Uvi Poznansky's Blog, page 26

A Captivating, Suspenseful Thriller

 

LISTENERLilly
Coma ConfidentialAsh Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance, Book 1By: Uvi PoznanskyNarrated by: Heather Jane Hogan A Captivating, Suspenseful Thriller Overall      5 out of 5 starsPerformance      5 out of 5 starsStory      5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-27-21

Wow! I had already read the e-book of Coma Confidential by Uvi Poznansky and found it a very unique and suspenseful story and wanted to listen to the audio version. The narrator, Heather Jan Hogan really brought the story to life. It begins with Ashley Winters wrapped in bandages from head to toe from being raped and attacked. She slowly regains her mental consciousness while her body remains in a comatose state. Ashley can’t move a limb, open her eyes, or speak, but her mind is functioning and she can hear. Due to movement around her and voices, she soon realizes she’s lying in a hospital bed. Her memory is foggy and she has no idea how she ended up there. Ash doesn’t even know her name, but recognizes her mother’s voice. Nightmares haunt her dreams as she tries to piece together who attacked her. 

The police think the assailant might come back to finish job and has her guarded 24/7. There’s a breakdown in that security and Ash hears the assailant talking near her bed to another enemy who wants her dead. She also learns the attack wasn’t random. The mastermind behind it wants something from her boyfriend, Michael. Ash is being used as a bargaining chip. Even in her state, the mastermind is still determined to use her to get what he’s after. What does he want? And how can Ash defend herself when she lacks control of her body? 

Uvi Poznansky has created a well-crafted, unusual, intriguing story with memorable characters. I felt the fear and emotions that consumed Ash as she tried to snap her body into consciousness while being at the mercy of criminals. This story grips from the first chapter to the very end. The narrator did such a wonderful job that I listened to the whole audio book in one evening. If you enjoy suspenseful thrillers filled with twists and turns, get this audio book! Highly recommended. 

Is it my imagination, or am I actually hearing a voice? Barely audible, there it is, seeping in from above.

If you can not see this chirbit, listen to it here https://chirb.it/DJ4ke1
I’ve taken my eyes off of the child for a mere moment, and now—he’s gone! Either that, or he’s hiding. I run frantically through the yard, all around the perimeter, then in and out of the back gate in search of him. I bend down this way and that to check if his legs can be seen behind the bushes, if the Disneyland logo of his t-shirt peeks out, by any chance, between the branches. All the while, I keep calling his name at the top of my lungs. “Ready or not, Timmy, here I come!”At last, “Okay, you win, Timmy!” I scream. “Where are you?”There is this sinking feeling—not in my heart exactly but somewhere lower, in my gut—but I try ignore it. I cling to the hope that this is some kind of mischief, merely a hide-and-go-seek game, nothing else. Nothing more sinister.But the fear persists. I feel it in my belly. What if I can’t find him? His mother entrusted him to my care. What on earth will I tell her? I’ll never know how Tracy holds herself together despite the fateful blows her family has suffered: the strange disappearance of her older son, Brian, and the murder of her ex during that shooting spree. If Ed was targeted, then both she and Timmy are in danger. They may be on the killer’s target list. Oh no, no, no! How could I allow this to happen? “I’m counting to three, Timmy! Come out!” I cry. “One—two—”Before the count is finished, I notice a small movement. Something scurries under the blades of grass, making them swoosh and rustle. Then, it shoots straight into the house through the open door. Oh! A rat. The one Timmy has brought in with him. I hurry after the ugly thing, not so much because I want to catch it but rather because maybe the child may come—as he’s done before—to its rescue. “Help me, Timmy!” I yell. “Your mouse, it’s getting away!”The little rat leads me in zigzags across the living room, his long tail snaking around the floor, flicking every which way at the furniture—only to sneak, in the end, into the hole in the wall. Panting, I curse myself. Why haven’t I found the time to fix it?Meanwhile, the child is nowhere to be seen, but next to the broken wall I notice something else, something quite remarkable: a fresh footprint, one that doesn’t belong to Timmy or to me, has just been pressed onto the recently cleaned floor. Taking a closer look, I think I recognize that sole. Yes. It’s a Nike. Panic stabs me in the stomach, which makes me double over. As my eyes close, sounds become sharper. I ask myself, what in the world is that? Is it my imagination, or am I actually hearing a voice? Barely audible, there it is, seeping in from above. I crane my neck into the hole, then swing my legs into it. On the other side, I clasp the rail of the spiral staircase, trying not to make it clang as I climb onto the first step. Now, I perk my ears. In the murky space swirling around me, there it is: an eerie echo, reverberating. Someone is upstairs right now. His voice is low, but from time to time it screeches up to a high pitch, which is horribly familiar. What frightens me most of all is this: the punk is not even bothering to hide his presence. Clearly, he is prepared to see me. More than that, he is eager. I clutch my cellphone, finger at the ready on the panic button. Shall I press the button now? I hover over it, telling myself to bide my time, wait for a critical moment. How will I recognize it? What is critical, exactly, and what isn’t?I climb stealthily halfway up the staircase, which allows me to hear the punk a lot clearer. Who is he talking to?

