
Murder in "Utopia"
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $6.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Julie Hoverson
-
By:
-
Bryan Perkins
About this listen
For this novella, my main goal was to produce a work that was at the same time absurdist and decidedly literary. I think I've succeeded in both aspects.
The story takes place almost entirely inside a priest's confessional office. Chapters alternate between a psychiatrist giving her confessions to the priest and the confessions of the very patients mentioned by the psychiatrist in her sessions. Every sentence that is written in the past tense is spoken aloud to the priest or by her, and every sentence that is written in the present tense is one of the priest's thoughts or an action she experiences.
I think you can see why Murder in "Utopia" may be a confusing experience the first time through. There are no quotation marks to set off dialogue; the tense of the writing changes based on whether the words are spoken or experienced; and, to top it all off, no names are mentioned for any of the characters - each is referred to only by his or her occupation or the pronouns her, she, etc.
But fear not, dear listeners. Continue on despite any confusion. Confusion is part of the experience. And by the end, I think you may realize that you've found more clarity than you thought possible in such a jumbled, messy "utopia".
©2015 Bryan Perkins (P)2016 Bryan PerkinsListeners also enjoyed...
-
Super Powereds: Year 1
- Super Powereds, Book 1
- By: Drew Hayes
- Narrated by: Kyle McCarley
- Length: 26 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Knowledge is power. That would be the motto of Lander University, had it not been snatched up and used to death by others long before the school was founded. For while Lander offers a full range of courses to nearly all students, it also offers a small number of specialty classes to a very select few. Lander is home to the Hero Certification Program, a curriculum designed to develop students with superhuman capabilities, commonly known as Supers, into official Heroes.
-
-
Best Series In Recent Memory
- By Get Off My Lawn! on 10-08-16
By: Drew Hayes
-
The Woods
- By: Harlan Coben
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Paul Copeland, a New Jersey county prosecutor, is still grieving the loss of his sister twenty years ago - the night she walked into the woods, never to be seen again. But now, a homicide victim is found with evidence linking him to the disappearance. The victim could be the boy who vanished along with Paul's sister. And, as hope rises that his sister could still be alive, dangerous secrets from his family's past threaten to tear apart everything Paul has been trying to hold together....
-
-
Coben's worst I've read
- By Barry S. Sharpnack on 05-27-08
By: Harlan Coben
-
Stay Close
- By: Harlan Coben
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Three people living lives they never wanted, hiding secrets that even those closest to them would never suspect, will find that the past never truly fades away. Even as the terrible consequences of long-ago events crash together in the present and threaten to ruin lives, they will come to the startling realization that they may not want to forget the past at all.
-
-
Why did I think I liked Harlan Coben novels?
- By Robin on 05-10-12
By: Harlan Coben
-
Buried Passion
- Never Too Late
- By: Aiden Bates
- Narrated by: Clancy Jones
- Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ryan is a detective with the abused-persons unit of the Mass. State Police. He balks when his supervisor assigns him to a case with the cold-case unit - everyone in Cold Case is an alpha, and that’s just not a comfortable place for an unclaimed omega to be. Nick is a detective with the cold-case unit. He’s a strictly by-the-book detective. Ryan and Nick butt heads almost immediately, although it doesn’t take long for either detective to figure out that at least part of the reason for their strife is the scorching chemistry between them.
-
-
I so enjoyed this book.
- By (Mimi) Johnson on 03-22-19
By: Aiden Bates
-
Deja Who
- By: MaryJanice Davidson
- Narrated by: Nancy Wu
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Leah Nazir is an Insighter. Reincarnation is her business. But while her clients' pasts are a mess, Leah's is nothing short of tragedy. She's been murdered. A lot. If left to that bitch destiny, it'll happen again. Leah wants to know who's been following her through time - and who's been stalking her in the present.
-
-
Love the author, but not the book
- By Rhonda on 11-14-16
-
Sex, Murder, and a Double Latte
- By: Kyra Davis
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
- Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Thriller scribe Sophie Katz is as hard-boiled as a woman who drinks Grande Caramel Brownie Frappuccionos can be. So Sophie knows it's not paranoia, or post-divorce, living-alone-again jitters, when she becomes convinced that a crazed reader is sneaking into her apartment to reenact scenes from her books. The police, however, can't tell a good plot from an unmarked grave.
