Audio Book Review: The Thirteenth Rose Charlie D. Mysteries, Book 4 by Gail Bowen

This is another quick, enjoyable mystery with Charlie D's special, gentle kindness.

The Thirteenth Rose
Charlie D. Mysteries, Book 4
by Gail Bowen

Audio Book Length:  1 Hr 24 Min
# of Audio CD's:  2
# of MP3 CD's:  1
Audio CD ISBN:  978-1-927401-95-8
Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

For his Valentine's night call-in show, host Charlie D plans to offer his listeners two hours on the topic of "satisfaction." His in-studio guest is twenty-five-year-old Misty de Vol Burgh, formerly the highest-paid escort in the city but now happily married to eighty-three-year-old billionaire Henry Burgh. It's all good fun until Charlie receives a chilling message: "It's take-out-the-garbage night. Time to kill all the hookers and wash the streets with blood." When Charlie is directed to a website that allows viewers to watch the murder of a prostitute in real time and promises that another killing will be broadcast live within the hour, the hunt is on. But The World According to Charlie D. has an audience of over a million listeners. The murderer could be anyone, anywhere. Charlie and his team have less than two hours to find and stop the killer.

Review:
This is book four in the Charlie D mystery series. There is a brief recap introduction of Charlie to readers who are new to the series. Host Charlie D has a knack for listening and helping lonely people who call in to share on his late night radio talk show. His special guest for Valentines’ day is his ‘new’ boss, Misty de Vol Burgh who has unique qualifications. Misty is a mid-twenties former high-paid escort who married eighty-three-year-old billionaire Henry Burgh who bought the station as a gift for her.

While Charlie and Misty prepare to answer questions about love on the show, the station production manager, Nova, is becoming alarmed by threats to ‘women of the night’. The threat heats up when a video of a call girl being brutally murdered goes viral on the internet durint the show. There is a threat that another murder will take place by midnight and it is feared that violence is waiting outside to attack Misty when she leaves the studio.

Apparently another show host is a very outspoken and hostile man who has been riling up a group of chauvinist/purists who are condemning women who make their living through sexual relationships. The police try to trace a connection while Misty demands the man return to the studio to try to defuse the situation. What can Charlie and Misty due to prevent another murder?

These ‘rapid reads’ are enjoyable, short listens. They have a mystery that addresses current, everyday issues. The author shares philosophy and goodness through Charlie's wise, kind words along with real emotions of sadness and friendship. If you have ever enjoyed talk show radio, or enjoy mysteries with a gentle philosphical message, I encourage you to treat yourself to these quick listens.

Audio Notes: Once again narrator Daniel Maté makes this ‘rapid read’ an easy listen. He manages to express the essence of Charlie as well as portraying the other characters through the voice inflections. The narration adds to my enjoyment of the series.

I received this audio book from Post Hypnotic Press for an honest review.

Audio Review: Shadow Killer, A Charlie D. Mystery, by Gail Bowen

Relationship issues wrapped up in a bit of a mystery.

"Shadow Killer," A Charlie D. Mystery
by Gail Bowen
(Rapid Reads) Post Hypnotic Press

Narrator:  Daniel Maté
Audio Book Length:  1 Hr 21 Min
# of Audio CD's:  2
# of MP3 CD's:  1
Download ISBN:  978-1-927401-89-7
Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

"Packs a lot of action into a mere 87 pages. The Rapid Reads line of books is perfect for the adult on the go who desires an intriguing read that can be devoured in one setting - amazon.com"

It's Father's Day weekend--a tough time for Charlie D, host of a late-night radio call-in show that offers supportive advice to troubled listeners. For years Charlie has been alienated from his father--a retired politician who was always too busy for his son when Charlie was growing up. The trouble is, his dad has chosen this weekend to attempt to reconcile with his son. Charlie is not keen to forgive. But Charlie's personal issues suddenly seem mundane when an email arrives from a young listener that outlines his very specific plans to kill not just his father but his entire family. The deeply troubled boy could be anywhere, and Charlie has just two hours to discover his identity and stop him from murder.

Review:
Once again the story introduces Charlie and his call in radio show to newcomers. It’s Father’s Day and Charlie is ready to listen to his fans who call in to share their woes. Not everyone has fond memories of their childhood relationship with their fathers, including Charlie. Charlie’s dad was a busy politician who was disappointed by a son whose face was marred by a large birthmark. Charlie understands being estranged from one’s father and isn’t really interested in responding when his father calls and asks to get together.

Charlie arrives at work to have his producer advise him that a young listener has sent in an email indicating his plans to kill his father, the rest of his family and the rest of his family. Charlie now has to focus his talents on drawing the boy out to call in so they can hopefully talk him out of his plans or at least try to identify him. Charlie is initially at a loss but Nova has helped with father-relationship quotes to open up the show.

Charlie’s boss calls in raging over his elderly, wealthy father who is about to marry a sexy woman young enough to be his granddaughter. Charlie tries to encourage the man to be happy for his father but gets fired instead.

Charlie is still trying to get the ‘shadow killer’ to call in when Charlie’s own father calls. He thinks he can share insight to the frustrations of the young boy.