Overkill

(Volume II of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)

Audiobook US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DE ★ iTunes

Paperback ★ Hardcover

The last thing Ash expects when she lands in Clearwater, Florida is to be stalked by a troubled teenager. If that's not bad enough, she is caught in a shooting spree next to the nearby elementary school. The cops think it’s an attempt at mass killing, but Ash wonders if the only victim was specifically targeted by the killer. Will she manage to identify him and have him arrested before he comes after her?

A Captivating Thriller

  

LISTENERLilly OverdueAsh Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance, Book 4By: Uvi PoznanskyNarrated by: Heather Jane Hogan A Captivating Thriller Overall      5 out of 5 starsPerformance      5 out of 5 starsStory      5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-16-21

This is an engaging narrative of the fourth book in the Ash Suspense Thrillers series, “Overdue,” by Uvi Poznansky. I had already read the e-book and found it so gripping that I wanted to listen to the audiobook. The narrator, Heather Jane Hogan, really brought this chilling story to life. The story takes place during the pandemic before vaccines had been developed. Ash often self-quarantines in order to protect her loved ones from COVID-19, which has been expertly woven into this gripping tale. Intrigue begins in the first chapter as Ash wonders if Vlad, a Russian mobster she shot, is dead or just pretending to be dying. She fears the latter. Because of the pandemic, Ash hasn’t been able to find a job and is living out of car. Her computer whiz boyfriend, Michael, wants her to move in with him, but she wants to maintain her independence. 

When Michael’s Tesla is set on fire, he tells her it’s a warning. He saw something that the Russian mob boss wanted kept a secret. Michael uses a virtual reality tour to show Ash where he’s been snooping. Shortly after that, Michael is shot and tells Ash “there’s more.” 

While Michael is hospitalized, Ash is kidnapped. Just when she thought a rescue was imminent, she finds herself in Vlad’s clutches. The mob boss commits horrendous killings without any remorse as Ash watches. Can she avoid his wrath if she refuses to become part of his criminal team? 

“Overdue” is a captivating crime thriller with an intriguing health insurance fraud scheme, identity theft, and so much more. The numerous plot twists, subplots, and descriptions kept me listening to this intriguing story from the first chapter to the very last. I especially liked the voices the narrator used for the various characters, especially her Russian accent. Again, I found myself cringing with each encounter Ash had with the ruthless Vlad. Highly recommended. 

I received a free redeem code for this book and this is my honest review. 

LOVED, Loved, loved this story!

 Patrice Wilton was born in Vancouver, Canada, and knew from the age of twelve that she wanted to be a writer. She became a flight attendant for 17 years, then moved to Australia and England, before settling in Ormond Beach, Florida. She is a NY Times & USA Today best selling author and has written around forty books, mostly romance series. I am thrilled to find her review for my thriller, Overdose:

Patrice Wilton5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED, Loved, loved this story!

Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2021

Verified PurchaseLove, love, love this story--the brilliant writing, the imaginative plot, the way it captures the reader on page one and holds it throughout the book. Poor Ash-- after brain surgery she has visions that she can't escape, a deep-down fear and a knowledge that something is seriously wrong. She learns that the doctor was not the revered surgeon he was supposed to be. Danger, thrills and unexpected twists makes this an exciting, heart racing read.
This was my first read by Uvi Poznansky and now I want to gobble up the other books in the series.

This was the last place I expected to hear a mention of her name

 This was the last place I expected to hear a mention of her name, not only because I knew none of the soldiers fighting by my side and not only because there was no time to speak—but also because she belonged elsewhere. In my mind, Natasha existed in another realm: a realm of peace, where I could immerse myself in thoughts, recalling our last moments together, recalling love.

