Audio Book Review: Gossip and Gorgons, Book 3 of Manners and Monsters Collection by Tilly Wallace

I totally enjoy these characters and the mysteries they unravel. #Fraterfest #7
Gossip and Gorgons, Book 3 of Manners and Monsters Collection: A Regency paranormal mystery series
by Tilly Wallace
Narrated By: Marian Hussey

Book 3 Listening length: 7 hours, 38 minutes
Total Collection Duration: 23 hours 46 minutes
Series: Manners and Monsters, Book 1-3
Release date: 03-03-21
Publisher: Tilly Wallace
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.

One look could turn you to stone...
The newly married Lord and Lady Wycliff are cordially invited to a house party--to be mocked and ridiculed as entertainment. Wycliff insists on attending to discuss business with the host, while Hannah longs to hide in the library with its rare volumes on the Fae.
Bound to Wycliff even beyond death, Hannah wonders how she will survive the week--when a guest unexpectedly expires. A notorious cad is discovered turned into a statue in the garden. The dead lord had many enemies, including Lord Wycliff.
Hannah's accord with her husband is tested when a trail of footprints leads to their window. What secret is Wycliff hiding and does he know more about the magical death than he admits? Someone among the house guests has murder on their mind and the newlyweds need to determine who, before anyone else is immortalised as stone...

Review:
Hannah is now married to the dark and dangerous Lord Wycliff. Both of them are on the fringe of society but Hannah agrees to accompany her husband to a week-long country party because Wycliff is trying to get the host (or father of the hostess to be precise) to invest in his land improvements.

Along the way to the event, Hannah is mocked by three unpleasant young men who are driven off by Lord Wycliff. She isn’t too pleased to see the three cads arrive as guests at the event. The leader of the trio is found turned to a statute in the garden. As Wycliff begins to investigate the clearly magical death, Hannah does her own investigations with the help of her mother by magical distance contact. Hannah discovers some strange foot prints outside the bedroom where she and her new husband were placed. Now she has new secrets to ferret out about her own husband as well as the murder.

I really enjoy Hannah and Wycliff with their unique paranormal elements and their slowly growing awareness and affection for each other. There is good humor mixed with the mystery and I enjoy the magical elements. I am pulled into the story and remain engaged. I plan to get the next collection soon. I recommend this to fans of Regency romance filled with magic and mystery.

Audio Notes: Marian Hussey does a lovely job with the narration. The voices are distinct and the energy and pacing add to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 11/1/2020 Audiobooks.com Credit Purchase. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook and #Fraterfest goals.

MBS 2023 Fraterfest Readathon - #2023FraterfestRAT

 This is being hosted again by Caffeinated Reviewer.

The rules are fairly easy:
Between Midnight October 12th and ending at 11:59 pm October 16th; read or listen to thrillers, mysteries, paranormal, horror, supernatural, witchy, ghostly or serial killer novels and novellas.

This time frame seems shorter than previous years. I estimate I might get in 15 hours listening time and a little bit of ebook time.

8 books (5TBR and 3 current) completed for FRATERFEST 2018
10 TBR titles for FRATERFEST 2019
6 books (2TBR and 4 current) for FRATERFEST 2020
10 books (7TBR and 3 current year) for FRATERFEST 2021
7 books (6TBR and 1 current year) for FRATERFEST 2022

I am going to try to stick to TBR books except for one of the NetGalley titles. I am going to try to stick to TBR books except for one of the NetGalley titles.
I've listed some books I can choose from. Those highlighted are favored.

eBooks:

The Messiest Monster on Mill Street by Sarah Sparks (NG2023)
Ghosts of Chernobyl (Tales from the Spirit World Book 3) 17pgs 5/2011
The Tutor: A Ghost Story 27p 2/2019
The Experience Machine 39pgs 10/2019
The Bell by Steve Lockley 87pgs
Behold the Child by Harry Shannon 88
Freddy’s House 92pgs 10/2013
Come to the Cemetery 105pgs 1/2017
Caged View 108pgs 5/2012
Sixtus--A Suspense Thriller 108pgs 6/2012
Outage (Boxed Set) book 1 154pg 2/2016

