Audible Book Review: Zombies A Record of the Year of Infection by Don Roff

This journal style was interesting but less action than some might like.

Zombies
A Record of the Year of Infection
By: Don Roff
Narrated by: Stephen R. Thorne

Length: 1 hr and 40 mins
Publisher: AudioGO
Genre: Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Horror
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
The year is 2011, and what starts as a pervasive and inexplicable illness ends up as a zombie infestation that devastates the world's population. Taking the form of a biologist's journal found in the aftermath of the attack, this pulse-pounding, suspenseful tale of zombie apocalypse follows the narrator as he flees from city to countryside and heads north to Canada, where he hopes the undead will be slowed by the colder climate. Encountering scattered humans and scores of the infected along the way, he fills his notebook with descriptions and careful observations of zombie behavior, along with terrifying tales of survival.
This frightening contribution to the massively popular zombie resurgence will keep fans on the edge of their seats right up to the very end. ©2009 Don Roff (P)2012 AudioGO

Review:
As soon as a new illness begins to ravage the population, Dr. Robert Twombly, begins to journal the symptoms and progress of the decease. He dictates his findings noting that he and his colleagues soon realize the illness moves quickly into a zombie infestation. They lock up one doctor who is infected and Twombly (and the audio listener) can hear that co-worker banging on the door in the background.

Twombly and another healthy man plot an escape from the building when it is threatened by a mob of the undead. The doctor, and people he meets along the way, continue to hide and flee from the death behind him. Although he hears of a safe place further north, Twombly decides to locate and investigate a food facility which is believed to have started the illness.

Ultimately Twombly travels further north since reports are that the zombies can’t function in cold weather. He reaches a community that has not had any experience with the infected. Will they be safe?

Because this is presented as journal entries it lacks the intensity of live action and danger that some readers might want with their zombie story. I enjoyed the style for its uniqueness and quick presentation. It appears the print (and kindle) versions have some good drawings that enhance the journal style reading. Zombie reading fans who aren’t audio buffs might want to try the print versions.

Audio Notes: I found that the - sometimes rough - narration provided by Stephen R. Thorne fit the journal style of the story. I enjoyed the quick audio reading opportunity.

Source: October 2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audio Book Review: Dead Case in Deadwood: Deadwood Mystery, Book 3 by Ann Charles

An engaging, fun listening experience (but be prepared for some use of foul language).

Dead Case in Deadwood: Deadwood Mystery, Book 3

Written by: Ann Charles

Narrated by: Caroline Shaffer

Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins

Series: Deadwood Mysteries, Book 3

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:06-17-14

Publisher: Made for Succes

Genre: Mystery, Humor, Paranormal

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Click on book title for full description.
Publisher's Summary
"Nothing good ever happens at the butt-crack of dawn. No doubt, the headless corpse on the autopsy table in front of me would agree." – Violet Parker
Real estate agent Violet "Spooky" Parker stumbles upon a body-part theft ring at the local funeral parlor and suspects her caustic coworker has a hand in it - or maybe a foot. Can Violet discover what's in the crates that the crooks are sneaking out of the mortuary in the dark of night? Or will she end up in one of them herself - in pieces?
©2012 Ann Charles (P)2014 Made for Success

Review:
Violet Parker is a single mother working as a real estate agent where she is in competition with her sarcastic nemesis, Ray. Ray is sure that he will out perform “Blondie” to get her out of the office. Meanwhile Violet is sure that Ray and his friend, George, have some nefarious business going on over at the funeral home that George owns.

Violet has a history of stumbling into trouble that includes strange, as well as dangerous, circumstances The local police detective and fire chief are very familiar with finding her where she doesn’t belong. In this episode Violet has located a headless body on the ranch of one her customers which is delaying her sales efforts. While the police are investigating that grim situation she takes on another client who is new in town but asked specifically for her.

Cornelius is a strange, Lincoln-look alike, who wants to buy an old hotel. He is interested in the property because he is a “ghost whisperer’ who loves to restore haunted buildings! Violet doesn’t believe in ghosts and doesn’t want her associates, especially Ray, to realize how crazy Cornelius is. She agrees to visit the hotel with Cornelius so he can test the authenticity of the ghostly claims. She brings along her secret love interest, Doc, who not only believes in ghosts but can see and speak with them. Cornelius and Doc begin to think that Violet is some type of ghost conduit drawing in the spirits to the high-tech seance. Unfortunately one of the spirits she brings out is a demon-like version of the murderer she was involved with from a prior book.

There is a lot of humor in the bumbling investigations that Violet makes at the funeral parlor, dragging along her best friend and/or dirty “Old Man” Harvey, her client and Detective Cooper’s uncle. There is also a lot of sass in the characters and dialogue even if the writing includes quite a bit of cliches. The old and odd phrases have a very down home twist and tone that make them fun. I enjoyed the quirky characters and the twisted mysteries although only one mystery was solved while other investigations were left hanging. I was disturbed by the amount of unnecessary swear language which were a distraction for me.

I have a feeling this would be better if the stories are read in proper sequence. Too bad I realized only after I finished that I already own books one and two on Kindle. I was thinking I might not continue the series because the language hurts my soul – it makes me cringe. However I may go backwards and try book one sometime in the future to see if I can bypass the poor language easier in reading than in listening form.

Audio Notes: Caroline Shaffer does a very effective job with the narration. She captures the snarky humor and quirkiness of the characters. The narration made the story flow quickly and I recommend the book in audio for those who enjoy an engaging, fun listening experience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Opening lines:

Nothing good ever happens at the butt-crack of dawn.
No doubt, the headless corpse on the autopsy table in front of me would agree.

I received this title from the Publisher through AudioBook Jukebox for an honest review.

Audio Book Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

This is an engaging, unexpected, positive surprise.

Of Poseidon

by Anna Banks

Published by AudioGO

UNABRIDGED AUDIOBOOK
Reader: Rebecca Gibel
Running Time: 9hrs 32min
Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Description:
Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange–is it attraction?–and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of–a human who can communicate with fish. What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts. He must know more about her, and follows her back to New Jersey, and high school, to find out for sure if she’s the key to saving his kingdom. Soon, Emma can’t deny her feelings for him, but can’t explain them, either–and both she and Galen must learn more about where she comes from and what her powers are before they can trust one another and their feelings. Told from both Emma and Galen’s points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

Review:
This was the YA selection paired with The Tempest and I was delightfully surprised!
Emma is an awkward teen who runs into a hot guy, Galen, on a Florida beach. There is a strange, electrical pull between them and Galen is alarmed by Emma’s violet eyes. That is a color that should only belong to the Syrena a race of mer-people who live hidden from humans. Galen suspects that Emma has the gift of Poseidon - the ability to communicate with fish. If that is true she may be destined to be his brother’s mate and to unite enemy factions.

Galen follows Emma home to New Jersey where he meets her in school pretending to be a student. Galen and Emma grow closer even as Galen tries to resist the attraction between them. Galen is joined by his sister, best friend and his human “step-mom.” They are sensing an unrecognized signature in the water that seems to be a threat to Emma so they are trying to protect her. Meanwhile Emma, who isn’t so self-assured, is getting frustrated by the mixed messages that she is getting from Galen who seems to really like her but holds her at arms length.

