#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Flop Dead Gorgeous: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by Davide Rosenfelt

This is another good Andy Carpenter legal thriller that was a quick listen.

Flop Dead Gorgeous: An Andy Carpenter Mystery
By David Rosenfelt
Narrator: Grover Gardner

Series: An Andy Carpenter Novel, Book 27 Length: 6hr 43min
Release date: 07-04-23
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Legal Thriller
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Lights, camera, action in bestselling author David Rosenfelt’s Flop Dead Gorgeous , as Andy Carpenter goes bicoastal to prove an old friend’s innocence.
Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter remembers every dog that’s come through the Tara Foundation’s doors, but the most well-known alum of the dog rescue organization that Andy founded in Paterson, New Jersey, may be Mamie. Adopted by famous actress Jenny Nichols―Andy’s high school girlfriend―the miniature French poodle is now practically a starlet in her own right.
Andy doesn’t hold it against his friend. In fact, he and his wife, Laurie, have dinner with Jenny while she’s in town filming her next big hit. But after an eventful meal, there’s a plot twist the next morning that none of them see Jenny’s costar is found dead, a knife in his back. It’s not long before Jenny is arrested for the murder and finds herself in need of Andy’s legal services.
While Mamie becomes reacquainted with Tara, Andy’s golden retriever, Andy digs into the lives of the rich and famous.

Review:
Andy Carpenter is a millionaire lawyer who would rather be retired and working with his dog rescue, Tara’s Foundation, named after his golden retriever. But Andy is continually pulled in to representing people he knows, or are friends of friends, who are in desperate need of his services. A famous actress, Jenny Nichols, who rescued a miniature French poodle from Tara’s Foundation, has now been accused of killing her current costar. Few people know that Andy dated Jenny in high school so of course he is going to step up to take on her defense.

All of the usual investigation team get pulled in to help. This includes Andy’s wife, Laurie, a former Paterson police officer, Marcus, Andy’s brutish bodyguard, Sam, the finance / computer wizard, and investigator Corey with his K9 partner, Simon. The team begins to pursue connections that bring threats to Andy’s life.

The pattern of these stories is similar. It seems pretty clear the accused is innocent. The actual killer is often attached to the mob, a terrorist group, or similar crime syndicate that has an obscure connection to the victim. Andy and his team are able to gather details but may not be able to get admissible evidence in time for the trial. At the last minute some evidence or admission (often with the help of Federal agents) is delivered to save the case.

Even though this story fits the repeated pattern, the investigation into connected clues and ‘Andy snark’ make the story worth the read/listen. This is an on-going legal mystery series I enjoy and recommend. I have missed a few stories in the middle of the series and I am glad that the later stories are able to be read as stand alone stories with the proviso that you have read the first several books so that you get to know Andy and his team.

Audio Notes: Grover Gardner has this series down pat. He provides the perfect accents and attitudes of the characters. I totally enjoy listening to Gardner’s performance of this series.

Source: June 2023 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2023NetGalley and 2023Audiobook goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Instructor by T.R. Hendricks

I enjoyed the military survival training in this suspenseful story.
The Instructor
By T.R. Hendricks
Narrated by: Jay Snyder

Series: Derek Harrington, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins
Release date: 04-11-23
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Military, Suspense, Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Derek Harrington, retired Marine Force Recon and SERE instructor, is barely scraping by teaching the basics of wilderness survival. His fledgling bushcraft school is on the cusp of going out of business and expenses are piling up fast. His only true mission these days? To get his ailing father into a full care facility and to support his ex-wife and their son.
When one of his students presents him with an opportunity too good to be true―$20,000 to instruct a private group for 30 days in upstate New York―Derek reluctantly takes the job, despite his reservations about the group's insistence on anonymity. But it isn't long before the training takes an unexpected turn―and a new offer is made.
Reaching out to an FBI contact to sound his concerns, Derek soon finds himself in deep cover, deep in the woods, embroiled with a fringe group led by a charismatic leader who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. When what he wants becomes Derek's head, the teacher is pitted against his students as Derek races against time to stop what could very well be the first attack by the domestic terrorist cell.

Review:
Derek is a retired expert teaching the basics of serious wilderness survival. At the end of the most recent class, one man offers him a significant fee to come train his team. Derek goes reluctantly because he has to leave behind his ailing father and his son who expects him to attend his games. Derek has some concerns about the training when he is delivered blind folded to a compound that raises lots of questions. Especially when he is offered another significant sum for extended training.

On a very brief break from the compound training, Derek reaches out to a friend in the FBI. His friend agrees convinces Derek to go back undercover to gain more information. Derek has to do the training and increase the skills of the compound team over the weeks, or it would be suspicious, even though Derek fears that he may be training terrorists. He finds another undercover agent and they try to plan an exit before they are exposed. But things aren’t quite as they seem, and Derek really hasn’t managed to shelter those he should be protecting.

The story has a good bit of Rambo action. It is filled with wilderness training that I did find interesting. The full-on action and suspense are a great element. Unfortunately, there were some obvious flaws as Derek fails to take some protective steps and falls into some obvious traps. Overall, I did enjoy the action and I would try the next book. I recommend this to fans of military action.

Audio Notes: Jay Snyder does a good job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and emotional feelings to fit the text. I appreciate getting to listen to this audiobook.

Source: 2023 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2023NetGalley and 2023Audiobook goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner

This reminds me of Land Before Time and I enjoyed the characters and their outcast clan.

The Deadlands: Hunted
by Skye Melki-Wegner
Narrated by: John Pirhalla

Series: The Deadlands, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
Release date: 04-04-23
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Action, Adventure, Dinosaurs, Middle Grade
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Wings of Fire meets Jurassic Park in this action-adventure middle grade debut series about five outcasts—and former enemies—who are the only hope to save their warring kingdoms from impending doom.
"My favorite middle grade book of the year.”—New York Times-bestselling author Amie Kaufman
Battle rages between the dinosaur kingdoms of Cretacea.
When the Fallen Star struck, it brought death and despair, ash and toxic rain. But some dinosaurs survived . . . and were changed. Their minds grew alert. They learned to speak. To dream. To wage war.
As the two remaining dinosaur kingdoms fight for territory, Eleri, the disgraced son of a prince, is exiled from his home for saving an enemy soldier. Banished to the merciless Deadlands, a terrifying desert full of tar pits, poisonous gas, and ruthless carnivores, he must join forces with a group of questionable allies—including the enemy soldier he saved—to avoid becoming prey.
When Eleri and his fellow exiles discover the horrific truth behind the war, the unlikely heroes must do all they can to save their kingdoms from a lurking predator. . . and a secret plot that might destroy them all.
A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company.
©2023 Skye Melki-Wegner (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Review:
Eleri is the disgraced son of a clan prince. He is a small dinosaur who likes storytelling and isn’t interested in battle like his larger brother. Eleri and his brother were out on the edge of territory to see the large longneck dinosaurs go by. When they hide from an air predator they stumble upon three enemy scouts. When the bird dives, Eleri shouts out resulting in saving the life of one of the enemy dinosaurs. Eleri’s own brother declares his action as treason. Eleri is quickly taken before the tribunal and king and exiled to the Deadlands. It is expected that outcasts to the Deadlands will not survive long.