Audios:

The Horror of the Heights by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 0h 44m (ATBR ABC)
Deep Dark Joe Ledger Book 1.3 by John Maberry 50m (ATBR)
Material Witness Joe Ledger Book 1.2 by John Maberry 1h 16m (ATBR)
The Roommate The Cormac Reilly Series, Book 0.7 by Dervla McTiernan 2h 23m (ATBR)
Second Skin, Audible Original Novella by Christian White 2h 28m (ATBR)
An Open Spook, A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery Book 4.5 by E.J. Copperman 2h 32m (A2023)
Carnival Row: Tangle in the Dark By: Stephanie K. Smith 3h 8m (ATBR)
Eli Carter and the Ghost Hackers Books 1-3 Series Boxed Set by Angela Pepper Book 2 (ATBR Chirp)
Limbus Inc., Three Guys walk Into A Bar by Jonathan Maberry 3h 20m (ATBR ABC)
The Original by Brandon Sanderson 3h 30m (ATBR ABC)
The Snow, #1 of Whiteout by Flint Maxwell 4h 13m (ATBR ABC)
The Cuckoo's Cry An Audible Original Novella 4h 43m (ATBR)
A Death at Eastwick by L.C. Warman 5h 4m (ATBR Chirp)
Last Ones Left Alive A Novel by Sarah Davis-Goff 5h 34m (ATBR Chirp)
Cut 1/2986, Book 1 by Annelie Wendeberg 6h 4m (ATBR Chirp)
The Ghost Hunter Next Door Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mysteries, Book 1 by Danielle Garrett 6h 22m (ATBR)
The Darkwater Bride: An Audible Original Drama by Marty Ross 6h 45m (ATBR)
Trick or Treat Murder #3 of Lucy Stone by Leslie Meier 7h 17m (ATBR ABC)

CODE: ATBR - Audible TBR

             ABC - Audiobooks.com
             Chirp - audio on Chirp
Strike through xxx - I read them between 10/11 to 10/16

Audible Book Review: The Werewolf's 15 Minutes by Jonathan Maberry

This is a perfect, quick, fit for October and #Fraterfest.
#FRATERFEST-2
The Werewolf's 15 Minutes
By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Ray Porter, Dina Pearlman

Series: Audible Original Stories
Length: 1 hr and 42 mins
Release date: 10-28-21
Publisher: Audible Originals
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Werewolf
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

About This Audible Original
Gary Bruce is a slacker of epic loserness. Can’t keep a job. His friends are as bad as he is. No girlfriend. No direction.
Gary Bruce is also a werewolf.
Desperate for any kind of success, Gary decides to out himself on YouTube. The moment this ordinary guy goes full-on fur, fangs, and claws, the world can’t get enough of him. He’s the biggest thing on social media, he’s on every talk show, book and movie deals fall in his lap, and for the first time in his life he gets invited to all the best parties.
But celebrity is a special kind of voracious monster. And when Gary’s star begins to lose its luster, he has to decide how far he’ll go to stay relevant in a world that discards has-beens in favor of the next big thing.
Fortunately, Gary has a plan....
The Werewolf’s 15 Minutes is a brand-new short story by New York Times best-seller and five-time Bram Stoker Award winner Jonathan Maberry, author of Bewilderness and V-Wars (Netflix).
©2021 Jonathan Maberry Productions, LLC (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
Gary and his friends are not particularly impressive young men. They struggle to keep a job, much less a girlfriend, or a sense of career direction. Gary has decided to take drastic steps to get attention, so he outs himself as a werewolf on YouTube. Gary gets his 15 minutes of fame but for the wrong reasons. The audience wants to know the secret to his excellent make-up. It takes another step to really be taken seriously and get an agent with all the star hype.

