The Listening Ones [Paperback]

Naomi M. Stokes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1999

Jordan Tidewater, a tribal sheriff for the Quinault Nation on the Olympic Peninsula is confronted with a bizarre and brutal murder. The peculiar mutilations of the young boy's body makes Jordan suspect an Indian is responsible. Now she must delve into the buried past of her people, no matter how painful the journey, to uncover the killer.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Single mother Jordan Tidewater, tribal sheriff for the Quinalt Nation on the Olympic Peninsula, must solve the brutal murders of two young children nearly her son's age. Then there's the ongoing problem of poachers killing eagles and bears. Stokes' novel has a lot going for it: Jordan's family life with her son, brother, and great grandfather is affecting and realistically portrayed; she capably integrates Native American folklore into the action; and the setting--the Olympic Peninsula itself, as well as the shores of the Pacific Ocean--is vividly described. On the other hand, plot details are often supplied in lengthy monologues rather than through meaningful dialogue; extraneous plot elements slow the action; and the climax is wordy and bogged down by a contrived fight between a Siberian tiger and killer whales. Still, the strengths outweigh the weaknesses, and the series itself displays considerable promise. Hope for tighter prose and crisper plotting in the next installment. John Rowen --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Tom Doherty Assoc Llc (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812542959
• ISBN-13: 978-0812542950
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #325,065 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A real mess . . ., September 13, 2001

By 

John M. Dho (Redondo Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Listening Ones (Paperback)

Ms. Stokes first book, The Tree People, showed real promise ... and several problems common to a first novel. I looked forward to her evocative description of the Pacific Northwest and the Quinault culture along with an improved novel structure.

To say I was disappointed is a gross understatement! Absurd plot elements (spontaneous human combustion, serial sex abuse, murder and patricide, Siberian tiger catnapping, even a bizarre battle between Orcas and the tiger) overwhelm what could have been an engaging story of Jordan Tidewater's shamanistic "coming of age" and her growing relationship with the mysterious and disturbing Lima Clemente.

Ms. Stokes -- what on earth were you trying to do here???

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Terrible ending for a great book, August 15, 2001

By 

janet currie (Ottawa, ON, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Listening Ones (Paperback)

I was seriously disappointed in the ending of this book. I couldn't wait to turn every page and find out what was going to happen next, although I was completely mystified as to why a Siberian tiger was left on the island and who put it there (I assume it was Lima, but that was never confirmed). I was also disappointed with the way the murders were "solved" (was the little girl's murder ever solved?). The imagery Ms. Stokes creates is undeniably spectacular, however, there were too many loose ends left at the end of this particular novel, and it seemed like she just got tired of writing and ended it too quickly, with not enough explanation. I must have told at least six people what a great book I was reading, and they all wanted to borrow it when I was finished; now I'm not sure I even want to lend it out! I haven't read the Tree People yet; I will though, as I would like to know if all her books end in a similarly disappointing fashion - I sure hope not! The Listening Ones sure had great potential, but the ending fell totally flat.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat creepy - rambling and disjointed, May 28, 2000

By 

Sophia (the Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Listening Ones (Paperback)

Somewhere between mystery, shamanism and science fiction, this book has a strange plot of overlapping mysteries, a completely obvious pair of murders, and a rather gratuitous amount of gore. Oh - and it finishes off with a fight between a killer whale and a Siberian tiger. (? ) The heroine, Tribal Sheriff Jordan Tidewater, is strong, interesting and likeable, the imagery is beautiful, and the supporting characters are the strong point. Unfortunately, the plot never really comes together in any meaningful way.