AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ HEART OF ASH

 

BY KIM LIGGETT

NARRATED BY CHLOE CANNON

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ BLOOD & SALT #2
❐ SET IN SPAIN
❐ IMMORTALS
❐ FATED ROMANCE
❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 7 HOURS, 5 MINUTES
❐ I LISTENED ON HOOPLA THROUGH MY LIBRARY

I needed more volume.  This is probably not actually the narrator's fault, she actually performed quite well, but I struggled with hearing what she was saying...her inner dialogue was so flipping quiet, it was a constant struggle for me.  When this sort of volume discrepancy happens, it tends to pull you out of the story...which is never good and I really hate when a book won't go loud enough for me to hear it.  

Where the first book had this creepy "children-of-the-corn" and "I-see-dead-people" thing going on, this had a more of a supernatural feel to it which lent towards The Vampire Diaries, with the immortal beings, fated romance, doomed brother, and body jumping.  Overall, I feel that this was a much-needed continuation of the story...but...I really believe this could have been told in one book and been much better for it.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ ALL HIS PRETTY GIRLS

 

BY CHARLY COX

NARRATED BY KATE ZANE

❐SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS ❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ DETECTIVE ALYSSA WYATT #1

❐ SUSPENSE/THRILLER

❐ SERIAL KILLER MYSTERY

❐ NAIL-BITING WORTHY

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 11 HOURS, 6 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON HOOPLA THROUGH MY LIBRARY

If you're looking for a super intense suspense/thriller then look no further especially if you dig a story that doesn't shy away from graphic depictions of violence.  With one of these scenes, I even had tears in my eyes.  It was so powerful.  This was not only well written with an engaging and refreshing cast of characters it had me on the edge almost the entire time I was listening.  It's also a debut.

A second narrator for the male parts of this book would have been really awesome...but other than that, the narration by Kate Zane was perfectly performed.  She is a new-to-me narrator and one that I would gladly listen to again.  I'm impatiently waiting for the next book to be recorded in this series so I can do just that.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 4¼ STARS

Plot ➯ 4.5/5

Characters ➯ 4.5/5

The Feels ➯ 5/5

Pacing ➯ 4.7/5

Addictiveness ➯ 5/5

Theme/Tone/Intensity ➯ 5/5

Originality/Believability ➯ 4/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 4.5/5

Twisty-ness/Mystery ➯ 4.3/5

Ending ➯ 4.3/5

SUMMATION ➯ 4½ STARS

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ THE HANDMAID'S TALE

 

BY MARGARET ATWOOD

NARRATED BY CLAIRE DANES

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ THE HANDMAID'S TALE #1

❐ SINGLE POV --OFFRED

❐ DEPRESSING DYSTOPIAN WORLD

❐ OPPRESSION OF WOMEN

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 12 HOURS, 6 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON AUDIBLE

I have one question:  Why the hell were these men so special that the whole world revolved around them.  I didn't get it.

This book feels like a nightmare...one of those ones where you wake up and think WTF was that about...with incidents so crazy that it feels like it could never happen in real life.  Please tell me this could never happen???

I never read classics...they are too literary for me.  Filled with an overabundance of explanations and words of every little item in view of the narrator...that tends to bore me.  This book has that in spades.  But since I keep hearing good things about the show...and I'm really curious to try watching it.  I figured I needed to read/listen to the book first, of course.  Now, upon finishing this, especially with that non-ending of an ending; I'm even more intrigued to start the show.  It looks like it goes much deeper with Offred's character and the world in general...hopefully, there is some serious ass-kicking and taking back what was stolen from them.

Claire Danes may have infused too much despair into her monotone narrative because I couldn't shake the overwhelming depression this left with me.  Basically, she could be perfect, but I was too muddled in despair to notice.  I can't really figure out if I liked her or not.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 4 STARS

Plot ➯ 4.3/5

Characters ➯ 4.3/5

The Feels ➯ 4.3/5

Pacing ➯ 3.7/5

Addictiveness ➯ 3.8/5

Theme/Tone/Intensity ➯ 3.7/5

Originality/Believability ➯ 4/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 3.7/5

World-Building ➯ 3.5/5

Ending ➯ 3/5

SUMMATION ➯ 4¼ STARS

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ RED HOOD

 

BY ELANA K ARNOLD

NARRATED BY JANUARY LAVOY

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ CONTEMPORARY MIXED WITH FANTASY

❐ METAPHORICAL/ALLEGORICAL

❐ 2ND PERSON POV 

❐ GIRL POWER/FEMINISM

❐ LOOSELY BASED ON RED RIDING HOOD

❐ VIOLENT TO THE POINT OF POSSIBLY GOING TO FAR

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 8 HOURS, 14 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

There are plenty of readers/listeners that didn't really care for this...and I can see their points of contention.  It does graphically expound on the very worse parts of having a period...not to say that they have good parts.  It was weird, uncomfortable even, and probably could have been toned down quite a bit.