-
-
Disappointing
- By Autumn on 01-01-06
By: Kyra Davis
-
Super Powereds: Year 1
- Super Powereds, Book 1
- By: Drew Hayes
- Narrated by: Kyle McCarley
- Length: 26 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Knowledge is power. That would be the motto of Lander University, had it not been snatched up and used to death by others long before the school was founded. For while Lander offers a full range of courses to nearly all students, it also offers a small number of specialty classes to a very select few. Lander is home to the Hero Certification Program, a curriculum designed to develop students with superhuman capabilities, commonly known as Supers, into official Heroes.
-
-
Best Series In Recent Memory
- By Get Off My Lawn! on 10-08-16
By: Drew Hayes
-
The Woods
- By: Harlan Coben
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Paul Copeland, a New Jersey county prosecutor, is still grieving the loss of his sister twenty years ago - the night she walked into the woods, never to be seen again. But now, a homicide victim is found with evidence linking him to the disappearance. The victim could be the boy who vanished along with Paul's sister. And, as hope rises that his sister could still be alive, dangerous secrets from his family's past threaten to tear apart everything Paul has been trying to hold together....
-
-
Coben's worst I've read
- By Barry S. Sharpnack on 05-27-08
By: Harlan Coben
-
Stay Close
- By: Harlan Coben
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Three people living lives they never wanted, hiding secrets that even those closest to them would never suspect, will find that the past never truly fades away. Even as the terrible consequences of long-ago events crash together in the present and threaten to ruin lives, they will come to the startling realization that they may not want to forget the past at all.
-
-
Why did I think I liked Harlan Coben novels?
- By Robin on 05-10-12
By: Harlan Coben
-
Buried Passion
- Never Too Late
- By: Aiden Bates
- Narrated by: Clancy Jones
- Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ryan is a detective with the abused-persons unit of the Mass. State Police. He balks when his supervisor assigns him to a case with the cold-case unit - everyone in Cold Case is an alpha, and that’s just not a comfortable place for an unclaimed omega to be. Nick is a detective with the cold-case unit. He’s a strictly by-the-book detective. Ryan and Nick butt heads almost immediately, although it doesn’t take long for either detective to figure out that at least part of the reason for their strife is the scorching chemistry between them.
-
-
I so enjoyed this book.
- By (Mimi) Johnson on 03-22-19
By: Aiden Bates
-
Deja Who
- By: MaryJanice Davidson
- Narrated by: Nancy Wu
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Leah Nazir is an Insighter. Reincarnation is her business. But while her clients' pasts are a mess, Leah's is nothing short of tragedy. She's been murdered. A lot. If left to that bitch destiny, it'll happen again. Leah wants to know who's been following her through time - and who's been stalking her in the present.
-
-
Love the author, but not the book
- By Rhonda on 11-14-16
-
Sex, Murder, and a Double Latte
- By: Kyra Davis
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
- Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Thriller scribe Sophie Katz is as hard-boiled as a woman who drinks Grande Caramel Brownie Frappuccionos can be. So Sophie knows it's not paranoia, or post-divorce, living-alone-again jitters, when she becomes convinced that a crazed reader is sneaking into her apartment to reenact scenes from her books. The police, however, can't tell a good plot from an unmarked grave.
-
-
Disappointing
- By Autumn on 01-01-06
By: Kyra Davis
-
Mind Dimensions, Books 0, 1, & 2
- By: Dima Zales
- Narrated by: Roberto Scarlato, Laura Jennings
- Length: 15 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first three books in the Mind Dimensions series from a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author.... Darren's had it easy his whole life. Finishing Harvard at 18 and landing a lucrative job on Wall Street at 21 - all things are possible when you can cheat by stepping outside of time. Thanks to his ability, he's a know-it-all, but what he doesn't know is how he's able to do what he does. That's until he meets Mira and discovers her dangerous, hidden world.
