Narrated by Basil Sands, At All Costs by John Gilstrap delivered an addictive, nail-biting suspense thriller about two fugitives and their teenage son trying to uncover the truth that put them on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitive list fourteen years ago. You’ll get hooked from the moment you begin to listen.
by John Gilstrap
Narrator: Basil Sands
Length: 17 hours and 27 minutes
Genres: Suspense Thriller
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x
When undercover fugitives are found in the suburbs, they must race against time—and the FBI—to clear their names in this must-listen.
The Brightons are just an ordinary, small-town, law-abiding family—until somebody else's mistake uncovers the truth. Jake and Carolyn Brighton are the FBI's two most wanted fugitives. Jake and Carolyn have lived a lie for fourteen years to protect themselves. But now they have to protect their thirteen-year-old son.
Their only chance is to return to the hellish scene of an unprecedented crime and collect the evidence that may finally set them free. But can they elude a massive manhunt long enough to get there?
Did a story ever grip you so completely that you had to pause for air? That was my experience with this nail-biting thriller told from multiple perspectives as the Brightons’ worst nightmare unfolds.
Fourteen years ago, Jake and Carolyn were working a job at a local plant when things went terribly wrong. The two escaped and before they could contact the authorities, a man-hunt was underway for them. With help from a family member, the two go underground using fake-identities, and living unassuming lives. They have escape plans, but their lives have been busy in their small community and with raising their now thirteen-year-old son.
When the FBI turns up at Jake’s auto shop, things quickly escalate, and the family finds themselves once again on the run from the FBI.
The author tells the story in both present and past through the perspectives of Jake, Carolyn, their son and the lead FBI agent. The pacing is intense as the FBI closes in. Gilstrap quickly had me connecting to the Brightons, and I believed their story as we learned what happened, but who wants this pinned on them and why? Their solution, to go back to the scene of the crime. A scene sealed off for fourteen years.
Basil Sands narrates and did a stellar job of setting the tone, capturing the characters’ emotions and holding me captive. The story is filled with twists and growing danger. The story was nail-biting, felt genuine and left me shocked. You’ll want to plan before beginning because once you begin, everything else will need to wait.
If you are looking for an addictive, heart-pounding escape, you’ll want to grab the audio edition of At All Costs.
About John Gilstrap
When John Gilstrap's first novel, Nathan's Run, hit the market in 1996, it set the literary world on fire. Publication rights sold in 23 countries, the movie rights were scooped up at auction by Warner Brothers, and John changed professions. A safety engineer by training and education, he specialized in explosives and hazardous materials, and also served 15 years in the fire and rescue service, rising to the rank of lieutenant.
That "first" book was really his fourth, and that one call from an agent (after logging 27 rejections) changed the trajectory of his life. Twenty books and seven movie projects later, it's been a good run, and it's still running. But his career track looks more like a sine curve than a rocket ship. There were lots of setbacks along the way. At one point, his writing career appeared to be dead. Then came the comeback. John's presentation, "Dare to Dream", tells the story of triumph, disappointment, despair and finally some long-lasting success. John has spoken at events across the country, most recently at the Pike's Peak Writers Conference in Colorado Springs, and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers in Denver. In February, he will be the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the California Association of Teachers of English in Los Angeles. His YouTube channel, "A Writer's View of Writing and Publishing" has over 1,700 subscribers and more are coming aboard every day. Outside of his writing life, John is a renowned safety expert with extensive knowledge of explosives, hazardous materials, and fire behavior. John lives in Fairfax, VA.
About Basil Sands
Basil Sands is an award-winning narrator working between the Chugach Mountains and Pacific Ocean in Anchorage, Alaska. He has narrated for many bestselling authors and helped many less-known authors climb that ladder. He's a former US Marine who for several years in the '90s ran the dining hall at the NSA, a.k.a. "Chef to the Spies." He's been a logger, carpenter, scoutmaster, wilderness rescue medic, senior IT guy, and novelist, and was a minister for over twenty-five years. He rents space in his basement to four Leprechaun brothers; they make the best lager.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2025 Audiobook Challenge
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
This sounds like it could be a movie for sure. Great review!
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
Your first sentence completely sold me! I love that kind of fast paced page turner and this looks like a good read!
Mary Kirkland
That sounds like a very good mystery.
Anne - Books of My Heart
This does sound intense and thrilling. I’m sure I’d like it but need to pick the time for listening.