Kingdom Come is a new novel by Tim Green. Like his previous novel, Exact Revenge, this one is full of despicable characters you would hate to run across in real life. Unlike the prior book, however, the main character in Kingdom Come is not a likable character in any respect and you will not root for him as he gets closer to his goal of attaining the wealth and power he and his wife so desperately covet.

Thane Coder worked with his best friends, Scott and Ben, at a multi-billion-dollar corporation run by Scott's father, James King. When James decides to take the company public, and seemingly snub Scott, Thane and Ben -- despite all the work they've done for the company -- Thane's wife Jessica talks Thane into working with the Mafia to set up a hit on James, frame Scott, take control of the company and set themselves up for life.

How much money would it take for you to commit murder and frame your best friend at the same time? Thane is about to find out his price. As the tale unfolds, he'll also discover that after you kill one person, it is easier to kill the next. But what choice does he have when others start discovering the truth and he has his wife, plus the mob, breathing down his neck to cover up his crimes?

When Kingdom Come begins, Thane is already incarcerated. He is relating his tale to authorities before being released in to the Witness Protection Program. The FBI was more interested in taking down the mob boss than Thane, so his testimony will set him free. The story is often told from Thane's point of view as he reminisces. Sometimes the story is told in present tense in situations Thane would know nothing about. The transitions are not difficult to make, but it is a little incongruous (at least in the abridged audiobook version).

The audiobook of Kingdom Come is narrated by Scott Brick. I am familiar with Scott as he has read many audiobooks, and he expertly projects stress, desperation, hate and loathing. What I dislike is that he can only modify his voice slightly for different characters. Many of them sound too similar to distinguish except by context. Scott's women characters sound distinctly male. As such, he is an average narrator.

Kingdom Come is a novel in a similar vein to Tim Green's prior novels. The characters in this book are the least likable of all his novels I've listened to. I found value in the book as far as listening to a story for entertainment purposes. However, I did not really connect with the book because I did not care for anyone in the book. So, you need to decide what is important to you when you spend your money on an audiobook. If you like a good murder story (this one is definitely not a murder-mystery since you know up front who the guilty party is), Kingdom Come is worth a listen. If you require the best of narrators, then put this book a little lower on your list. If you have to relate to the main character to enjoy a novel, then I certainly hope this book isn't for you.

by Wil Owen
Rambles.NET
31 March 2007