Samyann's Blog, page 21

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben – Audio

Written by Harlan Coben, Fool Me Once is approximately ten hours of listening, narrated by January LaVoy.

Maya, the lead main character, is a PTSD stricken ex-soldier gifted a nanny cam by her bestie girlfriend. On the cam feed she views her husband playing with her daughter. The problem? The husband was dead when the recording was made. Maya was with him in a park when he was murdered by a couple of thugs. Thus is the thrust and the hunt moves forward.

Why I liked? Who-done-it tales are fun, so I usually pop for them. Harlan Coben has authored some of the best. More than a simple murder mystery, Fool Me Once is actually a story of revenge, which ultimately results in an interesting tale.

Not so hot? The behavior of the lead character is, at times, over-the-top and some unbelievable scenarios mess with credibility. Personally, I was suspicious of the main character right away. Maya didn’t seem to have much remorse having witnessed the brutal murder of her husband. Why not was a frequent question that pointed to the fact that she was guilty of something … so ….maybe how and why is the mystery?

The author does a good job getting you into the hunt throughout the story. Overall, a worthy read recommended.

Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall

A character driven novel, Whistling Past the Graveyard is written by Susan Crandall, narrated by Amy Ruminate, 11.5 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format. Released in 2013 by Dreamscape Media.

A coming of age tale based in 1963 rural Mississippi. The violence of racism is a main plot point; blacks and whites fear and hate each other. This is an era of segregation – in schools, grocery stores, water fountains, etc. A time of lynchings, KKK fears, burning of black churches. In this vitriolic setting is Starla, a 9 year old white girl who runs away from an unhappy life with her grandmother. Starla is picked up, rescued, on a country road by Eula, a black woman with a white baby.

Get used to Starla being stubborn, selfish, disobedient, and thoughtless. Starla is child with a personality that makes her an unlikeable protagonist. The author clearly intends for her to be a sympathetic character, but has created a self-absorbed, obnoxious brat instead. Confronted with situations that provide opportunity, Starla always picks the wrong road – trouble finds her. Starla’s redeeming factor is an obsessive need to reach her mother in Nashville, naively believing that the woman who abandoned her as an infant will reunite with her father and they’ll all live happily-ever-after.

The author shines in conveying the cultural flavor of the time, both with regard to racism and local colloquy. The book is riddled with sage wisdom. A bit preachy at times with ‘Thank-you baby Jesus.’ sprinkled about a few too many times for my taste. In my opinion, the behavior of the lead character is over-the-top and unrealistic. But that’s just me, you may find it peachy.

Narration is excellent. Timing, accents, inflections, etc., perfect. A sign of a good author is one that can evoke emotion from the reader. Well, Susan Crandall succeeded with this reader. I couldn’t stand the lead character. Ergo, it’s a good book. Convoluted, huh. But, there it is.

Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni – Audiobook

Book 2 in the Tracy Crosswhite Series written by Robert Dugoni, narrated by Emily Sutton-Smith, 11.5 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format. Her Final Breath was released in September 2015 by Brilliance Audio.

Tracy Crosswhite, the main protagonist, is a Seattle homicide cop. Having successfully solved the 20-year-old murder of her sister in Book 1 of the series, Tracy is back on the job in Seattle. Insignificant references are made to the Book 1 story, ergo Her Final Breath stands alone. A police procedural. Several women, pole dancer/prostitutes, have been killed by self asphyxiation due to being hog-tied – a noose around their neck causes slow strangulation as their strength weakens. Grisly way to go.

Good cops, bad cops, a myriad of suspects traverse the pages as the author works toward solving the crimes. You’ll be convinced, many times, that you have figured out the story and nailed the psychopath – then Dugoni throws you a curve. Good plot twists!

Narration is fine, male and female voices alike. You’ll have no trouble discerning who is saying what to who.

No gratuitous sex, no bad language. Not great literature, not intended to be – just a good story worth the investment.

The Black Widow by Daniel Silva – Audiobook

The Black Widow was written by Daniel Silva, narrated by George Guidall, and is about fourteen hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format. Book 16 in the Gabriel Allon Series, released in 2016 by Harper Audio.

Gabriel Allon, the man responsible for taking down the killers of Isreali athletes during the 1980 Munich Olympics, is pulled from his life as a fine arts restoration expert and tasked with finding the terrorists responsible for violent and deadly explosions in Paris, France. ISIS is responsible – a story from today’s headlines. Gabriel’s plan involves the recruitment and training of a woman to infiltrate ISIS. America is the next target.

The Black Widow is an espionage novel that stands alone, i.e., it is not necessary to read the entire series to enjoy this story. There is no gratuitous sex, no objectionable language – a clean read.

Narration by George Guidall is awesome. If you have never listened to Guidall’s audio productions, do yourself a favor and you will not be disappointed. He is excellent, one of the best at his craft. The Black Widow, although predictable at times, is a page-turning thriller with many near-death close calls for several characters. Not difficult to follow.

A recommended read (listen). Enjoy!