The other element of this story that many couldn't deal with is that it's told in second-person.  It's funny, I tried listening to this a couple of months ago and couldn't deal with that aspect at all.  When I picked this up again, I never even noticed it.  It must've been the perfect moment for me to pick this book up.  

Overall, there are many ways to look at this story...because it's deep, with layers (you know like an onion or an ogre).  While it does venture into a place that is filled with vengeance and violence...I think it did that to make a point but also, for me personally, by the end...I think they may have gone too far to get that point across.

Last but not least, I'm quite positive that the elements of this book I did like were made possible due to the fantastic narration by January LaVoy.  Sometimes, I'm slightly underwhelmed (she is always good, though) by her performances, and on others, she freaking nails it.  This is one where she nailed it.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 5 STARS

Plot ➯ 3.7/5

Characters ➯ 4.3/5

The Feels ➯ 4/5

Pacing ➯ 4.3/5

Addictiveness ➯ 4.3/5

Theme/Tone ➯ 2.7/5

Originality ➯ 3.5/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 4.2/5

World-Building ➯ 3.5/5

Ending ➯ 2.5/5

SUMMATION ➯ 3¾ STARS

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ DARK AUGUST

BY KATIE TALLO

NARRATED BY PIPER GOODEVE

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ A HAUNTED, ALMOST SULTRY ATMOSPHERE

❐ SLOW-BURN MYSTERY

❐ ONTARIO, CANADA SETTING

❐ AMATEUR SLEUTHING

❐ ONE COOL ASS DOG NAMED LEVI & A GHOST TOWN

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 12 HOURS, 18 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

I do love a story with a dog in it...and Levi the dog was pretty awesome...but then most dogs are.

A small-town girl goes home and stumbles upon the last case that her mother was working on before she was killed in a car accident...something about it doesn't sit right with and her so she starts digging into it...and someone seems to be determined to stop her, but who???  And far will they go to stop her?

Overall, a good solid story ...just took forever to get anywhere with it...with overly descriptive writing this was definitely a slow-burning mystery and I'm not always a fan of this style of writing.  So I forgot to pay attention quite often while listening and I didn't really feel like I had missed all that much most of the time...although, I did rewind it a couple of times.

The narration was performed well by Piper Goodeve...bringing the slow almost sultry, creepily spooky atmosphere to the forefront.  Admittedly, maybe a tad too much.  I kept checking to see where the setting was...because it felt like this was southern gothic.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 4½ STARS

Plot ➯ 3.8/5

Characters ➯ 3.7/5

The Feels ➯ 3/5

Pacing ➯ 2/5

Addictiveness ➯ 3/5

Theme, Tone, or Intensity ➯ 3.5/5

Originality/Believability ➯ 3.5/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 2.5/5

Twisty-ness/Mystery ➯ 3.5/5

Ending ➯ 3/5

SUMMATION ➯ 3½ STARS

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ MOTHER KNOWS BEST

BY KIRA PEIKOFF

NARRATED BY SOPHIE AMOSS, MARNI PENNING, & JENNIFER JILL ARAYA

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ MEDICAL/DOMESTIC THRILLER

❐ WITH A DASH OF MYSTERY AND A HEALTHY DOSE OF SCIENCE FICTION

❐ TOLD FROM THREE POV'S WITH PAST AND PRESENT TENSE

❐ A CHILD BORN WITH THE DNA OF THREE PARENTS

❐ MOSTLY PREDICTABLE YET TOTALLY FASCINATING

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 9 HOURS, 36 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON AUDIBLE THROUGH AUDIBLE PLUS

This has one of the most innovative plotlines that I've seen in a mystery/thriller...I'm not saying that they aren't out there because for all I know they are.  Most of the mystery is easily guessable as to where it's going but honestly, I didn't mind.  I suggest listening in one go, that way you don't have a lot of time to contemplate the plot.  There are intricacies/twists to the story that you might not guess that way.  That's what I did and it worked for me.

I'm also fairly certain the narration made a difference too.  It was fantastically performed by all three narrators.  Especially, Sophie Amos, she does a young girl's voice very well.

