AUDIOBOOK ➯ THE CHAIN

BY ADRIAN McKINTY

NARRATED BY JANUARY LAVOY

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

❐ Overall Rating 4½ | Narration 4½

❐ One thrilling-ass thriller

❐ An intricate and diabolically insane plot

❐ Mostly told from a single POV

The Chain is off the hook with intensity. Like some freaky-scary shit for any parent to even contemplate for even a single minute. Is it plausible...maybe, maybe not...but I don't think that's the point. It would make for one hell-of-a a movie. The first half is non-stop and then things slow down until the very end, where the action picks up again for an ending that leaves you breathless. The mind that came up with this plot is a wicked one. All in all, this was an entertaining listen with an added bonus of fantastic narration by one of my all-time favs, January Lavoy.

❐ Libby Listen through my Library

❐ Length ➯ 10H 9M

❐ Plot ➯ 4.5/5

❐ Characters ➯ 4.3/5

❐ The Feels ➯ 5/5

❐ Thrills ➯ 5/5

❐ Ending ➯ 4.5/5

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ THE LAST FLIGHT

BY julie clark

NARRATED BY KHRISTINE HVAM & LAUREN FORTGANG

❐SYNOPSIS from goodreads❐

❐ Overall Rating 4¼ | Narration 5

❐ Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

❐ A switcheroo with some twists

❐ Dual POV's & Fluctuating Timelines

Take an interesting premise...two women in dire need of an identity change-up meet at an airport after they've already gone through security...they switch tickets and then the things get interesting...especially when one of the planes crashes. Add to that an abusive, rich husband and an illustrious career in drug-making...mix it up, and what you get is this thrilling, secret-spilling, twisty mystery.

While I had a few issues with this...overall, I found this to quite a satisfying listen, with fantastic narration by both Khristine Hvam and Lauren Fortgang. The latter is been popping up as the narrator in quite a few of my listens lately...and I haven't been disappointed by that, either.

❐ Audible Listen

❐ Length ➯ 9H 23M

❐ Plot ➯ 4.3/5

❐ Characters ➯ 4/5

❐ The Feels ➯ 4/5

❐ Twisty-ness/Mystery/Thrills ➯ 4.2/5

❐ Ending ➯ 4.2/5

AUDIOBOOK ➯ PRETTY THINGS

BY JANELLE BROWN

NARRATED BY JULIA WHELAN & LAUREN FORTGANG WITH A FORWARD BY HILARY HUBER

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

❐ Overall Rating 4½ | Narration 4½

❐ Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

❐ Something of a character study

❐ Twisty

❐ Dual POV's

❐ Lake Tahoe Setting

Two con-artists try running the long-con...and ultimately the real question is who is conning who???

You may have heard that this is a little longish and tends to go into details about unnecessary things, and both those are completely true of this book.  Sometimes you even get the same scene from more than one perspective.  And these things are usually always deal-breakers for me...but for some reason, I completely enjoyed this despite all those things...maybe even because of.  That and it was superbly narrated, I always love Lauren Fortgang and I even enjoyed Julia Whelan in this, and usually, I don't really like her.  Overall, I guess it just clicked with me...maybe it will for you also.

❐ Libby Listen through my Library

❐ Length ➯ 16H 7M

❐ Plot ➯ 4.5/5
❐ Characters ➯ 4.3/5
❐ The Feels ➯ 4.7/5
❐ Twisty-ness/Mystery/Thrills ➯ 4.5/5
❐ Ending ➯ 4.5/5

AUDIOBOOK ➯ GOODNIGHT BEAUTIFUL

BY AIMEE MOLLY

NARRATED BY VAL TOOMEY, GEORGE NEWBERN, MARIN IRELAND, & JOEL FROOMKIN

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

❐ Overall Rating 4½ | Narration 4½

❐ Mystery/Psychological Thriller/Suspense

❐ Clever Misdirection and a shout-out to a well-known book/movie

❐ Multiple POV's 

❐ This one is best to go into blind...