My Sister’s Grave by Robert Dugoni – Audiobook

A Seattle police officer, Tracy Crosswhite, returns to her childhood home when learning that her sister’s remains have been found, 20 years after a man was convicted for the murder. Beyond the sorrowful task of claiming the remains is dealing with old memories and her unwavering belief that there is something wrong with the entire case against the murderer – Tracy believes he just might be innocent. With the aid of a childhood friend who is now an attorney, plus her own police investigative skills, the sleuthing moves forward.

Why I liked. A terrific mystery with loads of suspense and plot twists. Very intriguing story, a page-turner. No gratuitous sex (Well, a little – but it is fade-to-black), no bad language, just a great, absorbing story. You know ‘who-done-it’, but there is a bunch you don’t know. Excellently narrated by Emily Sutton-Smith, you’ll have no trouble discerning who-says-what-to-who, lots a unique voices, male included.

Why I didn’t like. The methodology used in creating story chronology. The story jumps back and forth to Tracy’s childhood with her sister and then back to modern day a lot, like at least once or twice per chapter. It’s a bit rattling until you get into the rhythm of his writing. Once you get into the swing of the story, it’s a bit easier to take.

Point of view switches are unconventional in My Sister’s Grave, based on today’s publishing agent dictums. There are those that insist a writer picks a POV and sticks with it. That said, story trumps all … including POV. Based on this listen I can assume agents have no idea what the hell they’re talking about.

The Promise by Robert Crais – Audiobook

Having enjoyed listening to Suspect, Book 1 in the Scott James series, I purchased Book 2, The Promise. Written by Robert Crais, narrated by Luke Daniels and MacLeod Andrews, and just over 9 hours of listening. Released in 2015.

Crais is a very prolific author and it seems this book is also a sequel to other series he has penned – The Joe Pike Series (The Promise is Book 5) and The Elvis Cole/Joe Pike Series (The Promise is Book 16). Not sure I like this marketing ploy, a bit confusing – but, there it is. Personally, I like to become involved in a series at the beginning – this is my good fortune with the Scott James Series, but not the other two series. Crais has brought all the characters from the other books together in The Promise. If this bothers you, you’ll need to go back to the beginnings of those other series to catch up with character development.

Since the Scott James series features Scott and his dog, Maggie, as lead characters, I was disappointed that it took a few chapters for them to show up. The Promise is more a sequel to the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike Series and Scott and Maggie are co-stars. Ultimately, we have a good story. Elvis and Joe, private investigators, are looking for a woman who has disappeared. She is a brilliant scientist with an explosives manufacturer. Scott and Maggie are called in because of Maggie’s military background and her training to sniff out explosives. Thus is the thrust.

Technically, The Promise is a sequel to Suspect – but, don’t expect it to be a Scott and Maggie centric book like Suspect. The Promise is a good story, however … so, recommended reading. Lots of action and suspense – but ALL of Robert Crais’ characters play major roles.

Narration is fine, a good audio production.

Suspect by Robert Crais – Audiobook

Written by Robert Crais, narrated by MacLeod Andrews, 8.5 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format. Suspect is book one in a new series, listed on Audible as Series: Scott James.

There are basically two leads in this story, a man and a dog. Scott James is an LAPD homicide cop, plagued with PTSD, reliving a shoot-out that resulted in the death of his partner, Stephanie. After recovering from his own near-death injuries, Scott is teamed with a new partner, Maggie. Maggie is a black-and-tan German Shepherd Dog, a former United States Marine. Maggie lost her partner in a bombing that left her injured emotionally and physically – doggy PTSD with bad dreams and all. The two are made for each other!

This introduction to the series centers on Scott’s obsession with getting to the bottom of his old partner’s murder. Maggie’s rehabilitation and further training also traverses the pages – she’s spooked by gunfire or loud noises.

Robert Crais’ interpretations of the dog, Maggie, might put you in mind of Dean Koontz. Koontz has written stories involving a golden retriever that I’ve enjoyed – one novel is called Watchers.  FYI, Watchers is on the paranormal side, but hey – it’s Dean Koontz, ergo SciFi – but good.

MacLeod Andrews does a great job, an enjoyable narration.

Suspect is a solid police procedural, a terrific page-turning thrill ride, and a story of canine devotion any dog lover will enjoy. Recommended!

The Bullet by Mary Kelly – Audiobook

Written by Mary Louise Kelly and narrated by Cassandra Campbell. The Bullet is close to twelve hours of listening in unabridged format released by Blackstone Audio in 2015.

The blurb gives you an accurate idea of basics. A woman, having what is initially diagnosed as carpel tunnel syndrome, has an additional test – an MRI. This reveals a bullet lodged in her neck near the spinal column. Caroline, the protagonist, has never been shot and has absolutely no idea how the finding can be right. No spoilers here, but we soon learn that her birth parents were murdered, she was injured at the age of three, and subsequently adopted. Naturally, she investigates.

What I liked? The mystery, of course. This is an incredible idea for a story and very creative on the part of Mary Louise Kelly. A bit predictable but there is plenty of suspense. No language issues, no graphic violence.

