each person in the scenario

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best book I have listened to, if not ever, then a very long time👍👍

Really enjoyed this booked and a bit of a cliche, but “couldn’t stop listening until I had finished”.
Narrated very well, and a great story. Have already recommended to my friends👍😀

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great story well read

loved it, one of those books that I was sad to finish, well worth a listen

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

This is a well crafted story. Each character comes alive as his or her story is told and the descriptions of places are beautifully painted. Most of all, it’s an excellent page turner. I didn’t know what would happen until the last few minutes of the tape.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

AN EXCELLENT LISTEN

Jeff Harding is a favourite and the performance really good. Noah Hawley new to me but will seek out again. Good well drawn structure, tight set pieces that build the story. Lots of reflective background philosophy which suits the life and death of the subject matter.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping

Thoroughly enjoyed this book...one of my favourite narrators, and I now have a new favourite author. Cracking story, brilliantly told. Gutted it’s ended!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Terrible narrator. Good story.

A good story was let down by the monotone drone of the narrator. Why was he chosen to recite this story? There was about as much life in him as my toothbrush! Such a shame as the story was an interesting character play and neatly told.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great thought provoking and emotive story

It took me about a chapter too settle into the narrator's style (probably just a cultural clash) but it took no time at all the get hooked on the storyline. The lead character is somewhat idea, maybe too perfect but I couldn't help loving him. Great story, brilliantly written.

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