Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Survivor by Andrew Reid Narrator: Michael Braun
Published by Brilliance Audio, Minotaur Books on March 24, 2026
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 328
Length: 14 hours
Format: Audiobook, eBook
Source: NetGalley
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Do not turn off your phone Do not get off the train. I know who you really are.
Fired and walked out by security on his first day at his new job in New York City, Ben Cross thought his day couldn't get worse. But he couldn't be more wrong. Getting on the 1 train headed uptown, Ben starts receiving text messages from an anonymous killer, showing that they've already killed someone, then pointedly killing another as they got off the train to prove they aren't bluffing and to ensure Ben follows orders. But Ben wasn't picked at random―he has a history that no one is supposed to know.
At the same time, A NYPD detective, Kelly Hendricks, is on punishment duty with the transit police. The first one on the scene after the first murder, she gets on the train to find out what is really going on.
Switching rapidly between Cross and Hendricks, as the hijacked 1 train heads from South Ferry to 181st, the secret to the killer lies in Ben's own history―why he's been targeted and punished.
Everything is wrong, confusing, and dangerous from the beginning of The Survivor. Our main character. Ben is just starting a new job and got fired on his first day after training. He goes to take the subway home and starts getting texts about who will die and what he should or should not do.
It takes awhile for the background of Ben’s life and why this is happening to unfold. The NYPD officer, Kelly, and her situation was infuriating. But she is smart and has great instincts. The homeland security guy running the situation is a jerk to her. He just wants to raise his own status. So he believes Ben is behind the killings and plans to shoot him as soon as they get to him.
Ben has to really work to tell Kelly the actual situation, show her the texts and photos sent to him and hardest, the background of why it is happening. They gradually piece together more information about the victims and who the killer might be.
I really felt for the two of them, as it was a fight for survival for each of them in a way. Ben fighting to move past his abusive, disastrous past. Kelly also working to get past an incident and do the right thing. I appreciate how she sees Ben’s fear and caring for others. The Survivor is a fast paced, somewhat intense view of those in the wake of a serial killer.
Narration:
I don’t believe I have listened to Michael Braun before, although he has narrated several titles. His voices for males and females are different but in the same middle tonal range. The performance and story makes it easy to tell who is speaking. I enjoyed the emotion infused into the characters. I listened comfortably at 1.75x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 26-Audio
- 26-COYER







This sounds like a good one.
It was fast paced and intense.
I would read this! It sounds very tense and fast paced😁
Exactly!
Definitely adding this one to my TBR list!!!!
I hope you enjoy. It is very suspenseful.
I wish I had gotten this. Great review, Anne💜
Well you can probably get it at the library or something but it’s very suspenseful but also character driven.
It does sound like an intense situation! I’d be ticked for Kelly’s sake, too!
Definitely! I was so worried for all the different characters.
I think I need an intense story soon! I’ve had a few fluff reads but I think I’m ready for a mystery 😉
Well this one is intense and fast paced.