This story snuck up on me and I didn't even realize how much I enjoyed it until it was over.  It was told in a way that was refreshingly different...and that...is always a good thing.

You know I'm not sure what parts of the story were the misdirection parts or my own personal misdirection???  All I can tell you without giving anything away is...just go read it...or listen to it.  I can't even tell you what I thought of the narration because I might inadvertently give something away if I do.  I can say that it was performed quite well by all, though.

❐ Libby Listen through my Library

❐ Length ➯ 7H 52M

❐ Plot ➯ 4.7/5
❐ Characters ➯ 4.3/5
❐ The Feels ➯ 4.5/5
❐ Twisty-ness/Mystery/Thrills ➯ 4.3/5
❐ Ending ➯ 4.3/5

AUDIOBOOK ➯ FOLLOW ME

BY KATHLEEN BARBER

NARRATED BY COREY BRILL, ERIN MOON, & EMILY TREMAINE

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

❐ Overall Rating 4 | Narration 5

❐ Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

❐ Social Media

❐ Obsession/Stalking/Delusions

❐ Red Herring Alert

While it delved into the unbelievable, seriously, how many guys can one girl have obsessed with her, and I get that she was trying to give you many suspects, so you would be kept guessing...and she accomplished that quite well.  Maybe a little too well?  

Overall, I was thoroughly entertained by this cautionary tale of the digital age.  How much of your life should you share on social media?  This story will make you think twice about that.  Personally, I think you should just stick to posting pictures of your dog.

❐ Libby Listen through my Library

❐ Length ➯ 10H 13M

❐ Plot ➯ 4.2/5
❐ Characters ➯ 4/5
❐ The Feels ➯ 4/5
❐ Twisty-ness/Mystery/Thrills ➯ 3.5/5
❐ Ending ➯ 4/5

 

AUDIOBOOK ➯ WHAT DOESN'T KILL HER

BY CARLA NORTON

NARRATED BY CHRISTINE DELAINE

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

❐ Overall Rating 5 | Narration 4½

❐ Reeve LeClair #2

❐ Suspense Thriller

❐ Kidnapped. Held captive. Escaped...only to have the sadistic kidnapper escape custody years later

❐ Another deeply affecting story that can be difficult to read/listen

Upon finishing Book #1, The Edge of Normal, I immediately started Book #2...knowing that its focus was more on Reeve's story, I was eager to delve into it.  I seriously don't know how the author writes the scenes from inside the head of such sick, twisted individuals the way she does.  (There is an interview with Carla Norton at the end of The Edge of Normal audiobook that expounds on this, though.)  It is so deeply affecting...and thankfully not overly detailed graphically...because I probably couldn't have kept listening otherwise.  This second book was even more compelling than the first book was.

My issue with the first book with the volume not being high enough was fixed in this second book and I, although others have not liked the narrator's performance, found her to be fairly decent.  It just goes to show you never can tell how one person to the next is going to feel about someone's narration.  It could have been better, of course, with a different narrator for the male POV's. 

❐ Libby Listen through my Library

❐ Length ➯ 11H 23M

❐ Plot ➯ 5/5
❐ Characters ➯ 5/5
❐ The Feels ➯ 4.7/5
❐ Twisty-ness/Mystery/Thrills ➯ 4.7/5
❐ Ending ➯ 5/5

AUDIOBOOK ➯ THE EDGE OF NORMAL

BY CARLA NORTON

NARRATED BY CHRISTINA DELAINE

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

❐ Overall Rating 4¾ | Narration 4¼

❐ Reeve LeClaire #1

❐ Suspense Thriller 

❐ Kidnapping

❐ Amateur Sleuthing

❐ Deeply affecting without being overly graphic

Wow, this was intense and heebie-jeebie kind of creepy.  To up the creep factor, you're also privy to the pedophile's headspace.  Which...yeah...I don't have to say how absolutely fucked that is.  Since you know who the bad-guy is near the beginning of the story is not so much a mystery...but it's definitely quite thrilling.