Such a realm was far out of reach, because a fierce battle was raging all around me. With the shrill, howling noise of incoming rockets, which we nicknamed Moaning Minnies, this was not the time to think, let alone immerse myself in any kind of mental activity. I had landed with one of our infantry regiments, but in the chaos that ensued got separated, somehow, from it, and had no choice but to join another team of soldiers. They wore British uniforms—except one who, to my surprise, wore a kilt. He was armed with nothing more than his bagpipes and played a Scottish marching song, even as his comrades fell around him. For some reason, the German snipers seemed to spare him. They must have thought he had gone mad, and so did I.Behind us, the coast was crowded with destroyers, landing craft, and battleships, their guns blasting the shoreline. At the same time, there was an ear-splitting crackle of firing, coming from enemy tanks here and snipers there. The sound was heavily punctuated with the boom of shells raining down upon us, all of which made me utterly confused. Scared, too.There was no reason why one man lost his life and not another. It seemed to be nothing but a game of chance. Was it my time to go? I tried to act indifferent, even as I drew a startled breath. If it was about to become my last one, then... Then, oh well, so be it. After a while my mind became numb. It seemed as if it had always been that way, as if moving forward—for as long as I would be lucky enough to survive—that was how my mind would remain.Looking across the river Orne I saw the Germans retreating. Even so, there was no time to get a sense of relief, because every now and again they turned around and came back to counter-attack.The bagpipe music had long faded away. At the sound of an explosion, eight of the British soldiers just ahead of me went down as fast as pins in a bowling alley. Another soldier came forward from behind, and both of us went on our hands and knees, crawling through the tall grass to help the wounded. “The only thing we can do for them,” he said, in his British accent, “is this: stick their rifles in the ground and hang their tin hats on top.”“Why?”“To mark their position for the medics.”Once that was done, I advanced over a mound of earth, heading in a roundabout way towards the river bank. He caught my arm, held me back, and said, “Dig in!”And I said, “What?”“You don’t want to die, do you?” he asked, over the firing sounds of mortar bombs. “Can’t you see, plain as can be, that to be above ground isn’t such a bright idea?” 

Marriage before Death

Audiobook US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DE ★ iTunes

Paperback ★ Hardcover ★ Barnes&Noble

"I have always adored Ms. Poznansky's evocative writing, but this time she whisked me into the era of WWII French Resistance Fighters in 1944. And what an adventure it was! I trembled in my virtual boots beside Lenny when he was captured by Nazi soldiers, “this close” to being executed." ~Aaron P. Lazar, Audible listener

A Thrilling Ride Through Pandemic-ridden LA

 LISTENER

Aaron P. Lazar

OverdueAsh Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance, Book 4By: Uvi PoznanskyNarrated by: Heather Jane Hogan
 A Thrilling Ride Through Pandemic-ridden LA Overall      5 out of 5 starsPerformance      5 out of 5 starsStory      5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-30-21

Overdue, by Uvi Poznansky, is a thrilling ride through pandemic-ridden Los Angeles with a fiery heroine, the nastiest of villains, and plenty of heart-pounding action. 

I have read, listened to, and loved all of Poznansky’s books. Opposed to the norm where most series follow-ons aren’t nearly as amazing as the first book, these books get better with each new release. In addition to the danger facing the main character, Ash, and her race to survive, we also experience more of the exciting virtual reality aspects from the founding book, Virtually Lace, in a particularly creepy fashion! 

A new, powerful character is featured in this edition who readers will simultaneously hate and with whom they’ll empathize. A bone thin actress with a habit plays a pivotal role. Ms. Voola is involved with the Russian thugs who are after Ash. Tightly woven into the mobsters’ schemes to take advantage of a world plagued by the virus, the chameleon-like woman is nearly the undoing of our hero. 

As usual, this novel is beautifully written by a very talented author. And even though this is an action thriller, Poznansky finds ways to paint gorgeous described scenes without slowing down the action. 

The narrator, Heather Jane Hogan, is outstanding. Her ability to vary her voice to match the character, as well as her wonderful Russian accent, are superb! Listening to Ms. Hogan is a delightful experience. 

Here’s hoping the next book in the series is underway! 

- Highly recommended by Aaron Lazar, USA Today Bestselling Author.

Emotional Family Portrait

 Love this review, the reader got the essence of Apart from Love.

Eve Gaal4.0 out of 5 stars Emotional Family Portrait

Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2021

Verified PurchaseWith poetic tone and descriptions, this author delves into the heart of Lenny, Anita and Ben, portraying their perspectives about an elephant in the room, which happens to be dementia, caused by Alzheimer’s. Each character--in their own unique voice--describes why this isn’t your typical love story--thus the title—Apart from Love. Romance shouldn’t just be graphic portraits of physical lust—as in the, “sharp thrill of danger.” No—romance should be the how, the why, the sounds that transpire, the music, the memories and so much more. There is so much emotion here, so much color, tenderness and pain, all painted through a collection of voices; one family’s kaleidoscope of tears, transcribed from a tape-recorder, becoming a book to be shared, a lesson learned, a gift of love. Truly, a wonderful story reminding us of our own evanescence.

