Samyann's Blog, page 41

Sick: A Project Eden Thriller by Brett Battles – Audiobook Review

Read by MacLeod Andrews, Sick is just under ten hours of listening. The story starts out with a thrilling scene at a military base; a man and his family are violently separated by scary hazmat-wearing men and hustled to an unknown fate. Mom is dead. The bad guys are creating a pathogen to reduce world population by 99%, and members of this family have a natural immunity. The story arc is a quest for the main character to find his children. The book is exciting, you’ll have no trouble ‘turning-the-page’. In my opinion, it slows down a bit hear the end, and it’s never clearly stated how world-disaster is averted. It seems that there are many, many people involved in a global conspiracy to end civilization as we know it, but at the end of the story only one mad scientist and a couple of cooperative guards are featured. A few loose ends that might be addressed in sequels.

The reader was fine, no problem identifying who-says-what-to-who. He does a decent job with the voices of children and women.

Worth a credit. Enjoy!

 

Forsaken: Book One of a Series by J.D.Barker – Audiobook Review

Ten hours of listening read by Christina Delaine. Forsaken is the story of an author, Thad. He finally creates a novel that is destined to make him a literary star. The problem? He, his wife, and his daughter, are thrown into the bizarre circumstances of his latest characters becoming real, coming to life. Add to the problem, he has created a horror story … in addition to an old lady with fangs (who is also a beautiful witch that seduces Thad) creepy little gnomes are part of the package. Hello Stephen King, Dean Koontz, etc., this story is in the same hide-behind-the-sofa genre/vein.

Biggest problem for me is the narrator. She’s good, and she is really into the story/characters/genre. But she is also horribly over-the-top with sincere attempts to be ‘scary’ … whispering many passages; emoting way too much. Sections that the author did not intend to be scary are whispered and breathy … ergo, a strange production. Personally, I found this a bit distracting. The narrating isn’t what is supposed to be ‘chilling’ … rather the writing itself.

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Obsession In Death Book 40 by J.D.Robb – Audiobook Review

Brilliantly read by Susan Erickson, this story is number 40 in the In Death series. I’ve read them all, and I marvel at the creativity of Nora Roberts somehow being able wrap another crime story around Eve and her merry crowd of cohorts. They are all in this book …  Peabody, McNabb, Feeney, Mira, Nadeen, etc.; nobody has been shelved for Obsession In Death. Why? Because any one of them might become a victim in this new thriller!!

Enjoy!

 

Unsinkable:Titanic Book 1 by Gordon Korman – Audiobook Review

There are many stories, myths, fictions, non-fictions, etc., written about the Titanic. This is fiction, young adult, approximately three hours in length. It’s well written, a captivating story. This is a nice selection to inspire a young person in addition to interesting fodder for any reader, the story, to this point, is certainly more plausible than the James Cameron movie. Facts are intermingled with a fictional story, which is character driven, and doesn’t progress through the actual sinking … which we can assume occurs in subsequent books in the series.

Well worth the Audible Daily Deal, not sure about a full credit, though.

 

Trivia – What does FDR have in common with Al Capone?

His car!

After the sneak attack at Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt searched for a bulletproof car. However, because government regulation prohibited spending more than $750 to buy a car, the only one they could find was Al Capone’s limo, which had been seized by the Treasury Department after he was arrested for tax evasion. FDR said, “I hope Mr. Capone won’t mind.”

Festive In Death Book 39 by J. D. Robb – Audiobook Review

Another review for the In Death series! Woot-woot-woot! Yikes, what else is there to say about this series? I’ve read, rather listened to, the entire series. If you’re a fan, you already know the characters … and, they are wonderful. But, I’m ready to gripe a little. First, in my humble opinion, Eve Dallas is “over-the-top”, a lot. There. I said it. Go ahead, shoot me. I realize this is all part of her character, but she’s a bit much sometimes. She is a brilliant and relentless investigator, but she is also unbelievably snarky and obnoxious with regard to pretty much everything. Even her handsome husband and friends fall victim. I mean, come on, who in their right mind would bitch about the house Roarke has created, the beautiful clothes he buys for her, jewelry. Gimme a break. She needs to chill a bit and enjoy her world a bit more.

Nuff griping about Eve.

The audiobook is read by Susan Erickson, and her portrayal of the In Death characters is superb, as usual. You are really doing yourself a disservice if you don’t listen to these stories rather that just read them. Ericsson and Nora Roberts have created an amazing group of wonderful characters that the audiobooks simply bring to life.

Festive In Death, in a similar vein to a previous In Death mystery, takes place during Christmas. Murder and mayhem. If you’re a fan of the In Death series, you’ll enjoy the story.

Delayed Diagnosis by Gwen Hunter – Audiobook Review

Read by Carol Hendrickson, Delayed Diagnosis is just over ten hours of listening. This is Book 1 in the Rhea Lynch, MD series of mysteries. Rhea Lynch returns from a vacation to chaos. Her best friend is near catatonic, cannot speak, diagnosed with having had a stroke. More people show up in the ER with similar symptoms. But … it is not a stroke, rather a devious, diabolic attempt to silence individuals who know the truth. Evil beyond description. Who done it? Rhea Lynch digs. Take a ride with Delayed Diagnosis and find out!

Nice introduction to a character, however, if I were to have my druthers, the author would taper back with the educational medical verbiage. Speaking metaphorically, I wasn’t too interested in how the watch was built, only that it was ticking. Robin Cook, author of medical thrillers such as Coma and Outbreak, would like this story, right up his alley. Narration is great, no trouble discerning who-says-what-to-who … no trouble sticking with this story, a page turner. Enjoy!

 

Concealed in Death Book 38 by J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts) – Audiobook Review

Read by Susan Erickson and just over fourteen hours of listening. These books simply never change and there are thousands of reviews. Nothing to say … maybe other than you do yourself a disservice by not listening to the audio productions. Susan Erickson does magic with these characters … they come alive with their unique voices and personalities jump through her narration. Just great. Don’t read ‘em … listen to ‘em.

 

Deception Point by Dan Brown – Audiobook Review

Narrated by Richard Poe, Deception Point is approximately seventeen hours of listening. Although not specifically stated, the catalyst for this book is likely the discovery of a meteorite in Antartica that was thought to contain evidence of life on Mars. The event involved an announcement by then President Bill Clinton, NASA dignitaries at his side, given approximately two or three years prior to publication of this book. Deception Point is too similar, and it would be too much of a coincidence, for that announcement not to have been the seed planted in Dan Brown’s brain which grew into this story.

Deception Point begins with the exact scenario, except this meteorite is huge, buried in ice, evidence of creepy-crawlers from outer space within. A presidential election is forthcoming, the incumbent’s rival an anti-NASA expense advocate. Politics, skullduggery, scheming, sex scandals, murder, all manner of fun abounds with a delightful mix of fact and fiction, typical of Dan Brown. Is the meteorite real? Do we finally have proof that ‘we are not alone.’? Or … is this whole thing a scam to keep NASA alive and funded? Read on and enjoy!