9780062682062
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The Destroyers audiobook

  • By: Christopher Bollen
  • Narrator: Graham Halstead
  • Category: Fiction, Psychological
  • Length: 18 hours 4 minutes
  • Publisher: HarperAudio
  • Publish date: June 27, 2017
  • Language: English
  • (976 ratings)
(976 ratings)
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The Destroyers Audiobook Summary

When Charlie and I were young, we played a game called Destroyers. . . . We were sharpening our instincts, jettisoning attachments. We were honing strategies for survival. . . .

Arriving on the Greek island of Patmos broke and humiliated, Ian Bledsoe is fleeing the emotional and financial fallout from his father’s death. His childhood friend Charlie–rich, exuberant, and basking in the success of his new venture on the island–could be his last hope.

At first Patmos appears to be a dream–long sun-soaked days on Charlie’s yacht and the reappearance of a girlfriend from Ian’s past–and Charlie readily offers Ian the lifeline he so desperately needs. But, like Charlie himself, this beautiful island conceals a darkness beneath, and it isn’t long before the dream begins to fragment. When Charlie suddenly vanishes, Ian finds himself caught up in deception after deception. As he grapples with the turmoil left in his friend’s wake, he is reminded of an imaginary game called Destroyers they played as children–a game, he now realizes, they may have never stopped playing.

An enthralling odyssey and a gripping, expansive drama, The Destroyers is a vivid and suspenseful story of identity, power and fate, fathers and sons, and self-invention and self-deception, from a writer at the very height of his powers.

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The Destroyers Audiobook Narrator

Graham Halstead is the narrator of The Destroyers audiobook that was written by Christopher Bollen

CHRISTOPHER BOLLEN is the author of the critically acclaimed novels A Beautiful Crime, The Destroyers, Orient, and Lightning People. He is frequent contributor to a number of publications, including Vanity Fair, The New York Times, and Interview. He lives in New York City.

About the Author(s) of The Destroyers

Christopher Bollen is the author of The Destroyers

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The Destroyers Full Details

Narrator Graham Halstead
Length 18 hours 4 minutes
Author Christopher Bollen
Category
Publisher HarperAudio
Release date June 27, 2017
ISBN 9780062682062

Subjects

The publisher of the The Destroyers is HarperAudio. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is Fiction, Psychological

Additional info

The publisher of the The Destroyers is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780062682062.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Gerhard

March 06, 2021

Oh boy, that non-ending to the core mystery that drives the narrative is sure going to annoy a lot of readers, but it is one of the main reasons I loved this book so much.Review to follow.

Dennis

November 12, 2020

Sophisticated, sexy and suspenseful. A dark and seductive novel about the games boys play and the messes they create set in the sunny Mediterranean. A character driven literary thriller with writing as luxurious as it’s Grecian setting.

switterbug (Betsey)