A lot of listeners didn't like the narration by Christina Delaine, I didn't find it all that bad, other than it wouldn't go loud enough for me to hear it well...I listened to the second book right after this one and the volume discrepancy wasn't an issue in that one.  A separate male narrator would have made this perfect...I'm waiting for this to be a standard in audiobooks.

❐ Libby Listen through my Library

❐ Length ➯ 11H 31M

❐ Plot ➯ 4.7/5
❐ Characters ➯ 5/5
❐ The Feels ➯ 4.5/5
❐ Twisty-ness/Mystery/Thrills ➯ 5/5
❐ Ending ➯ 4.5/5

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ LITTLE SECRETS

BY JENNIFER HILLIER

NARRATED BY KIRSTEN POTTER

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

❐ Overall Rating 4¾ | Narration 4¼

❐ Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

❐ Multiple POV's

❐ Kidnapping

❐ Infidelity

❐ Satisfyingly Twisty

I was hesitant to listen to this since I was one of the few people who didn't like Jar of Hearts by this author...it ventured way too far into the unbelievable for me.  I also read an ARC that was riddled with typos and such which made it such a struggle to stay in the story and even finish it.  But this book really came through for me...it felt believable and by the end, I was really rooting for these broken people...well, maybe not all of them.  I'm really glad I gave this one a go because it surprised me in the best way possible.

Kirsten Potter's narration, while not my favorite, was sufficient enough to keep me in the story.  She did manage some different inflections for all the various POV's, sort of, anyway.  While I've never been blown away by her narration; she is reliable and will always be someone that I'm never disappointed to see listed as the narrator of a book.  Of course, as always, my rating is influenced by the fact that this could have been phenomenal with additional narrators.

❐ Libby Listen through my Library

❐ Length ➯ 10H 33M

❐ Plot ➯ 4.5/5
❐ Characters ➯ 4.3/5
❐ The Feels ➯ 5/5
❐ Twisty-ness/Mystery ➯ 4.7/5
❐ Ending ➯ 5/5

AUDIOBOOK ➯ WHERE THE BLAME LIES

 

BY MIA SHERIDAN

NARRATED BY TEDDY HAMILTON & CALLIE DALTON

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

❐ Overall Rating 4½ | Narration 5
❐ Where #1 
❐ Dual POV's
❐ Romantic Suspense...heavy on the suspense
❐ Taken & held against her will

One of the best romantic suspense books I've listened to in a while...I was starting to think that this sub-genre wasn't going to work for me.  Most that I've read felt too cheesy, too unbelievable.  This had heart, suspense, decent characters and I didn't guess the ending...I thought I had it all figured out but ultimately she got me.  The duo narrating was quite good, too.

❐ Audible Listen

❐ Length ➯ 10H 54M

❐ Steaminess to Story Ratio ➯ 15/85

❐ Plot ➯ 4.5/5
❐ Characters ➯ 4.3/5
❐ The Feels ➯ 4.5/5
❐ Twisty-ness/Mystery ➯ 4.5/5
❐ Ending ➯ 4.5/5

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 ➯ 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 ➯ 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 ➯ 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

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ PLEASE SEE US

 

BY CAITLIN MULLEN

NARRATED BY HILARY HUBER, COREY BRILL, PIPER GOODEVE, & DARA ROSENBERG

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ ATLANTIC CITY

❐ SERIAL KILLER MYSTERY

❐ SUSPENSE THRILLER

❐ MULTIPLE POV'S

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 11 HOURS, 54 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

I loved everything about this story, well as much as one can love a story about serial killings, anyway.  The seediness, the realness, the tarot readings, the Atlantic City setting, all of it was so engaging.  I also really enjoyed the narratives from the victims, the way it was done...it really added to the story.  