The science in this is very palatable even if you're not usually into science fiction or medical thrillers.  It felt like the author knew something about DNA manipulating and the like.  There are a few cheesy/over the top moments and at least one bout of crazy, maybe a few...but it all comes together in the end, in one entertaining package.  It doesn't hurt that this is on the Audible Plus Plan either.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 5 STARS

Plot ➯ 4.3/5

Characters ➯ 4/5

The Feels ➯ 4.5/5

Pacing ➯ 4.5/5

Addictiveness ➯ 5/5

Theme, Tone or Intensity ➯ 4.7/5

Originality/Believability ➯ 4.5/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 5/5

Twisty-ness/Mystery ➯ 3.8/5

Ending ➯ 4.2/5

SUMMATION ➯ 4¼ STARS

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ THE SPACE BETWEEN WORLDS

 

BY MICAIAH JOHNSON

NARRATED BY NICOLE LEWIS

❐SYNOPSIS ON GOODREADS (AND REVIEWS THAT MAKE MORE SENSE THAN MINE)❐

MY RATING➯ 2½ STARS

THE DETAILS✎

❐ STAND-ALONE

❐ SCIENCE FICTION/DYSTOPIAN/FANTASY

❐ TRAVELING BETWEEN AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PARALLEL WORLDS

❐ LGBT

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 11 HOURS, 46 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

I was drawn in by the amazing cover, I really love it...although I think it may suggest that this book is about something other than what it is, or not...actually, I'm not sure since I was rather confused by what was going on most of the time.  The concept of this was intriguing too...but maybe it tried to be too relevant and didn't focus on any one element enough to seize my interest, or maybe it was not the right time for me and this book to click.  I'm really not all that sure what it was.  I do know it wasn't the narration because Nicole Lewis performed quite nicely.

Ultimately, I wanted to like this more than I actually did...but maybe you shouldn't let my feelings sway you one way or another because there are plenty of other readers/listeners who have really liked this.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 4½ STARS

Plot ➯ 3/5

Characters ➯ 3/5

The Feels ➯ 2.3/5

Pacing ➯ 3/5

Addictiveness ➯ 2/5

Theme/Tone/Intensity ➯ 2.5/5

Originality/Believability ➯ 2.5/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 2/5

World-Building ➯ 2.5/5

Ending ➯ 2/5

SUMMATION ➯ 2½ STARS

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ THE NEMESIS

 

BY S.J. KINCAID

NARRATED BY CANDACE THAXTON

❐SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ DIABOLIC #3 OF 3

❐ FINAL BOOK IN TRILOGY (THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A STAND-ALONE???)

❐ SECRETS, LIES, & SERIOUS BETRAYALS

❐ PLANETARY INTRIGUE

❐ THIS DIABOLIC IS THINKING DIABOLICALLY  NOW

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 11 HOURS, 16 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

All I can say is...I'm glad this series is finished...and hopefully, I never feel the need to listen to another book narrated by Candace Thaxton again.  Her voice does not gel with me...at all.  I keep thinking that I can power through or that she eventually grow on me...but now, upon finishing this book, I can definitely say that's not going to happen.  

Suffice it to say...I could have loved this more with a different narrator, of course.  I also could have loved it more if there wasn't so much time between books...I had more or less forgotten what happened in book #2.  Apparently, it was super cliffhangery, though.  I tried not to let the narration influence my rating too significantly since overall this was completely unexpected, and ultimately fulfilling because it ended rather perfectly.  

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 3 STARS

Plot ➯ 4.3/5

Characters ➯ 4/5

The Feels ➯ 4/5

Pacing ➯ 4.3/5

Addictiveness ➯ 3.5/5

Theme/Tone/Intensity ➯ 4/5

Originality ➯ 4/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 3.5/5

World-Building ➯ 4.3/5

Ending ➯ 4/5

SUMMATION ➯ 4 STARS

AUDIOBOOK ➯ CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45

 

BY LISA UNGER

NARRATED BY VIVIENNE LEHENY

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ MYSTERY SUSPENSE

❐ DOMESTIC THRILLER

❐ IT ALL STARTS FROM A TRAIN RIDE HOME

❐ SECRETS, LIES, & BETRAYALS

❐ TWISTY & SLIGHTLY TWISTED

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 12 HOURS, 29 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

This is going to be super quick...because my review writing time has been seriously compromised by RL lately.  I found this to be not only engaging but totally twisted in a good way.  I had the most fun trying to figure it all out and usually just when I thought I did...I was floored by the depths that this story went to.  