Of course, that only lasts for a limited time. As his star dims, Gary formulates a plan to renew the interest. But he might carry things a bit too far.

I enjoyed this quick story with an appropriately ironic twist that brings a chuckle at the end. There is a bit of lazy-side male banter that wasn’t my favorite but certainly fit the characters. I recommend this as a good, quick Halloween read.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter and Dina Pearlman share the narration on this. I like Porter’s straightforward narration with good pausing and emphasis. Dina also has fitting energy, and I enjoyed the shared segments. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the quick story.

10/27-30/2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: A Ghostly Undertaking by Tonya Kappes

This is a light, fun cozy mystery.
#FRATERFEST-1

A Ghostly Undertaking
Author Tonya Kappes
Narrator: Tiffany Morgan

Duration: 5 h 39 min
Release date: 12-24-19
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Ghost, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Summary
A funeral, a ghost, a murder . . . It's all in a day's work for Emma Lee Raines . . .
Bopped on the head from a falling plastic Santa, local undertaker Emma Lee Raines is told she's suffering from 'funeral trauma.' It's trauma all right, because the not-so-dearly departed keep talking to her. Take Ruthie Sue Payne-innkeeper, gossip queen, and arch-nemesis of Emma Lee's granny-she's adamant that she didn't just fall down those stairs. She was pushed.
Ruthie has no idea who wanted her pushing up daisies. All she knows is that she can't cross over until the matter is laid to eternal rest. In the land of the living, Emma Lee's high-school crush, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross, isn't ready to rule out foul play. Granny Raines, the widow of Ruthie's ex-husband and co-owner of the Sleepy Hollow Inn, is the prime suspect. Now Emma Lee is stuck playing detective or risks being haunted forever.
Contains mature themes
.

Review:
Emma Lee Raines was hit on the head by a plastic Santa. When she woke up from the knock-out she thought a dead man was talking to her. The doctors, her family, and friends say she is suffering from ‘funeral trauma’ having grown up and now working in the family funeral parlor.

Emma isn’t suffering from a disease, but she is definitely struggling with keeping a quite image while the ghost of Ruthie Sue Payne, local innkeeper, is ranting about those attending her funeral. She is also carrying on about being pushed down the stairs, not accidentally falling. Ruthie was pushed from behind so she doesn’t know who her killer is, but she has some clues to share with Emma. But one of the suspects is Emma’s own Granny, the widow of Ruthie’s ex-husband and part owner of the inn.

Emma determines she must prove her Granny’s is not the killer. She is okay with teaming up with her high-school crush, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross. But what will he think of her if he learns that she is being aided by the dead victim?

This is a cute cozy mystery, with the added fun of ghostly input and a developing romance. The story moves along well, and I liked the clues that help reduce the suspect pool. The story ends with Ruthie taking her leave and another ghost seeking Emma’s help. Yep -- I’ll look to read/listen to more in this series. I recommend this to fans of cozy mystery, especially if you enjoy ghosts in the mix.

Audio Notes: Tiffany Morgan does a nice job with the narration. Her voice is light and totally fitting to a Southern damsel – maybe not something I would want to listen to for a long haul but good for this quick cozy. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 12/12/2021 Audiobooks.com Two for One Credit. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

MBS 2022 FRATERFEST READATHON #FraterfestRAT

This readathon is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and lasts from 10/14-10/24/2022.

The rules are fairly easy (follow the link above):
Between Midnight October 14th and ending at 11:59 pm October 24th; read or listen to thrillers, mysteries, paranormal, horror, supernatural, witchy, ghostly or serial killer novels and novellas.

I estimate I might get in 25 hours listening time and a little bit of ebook time.

