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    Voices of the Dead
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    Voices of the Dead
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    Voices of the Dead
    Audiobook8 hours

    Voices of the Dead

    Written by Peter Leonard

    Narrated by Jeff Harding

    4/5

    ()

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    About this audiobook

    Detroit, 1971. Holocaust survivor Harry Levin learns that his daughter has been killed in a car accident. The driver, a drunk German diplomat, has been released and afforded immunity; he will never face charges. So Harry is left with only one option - to discover the identity of this man, follow him back to Munich and hunt him down. Told with swagger, brutal humour and not a little violence, Voices of the Dead follows a good man who is forced to return to the horrors of his past.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherW. F. Howes Ltd
    Release dateSep 1, 2012
    ISBN9781471211638
    Author

    Peter Leonard

    Peter Leonard lives in Birmingham, Michigan with his wife and four children.  He is a partner in the ad agency of Leonard, Mayer & Tocco, Inc. He is the author of Quiver and Trust Me.

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    Reviews for Voices of the Dead

    4/5

    26 ratings11 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Good well paced story brought to life by Jeff Hardings spot on narrative skills. Thoroughly enjoyable!
    • 4/5
      Synopsis/blurb.............

      Peter Leonard has already begun to establish himself as a distinctive, must-have voice in suspense fiction. Now he delivers his most compelling, most jaw-dropping novel yet, introducing us to a character you're not likely to forget anytime soon.

      The year is 1971. The place is Detroit. Harry Levin, a scrap metal dealer and Holocaust survivor, has just learned that his daughter was killed in a car accident. Travelling to Washington, DC to claim the body, he learns that the accident was caused by a German diplomat who was driving drunk. This is only the beginning of the horror for Harry, though, as he discovers that the diplomat will never face charges - he has already been released and granted immunity. Enraged and aggrieved, Harry discovers the identity of his daughter's killer, follows him to Munich, and hunts him down. What Harry finds out about the diplomat and his plans will explode his life and the lives of everyone around him.

      Brimming with action and dark humour, Voices of the Dead, firmly positions Peter Leonard as a writer ever suspense fan needs to read.

      ---------------------------------------
      My take.........

      After recently lapping up the excellent sequel to this one, Back From The Dead a couple of months ago I was offered the opportunity to travel back in time and see where scrap-metal dealer and holocaust survivor, Harry Levin first crossed swords with Third Reich Nazi executioner, Ernst Hess.

      Voices Of The Dead didn’t disappoint. It’s fast-paced and addictive. Levin’s a likeable protagonist, with a funky, freaky and unlikely sidekick, Cordell Sims. Sims is young, black and in-between jobs; still deciding what sector of the career criminal ladder to aim for, after a failed stint as a heroin dealer and a dishonourable discharge from the US army. A great double act is borne when fate has them collide with each other and some young Nazi skinheads in a Munich bar.

      Harry Levin is in Munich to track down Hess, a German diplomat responsible for the death of his daughter, Sara. Hess is another Holocaust survivor, but from the dark side of the tracks. Hess is intelligent, capable, cunning and successful. He’s a ruthless operator with a penchant for survival and dark secrets that he feels no remorse for.

      Our calculating Nazi sets his sights on tidying up some loose ends, with some extreme housekeeping, while Harry Levin tries to achieve some measure of justice for his daughter and Hess’s other victims, by taking him down. Inevitably they collide at the climax of the book.

      Leonard effortlessly blends this heady mix of characters in an explosive cocktail. I don’t know if a writing style is hereditary, but Peter the son, exercises the same level of economy with his words as his late father, Elmore. 2014 has introduced me to some fantastic new writers; John Florio, Terry Shames, Leif G.W. Persson to mention a few – Peter Leonard is the latest addition to my list of favourites.

      I do have some of his earlier books on the shelf to get to, Quiver (2008), Trust Me (2009), All He Saw Was The Girl (2011). Next year sees a new book published – Eyes Closed Tight. By then I hope to have relaxed the loose embargo on adding books to my collection.

      This short series would definitely benefit from being read in order, and my enjoyment was slightly tempered by kind of knowing how things would pan out – but for that I’ll blame myself.

      4 from 5

      Thanks to Lou at The Story Plant for my copy of this.