The characters are sweet and fun with wonderful chemistry. The plot is well developed and there is plenty of conflict, mystery and action. I got lost listening to the story and was so engrossed that I was startled by the cliff-hanger ending. I couldn't wait to get online to make sure there was a follow-up book available! I recommend this as a fun sweet read/listen. This is an interesting pairing with The Tempest and I wouldn't work too hard at making comparisons. I really enjoyed this much more.

Audio Notes: I obviously was wrapped up in the narration. There were a couple of times when the POV changed and it wasn’t totally clear at first but smoothed out pretty quickly. Rebecca Gibel’s narration voice fit the age of the characters even if it wasn't what I expected - but neither was the story - in a good way.

I received this and The Tempest from SYNC YA May 30 – June 5, 2013.

Audio Book Review: The Tempest by William Shakespeare

This is a a wonderful and entertaining production.

The Tempest
by William Shakespeare
Published by AudioGO/ BBC Radio


William Shakespeare Audio Book
DRAMATIZATION
Reader: Full Cast
Running Time: 2hrs 55min

Genre: Dramatization, Classic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Description:
BBC Radio has a unique heritage when it comes to Shakespeare. Since 1923, when the newly formed company broadcast its first full-length play, generations of actors and producers have honed and perfected the craft of making Shakespeare to be heard.
Raging storms and rich beautiful music combine to magical effect in this production of Shakespeare’s allegorical last play, where mystical forces work to restore harmony and order to an estranged community.
Revitalised, original, and comprehensive, this is Shakespeare for the new millennium.

Review:
It has been many years since I read Shakespeare’s Tempest (or any of his works). It always seemed like a stormy drama to me - and so it is!

This tragic-comedy is set on a remote enchanted island, where the wizard Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter, Miranda, to her rightful place. Prospero uses illusion and skillful manipulation to conjures up a storm, the tempest, to lure to the island his usurping brother Antonio and a co-conspirator, Alonso, King of Naples. Prospero sets up to reveal Antonio’s treachery and during the process his bound servant, Ariel aids in the secret love encounters of Miranda and Alonso's son, Ferdinand.

This audio production gives this much more flare and charm than a simple reading. I got more of the love story in this version along with the political machinations and power struggles. I enjoyed the dramatization although I have to admit it was a little bit hard to follow along while I was doing chores. I think this would be perfect to listen to with the text to follow along or at least in a setting where one appreciates the program for itself without trying to do other things that might distract (like my chores did).

Audio Notes: The voices, musical background and sound effects were well done and added to the program for me. I enjoyed this method of re-experiencing a classic work.

I received this and Of Poseidon from SYNC YA May 30 – June 5, 2013.

Audio Book Review: Flight of the Bowyer by Kenneth R. Lewis

This futuristic political thriller starts slowly but becomes gripping.
Flight of the Bowyer
Author: Kenneth R. Lewis
Narrator: Alex Hyde-White
Length 11.6 hrs • Unabridged 
Publisher/Date: AudioGO, 11/01/13
Genre: Political Thriller, Futuristic
My Rating: 4.5 0f 5.0

Summary
After six long years of political genocide carried out against the American people by the administration of President Benjamin Franklin Luder, the nation is stunned when Luder announces that he is issuing an executive order to suspend the next presidential election for “the good of the country,” giving him an unprecedented, and unconstitutional, third term as president. Luder has slowly and systematically robbed the citizens of various liberties and freedoms through similar acts, and in the process he has nearly destroyed the once-greatest country on earth. However, his environmental policy of “green communism” has done the most damage of all, resulting in a nationwide energy slowdown which has crippled every level of industry. It now costs the average American eleven dollars for every gallon of gasoline they put in their tanks, and in winter the elderly freeze like cordwood in their unheated homes because they cannot afford heating oil. (For full description link on title.)

Like any clever Svengali, Luder does not suffer from a lack of visionary delusions. Idaho’s unspoiled Sawtooth Mountain Range is rich in thorium, a much safer and cleaner alternative to the uranium currently used in the few nuclear power plants in the country that still exist. It is said that one thorium mine, located near the small mining town of Ransom, Idaho, contains enough energy to power every city in the United States for the next five hundred years. However, the mine is on private property and surrounded by federal lands.

Like any clever Svengali, Luder does not suffer from a lack of visionary delusions. Idaho’s unspoiled Sawtooth Mountain Range is rich in thorium, a much safer and cleaner alternative to the uranium currently used in the few nuclear power plants in the country that still exist. It is said that one thorium mine, located near the small mining town of Ransom, Idaho, contains enough energy to power every city in the United States for the next five hundred years. However, the mine is on private property and surrounded by federal lands.

Sean Brennan, a special agent with the newly formed United States Secret Police, sends Assistant US Attorney Haley Hendricks to Ransom, posing as an ecojournalist. Haley is assigned to find a way for the government to seize the thorium mine in the name of “national security,” and Brennan’s orders are to design a plan to get the president to the mine for a photo op and then safely back to the White House. Sean and Haley were once engaged, but after Haley was diagnosed with breast cancer, Sean broke things off. Since then Haley has dreamed of escaping, forever, the sewer called Washington, DC.

On her first afternoon in Ransom, Haley locates Jace Fuller, the man she has been directed to hire as a guide to the mine. From the first moment she lays eyes on him, Jace takes her breath away. But Haley soon learns that Jace’s wife, Annie, has been dead for several years now and that his eleven-year-old son, Josh, is for some reason being raised by his grandparents instead of Jace.

As Jace unwittingly prepares to lead the most powerful man in the world deep into the rugged Sawtooth Wilderness of Idaho, an unseen and sinister trap begins to unfold. Soon Jace will be forced to choose between saving his country and saving the life of his son, choosing who will live and who must die—including himself.
2013 by Kenneth R. Lewis

Review:
Jace Fuller is a lonely man struggling to make ends meet in a small, rather isolated Idaho town. He runs a bakery and bow shop during the week, waiting for Sundays when he gets to visit with his 11 year old son, Josh. Jace used to be a sheriff’s deputy but he lost his beloved wife to cancer and then went to prison for a reason that isn’t explained until later in the story. He can’t carry a gun but he is an expert archer and experienced guide.

Sean Brennan is a Special Agent in the USSP, United States Secret Police, which has replaced the FBI and Secret Service.  Sean is close to the current President, Benjamin Franklin Luder, a very unusual man.  Some might call the President “Looter” as he has decimated the country with excessive taxes, crippling policies, and executive decisions that trample liberty.  Luder is a supreme manipulator, playing one official and underling off another. Sean sometimes thinks the country would be better off with Luder dead but it is Sean’s duty to protect the maniacal leader. He plans to do that job in spite of the President’s own insistent plans to make an unprotected visit to a thorium mine in the rugged hills of Idaho, a place of rebellious freedom lovers. 

President Luder has convinced Sean to bring Sean’s old flame, Haley, on the trip to provide a cover story as a vacationing couple. Sean really wants a chance to reconnect with Haley because he regrets having left her a few years before when she went through a mastectomy for breast cancer.  They hope Haley can make connections with Jace Fuller to be their guide because Haley looks just like his deceased wife.