Eleri manages to get to an oasis but finds that enemy raptors are stock piling food. Then he stumbles upon another outcast – the young dinosaur whose life he saved. She was raised to be a warrior but failed to kill Eleri when directed to. Now she wishes she had killed him rather than getting outcast. Eleri has to convince her to work with him so they can both survive. They manage to sneak into the oasis to get food. They also learn that there is a great conspiracy setting the woodland clans against each other.

Eleri and his new companion join forces with two more dinosaurs they meet, a cheery vegetarian who loves math, and a young longneck who was banned as a prophetic dreamer. As they try to find a way to save their clans back home, a fifth dinosaur, a messenger bird, joins their outcast clan. Can they do anything to thwart the Deadland tribes, of raptors and T-Rex, and save their clans?

I liked the outcast dinosaurs with their unique quirks. They each brought a useful skill that helped them  as they worked together. It is sweet how they realize they can be their own clan. This is a nice story showing how not everyone has to be a warrior or go the way of the majority. I recommend this as an entertaining adventure for middle graders and adults who like dinosaur adventure.

Audio Notes: John Pirhalla does a lovely job with the narration. He provides very distinct voices and tones that fit the natures of each character. The narration helped me to “see” the story and enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 2023 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2023NetGalley, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Location goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Good Dog, Bad Cop by David Rosenfelt

I enjoyed this entry in the K Team series.
Good Dog, Bad Cop
By: David Rosenfelt
Narrated by: Fred Berman

The K Team #4
Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins
Release date: 03-14-23
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Animals, Private Investigators
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

For the K Team, playing "good dog," "bad cop" is all fun and games...until there's a body on the scene, in the next K Team Novel by bestselling author David Rosenfelt.
The K Team enjoys investigating cold cases for the Paterson Police Department. Corey Douglas, his K-9 partner Simon Garfunkel, Laurie Collins, and Marcus Clark even get to choose which cases they’d like to pursue. When Corey sees the latest list of possibilities, there’s no question which one to look into next.
Corey’s former mentor, Jimmy Dietrich, had his whole identity wrapped up in being a cop. When Jimmy retired three years ago, his marriage quickly deteriorated and he tried–and failed—to get back on the force. Jimmy was left to try to adjust to life as a civilian.
Not long after, two bodies were pulled from the Passaic River. A local woman, Susan Avery, and Jimmy Dietrich. With no true evidence available, the deaths went unsolved and the case declared cold. This didn’t stop the whispers: an affair gone wrong... a murder-suicide committed by Jimmy.
Corey never believed it. With this case, the K Team has the opportunity to find the real murderer, and clear Jimmy’s name. Bestselling author David Rosenfelt returns in Good Dog, Bad Cop, where there’s little to go on, but that won’t stop Paterson, New Jersey’s favorite private investigators from sniffing out the truth.

Review:
The K Team has been hired by the Paterson, New Jersey, police department to work on cold cases. The team consists of former police detective Corey, his K-9 partner Simon, former officer Laurie, and the ‘hulk’ bodyguard, Marcus. They get to call in the help of computer hack wizard, Sam, and of course they get a little legal input and financial support from Laurie’s husband, Andy Carpenter.

The team has picked up a suspected murder-suicide case where the victims were found dead and adrift from a boat outing. The case involved Corey’s police mentor and a local woman who was the wife of  another police officer murdered earlier than this pair. Because the cases may be tied together, the team will look at all three.

Very quickly the team is able to pull records from a local restaurant that begins to give leads the detectives never followed. One lead moves to another and it isn’t long before Corey finds himself being attacked. Fortunately, he has Simon, and Marcus, as backup. Clearly the team is rocking the boat, and someone wants to stop them from digging deeper. This just gives them more incentive to push along the investigation even as it takes them to other states.

The story is told from the view and voice of Corey so it has the police/investigator perspective. I always enjoy these characters with their humorous banter and interaction. Then there are the plots that start locally but soon spread out to more nefarious conspiracies. This one twists and turns to a terrorist threat that drags in Homeland Security. I will continue to read, and enjoy, the novels by David Rosenfelt. I recommend this book and the series to fans of K-9 characters and private investigator mysteries.

Audio Notes: Fred Berman does a good job with the narration. The character voices are clear and distinct. Berman also is able to deliver the narration with the underlying dry wit of the author’s work. The enjoyed the audio version and appreciate the opportunity to listen to this story.

Source: 2023 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2023NetGalley, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Occupation goals.

Audio Book Review: Blind Search by Paula Munier

I enjoy the dog characters in this mystery series.
Blind Search
Written by Paula Munier
Narrated by Kathleen McInerney

Run Time 12h 10min
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genres: Crime Fiction & Mysteries, Mysteries & Thrillers, Police Procedurals
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.0

Publisher Description
Former Army MP Mercy Carr and her retired bomb-sniffing dog Elvis are back in Blind Search, the sequel to the critically acclaimed A Borrowing of Bones. It’s October, hunting season in the Green Mountains—and the Vermont wilderness has never been more beautiful or more dangerous. Especially for nine-year-old Henry, who’s lost in the woods. Again. Only this time he sees something terrible. When a young woman is found shot through the heart with a fatal arrow, Mercy thinks that something is murder. But Henry, a math genius whose autism often silences him when he should speak up most, is not talking. Now there’s a murderer hiding among the hunters in the forest—and Mercy and Elvis must team up with their crime-solving friends, game warden Troy Warner and search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear, to find the killer—before the killer finds Henry. When an early season blizzard hits the mountains, cutting them off from the rest of the world, the race is on to solve the crime, apprehend the murderer, and keep the boy safe until the snowplows get through.Inspired by the true search-and-rescue case of an autistic boy who got lost in the Vermont wilderness, Paula Munier’s mystery is a compelling roller coaster ride through the worst of winter—and human nature.

Review:
Mercy and her bomb-sniffing Malinois, Elvis, are still enjoying the Vermont mountains while continuing to train and rehab through their PTSD. This time they are called upon to find a nine-year-old boy who wanders into the woods. Game Warden Troy and his search-and-rescue Newfoundland, Susie Bear, join in the search. Susie Bear is trained for ‘blind search’ which means searching by smell in the air rather than foot tracks. When the dogs find Henry, he is huddled under a table and clearly frightened. Henry is clearly a child with autism who doesn’t speak normally but he does latch onto the dogs. He wanders in the woods where his memory helps so he isn’t lost, although the adults think he is.

While Henry was out in the woods, a woman who was to join a hunting party at the nearby ski lodge, is found with an arrow in her heart. The hunting group has gathered to discuss the redevelopment of the lodge and not everyone agrees on the resort goals. The shot that killed the woman might have been a hunting accident, but that is unlikely. Because of Henry’s reaction, and willingness to stay with the dogs, Mercy and Elvis are hired to protect the boy.

Mercy and Troy don’t exactly trust the local homicide detective to solve the murder and, of course, they are told to stay clear. Mercy is only a civilian and has no authority to pursue the mystery, but that won’t stop her especially after she has an SUV trying to force her off the mountain roads. Meanwhile, Troy and Susie Bear are busy tracking some poachers who may also be drug or arm dealers and could be suspects. While the mystery pushes to a conclusion, Mercy and Troy’s relationship runs into a major obstacle.