-
-
You will believe the unbelievable with this amaxibg sci fi story
- By Lokisgirl80 on 08-14-16
By: Dima Zales
-
Prime Suspects
- A Clone Detective Mystery
- By: Jim Bernheimer
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
- Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Homicide Detective David Bagini awakens in a strange world only to discover that he is, in fact, the 42nd clone of the Bagini line. With no memories of why his Prime entered into a clone contract, he wants answers. The first problem is his Prime is dead and Bagini 42 is in charge of the investigation. The second problem is all the clues point at a clone from his line and they already know all his tricks. How can he solve his own murder when every suspect has his name and face?
-
-
Agatha Christie Style
- By Professor on 01-09-13
By: Jim Bernheimer
-
The Rift Uprising
- The Rift Uprising Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Amy S. Foster
- Narrated by: Claire Coffee
- Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Seventeen-year-old Ryn Whittaker is a Citadel: an elite, enhanced soldier specially chosen to guard a Rift, a mysterious and dangerous portal to alternate Earths scientists cannot control or close. Trained from the age of 14, Ryn can run faster, jump farther, and fight better than a Navy SEAL - which is good when you’re not sure if a laser-wielding Neanderthal or an axe-wielding Viking is trying to make it through the Rift and into your world. But the teenager’s military conditioning and education have not prepared her for the boy who crosses through.
-
-
Mediocrity In Bloom
- By Wade Lancaster on 08-08-18
By: Amy S. Foster
-
The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza
- By: Shaun David Hutchinson
- Narrated by: Candace Thaxton
- Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sixteen-year-old Elena Mendoza is the product of a virgin birth. This can be scientifically explained (it's called parthenogenesis), but what can't be explained is how Elena is able to heal Freddie, the girl she's had a crush on for years, from a gunshot wound in a Starbucks parking lot. Or why the boy who shot Freddie, David Combs, disappeared from the same parking lot minutes later after getting sucked up into the clouds. What also can't be explained are the talking girl on the front of a tampon box, or the reasons that David Combs shot Freddie in the first place.
-
-
Born of a virgin
- By Robert J on 02-09-18
-
Three Seconds to Rush
- Piper Anderson Legacy Mystery, Volume 1
- By: Danielle Stewart
- Narrated by: Laura Jennings
- Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tara Shiloh knows she's not a drug addict. She's positive she's a good mother and hard worker. So why is she in an alley with a needle in her arm? Waking up in the hospital without her son is terrifying. Being told she can't have him back nearly crushes her. With her memory spotty and the circumstances incriminating, Tara must fight to learn the truth and wrestle with the idea that maybe her son is better off without her. Reid Holliston defends guilty people for a living and it's slowly killing him. He's certain there is no such thing as a truly blameless client anymore.
-
-
Great Listen!
- By Jan M on 02-20-17
By: Danielle Stewart
-
The Family We Make
- An Mpreg Romance (Hellion Club, Book 1)
- By: Aiden Bates
- Narrated by: Blayke Moresby
- Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Alpha Sol Delaney loved Alex more than oxygen, but he was dependent on his father's money. When his father demanded he break things off with the foster kid from the Bronx, Sol had no choice. Ten years later, a freshly divorced Sol has returned to New York with his young son in tow. He wants Alex back, but it's not that easy: Sol's ex-husband and his mother-in-law are trying to drag Sol back, and there's no length to which they won't go.
-
-
This is not your typical love story by Mr. Bates!
- By redbearny on 11-12-19
By: Aiden Bates
-
I'm Still Here
- By: Kathryn R. Biel
- Narrated by: Lisa Beacom
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It started out as an ordinary day for Esther Comely-Cox, if you consider simultaneously totaling your car, smashing a Ho Ho in your face, and meeting a handsome doctor ordinary.
-
-
I'm Still Here
- By T. Courtney on 05-06-16
By: Kathryn R. Biel
-
Help Me Remember
- By: Corinne Michaels
- Narrated by: Andi Arndt, Zachary Webber
- Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In one second, my life disappeared. My past. My memories. My future. The only certainty I have from the last three years is that my older brother is dead and that I am the only eyewitness. In order to protect the case, the lawyers demand no one give me any information about my life...I must remember on my own. My only help comes from my brother’s best friend and world-renowned investigative reporter Spencer Cross. He has no idea how many nights I’ve spent dreaming of his name—and his body—next to mine. Each day we spend together, I find it harder to want my old life back.