•   8 books (5TBR and 3 current) completed for FRATERFEST 2018
• 10 TBR titles for FRATERFEST 2019
•   6 books (2TBR and 4 current) for FRATERFEST 2020
• 10 books (7TBR and 3 current year) for FRATERFEST 2021

I am going to try to stick to TBR books although I may do an Audiobook.com club for mysteries in October which would be 2022 titles. We’ll see. Here are some of the titles I may pick from to read or listen to for 2022 Fraterfest:
eBooks:

NetGalley TBR: My Dead Friend Sarah by Peter Rosch

Audio Books:

The Horror of the Heights by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 0h 44m (ATBR ABC)
The Werewolf's 15 Minutes by Jonathan Maberry 1h 42m (ATBR)
The Roommate The Cormac Reilly Series, Book 0.7 2h 23m (ATBR)
Second Skin, Audible Original Novella by Christian White 2h 28m (ATBR)
The Book of Riley #2: A Zombie Tale 2h 47m (2022 ABC)
Carnival Row: Tangle in the Dark By: Stephanie K. Smith 3h 8m (ATBR)
Eli Carter and the Ghost Hackers Books 1-3 Series Boxed Set by Angela Pepper – Book 1 3h 10m (ATBR Chirp)
Limbus Inc., Three Guys walk Into A Bar by Jonathan Maberry 3h 20m (ATBR ABC)
The Original by Brandon Sanderson 3h 30m (ATBR ABC)
Night Shift Witch by Cate Lawley 3h 31m (ATBR Chirp)
The Cuckoo's Cry An Audible Original Novella 4h 43m (ATBR)
A Death at Eastwick 5h 4m Chirp2020 (ATBR)
Last Ones Left Alive A Novel by Sarah Davis-Goff 5h 34m (ATBR Chirp)
A Ghostly Undertaking by Tonya Kappes 5h 39m (ATBR ABC)
Flea Market Magic by Bella Falls 5h 52m (ATBR ABC)
Cut 1/2986, Book 1 by Annelie Wendeberg 6h 4m (ATBR Chirp)
The Darkwater Bride: An Audible Original Drama 6h 45m (ATBR)
Dusty's Diary by Bobby Adair 7h 44m (ATBR)
Monster Hunt NYC: The Monster Hunt NYC, Book 1 by Harmon Cooper 7h 53m (ATBR Chirp)
A Skeleton in the Family by Leigh Perry 7h 57m (ATBR ABC)
Moonshine & Magic by Bella Falls 7h 59m (ATBR ABC)

I have another list of longer books (not good for Fraterfest) available for October reading -- this year or in the future. :-)

Image found at But Why Tho?

Audible Book Review: Zombie Fallout: Zero by Mark Tufo

I liked this military based addition explaining the beginning of the Zombie Fallout. Zombie Fallout: Zero
By: Mark Tufo
Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Series: Zombie Fallout, Book 0.5
Length 2h 44m
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Dystopian Sci Fi, Horror, Zombie
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
#Fraterfest

Publisher's Summary
In this audio-exclusive prequel - a must-hear for die-hard Zombie Fallout fans and newcomers alike - listeners are brought back to the days before outbreak; to the origins of a virus capable of raising the dead, its patient zero, and the events that set in motion the destruction of the human race.
Those who would seek a new world order have unleashed the most devastating virus onto mankind, and even they do not know the secrets hidden in their weapon. Follow along as Harry, a CDC scientist, races to figure out what exactly the virus is and how to stop it. It will be up to him and a group of marines led by Major Sanders to stop the zombie fallout before it ravages an unsuspecting world.
©2016 Mark Tufo (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
A strange mob has overrun the police in New York. As Harry, a CDC scientist, studies the films he notes alarming behavior because the mob appear not to die even when shot or disembodied. Harry digs deep into the scientific genome of the virus that has turned these humans into beasts. He reports to his co-worker that the virus has been modified to allow a quick and harmful infection. They don’t realize how serious the infection is until they watch a test subject, Patient Zero, who is believed to be dead. The man comes alive, with inhuman strength and hunger, to attack the guards in his holding cell. The CDC scientists try to warn the government but soon learn that their warnings are being thwarted by nefarious forces who have actually planned the spread of the evil virus.