I enjoyed the dogs and Henry as additional characters. I was a bit frustrated that Henry’s autism was never identified as such during the book. Henry’s father seemed clueless and Mercy seemed to handle the boy better than the doctor. The condition was quite clear, and I don’t understand why it was never named in the story.

I enjoyed the developing relationship between Mercy and Troy in the first book, Borrowing of Bones. I did think that Mercy may have overreacted a bit at the situation with Troy at the conclusion of this book. I will be interested to see how the author handles that in the next books. The story has short comings (Mercy’s investigation interference and Elvis’s disobedience), and a few repetitive phrases, but I enjoyed the overall story and recommend it to fans of K-9 dogs. I suggest starting with book one to get to know the characters and their backgrounds.

Audio notes: I found the narration by Kathleen McInerney to be comfortable. The voice distinctions could be better but they work sufficiently. The narration is clear and easy to follow. I am glad I had the story on audio.

Source: March 2021 Chirp purchase $3.99. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Audio Review: Santa's Little Yelpers by David Rosenfelt

I always enjoy the legal process and police procedures of this series. This did not disappoint.
Santa's Little Yelpers
An Andy Carpenter Mystery
By: David Rosenfelt
Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Series: An Andy Carpenter Novel, Book 26
Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
Release date: 10-11-22
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Animals, Lawyer, Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
This program is read by award-winning longtime series narrator, Grover Gardner.
"Listening to Grover Gardner narrating a David Rosenfelt novel is like sliding into favorite slippers at the end of a long day: One feels the joyful gratification of a perfect fit."—AudioFile Magazine on Bark of Night
Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his humorous investigating team return in Santa's Little Yelpers, the next Yuletide mystery in David Rosenfelt’s bestselling series.
'Tis the season in Paterson, New Jersey: Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are surrounded by holiday cheer. It’s even spread to the Tara Foundation. The dog rescue organization, not used to having puppies, has their hands full with a recent litter. Eight puppies are a lot to handle, and Andy is relieved when his co-worker Chris Myers agrees to foster them.
Myers, a newer employee at the Tara Foundation, did time for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. When Myers discovers a key witness against him lied on the stand, he goes to Andy to ask for representation in getting the conviction overturned. Myers thinks they can have this wrapped up by Christmas, no problem.
But when the witness is murdered, and Myers is arrested for the crime, things go from bad to worse. Suddenly, it’s all elves on deck to make a list and check it twice, so they can prove Myers is innocent.
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.
©2022 David Rosenfelt (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Review:
Once again, a murder case falls at the feet of reluctant attorney Andy Carpenter. A newer employee at the Tara Foundation, Chris Myers, previously spent time in jail for a murder he insists he didn’t commit. When a key prosecutor witness in his case is on the cusp of recanting his testimony, the man ends up dead. Myers is the primary suspect since he was present when the man was killed. It might appear coincidental but really it is a well-planned frame up.

Andy is pulled in to represent Myers and Andy soon is calling on his full investigative team to take on the case. Par for course, the deeper Andy probes, the more bodies appear, and his own life is put at risk.

This is an easy listen. As usual, the plot has twisty suspect lines that might involve the mob or radical groups. The FBI might even get involved. You just don’t know until Andy ferrets out the bad guys. I totally enjoy this series and recommend this to mystery and legal procedure fans.

Audio Notes: Grover Gardner delivers wonderful narration. The few times I have read a book in this series, I can still hear Gardner’s voice. The narration adds to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 2022 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: A Borrowing of Bones, a Mercy Carr Mystery by Paula Munier

This is a good mystery with the plus of dogs.

A Borrowing of Bones
A Mercy Carr Mystery
By: Paula Munier
Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins
Release date: 09-11-18
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Police Procedure, Search Dogs, Women Sleuth
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
The first in a gripping new series by Paula Munier, A Borrowing of Bones is full of complex twists, introducing a wonderful new voice for mystery listeners and dog lovers alike.
Grief and guilt are the ghosts that haunt you when you survive what others do not....
After their last deployment, when she got shot, her fiancé, Martinez, got killed, and his bomb-sniffing dog, Elvis, got depressed, soldier Mercy Carr and Elvis were both sent home, her late lover’s last words ringing in her ears: “Take care of my partner.”
Together, the two former military police - one 29-year-old two-legged female with wounds deeper than skin and one handsome five-year-old four-legged Malinois with canine PTSD - march off their grief mile after mile in the beautiful remote Vermont wilderness.
Even on the Fourth of July weekend, when all of Northshire celebrates with fun and frolic and fireworks, it’s just another walk in the woods for Mercy and Elvis - until the dog alerts to explosives and they find a squalling baby abandoned near a shallow grave filled with what appear to be human bones.
US Game Warden Troy Warner and his search-and-rescue Newfoundland, Susie Bear, respond to Mercy’s 9-1-1 call, and the four must work together to track down a missing mother, solve a cold-case murder, and keep the citizens of Northshire safe on potentially the most incendiary Independence Day since the American Revolution.
It’s a call to action Mercy and Elvis cannot ignore, no matter what the cost.
©2018 Paula Munier (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Review:
Mercy was a military police investigator but was sent home after being wounded. Her fiancé, a dog handler, was killed and Mercy fought to take home his traumatized dog, Elvis, who suffers from PTSD. They have been keeping to themselves and taking long walks in the Vermont wilderness. On the July Fourth weekend they stumble upon a crying baby and a shallow grave.

US Game Warden Troy Warner and his search and rescue dog Susie Bear, arrive in response to the 911 call. They begin to track the missing mother and Warner begins to investigate the cold case death. The local detective is antagonistic to both Warner and Mercy. He treats the Game Warden with disdain and wants them both away from his case.

Technically Mercy has no basis to continue involvement in the investigations, but she won’t back off, especially after the baby disappears from the hospital and the teen mother and baby show up at her home only to be scared off. Bit by bit the investigation by Warner and Mercy leads to a potential domestic terrorism threat that could cause community deaths. They are in a race against time and even the dogs are being threatened as a result of their persistent efforts.

I enjoyed these characters, their dogs and their interactions. The dogs quickly become friends and slowly Warner and Mercy develop a friendship. I felt there were some shortcomings of the book such as not treating the issue of PTSD seriously enough and the fact that Mercy kept pushing into the investigation with no authority. Still, I found the book entertaining and will be listening to more in the series. I recommend this to mystery, crime thriller fans who like search dogs.

Audio Notes: Kathleen McInerney delivers fitting energy but didn’t have strong voices, especially for the male characters. I think a stronger narrator might have added more. I am glad I got the audio version as it goes faster for me than reading.

Source: 8/28/2022 Audible August Credit. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Until Someone Listens by Estela Juarez

This is sad but I appreciate the determination this young woman describes in light of a frustrating failure of government officials.