This story has it all...including amazing characters, exceptional writing, a palpable atmosphere that was made even better by the fantastic narration from each of the narrators.  I highly recommend, reading or listening...whatever you prefer, but I wholeheartedly suggest this in Audio format.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 5+ STARS

Plot ➯ 5/5

Characters ➯ 5/5

The Feels ➯ 5/5

Pacing ➯ 5/5

Addictiveness ➯ 5/5

Theme, Tone or Intensity ➯ 4.7/5

Originality/Believability ➯ 5/5

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

Twisty-ness/Mystery ➯ 4.5/5

Ending ➯ 4.7/5

SUMMATION ➯ 5 STARS

I LISTENED TO THIS FOR THE SQUARE

FOR HALLOWEEN BINGO 2020

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ AND NOW SHE'S GONE

 

BY RACHEL HOWZELL HALL

NARRATED BY JE NIE FLEMING

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ SLOW-BURN MYSTERY

❐ SOME THRILLS & SUSPENSE

❐ DOMESTIC ABUSE

❐ IDENTITY THEFT

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 11 HOURS, 31 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

A newly minted private investigator, Grayson Sykes is searching for a missing person...the more she learns about this missing woman...the deeper the mystery goes...and goes...and goes.    This was a little slow going for my tastes...I feel like it took forever to get the mystery going and eventually it had two mysteries going on.  I'll admit sometimes I couldn't keep each story separated...they may have even become intertwined with each other.  

The narrative was kept fresh by dealing with themes of domestic abuse, identity theft, and a stolen dog named Kenny G (I have no idea what happened to the dog, either...probably mind-wandering during that section).  By the end, the payout was rewarding enough and the Audio is performed swimmingly by Je Nie Fleming...she was the perfect voice for Grayson Sikes character. 

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 4½ STARS

Plot ➯ 4/5

Characters ➯ 4/5

The Feels ➯ 3.7/5

Pacing ➯ 3.7/5

Addictiveness ➯ 3.5/5

Theme, Tone or Intensity ➯ 3.5/5

Originality/Believability ➯ 4/5

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

Twisty-ness/Mystery ➯ 4/5

Ending ➯ 4/5

SUMMATION ➯ 3¾ STARS

I LISTENED TO THIS FOR MY FREE SPACE

 FOR HALLOWEEN BINGO 2020

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ THE NIGHT OLIVIA FELL

BY CHRISTINA MCDONALD

NARRATED BY KELLY BURKE & LAUREL LEFKOW

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

THE DETAILS✎

❐ IS IT...ACCIDENT, ATTEMPTED MURDER OR SUICIDE

❐ DUAL POV'S BETWEEN MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

❐ SINGLE/HELICOPTER MOM TO THE EXTREME

❐ A DAUGHTER WITH SECRETS --INCLUDING A PREGNANCY

❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 10 HOURS, 45 MINUTES

❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

With characters that I really cared about and a storyline that felt like every parent's worse nightmare, this one really got to me, both as a mystery and on an emotional level.  The lies we tell or the truths we think we should keep can end up biting us in the ass...especially when it comes to our children.  

Told in the past-tense from the daughter and the present tense from her Mother...who is relentless in her pursuit of proving that her daughter did not commit suicide like the police seem to believe.  As the story unfolds...more and more things come to light and everyone starts to look like a suspect...with the life of her daughter's unborn child hanging in the balance...all she can do is keep trying to get at the truth.

The narration by both Kelly Burke and Laurel Lefkow is performed splendidly and overall enhanced my experience with this story.

BREAKDOWN✎

Narration ➯ 5 STARS

Plot ➯ 4.5/5

Characters ➯ 4.5/5

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) ➯ 5/5

Twisty-ness/Mystery ➯ 4.3/5

Ending ➯ 5/5

SUMMATION ➯ 4¾ STARS

I LISTENED TO THIS FOR THE SQUARE

FOR HALLOWEEN BINGO 2020