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  • The Firemaker

  • The China Thrillers, Book 1
  • By: Peter May
  • Narrated by: Peter Forbes
  • Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (161 ratings)

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The Firemaker cover art

The Firemaker

By: Peter May
Narrated by: Peter Forbes
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Publisher's Summary

A burned corpse is a disturbing mystery for Beijing detective Li Yan until he enlists forensic pathologist Margaret Campbell. Having abandoned a broken life in Chicago for her work, she's as determined as Li to ask difficult questions about the man's death. But some questions have answers they'd rather not hear - facts that others are desperate to conceal. 

The Firemaker is the first in the acclaimed China series from Peter May, author of Runaway, Entry Island and the internationally best-selling Lewis Trilogy. 

©1999 Peter May (P)2015 WF Howes

Critic Reviews

"Peter May is an author I'd follow to the ends of the earth." (New York Times)

What listeners say about The Firemaker

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Not good

A drawn out stick standard conspiracy plot intertwined with pre-pubescent mills and boon style romance. The reader did his best but there were times when I gasped out loud at the childish narrative.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Love story spoils an excellent crime story

Peter May disappointed me with the boring and predictable love story between the two main characters taking time away from an excellent plot.

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2 people found this helpful

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

WOW! Very different!! But most intriguing.

Really enjoyed going off on a different tangent. I felt it was well researched with a good plot.

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2 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

Dubious but satisfied

my first experience of the author's writing in an Asian setting. was dubious at first but got drawn into the plot and characters fairly soon.
even though the motivation behind the murders was obvious to me early on, I enjoyed watching the characters slowly catch on. already looking forward to the next book.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Great performance couldn't rescue this disappointing book

I'm really surprised at this book. It feels like an old style Grisham or James Patterson. The female protagonist is annoyingly immature for a Doctor of pathology, resorting to childish tantrums or numerous episodes of copious weeping. Notwithstanding this, apart from being stunningly gorgeous, she's also a chess genius, has a photographic memory, and can go braless with perky, surgery-free boobs, despite being in her mid-30s. The male protagonist is bland and I failed to *SPOILER ALERT* see what was so attractive about him. Insecure, moody man child with ridiculous prejudices.
Both characters were one-dimensional and ignorant of things that surely everyone with an education knows - the one-child policy and the GMO debate. I also felt like May was intent on lecturing about the evils of GMO and the nuances of 21st century China (but with no mention of its aggression towards Tibet or Taiwan).
The narrative is full of silly Mills & Boon-type language....I.E. "nights of stolen passion", and the sex scene just ridiculous. The *SPOILER ALERT* attraction between the two is unlikely to the point of lacking any credibility.
The story premise is really weak - hyperbole is no substitute for a compelling plot, multi-layered characters, and a narrative that teases the reader to join the journey rather than bludgeoning them to death a' la Grisham or Patterson.
Peter Forbes is an excellent voice artist, as always. 5/5 for him but the rest barely makes a 2/5. Don't waste your money.

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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

great narration.

Another great story by Peter. loved the different storyline to other of his books. plenty going on to keep you listening and enjoying. The narration was really great. Peter Forbes has to one of the best narrator's

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

The Firemaker.

I found the two main characters weak, rather dumb and juvenile. The story line was fair.

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

A promising start to a series

I really enjoy Peter May and Peter Forbes (I think Peter Forbes made the books come alive). The China series is different from the Enzo Series or Lewis Trilogy, Peter is writing about an environment totally different from his own background. I think he did a pretty good job with some good observations about the cultural differences.
Lewis Trilogy is still the best but I just like his books and how Peter Forbes read them.
I have not found a book by him I did not like just some more than the others.

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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

Happy Listerner

Once again Peter May has enthralled with a brilliant story his plots and characters are always effortless to listen to and with Peter Forbes telling the stories it's a winner.

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

Descriptions take you to China

Beautifully written. Story line wonderful. So very well researched. The narrator’s voice is super. Another great Peter May novel.

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