Until Someone Listens
A Story About Borders, Family, and One Girl's Mission
by Estela Juarez; Lissette Norman
Narrated by Estela Juarez

Listening Length: 11 minutes
Release date: 09-13-22
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Children’s Audiobook, Immigration, Latin American, Politics
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

When Estela Juarez's mom is deported to Mexico, Estela knows she has to speak up for her family. Told in Estela's own words, Until Someone Listens is a true story about a young girl finding her voice and using it to make change.
Estela’s family lives together in a happy home full of love. Or, at least, they used to… until their home was torn apart.
My mom had to go back,
to the other side of the river,
because she wasn’t born in this country.
For years her family fought and fought for permission for her to stay in the U.S. But no one listened. When Estela was eight, her mother was deported to Mexico.
Estela knew she had to do something. So she wrote letters: to local newspapers, Congress, the President, and anyone else who could help. She wrote and wrote and wrote until, finally… someone listened.
In this heart wrenching, autobiographical story, Estela Juarez's letters take her from the local news all the way to the national stage, where she discovers the power in her words and pledges to keep using her voice until her family―and others like hers― are together again.

Review:
This is a bittersweet, sad story of separation. Eight-year-old Estela has her family torn apart when her mother is deported to Mexico as an undocumented person living in the U.S. for years. Estela’s mother came to the states illegally and later married an American serviceman. After fifteen years in America, Estela’s mother was told she had to leave.

This young lady is brave to share her feelings and struggles to get help for her family. I enjoyed the sweet, evocative prose of the work. This short book highlights the impact of deportation on families who are trying to make a good life in America.

Sadly, there is no solution forthcoming from Congress where immigration reform has been ignored or avoided (by both political parties) for years and years when some plan is desperately needed. There is little that young Estela can do but keep making her voice heard until Congress takes action. I would recommend this book for schools and families to share the struggle and talk about potential solutions.

Audio Notes: The author, Estela Juarez, narrates her own work, giving it genuine flavor. Although the reading is clear, it does not flow as smoothly as it might. Still, I am glad that I listened to her heartfelt pleas.

Source: NetGalley August 2022. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Holy Chow (Andy Carpenter #25) by David Rosenfelt

This is another good mystery in the Andy Carpenter legal antics, and raises questions of possible enemy infiltration.

Holy Chow, (Andy Carpenter #25)
by David Rosenfelt
Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
Release date: 07-05-22
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Animal, Cozy, Legal, Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

I am enjoying this episode in the legal efforts of Andy Carpenter.
In Holy Chow, the next mystery from bestselling author David Rosenfelt, the beloved characters—both human and canine—of this fan favorite series are back on the case with the author’s trademark wit and humor.
Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter’s calling has always been running the Tara Foundation. The dog rescue organization places hundreds of dogs in new homes every year. It’s added up to so many dogs and new owners that Andy can’t even do the math. But there’s one dog—and one owner—Andy will always remember.
About a year ago, Rachel Morehouse came to the foundation looking for a companion. In her sixties and recently widowed, Rachel wanted a senior dog that also needed someone. Andy took a liking to her, Rachel took a liking to Lion, an older Chow Chow, and the rest is history.
That is, until Rachel calls Andy begging for a favor: If Rachel dies, will Andy take care of Lion if her stepson cannot? Andy agrees, no questions asked, and promptly forgets about it... until he receives a call from Rachel’s estate to attend her will reading. Which is where he meets Rachel’s stepson, Tony, who is promptly arrested for his stepmother’s murder. And he wants Andy to prove his innocence.
Andy has continued to learn more about the woman he so greatly admired and the businesses she ran, and holy chow, was this woman impressive. The person who killed her deserves to be held accountable, and if Tony is to be believed, they’re still out there. And that possibility is too much for Andy to remain on the sidelines.

Review:
Andy is a wealthy criminal lawyer who would rather enjoy his dog rescue foundation, the Tara Foundation, than practice law. Still, he always gets pulled into a case – or there wouldn’t be a story. In this episode, Rachel Morehouse, who adopted an older Chow Chow named Lion, calls Andy to ask if he would take care of Lion if her stepson won’t, if she dies. A few days later Andy gets a call to attend the reading of Rachel’s Will. When Rachel’s stepson, Tony, is arrested for her murder, he asks Andy to take his case.

Andy reluctantly takes the case and pulls together his investigative team: wife and investigator Laurie, retired cop and investigator Corey with K9, Simon, bodyguard Marcus, finance/ computer wizard Sam, and co-counsel Eddie. The crew is ready to find theories to overcome the circumstantial evidence that points to Tony as the murderer.

As Andy and the team push for clues, some of the witnesses begin to die. Then someone comes after Andy hoping to stop him. Of course, that won’t work with Marcus around, and Andy gets to show his talents in trial once again. He begins to present a story of foreign infiltration that could be scary.

I enjoy the trail of clues as well as the procedures in court in this series…all wrapped in with Andy’s sardonic snark. I enjoy each episode and recommend that mystery fans start at the beginning.

Audio Notes: I always appreciate Grover Gardner as the narrator for this series. He captures the voices of the different characters. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

Source: June 2022 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2022NetGalley and 2022Audiobook goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: See You Someday Soon by Pat Zietlow Miller

This is a book with a very sweet message.
See You Someday Soon
by Pat Zietlow Miller, Suzy Lee (Illustrations)
Narrated by Katharine Chin

Listening Length: 6 minutes
Audible.com Release Date June 14, 2022
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Children, Family
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Description:
Someday soon, I'll see you.
Even though you are there.
And I am here.
So very far apart.
In this heartfelt picture book, a child imagines ways to connect with a grandmother who lives far way. Whether by rocket ship or jet pack, train or in a plane, any journey is worth it to see someone you love.
With an inviting, accessible text by Pat Zietlow Miller and inventive art from the critically-acclaimed illustrator Suzy Lee, this picture book reminds us that, no matter the physical distance between us, the people we care about are never far from our hearts. The book features clever and innovative die-cuts throughout, adding a creative, thoughtful and discussion-worthy novelty aspect to this layered and deeply emotional story.

Review:
This is a lovely book that helps explain the longing to be together when we are far apart. A grandmother and child express how they would like to visit each other and how they might travel to make it happen. Some readers might connect this to missing a loved one in heaven, although I think that is a stretch.

There are sample images on the Amazon post which show how charming the hardback book is. Listening to the exchange is nice but I think that the print book might be better for this book. I enjoyed the easy prose and know that my grandchildren would enjoy this book. I recommend this book to share with children.

Audio Notes: Katharine Chin does a nice job with the reading. The narration conveys the longing of the separated people. I enjoyed the very quick listening experience.

Source: NetGalley 2022. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook and 2022Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Audiobook Review: Citizen K-9: A K Team Novel by David Rosenfelt

I enjoy this author and the characters in this spin off series.
Citizen K-9: A K Team Novel
David Rosenfelt
Narrator: Fred Berman

Series: K Team Novels, Book 3
Listening Length: 5 hours and 53 minutes
Release date: 03-15-22
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: K-9, Mystery, Private Investigator
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

In Citizen K-9, best-selling author David Rosenfelt masterfully blends mystery with dogs and humor to create an investigative team that listeners will be rooting for book after book.
The Paterson Police Department has created a cold case division, and they want to hire the private investigators known as the K Team to look into the crimes. After all, Corey Douglas and his K-9 partner, German shepherd Simon Garfunkel, recently retired from the force. Plus, another K Team member, Laurie Collins, used to be a cop as well.
Their first cold case hits home for the K Team. A decade ago, at Laurie's 10th high school reunion, two of their friends simply…vanished. At the time Laurie had just left the force, and Corey was in a different department, so they had no choice but to watch from the sidelines. With no leads, the case went cold.
As the team starts to delve deeper into the events leading up to that night - reopening old wounds along the way - the pieces start to come together. But someone wants to stop them from uncovering the truth behind the disappearance, by any means necessary.
©2022 David Rosenfelt (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Review:
The K Team consists of characters from the original Andy Carpenter legal mystery series. The Team includes Andy’s wife and former cop, Laurie, bodyguard/bouncer, Marcus, and former officer Corey and his K-9 partner, German shepherd Simon Garfunkel. The team is hired by the Paterson Police Department to work on cold cases. The K Team chose a case that involved the disappearance of two people, Chris Vogel and Kim Baskin from the 10th class reunion.