-
-
NOT FOR ME.
- By 🔵🔷🔹Kaly🔹🔷🔵 on 09-12-22
By: Corinne Michaels
-
Kill Someone
- By: Luke Smitherd
- Narrated by: Matt Addis
- Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the author of the international best seller The Stone Man, short-listed for Audible UK's Book of the Year Award 2015. Here are the rules. Method: you can't use a gun. You can't use explosives. You can't use poison. It has to be up close and personal. You don't have to worry about leaving evidence; that will be taken care of. Victim: no one suicidal. No one over the age of 65. No one with a terminal illness. Choose your method. Choose your victim.
-
-
The Good of the Many is More Important...Or is it?
- By JoanneG on 12-06-16
By: Luke Smitherd
-
Death Before Decaf
- Java Jive Mystery Series, Book 1
- By: Caroline Fardig
- Narrated by: Callie Beaulieu
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After her music career crashes and burns, Juliet Langley is forced to turn to the only other business she knows: food service. Unfortunately, bad luck strikes yet again when her fiancé robs her blind and runs off with her best waitress. Flushing what's left of her beloved cafe down the toilet with her failed engagement, Juliet moves back to her college stomping grounds in Nashville to manage an old friend's coffeehouse.
-
-
Disappointed
- By Janet Henderson on 06-18-17
By: Caroline Fardig
-
Very Bad Deaths
- By: Spider Robinson
- Narrated by: Spider Robinson
- Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Russell Walker retreats from the shock of his wife's death by becoming a hermit in the woods of British Columbia. There he finds himself thrust into a precarious role as intermediary between a telepath called Smelly, so sensitive he can't stand to be near most people, and Constable Hilda, a skeptical police officer who needs Smelly's insight to track down a monstrous serial killer.
-
-
a bit unpleasant
- By CARL V PHILLIPS on 05-15-08
By: Spider Robinson
-
Tempted
- By: Ava Harrison
- Narrated by: Joe Arden, Andi Arndt
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unemployed. Check. Zero prospects. Check. An eviction notice in hand. Check. Life in shambles? Check. Check. Check. Desperate to avoid living on my sister’s couch, I took a job in the one place I shouldn’t. That's where I first saw him. Drew Lawson. Elusive bad boy. Owner of the hottest club in the city. And apparently my new boss.
-
-
Temptation has never looked so good!
- By Suzi @ Royal Reads on 01-04-21
By: Ava Harrison
What listeners say about Murder in "Utopia"
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ezra
- 05-30-16
Great stories and great theme.
Honestly, the writing was good, because it kept me engaged, which I actually find to be a huge hurdle for me when it comes to audiobooks. I like the characters well enough, especially the fast food girl. She, and her story, were my favorite parts.
But I just didn't get it, at first. Each of the individual stories were good and entertaining in themselves, and I didn't catch that there was supposed to be an overarching theme.
All the characters being female wasn't obvious to me until the very end, but after finding out why, it really adds to the story and makes it that much better.
Ov, 9/10. Seriously a good book to listen to, other than sometimes when she says "She said, I said, she said." That was hard to follow while listening, but I'm sure is much easier to follow while reading. The 1 point off is because of the jumpiness of the book, I had a hard time trying to focus on who was speaking what when the characters all jumped around, none of them really announcing themselves, especially when only a few had distinct accents. Again, this probably would have been easier to follow while reading instead of listening.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Gordon Wilson
- 06-01-16
What an excellent surprise.
I had never heard of this author and knew only that it was written in an unusual style and that the story takes place in a post-capitalist world where automation had pretty much freed everyone up from work, and that the author is a socialist. Compelling, but I didn't know what to expect. Getting used to the style took some effort, but it was well worth it and the unusual writing style is not gratuitous or indulgent. I suppose I can say that it brings you into the world of the book and what they are experiencing.
I had also not heard of the narrator, Julie Hoverson, but I came away from this book as a huge fan of hers too. This must have been a difficult book to narrate, but she was did a excellent variety of characters, whose lines I can still hear ringing in my head. "Welcome to Quick Burger how can I help you?" That scene was was an explosive combination of great writing and great acting/narrating.