Haley has no clue why she is being sent to Idaho and isn’t thrilled with the orders when she gets them from Sean.  She stills struggles with her self image resulting from his abrupt abandonment. When she meets Jace there is an immediate chemical attraction for them both and she is impressed by the rugged, simple man.

Meanwhile a local vet, Wade, and two other unsavory soldier cohorts are roaming the hills on ATVs fully armed and looking for trouble. Wade is an old rival of Jace and gets in his face repeatedly. Jace has to be careful to control his temper and response so he doesn’t violate parole.

It takes a bit for the pieces of the plot to begin to fit but ultimately they do with excellent twists and curves all falling into place!  It was a very pleasant surprise to realize how all the details fit together. It is one of those twisters that might call for a second read/listen just to anticipate how it all falls together. I thought this started out a bit dry and plodding but once I could see the conspiracy puzzle taking shape I did not want to put it down. I also enjoyed the details about bows and archery. I was sorry when this ended and recommend it to political thriller fans who enjoy such plotlines from authors such as David Baldacci.  I will be glad to look for other thrillers by Kenneth Lewis.

Audio Notes: This began slowly but I soon appreciated the steady narration of Alex Hyde-White. He manages to present the different characters with subtle accents. The plotting was twisted but I never lost where we were or who was speaking through the audio. The good tension and suspense were conveyed and enhanced with the narration.

I received the download for review from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox.

Audiobook Review: Shadows of Glass: The Ashes Trilogy Book 2 by Kassy Tayler

This is a good sequel with a cliffhanger ending setting up book 3.

Shadows of Glass: The Ashes Trilogy Book 2

    by Kassy Tayler
    Narrated by Nicola Barber
        Series: The Ashes, Book 2

LENGTH  9 hrs and 40 mins
RELEASE DATE  07-23-13
PUBLISHER  AudioGO

Genre: YA Dystopia

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary

Wren’s world has changed. The thing that she fought for - escaping the dome - has come to fruition, but it’s not the paradise she thought it would be. Most of the shiners have died, and according to James she is to blame for many of the deaths, a burden which sits heavy on her shoulders. Still some have survived and Wren is determined to keep them safe as they fight to establish a home outside while hiding from the rovers who have weapons that can kill from far away. But as long as she has Pace she knows everything will be fine. Still Wren wonders, as she sees the smoke that continually pours forth from the dome, how did her friends inside fare? Will they ever find out if Lucy, David, Jill, and Harry, along with Pace’s mother survive the explosions?

Meanwhile, someone else has also seen the smoke. A band of explorers from across the sea arrive in an airship, curious about the dome, and offer help to those who survive. When Wren meets the handsome Levi Addison, she suddenly questions her love for Pace as Levi offers to show her the world from his airship. Does she really love Pace? Or was it just the circumstances that made her think she did? Meanwhile, word arrives from inside via Pip, and Wren is forced to go back inside the dome, a thing that terrifies her more than anything else, to save her friends. Once she’s back inside will she be able to escape again?

©2013 Kassy Tayler (P)2013 AudioGO

Review:
In this sequel to Twilight of Ashes, Wren, Pace, James, Adam and a few more shiner friends have survived the rushing waters that drove them out of the exploding tunnels. Some of the blind ponies and goats have also survived. But there are many more deaths and losses. The small group is now forced to survive, with little in the way of supplies, in an alien environment where even the sun they have rarely seen can harm them.

Wren discovers that her friend, John, who was forced outside, has survived and established a place of shelter. He warns of the threat of barbarian rovers who raid and carry off females. Wren is filled with self doubt and guilt that is fueled by the bitter James. She questions if living in freedom, with starvation and fear, is better than living the life of drudgery, but safety, that they had before she dared to dream of the outside.

Suddenly Wren is faced with more strangers in an airship but she soon realizes that these foreign explorers are friendly. The remarkable family set out to help the small group of survivors to establish a safe community, offering even staff and weapons to protect against the rovers. The young man, Levi, is smitten by Wren’s simple beauty, her bravery, strength and determination. He doesn’t mean to come between Wren and Pace but if there is a chance for him to win her attention he intends to pursue it.

Pip, Pace’s intrepid canary, brings a message to Wren from Lucy who is still inside the Dome. The call is “Help us!” Pace has to go back inside if he wants to rescue his mother while Wren feels she must find a way to help her friends inside. Levi’s Uncle agrees to use his ship to help get them inside where they soon are trapped into more danger. As this book closes, Wren, Pace and Levi face the angry leader of the Royals, Wren’s father.

I liked the addition of the exploring US characters. It was interesting to try to imagine how the outside world, and strangers from far off, would effect Wren and her friends who have had little schooling. Presenting Levi as another romantic interest to catch Wren’s attention creates more conflict in addition to the struggle of surviving. Although it makes Wren appear shallow in her feelings I attribute some of her confusion to her youth and the stresses she has been experiencing.

I felt there was too much repetition of Wren’s fearful doubts and thoughts for a good part of the first half of the book. Again this may be consistent with the angst of being a teen but it was a bit annoying. The story was entertaining and I was engaged and anticipating what would happen with the confrontation inside when book two abruptly ended. For those who really don’t like cliffhangers, be forewarned. I will be interested to learn the conclusion in volume three.

Audio notes: Once again Ms. Barber does a good job giving emotional input to characters. She does a nice job with the accents and I enjoyed the listening.

I received this title for review from AudioGo through AudioBook Jukebox.

Audible Book Review: Death of a Dyer by Eleanor Kuhns

This is a good mystery with interesting history. Unfortunately I think the narration could have been better.

Death of a Dyer

by Eleanor Kuhns

Reader: Richard Waterhouse

Running Time: 11hrs 34min
Number of CDs: 9
Release Date: 6/18/13
D/L ISBN: 9781482100822 
CD ISBN: 9781482100815
Genre: Historical, Mystery
My Rating 4.0 of 5.0

Synopsis:
Will Rees feels at home. It's been a long time since he last felt this way--not since before his wife died more than five years ago and he took to the road as a traveling weaver. Now Rees is back on his farm, living with his teenaged son, David, and his housekeeper, Lydia--whose presence contributes more towards his happiness than he's ready to admit. But his domestic bliss is shattered the morning a visitor brings news of an old friend's murder. Nate Bowditch and Rees hadn't spoken in many long years, but as children they were closer than brothers, and Rees feels his loss acutely. Asked to look into the circumstances surrounding Nate's death, Rees simply can't refuse. At the Bowditch farmstead, Rees quickly discovers that everyone--from Nate's frosty wife to his missing son to the shy serving girl--is hiding something. But are any of them actually capable of murder? Or does the answer lie elsewhere, behind stones no one even knew needed un-turning? Death of a Dyer once again proves Eleanor Kuhns' remarkable ability to spin a captivating story and capture the light and darker sides of human nature on the page.

Review:

Will Rees is a traveling weaver. He owns a farm but spends most of his time traveling to sell his wares, then returning home now and again to bring the proceeds to help support the farm. Now he is home at the farm with his teenaged son who has grown up working and loving the land his father disdains. Will has also brought Lydia, a strong independent widow and a Shaker who was put out of her community. She lives in a cottage on the farm and serves as housekeeper although she hopes to become more to Will as time goes by and when he is ready.