Major Sanders is in the field for the last two days of training of his new marines when his superior orders him to return to base so that the base can meet vaccination levels. Sanders ignores the order and is then called back by an even higher superior the next morning. Sanders and his new recruits return to learn that they are facing a new enemy.

I listened to book 1 which tells the story of a Michael Talbot and his family fighting in their gated community. It was okay but didn’t pull me into the series. I did like this novella that explains how the virus started and who was Patient Zero. I particularly enjoyed the military involvement fighting the early waves of infected. If the rest of the series included Harry and Sanders I would be more interested in listening. I recommend this to fans of the zombie genre.

Audio Notes: Sean Runnette is the narrator for this series and he does a good job. He portrays the characters with distinct voices and captures their personalities. I am glad I had this as a plus catalog free story to listen too as part of my 2020 October #Fraterfest.

Source: 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook. Alphabet and #Fraterfest goals.

Audio Book Review: Manners and Monsters by Tilly Wallace

I love this cover and totally enjoyed the story!

Manners and Monsters
A Regency paranormal mystery
Written by Tilly Wallace
Narrated by Marian Hussey

Run time: 7 hours and 31 minutes
Release Date: June 7, 2019
Publisher: Ribbonwood Press
Genre: Gaslamp Fantasy, Paranormal, Regency
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5. #Fraterfest

Guys and ghouls, gather round for this grisly romp… (that’s a thing, right?) After a gruesome crime ruins her friend’s engagement party, Lady Hannah must use her knowledge of the occult to help boorish viscount Wycliff find the murderer — that is, if the two don’t kill each other first. Great for fans of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!
Publisher Description
A lady never reveals the true extent of her decay…
Hannah Miles lives a quiet existence, helping her parents conduct research into a most terrible affliction - until a gruesome murder during her best friend’s engagement party pulls her from the shadows. With her specialist’s knowledge and demure disposition, Hannah is requested to aid the investigation.
Except Hannah discovers her role is to apologise in the wake of the rude and disgraced man tasked with finding the murderer. The obnoxious Viscount Wycliff thinks to employ Hannah purely as a front to satisfy Whitehall, but she’ll have none of that.
The two must work together to find the murderer before the season is ruined. But the viscount is about to meet his greatest challenge, and it’s not a member of the ton with a hankering for brains.

Review:
Lady Hannah’s father is a famous physician, and her mother is a once famous mage. Hannah isn’t a normal society lady as she spends her time helping her father in autopsies and research and observing her ‘undead’ mother wield her magical skills, which Hannah did not inherit. Hannah’s mother and about 300 other women in London died but became reanimated after being poisoned by a powder used as a bio-weapon during war with France. The infected women, and a handful of men, are in various stages of decay and Hannah’s father is desperately trying to find a cure, particularly for his beloved wife. All of the infected continue their suspended lives without a heartbeat and with a rather repulsive food requirement.

Hannah has a few friends left in society and is intent on being there to support her friend’s engagement party. Unfortunately, the event is marred by the discovery of a dead footman who appears to have been killed by one of the infected. Viscount Wycliff, a dark, moody and secretive man who is mostly shunned by society, steps forward to investigate the death. Apparently Wycliff is working with the government as an investigator of paranormal beings in London.

Because Wycliff is unable to use proper manners around the infected Ladies of the ton, he is directed to engage the assistance of Lady Hannah to help with all the interviews. Although they are reluctant to work together, they are both intent on finding the murderer and learning more about the problems of the infected. As similar deaths of lower level servants continue, Hannah and Wycliff perceive a pattern and narrow the field of suspects. Soon they are racing together to uncover the killer and save other innocents from a gruesome death.