    • 4/5
      Voices of the Dead takes some brave steps into a difficult period of history and actually sees the book focus on two periods of time: both the Second World War and the 1970s. As a child, Harry was sent to Dachau. He managed to escape but lost so many of those he loved and his life was change irrevocably. Years later he has managed to overcome the tragedies he has faced and make a decent life for himself. However, when another tragedy befalls him he not only loses his beloved daughter but finds that the past has returned to haunt him yet again. The man who kills his daughter is a powerful diplomat – and he too has ties to Dachau.Leonard has the key elements of an excellent mystery/thriller here – remarkable coincidences, a complex plot, a stubborn lead character who refuses to be browbeaten – and he uses them adeptly to put together an entertaining tale. Harry seems a relatively straightforward character early in the book but as the novel progresses you realise that he is much more complex and extreme events have shaped him to adapt a persona that is, in part, a protective facade. However, he demonstrates a remarkable capacity for love and caring.When it comes to thrillers I like situations that are farfetched but not impossible, characters who are strong and even arrogant but not above a little weakness every now and again and a story that unfolds bit by bit to keep you enthralled and – where possible – a little bit of a twist to the end. Voices of the Dead delivers all of these and left me very satisfied with the conclusion.Voices of the Dead was a very entertaining read, which – given some of the subject matter – is a feat in itself. I felt Leonard handled it with sensitivity borne of genuine respect for the history, rather than the callousness that can sometimes come from using true life events to simply add ‘shock value’ to a book. An all round good read from a writer who has an excellent command of action and dialogue within his work.This review was originally published on Book Bags and Cat Naps. I received a copy in exchange for my fair and honest review. I did not receive any additional compensation and all views are my own.
    • 5/5
      I don't reach much fiction, but when I do I demand superiority within the first two pages, else it gets tossed and I continue with my voracious non-fiction appetite. I took a flyer on this one and was hooked immediately. It grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go until the end. It induced genuine trepidation and fear. What kept my eyes glued to the page was its message of justice, a global urgency that resonates with me personally. Peter does borrow from, and enhances, many of his father's narrative tricks. He's even zippier, and gets on with the story at an even more rapid clip, shedding supfluity everywehre. What I truly enjoyed was two of his father's book titles employed as parts of dialogue. Nice touch.
    • 4/5
      Peter Leonard offers up another gritty crime drama, where one man must fight against the odds to settle a personal vendetta. The scenario of 1970's Detroit is created deftly, the setting and characters of the period never stealing focus from the plot. As Harry Levin's crusade for justice escalates, Leonard continually applies a foreboding atmosphere, creating a dark and brooding plot. The levity of the narrative between the central characters remains the only balance as they struggle against forces far more complex than originally thought and although at times their quest crosses the boundaries of realism, it is always well written and entertaining. Voices of the Dead is a solid thriller, with great characters, a strong sense of good and evil and although this is a self contained story, it will leave you hungry for the next part (Back from the Dead).
    • 4/5
      I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This novel was amazing. I would have given it 5/5 stars but for the ending. The character development was outstanding and you really root for Harry, even start to look at things through his eyes. The grammar? Impeccable. The plot? What a page turner! I might be biased since I am into all things concerning war (especially when it comes to World War II and the Holocaust), but I really think this book would appeal to readers who enjoy all genres. The last comment I have? The humor. I haven't read a book that continued to make me smirk in a long time. The book might take a chapter or two to really get into, but after that, you're head over heels, ripping the pages to get to the end.
    • 3/5
      Peter Leonard, son of author Elmore Leonard, has written a good - not great - novel of history and revenge. Harry Levin, a Detroit scrap metal dealer's life is turned upside down when his only daughter is killed in an auto accident in Washington, D.C. The man who killed his daughter is a German diplomat, and in accordance with political etiquette, he walks. Coming east to deal with his daughter's death, Levin finds that the accident coincides with the murder of a wealthy Jewish couple. The deaths spur Levin, who escaped from a concentration camp as a boy, to travel to Germany to seek revenge for his daughter's death. Partnering with a black recently-discharged American soldier - coincidentally also from Detroit - Levin discovers a trail of murders leading back to World War II and the SS officer who murdered Levin's parents and a trench-full of other Jews.There's a lot to like in this book, particularly the distinctive characters Leonard has created. But I was thrown by the coincidence of Harry's meeting and partnering with Cordell, the discharged black G.I.; jumping into a sexual relationship with a beautiful German free-lance journalist; and finding himself searching for the same man who killed his daughter and murdered his parents. I also was surprised by some glaring grammatical errors such as the use of "anxious" instead of "eager"; "further" instead of "farther." I was also thrown by the use of exposition about the division of the two Germanies when Harry says he can't remember why the Berlin wall was built.I liked "Voices of the Dead" and recommend it, but with reservations.
    • 5/5