The team backtracks to interviews and evidence (or lack thereof) from the events 10 years ago. They find little connection between Chris and Kim but they discover that Chris was selling drugs for one of the local drug lords. Corey’s probing leads him to a local professor who specializes in statistical predictions. They also meet a menacing messenger, probable killer named Z who may be connected to Escobar. As the investigation moves forward it appears that someone is attempting to manipulate the investigation paths.

The investigation moves along quickly and, as always, I enjoy the interaction among the characters. Corey continues his rather snarky attitude and there is a very fun twist with Marcus that made me chuckle. I also enjoyed the caring relationship growing between Corey and his romantic interest, Dani. I recommend this story, the series, and the original series (Andy Carpenter), to readers who enjoy investigation mysteries with humor and dogs.

Audio Notes: Fred Berman does a good job with the narration. It took only a few minutes for me to remember that this series has a different narrator than the Carpenter series. Although I still hear Andy’s voice in the other narrator tones, Berman gives distinct life to Corey and the associate characters. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 2022 NetGalley This qualifies for 2022NetGalley, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Mickey7 by Edward Ashton

Entertaining but not gripping.

Mickey7
by Edward Ashton
John Pirhalla (Narrator)
Katharine Chin (Narrator)

Listening Length: 9 hours and 16 minutes
Audible.com Release Date: February 15, 2022
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Adventure, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Space
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Mickey7, an "expendable," refuses to let his replacement clone Mickey8 take his place.
Dying isn’t any fun…but at least it’s a living.
Mickey7 is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal…and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it.
On a fairly routine scouting mission, Mickey7 goes missing and is presumed dead. By the time he returns to the colony base, surprisingly helped back by native life, Mickey7’s fate has been sealed. There’s a new clone, Mickey8, reporting for Expendable duties. The idea of duplicate Expendables is universally loathed, and if caught, they will likely be thrown into the recycler for protein.
Mickey7 must keep his double a secret from the rest of the colony. Meanwhile, life on Niflheim is getting worse. The atmosphere is unsuitable for humans, food is in short supply, and terraforming is going poorly. The native species are growing curious about their new neighbors, and that curiosity has Commander Marshall very afraid. Ultimately, the survival of both lifeforms will come down to Mickey7.
That is, if he can just keep from dying for good.

Review:
Mickey7 is an “Expendable”. After bad gambling put him into debt to a loan shark, Mickey wanted to get off planet quickly. His friend Berto is going on a colonization expedition and Mickey, having no special skills to offer a space mission, volunteers to take the only open spot– the job of an “Expendable”. That means he gets all the dangerous jobs that are likely to get him killed. The twist is that his memory is “backed-up” and he is brought back as a clone. Mickey figures he can “live with” this arrangement.

When Mickey meets the commander on the mission he learns that not everyone agrees with cloning, and the captain is a strong opponent. Other members of the expedition don’t like the idea much either, especially if they think the Expendable is likely to duck hard work if he can.

The expedition is exploring an ice world, Niflheim, where they have discovered large, vicious snow ‘worms’ they name Creepers. The ship already suffered damage on the journey and Mickey is now Mickey7. On a fairly routine scouting mission, Mickey7 falls through a deep ice crevice. He calls for his friend to rescue him, but Berto says it is too dangerous and he can just come back as Mickey8. Mickey7’s girlfriend is prepared to come get him, but Mickey7 doesn’t want to put her at risk. Expecting to die, Mickey7 is surprised when he gets help getting back to base. Mickey7 slips into his room only to find Mickey8 in his, now their, small bed.

If it is discovered that there are two clones out at one time, the captain will surely kill them both. The pair must juggle their existence, sharing half-rations, rotating jobs, room time, and trying to avoid contact that would reveal their deception. Of course, it isn’t long before the juggling causes trouble. But there is more than just that. It appears that Mickey7’s exposure on the way back to base has had some strange effect on his neuron system. This causes problems at first but soon turns into a saving grace for Mickey7.

I found the story idea intriguing and wanted to really like it. Unfortunately, I didn’t find Mickey to be a very likeable character. Even though he volunteered to die for the expedition, he isn’t a self-sacrificing person. No, he is much more self-centered and his relationships seem shallow to me. I did like the twists near the end but I found the ending to be weak and unsatisfactory. The story has some entertainment value but didn’t pull me in. Others may find it more enjoyable.

Audio Notes: John Pirhalla and Katharine Chin share the narration performance and I liked their voices. Pithalla seemed to capture the weak nature of Mickey’s character while Chin conveyed the quirky natures of the female characters. The audio performance enhanced the story for me.

Source: 2022 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook and 2022Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Chase by Candice Fox

This is a solid crime thriller.

The Chase
by Candice Fox
Narrator: David de Vries, Lisa Negron

12 hours and 38 minutes
Audible.com Release Date March 08, 2022
Publisher Macmillan Audio
Genre: Crime Thriller, Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

The Chase is a modern The Fugitive with characters only number-one New York Times and Globe and Mail best-selling author Candice Fox can write.
“Are you listening, Warden?”
“What do you want?”
“I want you to let them out.”
“Which inmates are we talking about?”
“All of them.”
When 650 of the world’s most violent human beings pour out of the Pronghorn Correctional Facility into the Nevada Desert, the biggest manhunt in US history begins.
For John Kradle, this is his chance to prove his innocence, 26 years after the murder of his wife and child. He just needs to stay one step ahead of the law enforcement officers he knows will be chasing down the escapees.
Death Row Supervisor turned fugitive-hunter Celine Osbourne is single-minded in her mission to catch Kradle. She has very personal reasons for hating him - and she knows exactly where he’s heading....
A Macmillan Audio production from Forge Books

Review:
A threat to civilians has the warden of the Pronghorn Correctional Facility facing a terrible decision. Before she can take action, the facility staff move on their own to open up the cell blocks and release every prisoner into the Nevada Desert.

John Kradle, released from death row, sees this as his last chance to prove that he did not murder his wife and child 26 years ago. He has had plenty of time to plan what he would do if he had the chance to escape. He sets out in a different direction from most of the prisoners. Unfortunately, another brutish prisoner decides to tag along with John, nearly killing him before the man realizes that he needs John’s plan for a chance to escape recapture.

Celine Osbourne is a Death Row Supervisor who prides herself on knowing the crimes and natures of her row of inmates. She has developed a hate-on-hate relationship with many of them over the years. Her past personal trauma has caused her to have truly negative attitude towards Kradle. Celine joins the fiercely determined US Marshall, Trinity, in the chase for the worst of the criminals. Trinity is focused on those she believes could have planned the breakout – most likely the terrorists or the mass murderers. But Celine is focused on getting Kradle and she is sure she knows where he is heading.

