Listen free for 30 days

  • The Patient Man

  • Jackman & Evans, Book 6
  • Written by: Joy Ellis
  • Narrated by: Richard Armitage
  • Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (610 ratings)

1 credit a month, good for any title to download and keep.
The Plus Catalogue—listen all you want to thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks.
$14.95 a month plus applicable taxes after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Patient Man cover art

The Patient Man

Written by: Joy Ellis
Narrated by: Richard Armitage
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $20.48

Buy Now for $20.48

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

From number one best-selling author Joy Ellis, a totally absorbing mystery full of stunning twists and turns.

A mystery which will captivate you till the dramatic ending.

Jackman and Evans’ most dangerous enemy is back to finish things off.

The domestic bliss of Detective Inspector Rowan Jackman, of Fenland Constabulary, doesn’t last long. His old nemesis, serial killer Alistair Ashcroft, is back in town and ready to tidy up unfinished business.

Ashcroft sends a sinister text to DS Marie Evans. His opening move in what will prove to be a lethal game of cat-and-mouse. Yet for all his taunts, where is he? In a county crawling with police on the lookout for him, Ashcroft is nowhere to be found.

Everyone Jackman cares about is in danger. Alongside the hunt for Ashcroft, however, normal police work must continue. The separate thefts of six pigs, a thoroughbred stallion, guns and some oil lead Jackman’s crew to the notorious Lorimer family, ruled over on their farm by the fearsome matriarch Rachel.

Meanwhile, a seemingly routine break-in at the home of gun-club owner Kenneth Harcourt quickly becomes more complicated when the man long held responsible for having killed Harcourt’s young daughter in a hit-and-run is shot dead in a car park - by a sniper. A killer is on the loose in the quiet streets of Saltern-le-Fen, and he isn’t going to stop at claiming one life. But why is he focusing on young Kevin, so close to promotion to detective?

And the sniper, like Ashcroft, takes to taunting the police: they’ll never catch him, they need to respect him, they shouldn’t be sidetracked looking for their old adversary.

In a stunning conclusion, Jackman and Evans race against time to catch the sniper and track down their deadly adversary. A lethal game with a very patient man. Full of twists and turns, this is a crime thriller that will keep you listening until the shocking ending. Set in the atmospheric Lincolnshire Fens whose towns and isolated villages hide many dark secrets.

©2019 Joy Ellis (P)2020 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about The Patient Man

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    468
  • 4 Stars
    116
  • 3 Stars
    22
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    483
  • 4 Stars
    71
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    408
  • 4 Stars
    115
  • 3 Stars
    30
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Does not disappoint

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Richard Armitage does an excellent job of the characters and the dialects.

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
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Full of twists and turns

Incredible story/ great narration
Each story is different with nothing taken from the other ones

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

AA is back

Joy Ellis & Richard Armitage give us a stellar thriller.
Such a great series with characters that leap off the page.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this detective book series

I loved this book series! Patient man doesn’t change from the trend it’s a very good book with quick pace and well structured storyline.
Paul was a surprise at the end I wasn’t expecting this twist, but I could foresee Rachel being a torn on Hashcroft side but not quite this way so it was a nice surprise.

A lot of people lost their lives in this book but ultimately they could finally arest Hashcroft and but him on trial for all of his murders. Good story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Mji
  • 2023-07-12

Part 2 of a mystery saga .. characters growing on me

Although Ms Ellis, in my opinion, is not the quintessential mystery writer… I grown fond of the characters from book to book. Glad this series is a “free” one!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Full of Twists

I loved this story. Joy Ellis keeps you on the edge waiting for the next twist in the story. Richard Armitage does an amazing job of narrating the story. I enjoy the different voices he gives each individual.

I have listened to three of the books in this series now. I am a fan of Joy Ellis. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves thrillers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Screenplay-Worthy Cat & Mouse Confrontation

Detective Sergeant Marie Evans once described psychopathic serial killer Alistair Ashcroft as "...the Moriarty to DI Rowan Jackman's Holmes". She was prophetic.
This villain - introduced in 'The Guilty Ones' (two books ago) - comes out of hiding to continue his mission of terrorizing the 'Fenland CID' team (and his archnemesis: the lead Detective Inspector in particular).
Joy Ellis leads readers through a collection of seemingly unconnected crimes.. while simultaneously giving disturbing vignettes from the killer's POV and describing chilling threats & taunts towards the constabulary members and their loved ones.
The writing is definitely imperfect: exhibiting great prose/vocabulary, mind's-eye vivid description, and intricate plotting - but odd pacing and over-the-top "loving family" elements for a purported working collaboration (police forces can't possibly be this invested in each others' personal lives and function).