Will's wife, Dolly, died a few years ago from a bug he brought back from his travels. He still feels guilty but is also reluctant to risk moving to a different relationship with Lydia because he doesn't know if he can remain in town or if he will seek the road again.

Right now he is tied to his home by the request of the widow of a murdered friend to prove that their son did not kill his father. Nate and Will had been good friends as boys but Will has been away many years. As he meets Nate's wife and nearly 19 year-old son, Richard, Will begins to realize that he does not know the man that Nate became in his absence. Nate had become obsessed with his sturdy of colors as a dyer, always seeking a better, richer color. He apparently had developed friendships with other boys that they grew up with and the relationships are surprising to Will. Will worns Nate's wife, Molly, his close, devoted servant, Mason, and other boyhood friends that his investigations may lead to secrets that will make others unhappy. It won't be enough for Will to clear Richard as the prime suspect. Will won't give up the search until he has found and exposed Nate's killer.

I enjoyed the mystery that had some red herrings and twists to keep me guessing. The pacing is different as it is set in the 1780 Colonial time period and seems to plod a bit just as things might in those days. There is some wonderful history of weavers, dyers, slaves and bounty hunters seeking runaway slaves. But the history extends into the human aspects of land acquisition and any era human characteristics of pride, greed, snobbery and loyalty.

Audio Notes: I am sorry to say that this is not an audio version I would recommend. I found the narration very dry with little emotion and character given through the reading. This made the story drag for a good portion until the last quarter when the narrator surprisingly found expression.

I received this book for review for AudioGo through Audiobook Jukebox.

Audio Book Review: The Wolf Path by Judith Van Gieson

This is an interesting mystery packed with details on wolf issues.
The Wolf Path
Author: Judith Van Gieson
Narrator: Meredith Mitchell
Publisher/Date: AudioGO, 04/01/13

Length: Approximately 6 hrs 40 mins.
Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
It's a 104 degree day in Albuquerque when attorney/sleuth Neil Hamel gets a call asking her to go to southern New Mexico to help a wolf advocate who calls himself Juan Sololobo. Juan, who attracts trouble wherever he goes, is visiting the town of Soledad to give an educational program featuring his timber wolf, Sirius. After someone lets Sirius out of his pen, a federal official is murdered and Juan becomes the prime suspect. As Neil defends him she finds herself immersed in a deadly conflict between ranchers and environmentalists over wolf reintroduction. The Wolf Path is Judith Van Gieson's fourth Neil Hamel mystery. Since it was first published to critical acclaim in 1992, Mexican gray wolves have been reintroduced to the Southwest, and there are now several packs free-ranging in Arizona and New Mexico. Wolf advocate Bobbie Holaday, the founder of Preserve Arizona's Wolves (PAWS), updates this edition with an introduction summarizing the progress that has been made. Van Gieson has published eight mysteries featuring Neil Hamel and five with University of New Mexico librarian Claire Reynier.

Review:
Neil Hamel is an attorney who likes to conduct her own investigations rather than using a private investigator. She is often called in to handle environmental issues and this time she is asked by a friend (a former almost love interest?) to cover permit issues for a client who is transporting and exhibiting a wild wolf in an educational program. Juan Sololobo, a strong wolf activist tends to attract trouble. He brings along a timber wolf, Sirius, who is not to be considered a pet even though he may be accustomed to humans. Juan has brought Sirius to Solodad, near White Sands, where they are touring the schools and staying on a ranch owned by his ex-wife.

White Sands is being considered as an appropriate location for a relocation program. There are local ranchers and hunters who are strong opponents to the idea of reintroducing the wolf anywhere near their town. A meeting of the supporters and opponents isn’t going well when it is interrupted by a freak hail storm and the discovery that someone has cut the chain that locked Sirius into a secure holding area. Now Juan is desperate to rescue the wolf while there are others arming themselves to hunt it down.

Neil returns home to Albuquerque only to get a call that one of the bureaucrats, a man whom Neil had learned to respect, has been murdered.  Juan had attacked the man in a fit of anger fueled by exhaustion and alcohol when he learned that he had locked Sirius up until an investigation could be completed. That makes Juan the prime suspect in the man’s murder.

The murder mystery is a little slow to develop as there is a lot of environmental build up and detail.  The author provides fascinating information covering the history of wolves, release programs, free roaming risks and the dilemmas the ranchers face from wild animals. Ranchers also have the opportunity for wildlife smuggling, human smuggling and drug trafficking. Although I didn't necessarily like Neil's methods of investigation, I did like the action and suspense that accompanied the gathering of clues.

Ms. Van Gieson takes a couple of off beat rabbit trails regarding water and sun which are presented in beautiful, prosaic streams of thought. These were odd in a mystery but still enjoyable. I rather enjoyed the slower pace of the story - it made me think of really hot weather when one might tend to move a bit slower. I puzzled a bit over the protagonist’s relationship with her live-in friend and sometimes ‘convenient’ lover, known as “kid.” I think this must be clearer in an earlier book but it didn’t hurt this mystery.

Audio Notes: Meredith Mitchell does a good job with the reading. The voices and accents are authentic and distinguishable. The environmental data is conveyed with good enthusiasm that keeps the reading moving along. I sense that I would prefer this author and her stories in audio as I might struggle with the slowness if I was reading and waiting to get to the murder.

I received this MP3 download from AudioGo through AudioBook Jukebox.

Audio Book Review: The Empty Mirror by James Lincoln Collier

This is a strange, ghostly bit of entertainment.
The Empty Mirror
by James Lincoln Collier

Unabridged Audiobook

Author: James Lincoln Collier  
Reader: Adam Verne  
Running Time: 3 hrs 45min
Published by AudioGO, 2013
Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Ghost Story
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Book Summary:
Nick Hodges had always been a troublesome boy. Growing up an orphan in his Uncle Jack's care in a small New England town wasn't easy. Everyone was a little wary, a little watchful--a little too watchful. One day, while Nick is walking in the woods, a neighbor thinks she sees him miles from where he actually is. Soon a series of events reinforcing Nick's hotheaded reputation unfold. The incidents become increasingly serious until, finally, Nick is the scapegoat for a much more sinister crime, one that he wouldn't even think of committing. As he uncovers history of the town's influenza epidemic, and as he observes a strange occurrence in the graveyard, Nick begins to suspect something out of the ordinary is happening. And when he sees a figure running in the woods wearing the mirror image of his own shirt, Nick starts to piece together some of the answers--answers no one could have imagined. James Lincoln Collier has written a haunting story of a boy and his reflection--and what happens when two souls want to inhabit the same living body.

Review:
I suppose you could best describe this as a ghost story and a mystery. It is set in a  type of back woods community in 1932. Nick, a young teen of 13, has already developed a reputation as a boy to cause trouble and mischief. One day a ‘nosy’ neighbor complains that he was rude to her. But he insists that he was miles away with his friend, Gypsy. Gypsy’s father is an abusive drunk. Her  family is considered trash and no one would believe them.

Nick is puzzled by the false accusations until he is looking in a pond and doesn’t see his own reflection. As Nick tries to hunt down the doppelganger himself the mischief leads him to a grave marker of a boy his own age who died with the influenza the year that Nick was born. The reflection continues to cause trouble focusing town hostility towards Nick. As the mischief escalates it appears that Nick may well end up in jail unless he can find a way to show the sheriff or town people he is innocent. Then the threats become even more deadly and Nick must leave or find a way to stop the body snatcher.

The story is interesting in its simplistic, beautiful settings and the mysterious, creepy danger. It is an unusual story and not my usual read but I did find it entertaining. I recommend this to fans ghost stories and to those who like unusual surprises with a touch of creepiness.

Audio Notes: Adam Verne does a nice job with the voices of Nick and Gypsy. The reading, and the writing, convey a small town, older time, tone. I do think there could have been a bit more suspense and excitement.  Still he managed to keep it entertaining and light which would make it better for YA listeners.

I received this MP3 download from AudioGo through AudioBook Jukebox.

Audiobook #Review: That Night on Thistle Lane by Carla Neggers

This is a nice romance but, for me, not romantic suspense.
That Night on Thistle Lane
by Carla Neggers

Product Information

• Author: Carla Neggers  
• Reader: Susan Boyce  
• Running Time: 9hrs 48min  
• Publisher: AudioGO Ltd  
• Number of CDs: 8 File 
• Quality: MP3 (128 kbps)  
• Release Date: 1/29/13  
• D/L ISBN: 9781609989941 
• CD ISBN: 9781620647103

Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Release date: January 29, 2013 | Series: Swift River Valley
New York Times bestselling author Carla Neggers returns with the second book in the Swift River Valley series, That Night on Thistle Lane, following Secrets of the Lost Summer.

More than just make-believe

Librarian Phoebe O'Dunn deals in stories, but her passion for history has taught her that happy endings are rare. Her life in Knights Bridge, Massachusetts, is safe and uneventful...until she discovers the hidden room.

Among its secrets is a cache of vintage clothing, including a spectacular gown--perfect for a gala masquerade in Boston. In the guise of a princess, Phoebe is captivated by a handsome swashbuckler who's also adopted a more daring persona. Noah Kendrick's wealth has made him wary, especially of women: everybody wants something.

When Noah and Phoebe meet again in Knights Bridge, at first neither recognizes the other. And neither one is sure they can trust the magic of the night they shared--until an unexpected threat prompts them to unmask their truest selves.

After all, it takes more than just the right costume to live out your personal fairy tale. It takes heart...and the courage to be more than you ever dreamed.

Review:
Phoebe O’Dunn was abandoned by her college sweetheart so she decided to shelter her heart. She grew comfortable with her single life-style and became a major support for her family and friends. She has recently discovered a hidden room in the library at Knights Bridge. She discovers some beautiful old movie dress replicas which she offers to allow her friends use for a gala masquerade ball. She decides to go at the last minute too as an Elizabethan princess. At the ball she is swept off her feet by a swashbuckling pirate and they share a dream dance until it is interrupted by Noah spotting a man he thinks is following him.

Noah Kendrick is a wealthy business mogul from California. He is wary of women who chase after him for his money or notoriety. He agrees to attend a masquerade ball with his business partner who is engaged to marry the love of his life, Olivia, who lives in Knights Bridge. At the ball he meets a beautiful, intriguing princess but doesn’t get her name.

Noah and Phoebe then meet at Olivia’s home but don’t immediately recognize each other. Noah decides to remain in the Knights Bridge to try to uncover ‘his princess.’ Soon he recognizes Phoebe by her movements and the lines of her face and hips. Phoebe heard a stranger talking mysteriously about Noah. Eventually when they acknowledge each other Noah discovers that his secret follower may have a connection to Phoebe’s hidden library room.

An early note I made about this story is that it has elements I find consistent in Ms. Neggers’ works: well developed characters, rich descriptions and unique, natural influences.  The hero and heroine share loneliness, independence and pain.  Ms. Neggers uses natural hobbies, goat soaps and essential oils being developed by the Knights Bridge ladies, to add warmth.  There are wonderful, rich descriptions showing pluses but differences between the small, close community of Knights Bridge and the big atmosphere of San Diego.

The story has a slow, relaxed feeling as the background it set before the romance blossoms. I have enjoyed several of Carla Neggers' novels and I was expecting this to be a romantic suspense so I was disappointed when I kept waiting for the suspense. Although there is a small mystery with the hidden room and who created the dresses, there really is minimal suspense. But if you are looking for a relaxing and rich contemporary romance this one works as a nice read.

Audio Notes: Susan Boyce does a nice job reading this story. She manages to maintain the pace even with a slowly developed story. It seemed that sometimes she nails the Boston accent but not always. The smooth narration added to the story for my listening pleasure.

I received this audio for review from AudioGo through Audiobook Jukebox.

This is set in Knights Bridge, Massachusetts for my 2013 Where Are You Reading Challenge.

Audio Book Review: The Lost Flower Children by Janet Taylor Lisle

This is a short, sweet story dealing with loss.
The Lost Flower Children
by Janet Taylor Lisle (Author),
Caitlin Davies (Narrator)

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 2 hours and 23 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: AudioGO
• Audible.com Release Date: November 1, 2012

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Reader
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Motherless Olivia and Nellie go to live with their elderly Great-Aunt Minty, who knows little about children, but a lot about her overgrown garden. Then one day, Olivia finds an old teacup in a flowerbed--and, later, an old story about eight children transformed into flowers. Only the person who finds their teacups can bring them back. Now the two sisters know what they must do.

Review:
Nine year old Olivia and five year old Nellie are struggling with the death of their mother.  Olivia feels lonely and misses her while Nellie creates a set of strange rules to cope with her loss. When their father has to find a new job, they are sent to live with their elderly Great-Aunt Minty. Aunt Minty lives in a cottage with a lovely but overgrown garden. Aunt Minty must learn volatile Nellie’s rules if she wants to avoid rants and tantrums.

Olivia takes advantage of the situation by reading from the large library of books she finds in the house. Among the books she finds a story about lost children who disappeared during a tea party in the garden. The story says that some evil garden sprites put a curse on the children turning them into flowers. They missed the youngest child who had slipped into the house so they made her mute so she couldn’t tell what she had seen. The curse could only be broken when all of the teacups and teapot were found and reassembled.

Having found one tea cup the girls set out to dig through the garden. Aunt Minty thinks it is harmless and they are all a bit surprised as they begin to find one cup after another as they clean out weeds and clean up the garden. The relationship between the girls and Aunt Minty grows gently. The ending brings surprises, changes and leaves a little mystery.  I think middle readers would enjoy this bit of sweet fancy and its gentle message.

Audio Notes: Caitlin Davies does a beautiful job of keeping the tone light and mysterious. She captures the protectiveness of Olivia, the whiny pitch of Nellie and the gentle soothings of Aunt Minty. Well done!

I received this for review from AudioGO through AudioBook Jukebox.