Celine finds herself teaming up with a former inmate, Keeps, who was released the day of the breakout. Keeps has the ability to think like a criminal and provide a distinct perspective that helps track the inmates that Trinity and Celine are focusing on. He acknowledges his skills come from his past as a conman, but Celine thinks perhaps she can trust him.

I found the primary characters interesting and was intrigued by the different thought processes that come from the law officer versus the criminal mind perspectives. There is action and violence that is ugly but to be expected from violent prisoners. I did like the several twists that make the story move along well. The story set out with action and continued through to the end. I would like to read more by this author, and I recommend this to those who like a good crime thriller.

Audio Notes: David de Vries and Lisa Negron do a good job narrating the male and female voices. They provide fitting accents and inflection for the several characters. I really enjoyed the audio performance.

Source: Received 11/17/2021 Audiobook through NetGalley. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022NetGalley, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audio Book Review: Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt

This is another quick, fun legal mystery that I enjoyed.
Dachshund Through the Snow $2.99
Written by David Rosenfelt
Narrated by Grover Gardner

Run Time 6h 43min
Featured in: Christmas
Release Date: October 1, 2019
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Crime, Detective, Mystery, Fav Series
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.5.

This Christmas, lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, can’t say no to helping young Danny and his dachshund, Murphy.
Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his wife, Laurie, have started a new Christmas tradition. Their local pet store has a Christmas tree, where instead of ornaments there are wishes from those in need. One poignant wish leads Andy to a child named Danny, whose selfless plea strikes a chord. Danny asked Santa for a coat for his mother, a sweater for his dachshund, Murphy, and for the safe return of his missing father.
It turns out Danny’s father doesn’t want to be found, he’s on the run after just being arrested for a murder that took place fourteen years ago — a murder that Danny’s mother swears he didn’t commit.
With his trademark humor and larger-than-life characters — including a police officer and his K-9 partner, Simon — Rosenfelt never fails to deliver as Andy and his eccentric crew dash to reunite a family in time for Christmas.

Review:
Andy Carpenter, sardonic, would-be retired lawyer, treats Christmas with the same disdain he treats most things and people other than his wife, son, and dogs. His wife, Laurie, on the other hand, is an avid Christmas fan. This year she begins a new tradition picking a “wish tag” from a Christmas tree at the local pet store. The wish is from a child named Danny who has asked for gifts for his mother and dachshund, and for the safe return of his missing father.

Laurie isn’t quite sure how she can meet the third request. But the next day they learn that Danny’s father has been arrested for a murder that occurred fourteen years ago. Andy isn’t crazy about taking on a murder case, but Laurie thinks they can help. First Andy has to finish a case that involves a police dog, Simon, who needs to retire with his canine handler, Corey, another friend of Laurie’s.

As usual, Andy pulls in his investigation team, soon to include Corey and Simon. The crew includes Laurie as an investigator, a research lawyer, Hike, who always adds his negative opinion and view, and Sam, the accountant and computer genius. And of course, the hulking bodyguard, Marcus.

The crime scene is old and does give up many clues. Andy wouldn’t have much to go on until Marcus announces that someone has been following him. Then bodies begin to pile up. Now Andy just needs to tie the bodies to the true killer if he wants to get a not guilty verdict for Danny’s father.

I always enjoy the legal procedures and unraveling of the crime in these stories. The dogs always add a sweet element to the intrigue. I like that the stories are self-contained although I suggest starting at the beginning to get to know the characters. I recommend this story and the series to fans of mysteries and legal procedures.

Audio Notes: Grover Gardner does a great job with the narration of this series. He provides good voices and captures the snarky personality of the primary character. I definitely enjoy listening to this series.

Source: Chirp January 2021 $2.99. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

My other Andy Carpenter Series reviews.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Best in Snow by David Rosenfelt

As usual with this series, I enjoyed the legal aspects and mystery... and dogs.

Best in Snow
(Andy Carpenter #24)
by David Rosenfelt
Narrated by Grover Gardner

Series: Andy Carpenter Series, Book 24
6 hours and 52 minutes
Release date: 10-19-21
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Animals, Holidays, Legal Procedures, Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
In this Christmas mystery, Best in Snow, lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are on the beat after a body turns up in the snow and a journalist is nowhere to be found.
Christmas has come early to the town of Paterson, New Jersey, in the form of a snowstorm that left over two feet of snow on the ground. Lawyer Andy Carpenter likes snow - to a point - but he misses the walks he takes his dogs on every day.
When the snow starts to melt, and a body is discovered, Andy ends up in the office of the local newspaper editor. The murder victim is that of crooked businessman Thomas Lansing, who had an infamous relationship with the newspaper. Last year a young reporter published an expose, and Lansing had him fired for libel. Now, the young reporter - and prime suspect - isn’t answering his phone...and everyone is worried.
Andy agrees to take the case, though it’s not looking good this holiday season. The snow is piling up - along with the evidence - in the next Christmas mystery in this best-selling series from David Rosenfelt.
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books
©2021 David Rosenfelt (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Review:
Wealthy and want-to-be retired lawyer, Andy Carpenter, is out walking the dogs when his main dog, Tara, sniffs out a body under the snow. It turns out to be the local mayor and the police are quick to focus on a young reporter, Bobby Nash, who had reason to have a grudge. When they find blood in Bobby’s trunk, he is arrested for the murder. One of Andy’s drinking ‘buddies’, Vince, a newspaper editor and Bobby’s former boss, coerces Andy into taking on the defense representation.

Evidence builds against Bobby as his car and phone are placed at the scene and the mayor’s wife advises the police that Bobby made threatening phone calls a few days before the murder. Unfortunately, Bobby isn’t able to help much with the facts as he was in a car accident shortly after the murder and has no memory of the events. When a potential witness is killed, it seems to turn the search away from Bobby who was in the hospital. Until it is determined that the source of the second murder could have been set up before Bobby was arrested.

Still, Andy sees lots of holes in the evidence. He just needs more facts to lead the jury to a different conclusion – to reasonable doubt. Andy gathers his quirky crew of investigators, and they get busy searching out alternate suspects. Attempts to eliminate Bobby and Andy make it clear that there are other suspects to be found.

As usual in this fun series, the Carpenter Team is able to dig out good facts pointing to bad actors further afield. The necessary details don’t get to Andy until the eleventh hour and he and his client have to wait out the jury verdict.

I enjoy this series for its unique characters. Andy has a snarky personality but his crew dish right back at him. I also enjoy the legal proceedings, in preparation and presentation. The writing is concise and moves along at a good pace. I recommend this story to fans of legal procedure mysteries. Each book is a new murder or criminal event so they can be read as standalones. However, I do recommend reading the first several to get to know the characters… and that may lead to reading more in the series.

Audio Notes: Grover Gardner is the voice of Andy Carpenter and pulls me right into the story. I have read one or two of the books on Kindle and I still can hear Gardner’s voice. I have to smile as soon as I start listening. I love listening to this series.

Source: 9/9/2021 from NetGalley. This qualifies for 2021NetGalley and 2021Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: The Reaper, Autobiography of One of the Deadliest Special Ops Snipers, by Gary Brozek, Nicholas Irving

Nicholas Irving shares his years of sniper action in service of our military.

