Ensemble Suspense
Review of the Amazon Original audiobook edition released simultaneously with the Amazon Original Kindle eBook (January 29, 2019)

The 7-character ensemble suspense drama Ninth and Nowhere reminded me of several movies where seemingly separate story lines converge at one single event in the finale scene. It was well constructed in this regard and kept you guessing throughout as to what was going to happen. Predictions along stereotypical storylines will find a great twist in the final reveal when all the characters come together.

I listened to Ninth and Nowhere through a recent Audible sale of titles for $1. It is part of the 6-story Jeffrey Deaver collection for Amazon Original Stories. ( )

A pretty good short story 3.5 stars. Good suspense with many characters for a short book, but they showed up at a same place one morning. ( )

More of an Excerpt than a Short Story

At best, it's the well written and enjoyable first two chapters of an actual novel. As it stands, being sold as a short story is disingenuous.

It feels like a book that was abandoned after Chapter 2. It doesn't end wrapped up or intentionally ambiguous. It just stops. Characters undeveloped, plot halfway developed.

You shouldn't read this book if you are wanting a well developed short story. But, if you want a Michael Deaver sampler to decide if you liked his style or the Crime/Police genre, it's a good choice. If you like it you can buy an actual novel. ( )

I got this not realizing it was only 52 pages. So, not a lot of time for character development or even a very complex plot. It was, however, interesting how each of the 7 main characters got enough of a back story to fill in the why of how they all ended up at the same place at the same time to become part of a crime - either as perpetrator, witness, hero, investigator..... An interesting take on the randomness of how strangers can get caught up in a situation. ( )

I liked the way each of the 7 main characters was introduced in this novella. Inevitably as the author described each of the characters I made a judgement about them, but, as it turned out I was very wrong.

Tension builds as the reader realises each character is heading towards Ninth Ave in Nowhere and you know that something is going to happen.

An excellent read. Highly recommended. ( )