I really liked Hannah’s character right away and even liked the mysterious, dark Wycliff. The plot is intriguing and there is a touch of humor underlying the macabre situation the author has created. I enjoyed the mystery as well as the subtle growth of attraction, though not yet friendship, between the heroine and hero. I will definitely be continuing this series.

Audio Notes: Marian Hussey does a grand job with the narration. She provides differing voices and spot on energy. I am not sure that I have heard her narration before, but I will be glad to listen to more stories she narrates. The narration added to my enjoyment of this book.

Source: 4/22/2020 Chirp purchase $.99. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook and #Fraterfest goals.

Audible Book Review: Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

This is a twisted Vampire short story. I saved this for #Fraterfest too.
Carmilla
By: Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Narrated by: Phoebe Fox, Rose Leslie, David Tennant, David Horovitch, James Wilby, Susan Wooldridge, Hannah Genesius

Length: 2 hrs and 22 mins
Release date: 10-27-15
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Classic, Gothic, Horror, Vampire
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25 Narration 4.25.
#Fraterfest

About This Audible Original
Their house guest is beautiful and charming, but she carries a dark secret—one that could prove deadly. It’s time for gothic horror fans to sink their teeth into one of the very first vampire thrillers ever written. David Tennant (Doctor Who, Harry Potter), Phoebe Fox (Life in Squares, The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death), and Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones, Downtown Abbey) breathe new life into J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s classic horror story, Carmilla.
It all begins when Laura’s widowed father finds Carmilla stranded in the forest after a carriage accident and takes her in. The young women develop a fast friendship which turns into a passionate meeting of souls. A relationship of vampire and prey, the story is told through Laura’s eyes as she is drawn further into Carmilla’s terrifying world of pleasure and pain.
A masterpiece of erotic gothic horror, Carmilla encompasses mystery, suspense, forbidden lust, violence...and blood. This audio adaptation of Carmilla has been dramatized by Robin Brooks, an actor, dramatist, and author who has been working as a playwright for over 25 years. Carmilla was directed by Fiona McAlpine of Allegra Productions for Audible Originals. David Tennant, Phoebe Fox, and Rose Leslie bring their talent and gravitas to this Audie nominated performance (Original Work), making it an exhilarating listening experience.
©2015 Audible Ltd. (P)2015 Audible Ltd.

Review:
Laura is a lovely young woman who is secluded at home with her protective father. When a carriage breaks down not far from their schloss (castle in Austria), Laura’s father is persuaded to take in the woman’s ethereal daughter who appears unwell. Carmilla is near Laura’s age and the two girls grow closer. Laura is intrigued by Carmilla’s advances even as she is slightly uncomfortable with them. No one in the household seems to see the danger in the relationship until Laura begins to grow more and more languid and Carmilla begins to go missing from her room. Even then the danger isn’t clear until a neighbor, who lost his beloved daughter, shares his experience.

This is a twisty vampiric, erotic, gothic novel. Isn’t that a mix? I like the ghostly and vampire quality as well as the dark gothic setting. The full story made me curious about the history and this is what I found:

“Carmilla is an 1872 Gothic novella by Irish author Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu and one of the early works of vampire fiction, predating Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897) by 26 years.”

Similar to Laura, I found the story engaging and repelling at the same time. I recommend this quick read/listen to serious vintage fans, vampire fans and those who enjoy a touch of horror.

Audio Notes: This is a dramatic presentation that pulled me into the dark atmosphere which is conveyed by all of the narrators. The narration is a bit of a treat itself and made this book an extra special gem in my October horror reading/listening.

Source: 10/23/2019 Audible Original. This qualifies for 2020 TBR, 2020Audiobook and #Fraterfest goals.

Audible Book Review: Carniepunk: The Demon Barker of Wheat Street by Kevin Hearne

I enjoy the Iron Druid Series and the short novellas that add to the series.