The Reaper
Autobiography of One of the Deadliest Special Ops Snipers
By: Gary Brozek, Nicholas Irving
Narrated by: Jeff Gurner

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Biography, Memoir, Military, Special Elite
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Groundbreaking, thrilling and revealing, The Reaper is the astonishing memoir of Special Operations Direct Action Sniper Nicholas Irving, the 3rd Ranger Battalion's deadliest sniper with 33 confirmed kills, though his remarkable career total, including probables, is unknown. In the best-selling tradition of American Sniper and Shooter, Irving shares the true story of his extraordinary career, including his deployment to Afghanistan in the summer of 2009, when he set another record, this time for enemy kills on a single deployment. His teammates and chain of command labeled him "The Reaper," and his actions on the battlefield became the stuff of legend, culminating in an extraordinary face-off against an enemy sniper known simply as The Chechnian. Irving's astonishing first-person account of his development into an expert assassin offers a fascinating and extremely rare view of special operations combat missions through the eyes of a Ranger sniper during the Global War on Terrorism. From the brotherhood and sacrifice of teammates in battle to the cold reality of taking a life to protect another, no other audiobook dives so deeply inside the life of a sniper on point.
©2015 Nicholas Irving (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

Review:
Nicholas Irving was given his nickname, “The Reaper”, by other military men who heard of his skills and confirmed kills while protecting his teammates. He was rumored to have many more kills than were actual but he did have a good record especially after so many snipers had uneventful deployments. For Irving, a busy mission was a mixed blessing. Like many young soldiers he dreamed as a young boy of eventually becoming a soldier serving his country. He was only in his early 20s when he was a leader taking his team into enemy territory. On one hand many of the young men are eager to face the enemy, but Irving is mindful of each mate he is responsible for.

I enjoyed this autobiography which is written to be active and interesting. I found it amusing how Irving describes his special relationship with his equipment which is presented in a light way with a touch of self-deprecation. The entire book is presented with honest feelings addressing the relationships, including a dog and handler pair, developed and the reality of the dangers faced in hostile territory. I appreciated the intensity of the thoughts shared with minimal bad language. I recommend this to readers interested in the life of a military sniper.

Audio Notes: Jeff Gurner does a clear job with the narration. My only thought was that the accent didn’t really fit as Gurner appears to be an older white male narrating the thoughts and actions of a young black man. This detracted a bit from the reality of the biography.

Source: March 2016 Sale at Audible. This qualifies for 2021TBR, and 2021Audiobook goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones

Ms. Jones writes fun stories.
A Good Day for Chardonnay
by Darynda Jones
Narrated by Lorelei King

Series: Sunshine Vicram, Book 2
Pub Date 27 Jul 2021
Release date: 07-27-21
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Small Town & Rural Fiction, Women Sleuth Mysteries
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff--and even fuller-time coffee guzzler--Sunshine Vicram, didn't get that memo.
All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that's about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)
Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny's got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he's not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She's seen it. Once. Accidentally.
Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn't know when to quit, Sunny's life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.
Yep, definitely a good day for chardonnay.

Review:
Sunshine is still trying to settle into her new job as sheriff, but events are giving her no time to relax and settle. As usual, she is juggling death, child-rearing, and a lingering childhood crush. And don’t forget the unresolved abduction and resulting murder from her own teenaged experience.

Sunshine’s teen crush, Levi, steps in to help a friend who is attacked at a local bar. Levi may have killed one of the assailants who take off after repeatedly stabbing his friend. Before the bad guys get away, they almost kill Levi. Sun has to arrest Levi to get him to the hospital rather than taking off after the villains, but they may not be enough to stop him.

While scrutinizing the crime scene and taped footage Sun finds a shocking surprise that will add to her list of cases. And in the background is a raucous raccoon terrorizing Sun’s deputy and best friend, Quincy. Add to all of this, Sun is beginning to get more flashbacks from her abduction which has been blocked by amnesia for years.

Meanwhile Sun’s daughter, Auri is convinced that their neighbor, a woman in her 80’s is a serial killer from years past. She recruits her friends, bestie, Sybil, and Auri’s teen crush, Cruz, to help her investigate by breaking into the woman’s house. Step by step this leads Auri to more trouble and danger behind her mother’s back.

This second book in the series has lots of threads, some of which have interesting ties. There is fun banter and interaction among the characters that I have grown to appreciate from the author. I felt frustrated knowing that Auri was heading into trouble, but it is a full thread that adds to the story. I enjoyed the community coming together to pull Sun into their secrets. I also appreciated the clear chemistry and romance between Sun and Levi although the culminating sex scene is a bit more vivid than I need.

I enjoy the full package which includes mystery, danger, humor and romance. There is some introduction, but I recommend reading the first book to get a better feel for the characters and history, then continue to enjoy the mystery and fun in this book.

Audio Notes: Lorelei King is just a wonderful narrator. As soon as she begins to read I get pulled into the characters. She provides clear voices and fitting emotion that enhances the story for me. If I get a choice, I will listen to this series rather than just read it.

Source: 2021 NetGalley Audio Book. This qualifies for 2021NetGalley and 2021Audiobook goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Dog Eat Dog, An Andy Carpenter Mystery (Book 23) by David Rosenfelt

I enjoyed this quick legal mystery.
Dog Eat Dog, An Andy Carpenter Mystery (Book 23)
by David Rosenfelt
Narrated by Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins
Release date: 07-06-21
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Dogs, Legal Thriller
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, work to free a man who risked it all to help a dog in need.
Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his wife, Laurie, enjoy walking their dogs, Tara and Sebastian. By this point in their marriage, it’s routine. When out for one of their strolls, their simple ritual isn’t so simple anymore. Across the street, a man is mistreating his dog. Three things happen at once: Andy yells, Laurie runs to stop the abuse, and so does a closer passerby, who so thoroughly beats the owner that both are arrested when the cops arrive.
Andy scoops up the dog and takes him to the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization that’s always been his true passion. Meanwhile, at the police station, the passerby is identified as Matthew Jantzen, and he’s wanted for murder. Andy and Laurie are struck by the fact that Jantzen, a man on the run, would nevertheless intervene to help a dog, and decide to find out more.
Dog Eat Dog, the twenty-second installment in the Andy Carpenter series, features the charming cast of characters - old and new - that David Rosenfelt is known for and the dogs that accompany them.

Review:
Andy Carpenter is a wealthy semi-retired lawyer who would rather spend his time walking his beloved dogs with his beloved wife, Laurie. Andy likes to avoid work when he can but isn’t about to let injustice pass by. An evening walk with their dogs lands Andy in a new case when a stranger steps in to rescue an abused dog. The man gets arrested – not just for beating the abuser but for a pending double murder charge. Andy reluctantly agrees to help the accused, Matthew, as he is returned to Maine to face the two-year old charge. Matthew insists he is innocent, but it will be hard to overcome the evidence of Matt’s DNA on the hand of the dead man.

Andy tries to leave Matt in the hands of the local defense attorney, but he just can’t do it. When Matt’s newly discovered half-sister pleads with Andy to take the case, he agrees. Andy relocates to Maine to begin the trial prep but soon runs into a threatened attack alone in the parking lot. Laurie isn’t about to allow that to slide, so soon the team, including Laurie (and the dogs), bodyguard/muscle Marcus, and hacker/accountant whiz Sam, arrive in Maine. Laurie’s other K-9 investigator, Corey, and his German Shepherd Simon arrive soon after.