This really should've had a second narrator...it wouldn't have ruined the mystery at all...so why didn't it have a second narrator.  Vivienne Leheny was actually really good but again, not to beat a dead horse...it really should've had a second narrator.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 4 STARS

Plot ➯ 4.5/5

Characters ➯ 4.5/5

The Feels ➯ 5/5

Pacing ➯ 4.5/5

Addictiveness ➯ 4.5/5

Theme/Tone/Intensity ➯ 5/5

Originality/Believability ➯ 4.5/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 4/5

Twisty-ness/Mystery ➯ 4.3/5

Ending ➯ 4.7/5

SUMMATION ➯ 4½ STARS

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ FABLE

 

BY ADRIENNE YOUNG

NARRATED BY EMMA LYSY

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ FABLE #1 of 2

❐ YA FANTASY

❐ PIRATES

❐ FINDING YOUR "PLACE" IN LIFE

❐ SOME ROMANCE

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 8 HOURS, 51 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY (I ALSO RECEIVED AN ARC THROUGH NETGALLEY THAT I NEGLECTED TO READ AND OPTED FOR THE AUDIO VERSION INSTEAD)

First off, I love the cover, especially the twinkle in her eye, it's really gorgeous.  Also, this is a duo, and the second cover kind of matches up with the first one...each one is a side of her face.  The narration by Emma Lysy was mostly well performed...her alternate voices didn't always sound different from her normal voice...but she was rather perfect for the voice of Fable.

At its core, Fable is a story about a girl trying to find a place to belong with people she belongs with.  With underlying themes of what makes a family a family and that it's not always actual family members.  This is a story, you can't help but love, and Fable is a character you can't help but root for...there might be a few others to root for too.  Coupled with a pirate-esque backdrop called The Narrows featuring wily thieves, deplorable traders, and the most notorious adversary of them all...her father.

While the bigger story at play has some closure...the book itself does end in a cliffhanger...which just means I'm eagerly awaiting the middle of March.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 4¼ STARS

Plot ➯ 5/5

Characters ➯ 5/5

The Feels ➯ 4.5/5

Pacing ➯ 4.5/5

Addictiveness ➯ 5/5

Theme, Tone, or Intensity ➯ 4.5/5

Originality ➯ 5/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 4.3/5

World-Building ➯ 4.5/5

Ending ➯ 4.5/5

SUMMATION ➯ 4¾ STARS

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ THE COMEBACK

 

BY ELLA BERMAN

NARRATED BY SASKIA MAARLEVELD

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ TIMELY REALISTIC CONTEMPORARY FICTION

❐ WHICH FEELS ALL TOO TRUE

❐ TOLD IN PAST AND PRESENT TENSE

❐ CHILD ACTOR'S RISE, CRASH, & BURN AS SHE TRANSCENDS TO ADULTHOOD

❐ DIRECTOR WHO DISCOVERS HER MAKES HER HIS MUSE & MUCH MORE

❐ GRAPPLING WITH HER TRUTH AND COMING CLEAN

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 10 HOURS, 21 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

Saskia Maarleveld was superb in this role...her narration brought out the atmosphere of this story perfectly of which the author has set the stage for most superbly herself.

A well-written story about a girl who is sort of mistakenly discovered at a casting call at her high school and how when someone she should've been able to trust takes advantage of her in the worse way possible...that started when she was only just a child.  Of how it screwed with her head...turned her into someone she never met to be and made her feel like she could never dig her way out.  All while being famous and having the whole world watching and waiting.  

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 5 STARS

Plot ➯ 5/5

Characters ➯ 4.7/5

The Feels ➯ 5/5

Pacing ➯ 4.5/5

Addictiveness ➯ 5/5

Theme/Tone/Intensity ➯ 5/5

Originality/Believability ➯ 5/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 5/5

World-Building ➯ 5/5

Ending ➯ 5/5

SUMMATION ➯ 4¾ STARS

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ POISONED

 

BY JENNIFER DONNELLY

NARRATED BY ROSIE JONES

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ THE SNOW WHITE RETELLING THAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR...

❐ MULTIPLE POV'S

❐ DARKISH YA FANTASY

❐ VERY TINY SPLASH OF ROMANCE

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 10 HOURS, 36 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

Jennifer Donnelly has got fairytale retellings on lock.  I loved this...absolutely fantastic...I do believe I liked this one more than Stepsister even.  It was the perfect blend of fantasy, darkness, badassness, and heart...so much heart in this one.  