Audio Book Review: Ashes of Twilight by Kassy Tayler

Fans of The Hunger Games won't want to miss this engaging YA dystopia!
Ashes of Twilight
by Kassy Tayler (Author)
Nicola Barber (Narrator) 

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 9 hours and 24 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: AudioGO
• Audible.com Release Date: November 14, 2012

Genre: YA Dystopia
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Wren MacAvoy works as a coal miner for a domed city that was constructed in the mid-19th century to protect the royal blood line of England when astronomers spotted a comet on a collision course with Earth. Humanity would be saved by the most groundbreaking technology of the time. But after nearly 200 years of life beneath the dome, society has become complacent and the coal is running out. Plus, there are those who wonder: Is there life outside the dome? Or is the world still consumed by fire?

When one of Wren's friends escapes the confines of the dome, he is burned alive and put on display as a warning to those seeking to disrupt the dome’s way of life. But Alex’s final words are haunting. "The sky is blue." What happens next is a whirlwind of adventure, romance, conspiracy, and the struggle to stay alive in a world where nothing is as it seems. Wren unwittingly becomes a catalyst for a revolution that destroys the dome and the only way to survive might be to embrace what the entire society has feared their entire existence.

Review:
The city was built with glass domes and air filters to shelter humanity from the fire expected to burn up the surface when, in 1878, a comet was on collision with earth. The society was set up to protect the bloodline of the royals in England. The various classes are restricted by their duties to preserve the lifestyle and line of the pampered royals with their arranged marriages.  The coal miners live below in caves, providing coal to keep the fans running. Above ground, workers maintain the giant fans and clean the domes; others serve as gardeners, bakers, weavers and the various merchants who sell wares in the markets. Enforcers , called “blue coats”, guard the privileged royals from all the lower classes. Although the system was set up without criminal expectation, through the 200 years that have passed, a group of evil thugs, the filchers, dwell on the fringes and prey on those they can snatch in the streets.

Wren is an underground worker, a “shiner”, tending the ponies who pull the coal carts. She is now sixteen and has always had a bit of a crush on Alex but he is focused on Lucy. That leaves Wren stuck with her best friend’s brother, James, who is impetuous and sometimes cruel. Wren is a bit of a dreamer who sneaks up to the dome each day to watch the sunrise. She stares at the dome and wonders if there is really fire outside as the leaders say or if the world outside has returned to the green earth it used to be.

Alex and a few of their friends have started to gather as “seekers.” The group includes members across the class structure, including some royals who do not want to be forced into marriage. Suddenly the world as they know it is plunged into uproar. Wren witnesses a burned-alive Alex declaring with his last breath that “the sky is blue.” Alex had made a run for the outside but the blue coats dragged him back to let him die in the streets. Wren is chased by a blue coat, Pace, who has seen and heard more than he should. Soon the two are in hiding, wondering about the secrets beyond the dome and wondering what their future may bring. The younger miners want to investigate further but the elders are reluctant to cause trouble.

The story starts with Wren wondering about the Bible and the Heaven she knows little about. I enjoyed Wren’s faithful courage, steady determination and inclination to do the right thing even if that means seeking answers and freedom that could bring danger. Pace is a good match for her as he too is loyal, ready to protect her and ready to fight ‘the system.’  I also like how they both care for animals - the ponies and the canary Pace names Pip.

This is an engaging YA dystopia with wonderful world building and some good surprises. There is a good blend of action and ideological dreams.  I recommend this as a good read for those who like The Hunger Games and Divergent. I like that there is less senseless killing than in Hunger Games, although there is violence through the revolution that occurs. I will be interested in the sequel when released.

Audio Notes: Ms. Barber does a great job giving emotional input to Wren’s tale. She conveys her wonder, her frustration, her fear and sorrow. She presents the other characters equally well.  My only concern was that the narration was very soft making it hard to hear. Although that might have been the fault of my MP3, I realized the problem exists with the Media player too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wren has to make a decision when escape becomes possible:

"....yet, everything and everyone I love is still inside and something is desperately wrong in there. I can’t leave him....Dreams are nothing unless you have someone to share them with." End of Chapter 27.

I received this for review from AudioGO through AudioBook Jukebox.

Audio Book Review: Cat Bearing Gifts by Shirley Rousseau

This a nice cozy mystery - good for mystery lovers and purrrrfect for cat lovers.

Cat Bearing Gifts: A Joe Grey Mystery, Book 18
by Shirley Rousseau Murphy (Author), 
Susan Boyce (Narrator)

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 8 hours and 51 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: AudioGO
• Audible.com Release Date: November 20, 2012

Genre: Cozy Mystery
My Rating 4.0 of 5.0

A car crash, a missing treasure, a dead thief, and a suspicious blond divorcée have feline P.I. Joe Grey and his four-legged cohorts clawing for justice in this lively new entry in the beloved, award-winning series.
Kate Osborne, a divorcée, reappears with a fortune and a strange story about how she obtained it. Meanwhile, a terrible car crash involves tortoiseshell Kit and her elderly housemates, Lucinda and Pedric Greenlaw. The accident is terrifying enough, but then two mysterious men steal the car - and the secret treasure hidden inside its doors. When one of the thieves ends up dead, Joe must discover if the events are connected - and why. With the investigation in trouble, will they find the killer...or be left chasing their tails?

Review:
Kit, a small tortoiseshell cat, is one of five feline friends living with their people in Molina Point, CA. Her humans are Pedric and Lucinda Greenwald who have been given a small fortune by their friend, Kate. The Greenwalds and Kit are returning from San Francisco in a fairly new Lincoln town car with the treasure hidden in the door panels.  An accident occurs with a rock slide when a tracker trailer and pick-up truck jostle down the cliff road and bump them into the rocks.

The two men in the pick-up, Vic and Birely, are drifters and low level thieves.  They attack the elderly couple and steal the car. Birely happens to have a connection to the property of another of the cats’ human friends, Emmy Lou.  Vic and Birely have been secretly camping out in a stone building behind the house that Emmy Lou inherited from Birely’s murdered sister. Birely felt deprived of his inheritance and he is sure there is money hidden on the property.

Other friends are pulled in to rescue Kit and the Greenwalds. The cats are angry at the injuries suffered by Pedric and Lucinda and soon they are suspicious of the behavior of the men sneaking around Emmy Lou’s house. It is fun to listen as the cats are smuggled into the hospitals. The cats have all the pieces of the puzzle if only they can get the information together and to their humans to take action.

The story is told in third person, often from the view of the cats with many first person cat thoughts interspersed, creating a fun perspective. The reader/listener also gets to follow the thoughts and actions of criminals so we know what is going on and are waiting for the cats and humans to catch the bad guys before worse things happen. Since the author reveals the actions of the criminals as the story proceeds this is not so much a mystery to solve but for the reader to watch it being solved.  Joe Grey, the apparent star of the series, only plays a small role in solving this mystery.

I enjoyed the coincidences that tied all the characters together. I had a little trouble at first sorting out the cats and their connections but once I outlined them it was easy to follow the group of friends -- human and feline. There is also a relationship upheaval  between Kit and her true love, the red tom cat, Pan, that adds to the story. I enjoyed the mystery and the interactions.  I would listen to more from the series if I find time. This one works out fine as a stand alone.