Andy and team do their usual thorough job of turning over the rocks and digging the dirt for other suspects. This brings out connections to drug dealers and an extreme militia group and also leaves bodies in the wake of questions. But Andy still must address the DNA problem.

I enjoy this series and the narrator. There are always several suspects, often FBI involvement and usually a trail of bodies. I love following the trial questions and ‘watching’ as Andy presents the evidence that leads to reasonable doubt, and reveals the true villains. The fast-moving plot is enhanced with Andy’s self-deprecation and snarky banter.

While I was listening to this 23rd installment, I got my husband to listen to book one, Open and Shut, which he enjoyed. The stories can be read as standalones but it is much more fun to have at least read the first several in the series so you know the team characters. I recommend this to readers who enjoy mysteries with legal procedures ... and dogs. 

Audio Notes: I am sure I have noted it in prior reviews of this series, but Grover Gardner, is the wonderful, fitting voice of Andy Carpenter. Gardner has an appropriate NJ/NY tone delivering distinct voices with appropriate energy. I love listening to the stories and hear this narrator even if I occasionally read an ebook version.

Source: NetGalley 6/3/2021. This qualifies for 2021NetGalley and 2021Audiobook goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Library of the Dead by T. L. Huchu

This is a fast paced, fun YA fantasy and mystery with ghosts and magic.
The Library of the Dead
by T. L. Huchu
Narrated by Tinashe Warikandwa

Series: Edinburgh Nights, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Ghosts, Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Sixth Sense meets Stranger Things in T. L. Huchu's The Library of the Dead, a sharp contemporary fantasy following a precocious and cynical teen as she explores the shadowy magical underside of modern Edinburgh.
When ghosts talk
She will listen
Ropa dropped out of school to become a ghostalker - and they sure do love to talk. Now she speaks to Edinburgh’s dead, carrying messages to those they left behind. A girl’s gotta earn a living, and it seems harmless enough. Until, that is, the dead whisper that someone’s bewitching children - leaving them husks, empty of joy and strength. It’s on Ropa’s patch, so she feels honor-bound to investigate. But what she learns will rock her world.
Ropa will dice with death as she calls on Zimbabwean magic and Scottish pragmatism to hunt down clues. And although underground Edinburgh hides a wealth of dark secrets, she also discovers an occult library, a magical mentor and some unexpected allies.
Yet as shadows lengthen, will the hunter become the hunted?
A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books

Review:
Ropa lives in a distressed part of a Edinburgh that includes supernatural elements. Ropa dropped out of school to earn money to take care of her grandmother and younger sister. She earns money as a ghostalker, sharing messages between the living and the dead for a fee. One ghost asks for help to find her missing son, noting that other children have disappeared too. Ropa tries to avoid the woman, who can’t pay, but other events keep bringing her back to the problem.

When Ropa begins to investigate, she finds out matters are worse that she thought. Her research leads her to an underground occult library where she is identified as having magical abilities. Ropa gets help from an old childhood friend, Jomo, and a new magical friend, Priya, as she steps into one scene of danger after another. She walks into a trap and now has to find a way out if she wants to save herself and other children.

I liked Ropa as a determined young lady and I appreciated her wise grandmother. I also really liked Priya who is wheelchair bound, a medical student and a more advanced magic trainee. Oh, I like the fox pet, River, and the surprising gift too.

The dystopian world-building is well done with two systems of magic that Ropa gets to blend. She uses music in her grandmother’s Zimbabwean magic that helps her enter the everyThere to meet with ghosts. After entering the Library of the Dead she begins to learn the more common Scottish nature of ley lines, earth elements and spells.

The story moves at a good pace as Ropa follows clues to unravel the mystery of the missing and abused children. Don’t be misled by the “horror” label. I did wonder if this might be too dark for my tastes, but not at all. It has ghosts and evil but it isn’t really horror. There is a little bit of YA recklessness, but I enjoyed the YA enthusiasm as well as the ghostly elements. I will look forward to reading more in the series and I recommend this to readers/listeners who enjoy urban fantasy.

Audio Notes: Tinashe Warikandwa is a new to me narrator and I think she did a spot-on job with this performance. I can’t say if any of the accents are accurate but they worked fine for me. Tinashe captured the youth and bravado of Ropa. I am glad that I was able to listen to this entertaining story.

Source: NetGalley 2021. This qualifies for 2021NetGalley goals.

Audio Book Review: Death Cloud by Andrew Lane

This is another fun Sherlock ‘spinoff’ listen.

DEATH CLOUD
by Andrew Lane
Narrated by Dan Weyman

7 hrs.
Unabridged
Macmillan Audio © 2010
Genre: Detective, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult Ages 12+
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 5.0.

This bold depiction of a 14-year-old Sherlock Holmes succeeds splendidly. He's as fascinating as Doyle's brilliant creation. Holmes's fans will see how he acquired his vast knowledge and developed into the man he became. Narrator Dan Weyman excels in introducing an intelligent, warm yet shy boy. Sherlock's streetwise friend, Matty, is tough yet sweet, perfectly complementing him. The best character is the American tutor, who sounds like an actual American, as does his daughter, who piques Sherlock's interest. Weyman captures emotion and action in a breathtaking manner that adds to the sheer pleasure. The characters unravel a complex mystery led by a dastardly villain who's also artfully portrayed. High praise is simply insufficient to do full justice to this outstanding work. Please, those of all ages, listen to it for yourselves! S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2011].

Review:
Sherlock Holmes is sent to spend the summer with an Aunt and Uncle in the country. They are mostly uninterested, and the housekeeper is openly hostile. Sherlock is frustrated by his situation and starts to wander the countryside and local village. Sherlock meets another young teen, Matty, an orphan who has learned to survive on the streets. Shortly into the summer, a tutor, recommended by Sherlock’s brother Mycroft, arrives. Amyus Crowe is a mysterious American who soon brightens Sherlock’s days as he challenges the boy with math queries and puzzles.

Matty stumbles upon a death in the alleys and Sherlock stumbles upon one in the woods. Both men died with swollen pustules on their faces and the boys observed a ‘death cloud’ rising from the bodies. Sherlock becomes involved in unraveling the mystery behind the deaths and behind the strange, pale, man whom he glimpsed in a carriage one day.

Amyus’ brave daughter, Virgina, makes friends with Sherlock and soon the three teens and Amyus are all facing danger as they investigate. Sherlock will be kidnapped and beaten on the way to solving the diabolical threat.

All the characters are wonderfully developed, and I was fully engaged in the mystery, which involves bees. Sherlock is presented as a shy, intelligent young man who is just beginning to develop his propensities for detailed investigation. I honestly didn’t recall Sherlock’s hobby of beekeeping but admittedly it’s been years since I read the original stories. The audiobook I listened to last week, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, displayed this hobby too. I highly recommend this series to mystery and  Sherlockian fans.

Audio Notes: Daniel Weyman’s narration brings these characters to life. He provides fitting accents and wonderful energy. I totally enjoyed this work.

SYNC August 1 – August 7, 2013. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.