      VOICES OF THE DEAD by Peter LeonardPublished by The Story PlantISBN-10: 1611880327ISBN-13: 978-1611880328At the request of The Story Plant, an EBook Edition was sent at no cost to me, for my honest opinion. Synopsis (from publisher): The year is 1971. The place is Detroit. Harry Levin, a scrap metal dealer and Holocaust survivor, has just learned that his daughter was killed in a car accident. Traveling to Washington, DC to claim the body, he learns that the accident was caused by a German diplomat who was driving drunk. This is only the beginning of the horror for Harry, though, as he discovers that the diplomat will never face charges – he has already been released and granted immunity. Enraged and aggrieved, Harry discovers the identity of his daughter’s killer, follows him to Munich, and hunts him down. What Harry finds out about the diplomat and his plans will explode his life and the lives of everyone around him.Brimming with action and dark humor, Voices of the Dead, firmly positions Peter Leonard as a writer ever suspense fan needs to read. My Thoughts and Opinion: I feel I need to start this review with a caveat because even I was surprised by my thoughts and opinion of this book. If I was to solely choose this book based on the synopsis for my personal library, without the request for review, I would most likely not pick this one up as I tend not to enjoy espionage thrillers. However, with this book, I would have missed out on a great read. The book pulled me in quickly with the car accident and death of Harry Levin's daughter. From that moment on, the action begins, the suspense ramps up, and the books holds you in to the very last page. It takes you from Detroit to Germany to Miami during the years of 1971 and shares the memories of Harry when he was a 14 year old boy, who watches his parents executed by the Nazi regime but was one that escapes the atrocities of that time. The characters come to life. The settings ae conveyed so that detailed imagery can be formed in one's mind, especially of the years of 1940s. Mr. Leonard's writing style is flawless, and the type of read that I call, a "one more chapter" and before you know it, you have read 5 more chapters. What I found amazing, was that a book with a premise of a horrific time in our history, Mr. Leonard could interweave some humor without being disrespectful. As the synopsis states, who is this diplomat Hess, that has been given immunity, for an accident that was his fault and that resulted in the death of a young and vibrant daughter of Harry Levin? Why does this man Hess look familiar to Harry? Harry is so distraught over his daughter's passing, he travels to Germany, where Hess resides, and what he finds out is bigger than he imagined. More deaths? But why? The hunt begins.Highly recommend!!!!! My Rating: 5
    • 4/5
      Voices of the Dead is a story of Harry Levin, a Jew who is also a holocaust survivor. He and his parents were put in Dachau in 1942 and one day a group of prisoners were told that they were going to be sent to Palenstine. Instead they were taken to a field and lined up alongside a trench, 50 at a time, and shot until 600 people were dead or dying. Harry had been able to escape at his father's insistence but was captured and left for dead in the trench. Except he didn't die and eventually ended up in Detroit after the war. 1971 he becomes a successful business man but when his daughter, who is in Washington DC in school, is killed by a drunk driver, his life as he knows it is no longer. Meanwhile the man who killed Sara is a respected and rich German who manages to use his diplomatic immunity to be able to escape being charged. This man is pure evil and continues his vendetta against Jews. He leaves bodies in his wake in Germany and the US because he finds that some people did not die but are able to recognize him, including Harry. This novel takes many twists and turns as Harry seeks justice, not only for the death of his daughter, but for his parents and all the other people that were killed at Hess's orders.I enjoyed Peter Leonard's writing style and this book had me eagerly turning pages until the end. A very suspenseful story that comes right out of history. I highly recommend this book and I hope to read more by this author.
    • 5/5
      This was an absolutely wonderful book. All of the characters are very well defined and come to life so that you have a well rounded picture of all of the characters. Traveling from the United States to Germany, and then back to the United states is not confusing for the reader. The settings are so well laid out that you feel as if you are on a physical journey with the main character. When Harry was in Germany and the memories resurfaced, of what happened to him the night his parents were killed, I felt like I was there with him. I felt his anguish and survivor's guilt. I've listed to survivors talk of their escape and what it was like. I had the same feelings while reading this book as I had listening to those survivors tell their story. When trouble followed Harry back to the United States I kept wondering why the police couldn't put two and two together. I realized in cases such as this that there are people savvy enough to get in and out of the country under an alias and commit crimes. The research that had to have gone into this book would, in my opinion, made this a story that had to be told. I commend the author.I love thrillers and to have it bounce back and forth through memories or flashbacks to a historical period I love learning about, made it all the more interesting. Although this was my first book by this author it will not be my last. He definitely has my recommendations for his works. I will proudly recommend this book to my friends.
    • 5/5
      The year is 1971. The place is Detroit. Harry Levin, a scrap metal dealer and Holocaust survivor, has just learned that his daughter was killed in a car accident. Traveling to Washington, DC to claim the body, he learns that the accident was caused by a German diplomat who was driving drunk. This is only the beginning of the horror for Harry, though, as he discovers that the diplomat will never face charges – he has already been released and granted immunity. Enraged and aggrieved, Harry discovers the identity of his daughter’s killer, follows him to Munich, and hunts him down. What Harry finds out about the diplomat and his plans will explode his life and the lives of everyone around him. Dollycas ThoughtsThis is quite a suspenseful piece of fiction. We travel back and forth from 1971 to one of the most horrific times in history, Detroit to Germany to Florida. The author takes us on a odyssey with personal accounts so real it is almost like watching a movie. I actually jumped when the guns were fired. I really enjoy Leonard’s writing style, the main characters were vivid and well developed. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat and the pages rapidly turning.This book would appeal to anyone who likes a good suspense read but also history buffs as well. It has a ripped from the headlines feel like this story from 2011.My only problem with this book was the coincidence that put this whole story in motion. Situations just fell together just a little too easily for me. For that reason I give the story 4.5 Stars. Not quite a perfect escape! But well worth your reading time.