Audio notes: I enjoyed the easy narration style. It fit well with the cozy genre of the story. It was fun to share the different cat and human attributes through their voices. I think the audio enhanced the story for me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is an example of cute humor from one of the cats.

He was sure she thought the old place was as empty as a clean-licked tuna can.  Disc 7.

I received this to review for AudioGo through AudioBook Jukebox.

This story is set in California for 2013 Where Are You Reading. This is also a new author for me.

Audio Book Review: A Brew to a Kill: A Coffeehouse Mystery by Cleo Coyle

Coffee and food fun spice up this amateur sleuthing mystery!
A Brew to a Kill: A Coffeehouse Mystery
Cleo Coyle (Author), Rebecca Gibel (Narrator) 

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 10 hours and 28 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: AudioGO
• Audible.com Release Date: August 7, 2012

Genre: Cozy Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: August 2012 | Series: A Coffeehouse Mystery
"Coyle's Coffeehouse books are superb" (Library Journal), and now the national bestselling author of MURDER BY MOCHA serves up a hot new Coffeehouse Mystery with A BREW TO A KILL.

Coffee. It can get a girl killed.
A shocking hit-and-run in front of her Village Blend coffeehouse spurs Clare Cosi into action. A divorced, single mom in her forties, Clare is also a dedicated sleuth, and she's determined to track down this ruthless driver who ran down an innocent friend and customer. In the meantime, her ex-husband Matt, the shop's globetrotting coffee buyer, sources some amazing new beans from Brazil. But he soon discovers that he's importing more than coffee, and Clare may have been the real target of that deadly driver. Can ex-husband and wife work together to solve this mystery--or will their newest brew lead to murder? Includes recipes.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review:
I thought this started a little slowly but fortunately it soon picked up and held my interest for the rest of the story. The story starts with a hit and run from the view of the killer which does get the listener’s attention.  The scene then shifts to Clare’s coffee realm and there was some kibitzing, and introducing characters, before the next incident occurred. Clare’s nasty competition, Kaylie the Kupcake Kween, is hawking her wares outside of The Village Blend. As Clare and her staff are getting the harassing truck to move on, a van charges down the street hitting Lili Beth, Clare’s friend and new dietary consultant. Clare meets with "Mad Max" Buckman, the intense NYPD detective investigating the hit and run. When it appears the attack was intentional Clare begins to suspect Kaylie and seeks clues to prove her guilt.

Meanwhile, Clare and her sexy, Italian, ex-husband Matt, discover that there is something extra in the bags of premium coffee beans recently received from Brazil. Clare’s boyfriend, Detective Mike Quinn, who specializes in drug related cases, returns from a Washington conference pulling strings to help protect Clare and Matt -- first from a DEA raid and then from the Brazilian drug lords who are expected to show up to claim their product.

Ms. Coyle does a good job of blending lots of humor and some tender romance with the sleuthing action. Once the second hit and run occurred I was completely hooked into the story and it moved at a good pace. Woven throughout the twisting mystery investigations are more interesting characters, coffee and food recipes, fashion details and fun poetry rapping. This is not the first book in the series so all of the cast were new to me and there are quite a few colorful characters to meet.

Audio notes: Rebecca Gibel does a grand job giving personality to all of the varied character voices. It was easy to follow along with the shift in speakers, from Clare's Bohemian, Matriarchal mother-in-law to sassy Esther and her poetry rapping. The fun ‘perks’ through the narration. I look forward to going back and picking up other audio installments in this very fun series.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I loved the coffee euphemisms:

"Blonde Roast. It’s a nutty little number with a sweet and sassy note of honey drizzled blackberry. She’s a real kick too. Mainly because she’s a lighter roast so there’s slightly more caffeine left in the bean. But there’s an even better reason men tell me they enjoy drinking her in."... "She’s far less trouble than a real blonde." Trac 65.

And there are words of wisdom on art:

"Art isn’t about what’s pretty, it’s about what’s true and what’s real. Being an artist is about finding your voice and vision just as Esther described it. And you don’t find the truth through cosmetic surgery. You find it through authenticity." Trac 84

I received this Audio download, for an honest review, from AudioGo
through AudioBook Jukebox.

This is set in New York; I will add it to my Audio, Cozy Mystery and New Author Challenge lists.

Audio Book Review: Emily Goes to Exeter by Marion Chesney

This is a fun, engaging match-making tale set in Regency England.

Emily Goes to Exeter: The Traveling Matchmaker, Book One 
Author: Marion Chesney (M.C. Beaton)
Narrator: Helen Lisanti
Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 5 hours and 39 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: AudioGO
Audible.com Release Date: August 1, 2012

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: April 15, 2010
A dead employer’s legacy of five thousand pounds allows spinster Hannah Pym to resign from housekeeping and find adventure travelling the English countryside by stagecoach. But adventure soon finds Miss Pym in the form of Miss Emily Freemantle, a spoilt violet-eyed beauty fleeing an arranged marriage to a rake she has never met. What the girl’s darkly handsome betrothed boards their stage, Miss Pym is certain Emily was rash to bolt from this aristocratic catch! And so as soon as the travellers repair to an inn, Miss Pym begins her matchmaking… and although Lord Ranger Harley complains he’ll not marry an ungrateful minx, Miss Pym suspects once she’s marshalled the couple into sharing intimate household chores, all romantic knots will be untangled!

Review:
Although the story is title “Emily Goes to Exeter” the true protagonist and star of the story is Hannah Pym.  Miss Pym is a middle-aged spinster who has risen over many years to the position of Housekeeper for a reclusive gentleman. Miss Pym has steadfastly taken care of Mr. Clarence since before his wife ran away. Now Mr. Clarence has died and Miss Pym wonders what will happen to her.

Miss Pym is thrilled when she is left the good sum of five thousand pounds-- enough to take care of her for the rest of her life. Now she can seek adventures on the ‘flying’ stage coaches that she has longingly watched from the parlor windows.  Miss Pym gets some pleasant help from Mr. Clarence’s distinguished and kind, single brother, Sir George, who has inherited Thornton Hall. He helps her set up an account at the bank and encourages her to stay safe as she insists on setting out on the stage coach to Exeter.

Miss Pym is fascinated by the other passengers and the coach staff. An attempt by a highwayman is thwarted but inclement weather strands the group at a local Inn. When the Inn staff can’t get through the snow, the indomitable Miss Pym takes charge to organize feeding and cleaning with the expectation that everyone, from Coachman to Lord, will pitch in to help. 

Miss Pym puts her organizational skills to work too as a matchmaker for Miss Emily, a young girl who was running away from a match made by her parents, and her would be fiancé, Lord Harley, who has followed along to take her home.  Emily thought she was in love with a young man at home and that Lord Harley was too old and rakish for her. But her nose is out of joint to discover that Lord Harley may well reject a spoiled young miss, no matter her beauty.

Miss Pym is also matchmaking to get a rich widow away from the Captain who wants to control her and match her with a sweet, kind Lawyer instead.  Jealousies and tempers flare and injuries occur that indicate someone in the group is up to no good.