Carniepunk: The Demon Barker of Wheat Street
By: Kevin Hearne
Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 4.7
Length: 1 hr and 4 mins
Release date: 09-09-14
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Genre: Short Story, Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 3.75.
#Fraterfest

Publisher's Summary
From the New York Times best-selling author of Hounded comes an Iron Druid Chronicles short story in the captivating Carniepunk anthology.
The ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan gets more than greasy corn dogs and flat soda when he visits a carnival in Kansas to which his apprentice, Granuaile, drags him. He runs across a barker with a strange power over the crowd: attractive women leave their men and disappear into an unmarked tent, never to be seen again, and the men wander away, forgetting that they ever had girlfriends or wives. When Granuaile falls under the barker’s influence and enters the tent, Atticus isn’t about to forget it and move on. He and his Irish wolfhound, Oberon, pursue her and discover the horrifying secret to the carnival’s success.
©2014 Kevin Hearne (P)2014 Simon & Schuster Audio

Review:
Atticus has been busy training his apprentice, Granuaile, after faking her death a few years earlier. Granuaile is concerned how her mother is doing and convinces Atticus to go with her to her home town in Kansas. Atticus is originally reluctant because he last left Kansas on tense terms with the underlying elemental whom he calls “Amber”. There is no telling what might occur to Atticus.

Once Granuaile has confirmed that her mother is fine, she drags Atticus to a local carnival. At first things seem fairly normal until they come upon a tent where the people seem to enter and disappear, leaving, friends behind with a sense of confusion. Granuaile rushes in before Atticus can warn her that he has recognized danger in the booth. Atticus’ faithful wolfhound, Oberon, also realizes there is danger but by the time he tries to pull Granuaile away, she is mesmerized and unresponsive to him. Will Amber help Atticus in his desperate efforts to reach Granuaile before she is destroyed by the evil that has taken over?

I enjoy the Iron Druid series and it is always fun to get the adventure and danger in a short bite novella between the full stories. The usual sass and snark between the characters is present and makes the story the fun I expected. I recommend the short story to fans of the series or to readers who might want to test the waters in the Iron Druid series.

Audio Notes: I have to say that I was disappointed in the audio. The quality was fine and the narrator, Kirby Heyborne, did an alright job, but he is not Luke Daniels. Those of us who have listened to other full stories and novellas in the series which have been narrated by Daniels are clearly aware of the difference in voice and not too happy about the different narrator. It did jolt even my equable senses. I was glad to have the listen for my air-flight but to true fans I might suggest reading this one.

Source: 12/13/2019 Audible Member Sales $.94. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020Audiobook goals and #Fraterfest event.

Audio Book Review: The Book of Riley: A Zombie Tale by Mark Tufo

This is a zombie tale with a dog hero.
The Book of Riley: A Zombie Tale
Written By: Mark Tufo
Narrated By: Sean Runnette

Duration: 2 hours 58 minutes
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
#Fraterfest

Summary:
When the zombie apocalypse strikes without warning one dog will hold the fate of her pack in her paws. This is the story of Riley, an American bulldog. Follow along as she tries to keep her pack safe from a zombie apocalypse. Traveling with her are Ben-Ben the high strung Yorkie, her favorite two-legger Jessie, Jessie's younger brother Zachary, and Riley's arch enemy Patches the cat. They are a rag-tag group of survivors, who, when pushed to the limit, realize that they are all each other has.

Review:
Riley is a loving dog who wants to protect her human pack. She stands with the human alpha and is surprised to get help from the pip-squeak Yorkie, Ben-Ben. Of course, (according to Riley), the cowardly and obnoxious cat, Patches, hid in the bathroom with the rest of the human pack. When some of her human pack fall, Riley is forced to save the teen daughter, Jessie, and the baby child, Zachery. Riley is joined in the journey to safety by Ben-Ben and Patches who turns out to have some wisdom and cleverness – even if she remains a great annoyance.

