The Governor's Wife

by Michael Harvey Narrated by Stephen Hoye

Overview

It's been two years since disgraced Illinois governor Ray Perry disappeared from a federal courthouse in Chicago moments after being sentenced to thirty-eight years in prison on corruption charges. P.I. Michael Kelly is sitting in his office when he gets an anonymous email offering to pay him nearly a quarter million dollars if he will find Perry. Kelly's investigation begins with the woman Ray Perry left behind - his wife, Marie. Marie tells Kelly she has no idea where her husband is. Like everyone else, Kelly doesn't believe her. As he hunts for her husband, Kelly begins to unwind Marie Perry's past. Everyone in Chicago has secrets, including the governor's wife. And some of them could get Michael Kelly killed.

Editorial Reviews

AudioFile

Narrator Stephen Hoye has become the preeminent voice of the Chicago private investigator Michael Kelly. Hoye has a distinct sound as he draws out his words to create a laid-back swagger for Kelly. The approach works perfectly for Kelly’s contemplative moments and even for his tough-guy encounters…and Hoye delivers convincing performances for all—whether NICU nurse, thug, ethnic police officer, or the governor’s wife…Hoye’s narration is engaging enough to keep listeners engrossed.”

San Antonio News-Express

Harvey’s book is written in the taut, spare style of modern-day noir. It’s an enjoyable ride…In his latest [The Governor’s Wife], he’s a master.”

New York Times Book Review

Harvey is one of the best regionalists in the game, and the great city of Chicago is his beat. His street-smart but eminently civilized private eye, Michael Kelly, is in fine form in The Governor’s Wife.”

Chicago Tribune

With his snappy patter, jaded outlook, weakness for mysterious women, and proficiency at violence, this former cop is squarely in the tradition of the classic gumshoes… Deft characterizations and lean, mean plotting.”

From the Publisher

"Harvey makes political corruption personal: this isn't a story of anonymous millions being shuffled between various offshore accounts. The consequence of every decision in Kelly's gritty world bleeds."
—Kirkus Starred Review 
 
"The Governor's Wife is deeply rooted in Chicago: its neighborhoods, its ethnic communities, its politics. [It's a book that's] replete with surprises. Every time the reader turns the page and thinks he knows what he's going to encounter, there's Harvey waiting to wallop him with a sandbag. Harvey does that: he surprises you. Repeatedly. Read this book. You'll enjoy it a lot."
—Publisher's Weekly Starred Review
 
"Harvey... knows Chicago like Raymond Chandler knew Los Angeles, and these mean streets come alive even as bodies pile up." 
—Library Journal Starred Review

"With his snappy patter, jaded outlook, weakness for mysterious women and proficiency at violence, this former cop is squarely in the tradition of the classic gumshoes... Deft characterizations and lean, mean plotting."
—Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/books/ct-prj-crime-fiction-roundup-governors-wife-20150604-story.html

"Michael Harvey writes frugally but in a fast-paced style that will have you turning pages at a rapid rate. The Governor’s Wife is like the city Harvey loves – gritty, complex and with few frills. Michael Harvey captures the spirit of his city and its quirky history in ways that few writers can accomplish. He is a joy to read." 
—Illinois Times
http://illinoistimes.com/article-15593-the-illinois-governor-becomes-a-fugitive.html


"Harvey’s book is written in the taut, spare style of modern-day noir. It’s an enjoyable ride...  In his latest book, he’s a master."
—San Antonio Express News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/arts-culture/books/article/Harvey-s-The-Governor-s-Wife-is-6313920.php

JULY 2015 - AudioFile

Narrator Stephen Hoye has become the preeminent voice of the Chicago private investigator Michael Kelly. Hoye has a distinct sound as he draws out his words to create a laid-back swagger for Kelly. The approach works perfectly for Kelly's contemplative moments and even for his tough-guy encounters, but during high-action scenes it tends to slow the momentum. Harvey’s plot includes a rainbow of characters, and Hoye delivers convincing performances for all—whether NICU nurse, thug, ethnic police officer, or the governor's wife. Their outsize personalities pull listeners into Kelly's world. While Harvey’s writing has a tendency to go over the top, Hoye's narration is engaging enough to keep listeners engrossed. J.F. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

JULY 2015 - AudioFile

Narrator Stephen Hoye has become the preeminent voice of the Chicago private investigator Michael Kelly. Hoye has a distinct sound as he draws out his words to create a laid-back swagger for Kelly. The approach works perfectly for Kelly's contemplative moments and even for his tough-guy encounters, but during high-action scenes it tends to slow the momentum. Harvey’s plot includes a rainbow of characters, and Hoye delivers convincing performances for all—whether NICU nurse, thug, ethnic police officer, or the governor's wife. Their outsize personalities pull listeners into Kelly's world. While Harvey’s writing has a tendency to go over the top, Hoye's narration is engaging enough to keep listeners engrossed. J.F. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175362986
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	06/04/2015
Series:	Michael Kelly
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	870,292

Read an Excerpt

chapter 1

My laptop is set up so a tiny black box flashes in the corner of the screen every time I get an e-mail. The alerts arrive like an endless parade of crows, pecking away at me with people I don’t want to talk to and problems I’d rather ignore. I don’t know how my Mac got programmed to do this and have no idea how to stop it. So I live with my birds. The one that hired me fluttered in at 2:14 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon. I took one look at the subject line and clicked through to read the rest.

Mr. Kelly,

Would like to retain you to find Raymond -Perry. Use any and all means at your disposal to accomplish same. Global search okay. Money, no object. If you are willing to take the job, please hit reply to this message. A $100,000 retainer will be wired into an account set up for you. Another $100,000 will be wired when you locate Mr. -Perry. A separate fund for expenses will also be established and replenished as needed. Details on accounts, etc. will be forwarded upon acceptance of the terms of employment.

I’m sure there’s a manual somewhere that sets out the guidelines for when and how private investigators should take on new cases. Knowing the name of your client would seem to be a necessity. When the proposed retainer hits six figures, however, necessity becomes a somewhat elastic concept, and guidelines tend to get tossed out the window. Be that as it may, the money wasn’t what did it for me. Don’t get me wrong. The cash caught my eye. In fact, there might have been a moment or two of involuntary drool at the prospect of two hundred K sitting in a bank account with my name on it. But the reason I hit reply was not the money. Really. It was the name. Raymond ­Perry. As I waited for my newest client to get back to me with particulars such as account numbers and wiring instructions, I plugged ­Perry’s name into Google. I knew the story. Hell, everyone knew the story. Still, it made for good reading. I brewed myself a pot of coffee and caught up on Illinois’s former governor and convicted felon. I started with the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list and ­Perry’s mug shot residing, as it had been for the past year and a half, in slot number one.

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "The Governor's Wife"
by .
Copyright © 2016 Michael Harvey.
Excerpted by permission of Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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