I'm looking forward to more work from both of these people.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Marie & Rod
- 06-13-16
Wow
HOLY CRAP this was such a confusing, weird, and interesting short story. I’m not even sure how I can explain it without sounding like jsoiudriefjiweohfafjsdoifjsi. When I thought I knew what was going on that changed and I was left perplexed once again.
Bryan Perkins told a tale of a priest and psychiatrist telling each other about the stories that each of them heard from their clients. The first part of this story I was completely confusing and I really had no idea what was going on. By the last half I understood what was happening, but then the very end gave a twist and left me saying WTF.
Julie Hoverson was an excellent choice for this story. The pacing was fast and her voice was clear. She brought this story to life.
Everyone was living in Utopia and by the sounds of it they were not all that happy. People were committing murder all around. In the end this was an okay story. I think it might go on the list to reread…hoping that the second time around I might understand more.
This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mary Karowski
- 06-09-16
Twisted and captivating
Love the presentation of psychiatrist and confessional as well as the links between the tales. Enjoyable with a few good twists. The future police reminded me a bit of demolition man cops but with guns. Will look for more by this author and narrator. I received this book from the author narrator or publisher for free via audiobookboom in exchange for an unbiased review.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Teresa
- 06-16-16
Not Really Sure What It Meant but it was Clever
"Murder in Utopia" was a very interesting listen. Utopia is as imaginary as this novella was. It was hard to understand therefore leaving me entirely perplexed. I wasn't sure who was talking but as it said in the blurb, I may have to listen again. I actually want to because I want to understand. I know it ended where it began which was odd.
I think the author, Bryan Perkins accomplished his goal. I suspect this may have been slightly difficult to pull off. At any rate, it was entertaining to say the least.
The narration by Julie Hoverson was perfect for the content of the story. It was raw and overbearing but that was the role of the character(s). Overall, I think it was a good pairing of author/reader.
"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com."
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Reg
- 03-14-18
Confusing
This tale takes you back and forth through events not only through the eyes of a psychologist, a murder victim and a murderer but also through a priests sessions with the psychologist, the murder victim, and the murderer. They are also in a supposed future utopia where people only have to work for two hours a day.
It was long and meandering for how short this listen was. The scenes were very jumbled in both time and literary organization. The narration was not to my liking and the characters' voices were cliché. It did not capture and keep my attention. In short, I didn't enjoy this short novella very much.
I received this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- jean doe
- 06-25-16
What did I just listen to?
Any additional comments?
What.The. Heck...
**There may be Spoilers, I'm not sure**
My first intake on this book,
It felt like I was reading or listening to the inner dialogue of a psychotic.
There is ALOT going on in this short story.
The chapters were divided like 1a and 1b, etc..
I read / listened to this book in a nice quiet setting, however, I still don't really know what it was about?
It sounds weird but its true.
A psychiatrist was mentioned, a cop was mentioned, and even a girlfriend who wanted to take the relationship to the next level was mentioned but it was all kinda.. chaotic.
I don't even know the character's names. I thought that I had just missed it but when reading the
brief yet vague synopsis, the author states that he left the names out on purpose...
um, ok.
There really wasn't any character distinction, it was "he" or "she" alternating between
past and present tense so fast that it almost gave me Whiplash.
The story picks up, "slightly", towards the end and the Fast Food Worker's dialogue or rather "mental" musings were a bit funny:
"Welcome to Quick Burgers, How can We Help.. You!?"
Multiple murders? Multiple Killers?
I'm not sure why the author wanted his book to be so confusing and vague.
I'm sure he had a point but it went over my head.
The Author's writing style just isn't my reading style.
* I Read for Relaxation and this book had the opposite effect and almost gave me a brain freeze.
- Julie Hoverson did an Excellent Job on the narration considering what she was working with, and frankly, I don't even know "how" she was able to read it?
If it weren't for her reading / narrating skills, I would not have known when a different "character" was speaking.
Note:
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased Review ( posted on Audible, Amazon, and Good Reads ) courtesy of Audiobook Blast."
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!