What I didn’t like? I have a bit of trouble with Caroline’s overwhelming angst about having been adopted, a bit over-the-top for a woman pushing 40 and would be easier to swallow if she were a tweenager. More grating since Caroline was adopted by a very loving couple who adore her and equally loving older brothers. Before the end of the book Caroline has a 180 degree personality change, is seemingly okay with chucking her life for vengeance … unrealistic. A second ‘meh’ is the romance element. “My eyelids fluttered open.” is followed with this reader’s eyes rolling around. Seems to have been added just ‘because’ rather than a romance integral to the plot … it serves no purpose.

Narration is okay, although the reader sounds a little youngish when voicing the lead character. Since The Bullet is written in first person, this is most of the time. Campbell does an excellent job with the southern belle, seniors, and male voices, however. Pacing, tempo nicely done, solid production. You’ll have no trouble discerning who-says-what-to-who. But … the lead is near 40 years old and usually has the voice, temperament, and behavior of a much younger person, a damsel-in-distress-young-girl rather than a woman. Cassandra Campbell does a terrific job with the French language and characters interspersed (The lead character is a professor in the French department of a college.)

Overall, The Bullet is recommended reading for the mere fact of the unusual premise. Not great literature, but an enjoyable listen.

Childhood’s End by Arthur C Clark – Audio

Childhood’s End is a classic SciFi written by Arthur C. Clarke way back in 1953, around fifteen years before he penned 2001 – A Space Odyssey. This unabridged audiobook version is narrated by Eric Michael Summerer and Robert J. Sawyer, close to eight hours of listening, and published by Audible Studios in 2008.

Imagine a world with no internet, no cell phones … cars aren’t even air-conditioned! In 1953, when Childhood’s End is created, WWII ended less than ten years ago. Eisenhower is the President, and the Cold War is well underway. We’ve re-tooled to manufacture lipstick again rather than bullet casings – a prosperous time is underway. Most homes do not yet have a television set and news is via the daily paper or radio broadcasts.

In this 1950s world, Arthur C. Clark has positioned giant space ships over each major city across the world. Wait …. isn’t how the movie starts? Independence Day? Well … yeah, it is! That’s where the similarity ends, however. Childhood’s End ”Overlords”, the aliens, are not quite as bent on destroying man, they seem almost altruistic. For the next 100 years the aliens provide mankind with ‘peace on earth’ and poverty is eliminated. Utopia. The aliens, ‘overlords’, don’t have an agenda … or do they?

No spoiler, but … not an uplifting story.

Arthur C. Clark is a terrific SciFi author, so if you enjoy the genre you will likely enjoy this story. If you don’t .. skip it.

Harold Middleton Series by International Thriller Writers – Audio

The Chopin Manuscript – multiple authors. Released in 2007, 7.5 hours of listening. Harry Middleton and the “Volunteers” are introduced in a mystery involving a newly discovered Chopin manuscript. The ‘Volunteers’ is a small group of clandestine good-guys that goes after bad-guys with the aid of alphabet soup named organizations across the world.

The Copper Bracelet – multiple authors. Released in 2009, 8.5 hours in length. A story that starts with a bang: an exploding cell phone and laptop at a beach sting involving Harry Middleton and his cohorts. Subsequent chapters morph into a twisted, confusing, and globe trotting mess that ends with an assassination attempt.

The Starling Project is written by Jeffery Deaver alone and released in 2014. A shorter story just over four hours long, but told in the manner of an old fashioned radio mystery. Lots of sound effects like footsteps, car doors slamming.

The first two books in the series, The Chopin Manuscript and The Copper Bracelet, are collaborative efforts involving multiple writers – each author responsible for one chapter. A single narrator, Alfred Molina, does a credible job – no trouble with male/female voices, good diction, sound effects a little over the top, but decent productions. The books begin with a foundation by Jeffery Deaver and the final chapters are his efforts to bring all the disparaging clues to a close. This wasn’t the plan, I’m sure, but it’s what appears to have resulted.

The books lack the cohesiveness of an overall vision because there are so many cooks in the kitchen stirring the plot with their own vision. The efforts were likely fun (or frustrating?) for the authors, but resulted in books that were difficult reads. Lots of rewinding and muttering of “What the…?”. The best parts of these stories are the chapters written by those you would expect. Jeffery Deaver, Joseph Finder, and Lee Child. In my opinion, the rest tried too hard to ‘make a splash’ and ultimately damaged the overall effort. My cliched opinion: Everybody was not using the same playbook – shoot me.

The last book in the series, The Starling Project, is completely different from a production standpoint. The book is the performances of a myriad of narrators/actors, special sound effects of bombs, gunshots, creaking doors, and heart-thumping music fill – basically an elaborate radio drama. Smooching/moaning during a few sex episodes distracted from plot. These scenes are presented in a ‘fade-to-black’ manner, but are eye-rolling and ridiculous. Although the plot is interesting, Jeffery Deaver uses Harry Middleton conversations to wrap up much of the story – pulling loose ends together in the last few minutes of listening. This book is more about production than story.

The Harold Middleton Series was created in audiobook format only. The series has decent reviews and is certainly an extraordinarily unusual effort. Suppose I’m alone in a ‘meh’ opinion – but, there it is.