This episode is rather poignant as it deals with father-son relationships. There is still a little bit of mystery and Charlie is his ever engaging character. I enjoy these quick listens.

Audio Notes: Daniel Maté continues to narrate this series with easy distinction. I enjoy the fun, quick story.

I received this audio from Post Hypnotic Press for an honest review.

Audio Book Review: One Fine Day You're Gonna Die Charlie D. Mysteries, Book 2 by Gail Bowen

This is an engaging, psychological mystery that is a good, quick listen.

One Fine Day You're Gonna Die

Charlie D. Mysteries, Book 2

by Gail Bowen

Narrator: Daniel Maté

# of Audio CD's: 2

# of MP3 CD's: 1

Audio CD ISBN: 978-1-927401-92-7

Genre: Mystery

My Rating: 4.25 of 5..0

Charlie D is back doing his late-night radio call-in show. It's Halloween--The Day of the Dead. Not a day filled with good memories for Charlie, but the show must go on. His studio guest this evening is Dr. Robin Harris, an arrogant and ambitious "expert in the arts of dying and grieving," who also seems to be auditioning for her own radio talk show. Charlie and Dr. Harris do not hit it off. Things go from bad to worse when the doctor's ex-lover, Gabe, goes on air to announce that he's about to end his life. Dr. Harris is entirely unsympathetic until she learns that Gabe also has her daughter Kali and plans to poison her too. It will take all of Charlie D's on-air skills to save both Gabe and Kali.

Review:
This is the second in the Charlie D mystery series. In this episode it is Halloween and Charlie D has a guest hostess to deal with The Day of the Dead. Dr. Robin Harris is extremely arrogant and thinks that only her opinions on grieving are the right and worthy ones. She hopes to use this night with Charlie as an opportunity to gain her own talk show. There is a big difference between Charlie and Robin. Charlie has learned to listen to his audience and they appreciate him for that. Robin is too busy trying to tell the callers what she thinks instead of waiting to hear their experience and needs.

Robin is angry that Charlie’s producer, Nova, refuses to bar Robin’s ex-boyfriend, Gabe, from calling in. She doesn’t want to talk to him but she finally begins to listen when she learns that Gabe has her young daughter, Kali, and he is planning to poison her before killing himself. Can Charlie manage to talk Gabe out of harming Kali, or at least keep him on the line until they can locate him and the police can arrive. As Robin panics and continues to make a fool of herself some of Charlie’s other callers are able to call in and give some wise advise for the situation.

Once again this is a psychological mystery that is engaging and enjoyable for a quick listen. The introduction fills the listener in on  Charlie’s particular uniqueness and his occupation so a reader could select this title to enjoy as a stand alone.

Audio Notes: Daniel Maté presents the characters with panache and makes this ‘rapid read’ a smooth,
easy listen.

I received this audio book from Post Hypnotic Press for an honest review.

Audio Review: Love You to Death Charlie D. Mysteries, Book 1 by Gail Bowen

This is a great audio way to enjoy a quick mystery story.
Love You to Death
Charlie D. Mysteries, Book 1
by Gail Bowen

Narrator:  Daniel Maté
Audio Book Length:  1 Hr 34 Min
# of Audio CD's:  2
Download ISBN:  978-1-927401-74
Post Hypnotic Press

Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Charlie D is the host of a successful late-night radio call-in show. His listeners have a particularly intimate relationship with him and often reveal much about themselves, confident that he will honor their trust and that he can save them. In their minds, he is perfect: one of life's winners. But Charlie feels he's something of a fake. His easy confidence on-air belies the reality for a man born with a wine-colored birthmark that covers half his face. Love You to Death covers one hour on "The World According to Charlie D"--an hour during which he must both discover the long-time listener who is killing the people who trust him and attempt to come to terms with the man behind the birthmark.

Review:
Charlie D has a popular night time radio talk show where he fields calls from many troubled callers who use his show as a type of suicidal ‘crisis’ line. Sometimes he directs them to professional help and sometimes he takes their calls privately to soothe them in times of urgency. The callers view Charlie D as a winner who encourages them to do better and see more in themselves. The callers don't realize that Charlie has his own reasons to feel desperate about life at times so he has a lot of empathy for his callers.

Two of his regular call-in fans have been found dead. The police suspect another fan who has fixated on Charlie D, and wants to eliminate the competition. They set up a call show for “Obsessed Lovers” hoping to draw out the killer. The police, including a police psychologist, are at the studio listening to every call. Not only are Charlie D’s fans in danger but, with the murderer trying to get to Charlie, can the police protect Charlie and his show producer, Nova?

This is a very engaging, quick sound bite, mystery. The villain is an appropriately twisted psychopath. I enjoyed the introduction to Charlie and Nova who have their quirks and a solid working relationship. I recommend this to mystery lovers and it is perfect when you want a quick listen/read to enjoy.

Audio Notes: The narration was spot on for the story, with the narrator appropriately conveying the nuances of voices, personalities and emotions. Stay tuned as I am looking forward to more ‘rapid reads’ and night time talk line with Charlie D.

I received this audio book from Post Hypnotic Press for an honest review.