As for the narration by Rosie Jones, well, she grew on me.  At first, I found her to be overly juvenile sounding...but eventually, as the story progressed and Sophie grew as a person she lost that childish voice more and more...until at some point I didn't notice it at all.

I wonder what fairytale this author is going to take on next...I think the ending hinted at the possibility of Rapunzel...so we will see.  Whatever it is or whichever...I am there for it.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 4½ STARS

Plot ➯ 5/5

Characters ➯ 5/5

The Feels ➯ 5+/5

Pacing ➯ 5/5

Addictiveness ➯ 5/5

Theme, Tone or Intensity ➯ 5/5

Originality ➯ 5/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 5/5

World-Building ➯ 5/5

Ending ➯ 5/5

SUMMATION ➯ 5+ STARS

I LISTENED TO THIS FOR THE SQUARE

FOR HALLOWEEN BINGO 2020

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ THE LESSER DEAD

 

BY CHRISTOPHER BUEHLMAN

NARRATED BY CHRISTOPHER BUEHLMAN

❐SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ HORROR OF THE VAMPIRIC KIND

❐ SINGLE POV --JOEY PEACOCK

❐ NARRATED BY THE AUTHOR

❐ BLOODY, GRITTY, UNFORGIVING, AND ODDLY HUMOROUS

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 9 HOURS, 40 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

I've been saving this one for Halloween Bingo since it was perfect for Vampires Square.  I'm so glad I finally got a chance to listen to this book because it blew away my expectations.  

When I see that a book is narrated by the author, I'm always a little wary...sometimes they don't make the best narrator for the story...since you kind of need at least some acting chops to give a decent performance.  Christopher Buehlman knocked this out of the park...both with writing and narrating.

This book is dark & bloody, with scary-ass vampires...it made me feel like maybe they really could exist and they are just erasing are memories so we don't know...

so creepy...  

Joey Peacock, what a dandy name for a blood-sucking vampire, his wit and candor rival that of Damon Salvatore.  And yet, he is one-of-kind...he made me laugh out loud which was both odd and endearing at the same time.  I felt like I shouldn't have been laughing when he got pummeled between a subway car and the tracks...but the lines were delivered so crassly, so blasé, that I couldn't help myself.  

If you think you've conceived vampires in every possible way...and this couldn't add anything to the genre...you're wrong.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 5 STARS

Plot ➯ 4.5/5

Characters ➯ 5/5

The Feels ➯ 5/5

Pacing ➯ 4.5/5

Addictiveness ➯ 4.5/5

Theme, Tone or Intensity ➯ 5/5

Originality/Believability ➯ 5/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 4.5/5

World-Building ➯ 5/5

Ending ➯ 4.5/5

SUMMATION ➯ 4¾ STARS

I LISTENED TO THIS FOR THE SQUARE

FOR HALLOWEEN BINGO 2020

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ DEATH IN THE FAMILY

BY TESSA WEGERT

NARRATED BY CALLIE BEAULIEU

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ LOCKED ROOM (ISLAND) MYSTERY

❐ A NOR'EASTER BEARING DOWN

❐ SOMETHING IS AFOOT HERE...

❐ A PROMISING START TO A NEW SERIES

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 9 HOURS, 48 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

I'm fairly new to the locked-room type of mystery...and it ultimately makes me think of the game Clue...this story really reminded me of playing that game as a kid.  Except these people are family. 

Shana Merchant is a former NYPD detective who barely survived being abducted by a serial killer and now she works in the Thousand Islands region in Upstate New York.   Where she is sent to a private island owned by a wealthy family within the region to investigate the disappearance/possible murder of one of its members.  From there the story and the family mayhem ensues.   This mystery was fairly unpredictable, other than a person's natural greed for money, and it's filled with plenty of secrets, lies, and betrayals.

The real story, for me, is Shana Merchant's story...my interest is peaked when it comes to her story and it is only just scratched at in this first book (book #2 comes out is in December).  The serial killer she escaped from is still at large and you just know there's a lot more coming from that angle.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 4½ STARS

Plot ➯ 4.3/5

Characters ➯ 4.2/5

The Feels ➯ 4/5

Pacing ➯ 4.5/5

Addictiveness ➯ 4/5

Theme, Tone or Intensity ➯ 4/5

Originality/Believability ➯ 4.3/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 4/5

Twisty-ness/Mystery ➯ 4.5/5

Ending ➯ 4.3/5

SUMMATION ➯ 4¼ STARS

I LISTENED TO THIS FOR THE SQUARE

FOR HALLOWEEN BINGO 2020