Miss Pym finds adventure in the whole journey and is a delightful character! I loved the regency setting that allowed her adventures along the road and at the Inn. The group of traveling companions are well developed to play into their roles with intrigue and sweet, budding romance. Although the mysterious attacks are a smaller portion of the whole, they add to the package to make this an entertaining tale.

Audio Notes: The narrator does a fine job of capturing the different British voices from cockney to highbrow and various classes in between. The reading fit the 'old-fashioned' tone. The pacing was sweet and moved well with the easy pace of the story.  This is a fun and engaging listen especially for readers who enjoy this genre.

I received this for an honest Review from AudioGo through AudioBook Jukebox.

Audio Book Review: The Magician's Apprentice by Kate Banks

WOW - this little story is remarkable - truly more than I expected!
The Magician's Apprentice
Author: Kate Banks; Narrator: Charlie Thurston

• Type: Unabridged
•  ISBN-13: 978-0-7927-8948-2 
• Package: 3 CD Audiobook 
• Length:  3 Hr 33 Min
• Publisher: AudioGO (December 11, 2012)

Genre: Fiction, Middle Grader Fiction (?)
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: August 7, 2012 | Age Level: 10 and up
Baz has always dreamed about leaving his dusty little town, so when a stranger comes to his family's home and asks him to be a weaver's apprentice, Baz is eager to start his journey. He and the stranger travel for several sunrises and sunsets until they reach the land of Kallah, where Baz starts his apprenticeship—and soon learns that his master is very cruel. Baz is disheartened, and when the master trades Baz for a sword to a magician, Baz expects no better from his new owner. But as Baz travels further into the depths of the desert with this kind-hearted and wise magician, he learns to re-examine his beliefs about people, the world, and himself, discovering that everything is connected in a continuous journey toward destiny and that no person or thing can ever really be owned.

•  Amazon link
• Listen to Sample at Audible

Reviews:
Baz is a young man ready to journey from home to be apprenticed for a new career.  He has no idea what the career will be but he anticipates the adventure. When the day finally arrives a stranger takes him away to deliver him to be a weaver’s apprentice. Baz is willing to do the job but his master is cruel; he takes the possessions of the students and practically starves them to death. After losing a friend and his small dog to the brutality of the master Baz plans an escape. Baz takes with him a small key he has treasured and hidden since he found it, but before he can succeed in his plans Baz is traded to another stranger.

Although Baz expects cruelty from his new master he soon learns that the old man is a gentle-hearted, philosophizing, wise magician.  They travel together through villages, across the desert and into the mountains where it is rumored no one ever returns. Along the way the magician shares and explains riddles of life and wisdom with Baz.

Ms. Bates is apparently an author of many children's books but I really hesitate to classify this as a Middle Grader genre.  The tale may appeal to a younger audience but it is much more than an interesting adventure. I found this story to be profound and wonderfully expressed. The writing is lyrical and the views on the meaning of life are thought provoking. The view encompasses a oneness of all beings and creation. Although that is not necessarily consistent with my Christian beliefs there is a part of me that can see all souls and physical elements of the world as being connected parts of God’s creation. There are many tidbits of wisdom that I found marvelous. These include recognition of the illusions of life, the idea of change being continuous and truth usually being broader than what a person first sees through their limited perception. These insights on the meaning of life are beautifully woven and shared through the journey and the friendship of Baz and his mentor.

AUDIO Observations:  The narration is exquisite. Absolutely perfect for the rhythm, mystery and unique synchronicity of the story. I am likely to look for more books narrated by Mr. Thurston as he did such a masterful job on this one.

This is a story I may want to get in print and it apparently has some simple drawings that add to the text. But, whether in print or audio, this is a keeper that I plan to enjoy again. I highly recommend this story and audio.

Words I noted while listening:
      Lyrical, riddles, profound, change, truth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Quotes I noted:
(From Track 27)

“No,” said Todas. “Intention does not come from the mind, although the mind thinks it does. Intention comes from here.” Todas pointed to his heart again then closed his hands in prayer.

Baz asks

“Where do you come from?”
“Where we come from is not important,” said Todas. “It is where we are going that matters.

(From Chapter 7 Track 29)
Baz questions if magic is deception and dishonest; Todas replies:

“That's not how I see it. I am simply showing my audience that not all is as it seems.  The world is bigger, its secrets  greater. True magic is not just to amuse it's to bring people closer to the truth, to reality. The magician’s task is not to show power, but to dispel illusion. Power is nothing but an illusion. Magic represents the capacity for transformation and change inside all of us.  Is that lesson not worth something?"

I am thankful I had the opportunity to review this for AudioGo through AudioBook Jukebox.

I will add this to my New Author and Audio Challenge lists.

Audio Book Review: Night Rounds by Helene Tursten

This is a detailed Scandinavian crime mystery with the portrayal of a strong female inspector.

Night Rounds: A Detective Inspector Irene Huss Investigation
by Helene Tursten
Suzanne Toren (Narrator)

Audio CD
Publisher: AudioGO; Unabridged edition (June 5, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1609989724
ISBN-13: 978-1609989729

Genre: Mystery, Scandinavian Crime
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2012 | Series: Inspector Irene Huss

Irene Huss is a former Ju-Jitsu champion, a mother of twin teenage girls, the wife of a successful chef, and a Detective Inspector with the Violent Crimes Unit in Goteborg, Sweden. And now she’s back with a gripping follow-up to Detective Inspector Huss.

One nurse lies dead and another vanishes after their hospital is hit by a blackout. The only witness claims to have seen Nurse Tekla doing her rounds, but Nurse Tekla died sixty years ago. Detective Inspector Irene Huss of the Violent Crimes Unit has the challenge of disentangling wandering ghosts and complex human relationships to get to the bottom of this intriguing case.

A cult hit in its first three installments, the Irene Huss series is available once again for English-language fans.

Review:
This is a crisply written, dramatic mystery rather than a fast paced, exciting thriller.  I say dramatic as the author describes, with clean detail, the characters, settings and events. The mystery begins, carries and closes out the book but the clues, suspects and her colleagues are woven through the day to day investigation and the day to day living activities of Inspector Irene Huss. These activities including her husband and children aids personal depth to character of the Inspector and make her a real and more likeable character.

Although the investigators do not say so right away, it seems fairly clear that the murderer must have dressed up to appear like the hospital ghost, Nurse Tekla. The witness of the “ghost” as the murderer lends additional mystery as Inspector Huss has to unravel the intertwining connections between the 60 year old ghost, the current murder victim, the missing nurse and those remaining persons of interest who might have motive and opportunity. 

I wouldn’t say that the story moves along quickly as there is a good bit of detail in the telling of the daily progress. I enjoyed the detail and didn’t feel that the story was bogged down or dragging. It just is a different, methodical presentation which may be connected to the Scandinavian investigative process. I liked how the clues add up until the perpetrator is exposed. Apparently this is part of a series but it was easy to follow as a stand alone.

The narrator's reading is suited well to the methodical pacing.   Susanne Toren narration is precise, giving  just a bit of accent as fits the different characters.  I would enjoy listening to this narrator again and reading or listening to more mysteries by Ms. Tursten.

Thank you to AudioGo who provided this title for review through Audiobook Jukebox.