September 14, 2017

I was a big fan of Bollen’s LIGHTNING PEOPLE, a literary thriller-ish novel that touched on themes of identity, existential angst, friendship, love, class, and living on the edge, set in Manhattan. This time, Bollen changes the setting, but many of the themes reappear. THE DESTROYERS takes place on the Greek island of Patmos, an ancient Christian pilgrimage site where the Book of Revelations was supposedly written in the Cave of the Apocalypse. Interestingly, religion in this novel is more of a punch line than a lifeline. The plot is cagey and the denouement may have mixed appreciation by readers.It’s a leisurely moving adventure thriller (don’t expect fast-paced), lush with rich characterizations and first class metaphors.Describing the island of Patmos: “…a wheeze of color: bleach-blond dust, scrub brush of wiry green, the wet-metal shine of water, and low rock walls blooming sinus pinks.” The monastery rising from the cliffs “like a cruise ship moored on a mountaintop.” And the Cave of the Apocalypse: “It just feels heavy, sunken, an empty bomb shelter left over from someone else’s war.” And “the whole island spreads out horizontal, a dazzle of land undulating and dripping with spidery dew.”Two 29-year-old best friends renew their bond after not seeing each other for five years, and that’s when the main story begins. Incidentally, you’re in for a surprise prologue, too, one of the most electrifying and unpredictable I’ve read in years.After his estranged father, a baby-food executive, dies and leaves him nothing, Ian Bledsoe takes $9000 from the family purse and heads to Patmos to see his friend, Charlie Konstantinou, scion to an obscenely wealthy family. Ian is also trying to escape the rumors of his involvement with dangerous activists in Panama, where he had worked for his father for a while, in a spot where the locals knew that the baby food corp. was exploiting employees as slave labor in subpar working conditions. Ian tried to help the locals, to a bad end. As a last ditch effort to pull himself together, Ian has an idea for a business he wants to pitch to Charlie. Charlie is currently running his own yacht-rental business to tourists on Patmos, and in a serious relationship with Sonny, a beautiful ex-actress from California. When Ian sees Charlie after half a decade, he is reminded of his inferiority—Charlie was best at just about everything: looks, confidence, chess, charisma, success. The one thing Ian was best at was a game they invented and played as kids called Destroyers, the eponymous title of the book. A variable number of men in black balaclavas bursts into the room, and start shooting. What do you do? The game was often played over the phone, using only their wits and imaginations, set in familiar places. It was the one game Ian always won.The story starts building steam with the prologue, and churns up when Ian arrives in Patmos. A sinister menace is palpable on the island, but one step ahead of us. Between the refugees from Syria that wash up on the shores of an already bankrupt Greece, a hippie End Times group of evangelicals living clothes-optional in their cove, ominous monks, shady business associates, eccentrics, and an ex brought here as a surprise, I was deeply engrossed in the natives, the ex-pats, the sun, the sea, and the timelessness that drifts through the narrative.I don’t want to risk any spoilers, so I will say that, although I was satisfied at the end, some readers may feel that the plot wore thin, or that it took too long, and the climax wasn’t persuasive. Some demand that all the threads tie tidily at the end, and others, like me, are content with a few more provocative knots.“It should end with Jude, not John! Do yourself a favor! Tear the last pages out! It’s a wicked end!”4.5 rounded up

LenaRibka

October 08, 2017

Christopher Bollen is a proof of reincarnation for me. Long live F. Scott Fitzgerald!What an EXTREMELY talented author! What a luck to come across his books! What a pleasure to devour his exceptional prose!Orient, his second book, blew me away. His third book The Destroyers put his name on the VERY TOP of my AUTO-BUY-AUTHORS. This author is a REASON why I love reading so much.

Harvee

May 24, 2017

Two school friends meet again many years on the island of Patmos, Greece. One is from a wealthy Cypriot family, the other has been disinherited by his rich father at home in England. One helps the other, but which one helps who? A thriller with twists and turns in the plot, while the novel shows life on the islands for tourists and residents alike.

Tundra

September 14, 2017

This was a real roller coaster ride. The setting, characters and plot were all exceptionally executed and although it was a lengthy book I did not get bored with the descriptions or detail. There were so many questions posed about the opportunities life presents and the choices we make - all influenced by money and love/loyalty.

Ali

August 03, 2017

Ian Bledsoe, red-haired and ‘a professional big heart’, has been discredited and disinherited, so leaves the U S to make a last ditch attempt at starting over on the holiday island of Patmos. Charlie, his childhood friend, runs a business letting out luxury yachts and, very soon takes Ian on as his ‘Number 2’. Ian thinks his luck has turned: he’s got a job on an idyllic Greek island, he’s mixing with the rich and beautiful and he meets an old girlfriend. But no one is quite as care-free or innocent as they seem. Growing up, Ian and Charlie used to play ‘destroyers’: a game in which they set up increasingly dangerous imaginary scenarios for each other to escape from, like an elaborate game of chess. The novel is based on the conceit that Charlie is now playing for real; and when he goes missing, Ian is unwittingly pulled in. ‘One lie concocted between old friends… [grows] to the size of an island’ and soon he’s involved in the murky dealings of Charlie’s real enterprise, complete with dodgy priests, a shady group of hippies hoping for the apocalypse, and drugs, diamonds and dynamite; all set against the tragic background of the Syrian refugee crisis.The Destroyers examines: loyalty & friendship, fathers & sons, the use & abuse of power, as well as deception & self-deception. The fast-moving plot twists and turns, the characters are all suitably flawed and interesting, and the prose is a joy to read. I read this book in two sittings; it would make a fantastically absorbing holiday read.

Russ

October 06, 2017

Another great read by Bollen. I enjoyed this even more than Orient. A much better exploration of his antagonist and the hero, perhaps a bit too lucky with some of his discoveries, was a great character. The strongest part of the story for me, similar to Orient, was his cast of secondary characters, many of whom I enjoyed more than the stars of the book. This would make a great movie as well because in addition to a compelling story line, the setting is magnificent. Another recommendation.

Beth

April 17, 2021

This is a good literary beach read (or back garden in pandemic times). Bollen is a beautiful writer, sometimes to the detriment of pace but there are passages that transported me to the dusty greek landscapes I wish were reachable and safe just now. The back quarter of the novel had maybe one too many reveals to feel truly satisfying, almost nobody is who they seem and you therefore lack the time to process each as it falls. Similarly, none of the characters are easy to feel much pathos for. I'm all for a morally grey cast but by the end I didn't really care what happened to most of them.With that said, for a book of its length and quality of language, it was a quick read and if you want something absorbing but not trashy to soak in on a sunny day, this is worth picking up. Also the cover is beautiful.

Maison Koala

April 17, 2022

Bollen non delude e se l'immaginifico "Orient" valeva cinque stelle piene, qui poco ci manca. Passando da Panama, dove Atlantico e Pacifico s'abbracciano, al Dodecaneso, dove la magia dell'isola di Patmos è resa con tratti evocativi e potenti, il talentuoso autore americano ripropone l'affresco di una gioventù dorata sulla carta e ombrosa nella realtà. Figli di magnati alla ricerca di una seconda chance, ma dal presente dominato dalle tenebre e dall'oscurità di traffici molto lontani dalla legalità, sono al centro di una narrazione fluida ed evocativa - a tratti addirittura ipnotica, come quando il lettore si sente letteralmente risucchiato dall'atmosfera onirica e sospesa dell'isola dell'Egeo.Ricco di personaggi stratificati e colpi di scena, perfettamente inserito nella realtà geopolitica complessa e polifonica degli sbarchi dei profughi dal Medio Oriente e della crisi economica che solo un pugno d'anni fa occupavano le prime pagine dei notiziari e dei quotidiani, il romanzo è senza dubbio impegnativo, ma altrettanto meritevole.Per me Maria, è un sì!

Kim

September 19, 2017

I enjoyed this book. Occasionally a little hard to get a handle on, but it came together in the end. A recommendation from the NYT book review, I felt maybe it wasn't quite that brilliant.

Leslie

September 28, 2017

Loved loved loved . The writing style was exquisite, I am so looking forward to other books by this authorIt certainly makes you realize nothing is never what it seems. I highly recommend this book, it kept me entertained.

Carolynn

February 02, 2018

This is a book of intrigue. I started reading it, getting drawn in by Mr. Bollen's writing style. His descriptive passages, and vocabulary was eloquently delightful. So much of this book was poetry in prose. Then you pile on layers of character development. Then you add a dash of mystery, and all of the resolution of a brilliant whodunit novel and you are left in a satisfied state of bliss. This is the first book I've read that I actually passed on as a recommendation to a book club. This book is political, philosophical, and at times it is simply fun and entertaining. The fine balance left me feeling blessed, questioning my own morals and ethics. It was as satisfying as a cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter day.

Tarre

November 27, 2017

Bollen's writing is immensely satisfying. His turn of a sentence is fantastic. A few paragraphs really grabbed me. His description of his relationship with money was particularly eloquent, simple and very spot on. His writing style is wonderful and the story flowed easily. I absolutely loved the twists. I was expecting a stock murder mystery, but Bollen's style and flair are much more than just figuring out who the murderer was and their motivation, but following the cast of characters and their relationship with each other. I loved this book and this writer.

John

July 23, 2017

Quintessential beach readWell written, compelling--and fun. Reminded me of the television series version of The Night Manager, with seedy/glamorous characters, an exotic setting, and ripped-from-the-headlines international intrigue.

Oliver

July 23, 2017

Picked this up as a recommended "beach read." Rarely made it to the beach due to an injury; however, did spend an enjoyable time reading this book. In the vein of Hitchcock and Highsmith, keeps the suspense up until the end. High rating for this one.

Charlie

January 01, 2018

Fantastic literary thriller.

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