Along with a pungent scent of seaweed and decay, it brought back the memory of the body

If you can not see this chirbit, listen to it here https://chirb.it/hLPpqr

 

Common wisdom suggests that the killer always comes back to the murder scene, because of an urge to relive the thrill—morbid as it might be—of taking a life. Michael felt a similar urge, but he told himself it was for purely analytical reasons, so he might study every detail and plug it into his computer simulation, in search for clues.

His cellphone and the attached miniature omnidirectional camera had sunk in the waves at the murder scene. At this point, he assumed they were lost to him. But he was determined to recover something else left behind: his shoes. His good pair of shoes, to be exact. How could he have forgotten all about them, until now? Last night he had tossed them away, so as to move barefoot over the pebbles and into the shallow water, where the body lay atop the rocks. 

Because of the shock, he had only a vague memory of his way up the trail back to his car. Now, the last thing he needed was for those shoes to fall into the cops’ hands, to be examined for traces of his DNA. 

He could just imagine them—the shoes, not the cops—wrapped in two little plastic bags, one marked ‘exhibit F’ and the other ‘exhibit G.’ Finding them in time was a pressing task. It was time to go back to Laguna Beach.

By noontime, the veil of morning fog lay in shreds. Out of it emerged gray cliffs. The ocean sprawled at their feet in endless recoil. One breaker after another turned upon itself and, reduced to shallow silence, rolled its froth backwards from the shore. A flock of gulls camped on top of the rock formation. They seemed to be contemplating the scene with a patient indifference.

Michael took out the seashell he had bought from the little girl last night and lifted it to his ear. What was that sound, inside? A hiss? No, it was the faint wheeze of the surge. It emanated from the inner passage of the shell, and along with a pungent scent of seaweed and decay, brought back the memory of the body. There she was, her beautiful head crowned with algae, her delicate throat cut, oozing blood.

Virtually Lace

(Volume I of High-Tech Crime Solvers)

Audiobok US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DE ★ iTunes

Paperback ★ Hardcover

Haunted by discovering the body of a beautiful dancer, Michael re-constructs her murder in a virtual reality. Can he bring the mystery to life? Can he solve it in time, before the killer turns on the woman he loves, Ash?

"This is certainly a compelling storyline that uses virtual reality to help solve a crime. I think this should become a movie for TV. It has just the right touch of romance and mystery!"Joyce K. Retherford, Audible Listener

Lost life

LISTENERPattwee The Music of UsStill Life with Memories, Book 3By: Uvi PoznanskyNarrated by: Don Warrick Lost life Overall      5 out of 5 starsPerformance      5 out of 5 starsStory      5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 31-07-21

Engaging story - Lenny reflects back on his life and times with Natasha. Looking forward to the next book.
Excellent narration

Natasha would be horrified to learn that my temple had been grazed, earlier that day, by a bullet

This, here, was no man’s land. I spotted haystacks at the edge of a distant field and pictured myself lying there in the hay with my sweetheart, weaving flowers in her wavy, red hair. I watched the sky darkening and imagined her in my arms. If this were a time of peace, we would gaze together at the stars, rising ever so slowly over both of us. Above me, birds were chirping as they flew over mud, blood and the stench of dead bodies. I was puzzled at the craziness in this place, where beauty coexisted, strangely enough, with horrific ugliness. For a moment, I recalled the stories my dad had told me about trench warfare, dating back to his service in the First World War. Unprotected from rain, snow, and cold, many of the trenches had been continually flooded, exposing the troops to frostbites. With swollen feet, he had waded through water, surrounded by a multitude of frogs and faced with the nightmarish sight of red slugs and beetles with weird horns, all wriggling along the ledges. And then, the rats... Large and utterly fearless, they had invaded the foxholes. Feeding upon the dead had made them contemptuous of the living. I stretched out as best I could at the bottom of my trench and relaxed into feeling lucky. Of course, Natasha would be horrified to learn that my temple had been grazed, earlier that day, by a bullet—but unlike what my father had gone through, my discomfort was not amplified by the ravages of winter.The mound just ahead of me was in bloom. It was springtime. For that, and for the rustle of her letter in my breast pocket, which brought her closer to me, I felt grateful.

★ Love suspense? Treat yourself to a thrill ★

Marriage before Death

Audiobook US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DE ★ iTunes

Paperback ★ Hardcover ★ Barnes&Noble

"Uvi Poznansky raises the stakes in a high stakes story, filled with uncertainty, drama and suspense... This book is a nail biter and one I found hard to put down. For me, this is Uvi Poznansky's best novel to date."  - Richard Weatherly, Author