I enjoyed the dog’s view which is filled with humor, base thoughts (food, smells and elimination process) and rivalry with the cat. I am fairly sure this is a spin off from the Zombie Fallout series. I had listened to Book 1 of the primary series in 2018 and have a prequel, Zombie Fallout: Zero, ready to go this week as a “Z” title. I think I liked the dog book more but I wouldn’t want a steady diet of this. I recommend the Riley books as quick reads/listens for those you enjoy zombie battles with pets, and humor.

Audio Notes:  It appears that Sean Runnette is the narrator for Mr. Tufo and he has adapted well to the characters, whether dogs, cats or military.

Source: 10/2020 Audiobooks.com Mystery Audiobook Club. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goal and #Fraterfest.

Audible Book Review: Psycho Inside Me by Bonnie R. Paulson

This is a dark but interesting listen.

Psycho Inside Me
By: Bonnie R. Paulson
Narrated by: Jenifer Krist

Length: 5 hrs and 23 mins
Release date: 03-04-14
Publisher: Bonnie R Paulson
Genre: Dark Fiction, Horror, Psychological, Teen and Young Adult
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
#Fraterfest

Publisher's Summary
***Mature YA listeners recommended - sexual content, violence, language***
I killed my first victim at thirteen years old - my age, not his. He was going to rape me, him and a couple of his friends. And so, I killed him. And then.... I killed again. And again.
At seventeen, I'm killing four to six times a year - maybe more. Don't stress out. I only go after the pedophiles and rapists. There are more out there than I could cover in a lifetime.
Saying I did this on my own would be selfish. Enforcing justice holds a glory all its own. But now, my lifelong friend and backup, Deegan, has been arrested. I have to decide if I want to give myself up and take his place or leave him with all the damning evidence. I don't want to stop killing. But if I let him take the fall, I can't kill anymore. And I need to keep doing that.
But the worst part of it all? I love him.
Cover artist - Ashley Byland of Redbird Designs
©2013 Bonnie R. Paulson (P)2014 Bonnie R. Paulson

Review:
Cassie was almost raped by a trio of bullies when she was only thirteen. Her childhood friend, Deegan, pulled the boy off of her but in the tussle Cassie accidentally killed the teen boy. Rather than report the event, Deegan helped Cassie dispose of the body and get away before the boys two friends returned to the scene.

On the anniversary of the first killing Cassie finds herself compelled to kill again. She specifically targets another sexual predator and Deegan arrives just in time to help her complete the killing and coverup. This pattern continues and grows. Deegan tries to convince Cassie to stop but she is intent on saving other innocent victims from men she has been able to identify as rapists and pedophiles.

It is surprising that the pair isn’t caught but finally they are betrayed, and Deegan is taken into custody. Cassie is desperate for a way to get him out of jail even if it means she will be arrested. After all she is still a minor when he might be tried as an adult.

This is a dark, macabre read/listen. It is told from Cassie’s viewpoint and the listener is tempted to feel sympathy for her while also being horrified and repulsed. The killings are not fully planned and carried out which seems fitting for the youth of the characters. The tentative and twisted friendship to romance is an interesting element in the story. I attribute a lot to the author’s writing skill to keep this in the edge of bizarre and interesting rather than totally depraved. Still, it is certainly dark, not for the squeamish reader/listener and not actions to be emulated! This is listed under "Children's Audiobooks" at Audible which I think is totally inappropriate. Perhatps YA, teen or NA but physological horror is more accurate. I do recommend it to fans of horror or those, like me, who read monsters and horror for the month of October.

Audio Notes: Jenifer Krist did a fine job with the narration. She adequately provided different voices for the characters, but more importantly for this work, she conveys the twisted, teen mind which I think Ms. Paulson intended.

Source: 4/10/2020 Author Codes. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook and Author review goals and #Fraterfest.