Fortunately, Richard Armitage turns in one of the best performances that I have heard from him. He occasionally takes in deep, injudicious breaths (avoid earbuds).. but his professional diction and pacing, enjoyable timbre, comfortable cadence, pitch-perfect tone, and spot-on voice-acting more than make up for any deficiencies in the recording.

Altogether, this audiobook version of 'The Patient Man' merits an impressive 8.5 stars out of 10. It reads like the script for a quality BBC action-adventure.
The book is one of the strongest in the series and absolutely worth your time as a 'Plus' selection. It would even rate a Credit for anyone invested in Ellis's 'Jackman & Evans' world (those unfamiliar should start at Book Four at the very least).

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing!

Jackman and Marie missed at least a couple of connections that were very obvious to me. And I'm no detective.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fun listen

It is a fun story to listen to, well developed and acted out. Looking forward to the next one.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So great a group!

I love the dynamics and consistency of the story and characters, Mr. armitage continues to wow me with every reading, and I love trying to figure out who the bad guys are. Perfection.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Larry
  • Larry
  • 2020-02-28

Jackman & Evans have a problem with guns.

This was not up to the usual excellence of the series. That is with the exception of Richard Armitage who is always great. As a treatise on gun violence, it really does not work. The unarmed detectives and constables just stand by as shooters pick off one target after another. Both Jackman and Evans apparently hate guns so much that they will not arm themselves to protect themselves or the public. Moreover, the idea that a lone shooter could evade an army of police in a town without about 10 people beggars belief, as does the scene after scene where the police make themselves and their friend targets.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Wayne
  • Wayne
  • 2020-03-05

Another winner by British author Joy Ellis

THE PATIENT MAN is novel 6 in the Jackman and Evans police procedural series. I'm getting a bit tired of DS Marie Evans' hero worship of DI Rowan Jackman. It's an excellent suspense thriller but I still prefer Ellis' Nikki Galena series. Narration is good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for David
  • David
  • 2020-04-04

Slow

This could have been a short story - much of the material focuses on personal issues of characters, which failed to invoke interest, at least on my part, and the villain seems a caricature from a 'thirties movie, complete with twirling mustache and hissing snarls. I recommend the DC Smith 'King's Lake' series for an excellent British police procedural peppered with delightful dialogue, and laugh out loud humor as the calcified bureaucracy stumbles over the efforts of those trying to get the job done.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for K. Berg
  • K. Berg
  • 2020-04-07

Don't hesitate

I hesitated based on the smattering of mediocre reviews. I really thought that the gun stuff was going to be overwhelming or distracting after the other reviews. I wouldn't have even noticed it if I hadn't read reviews. It was a great finishing up of the Ashcroft story line and has some definite stings in the plot. I will admit that I cried at least twice. I am pretty attached to the team. I liked it for sure.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Dan E.
  • Dan E.
  • 2020-02-21

Not as good as the rest of The series

Although I have truly enjoyed the other books in the series. In regards to the firearm aspects of the story it has the feel of someone writing on the subject they know very little about. This book lacked an authentic feel. Again I have enjoyed many other books by the author just not this one

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Dorothy Darby
  • Dorothy Darby
  • 2020-03-15

Favorite

This my favorite audible series looking for next Jackman adventure ,this suspenseful truly a suspenseful detective story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Meghan Ariotti
  • Meghan Ariotti
  • 2022-12-15

Stellar Conclusion

I have loved each and every one of the books in this series. This book ties so much up and pulls the reader in even further to the relationships and adventures of all the CID members! Highly recommended 👌

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Henry T. Sanford-Crane
  • Henry T. Sanford-Crane
  • 2022-12-04

Fun Detective Stories

This series is fun listening for me. I enjoy getting to know the characters. Interesting twists.

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
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Chantal Noordeloos
  • Chantal Noordeloos
  • 2022-02-28

Great villain

The story worked well and I really enjoy Archer as a villain. The characters are strong and the storyline was interesting enough

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
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Maine Knitter
  • Maine Knitter
  • 2020-02-21

Wonderful!

Another amazing book by Joy Ellis. I’m sorry I’ve finished it.

Oh boy! This was a thrill a minute. Maybe because I was anticipating such terrible things. Every time a police officer left the building I worried about them. Ashcroft is one evil character.

I loved the inclusion of Rory in the story and the mentions of Nikki.

I was a tad disappointed in the final confrontation. But, overall, a splendid book. The narration by Richard Armitage is the absolute best!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful