Audio Book Review: Hide and Seek by Mary Burton

This reminded me why I like this author. It is a good thriller with romance.
Hide and Seek
By Mary Burton
Narrated By: Christina Traister

Duration: 9 h 57 min
Release date: 04-23-19
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Summary:
She’s hunting. He’s watching.
Special Agent Macy Crow is a survivor. After a vicious hit-and-run nearly kills her, she gets right back to work, and now she’s gunning for a spot on the FBI’s elite profiling team. As an audition, she offers to investigate the recently discovered bones of Tobi Turner, a high school girl who disappeared fifteen years ago.
While investigating with local sheriff Mike Nevada, a former colleague and onetime lover, Macy discovers a link between Tobi’s case and several others that occurred around the same time as her disappearance. As Macy interviews victims and examines old cases, she uncovers a sinister picture of a stalker who graduated to sexual assault—and then murder.
Macy and Nevada race to put this monster behind bars before he can come out of hiding. But the murderer’s had years to hone his skills, and soon Macy herself becomes a target. She’s no stranger to pain and terror, but will Macy’s first profiling case be her last?

Review:
Special Agent Macy is still recovering from a hit and run but she is persistent that she wants to get back to work at the FBI. She hops to get a spot on the FBI’s elite profiling team. She is approved to investigate a recently discovered body of a teenage girl who disappeared fifteen years ago. Macy will be investigating with local sheriff, Mike Nevada, with whom she has a short history.

Very quickly Macy connects the death of the teen with other cases of death and rape that occurred in the same time period. Macy is building a profile that discovers that the perpetrator may still be attacking and killing young women of the same type. As Macy and Nevada push to interview those close to the disappearances fifteen years earlier, they are clearly stirring up facts some community members don’t want stirred.

Then the killer strikes the investigation team and it is clear that Macy is his next target. Will the team be able to uncover the criminal before he adds more trophies to his collection?

I enjoyed the suspense and profiling aspects of this story. The author created a mystery with good suspects and peripheral accomplices. Meanwhile, the relationship between Macy and Nevada is developed nicely. This story felt like it might be part of a series, and I searched to find it is Criminal Profiler #4. I am glad that I revisited this author after many years and I will be glad to pick up more of her titles. I recommend this author and book to fans of police procedural and romantic suspense.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by Christina Traister. She provided distinct voices and energy that fit the story. I had some concern that parts of the audio seemed to get louder at times, but I would put that on production, rather than the narrator. I still enjoyed the audio and would listen to more stories narrated by Ms. Traister.

Source: 9/22/19 Audiobooks.com Two for One Credit. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audio Book Review: Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman

I did enjoy this PI mystery.

Gone to Dust
Author Matt Goldman
Narrator: MacLeod Andrews

Series: The Nils Shapiro Series, Book 1
Duration: 7 h 24 min
Release date: 08-15-17
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Detective Stories, Mystery, Private Investigator
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Summary:
Set in Minnesota, Gone to Dust is the debut private-eye murder mystery from Emmy Award-winning Seinfeld writer Matt Goldman.
A brutal crime. The ultimate cover-up. How do you solve a murder with no useable evidence?
Private detective Nils Shapiro is focused on forgetting his ex-wife and keeping warm during another Minneapolis winter when a former colleague, neighboring Edina Police Detective Anders Ellegaard, calls with the impossible.
Suburban divorcee Maggie Somerville was found murdered in her bedroom, her body covered with the dust from hundreds of emptied vacuum cleaner bags, all potential DNA evidence obscured by the calculating killer.
Digging into Maggie's cell-phone records, Nils finds that the most frequently called number belongs to a mysterious young woman whose true identity could shatter the Somerville family-but could she be guilty of murder?
After the FBI demands that Nils drop the case, Nils and Ellegaard are forced to take their investigation underground, where the case grows as murky as the contents of the vacuum cleaner bags. Is this a strange case of domestic violence or something with far-reaching, sinister implications?

Review:
Nils Shapiro is a private detective who has had some success in solving cases, often involving domestic surveillance. A former colleague who is a nearby Police Detective convinces his chief to hire Nils to help with a puzzling murder. Nils gets to walk through the crime scene early to inspect the woman who was murdered on her bed. The house and bedroom are covered with dust from emptied vacuum cleaner bags creating a forensic nightmare as it obscures the DNA of the true murderer. The first thing Nils notes is that this probably indicates a killer whose DNA is in the system, and it indicates a well-planned murder. There was no evidence of struggling so it appears that the killer was known to the killer. This leads to an ex-husband and a current lover as prime suspects. Then phone records lead to a mysterious female that adds a whole new aspect to the case.

As Nils investigates the primary suspects, he runs afoul of an FBI investigation and is told to back off. But Nils is too far in to back off. He and his friend continue to pursue clues, hoping to flush out the killer. Soon another man ends up dead and all leads point to him as the killer. But Nils doesn’t think so. He is pretty sure that someone has been manipulating the direction of the clues. Soon Nils isn’t sure which suspect is really the killer, but he won’t stop until he finds out.

I initially had mixed feelings about the main character, as I wasn’t crazy about the brash and sometimes base nature of Nils’ character. However, I was pulled in by the mystery and definitely appreciated Nils’ perseverance and attention to detail. The foul language and some sexual side comments were not to my liking. I did enjoy most of the description that flushed the story although there is a little extra minutiae in the daily activity. Still, the mystery with several red herrings and twists made this an engaging listen. The next several books in the series were also included in Audible plus so I will look forward to listening to another. I recommend this to PI mystery fans.

Audio Notes: MacLeod Andrews does a good job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and a fitting, low-key, determined atmosphere.

Source: I won this at Beth Fish Reads with a set of titles from Audiobooks.com during Audiobook Week July 2018. I also have it on Audible as it is part of the Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 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.

Audio Book Review: A Nancy Drew Christmas by Carolyn Keene

I enjoyed this light mystery which reminded me how I enjoyed other teen detective stories as a child.

A Nancy Drew Christmas
Written by Carolyn Keene

Narrated by Jorjeana Marie

Series: Nancy Drew Diaries, Book 18
Run time: 6 hours and 24 minutes
Release date: 02-11-19
Publisher: Oasis Audio
Genre: Christmas, Classic, Mystery
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher Description
Nancy finds herself a Christmas mystery in this super special eighteenth book of the Nancy Drew Diaries series, a fresh approach to the classic mystery series.
Nancy Drew’s dad surprises her with a trip to a beautiful New England ski resort for Christmas break. Nancy is so excited. What could be better than a whole week of skiing and five-star dining?
But no vacation can go smoothly when Nancy is involved. On her very first run down the slopes, Nancy hits a bad patch of ice and takes a serious tumble. A doctor sends her back to the hotel in a cast and mandates twelve days of bed rest. That means no long car trips back to River Heights and twelve days of sitting around. Luckily, there’s still the five-star dining and beautiful views.
Just hours into her convalescence, Nancy witnesses something very suspicious through another hotel room window. And when she presses the concierge she learns there have been mysterious break-ins throughout the hotel. It’s clear someone has been going into guest’s rooms but, as far as anyone can tell, nothing has been taken. Nancy can’t resist-she has to investigate. Only trouble is, she’s still bed bound.
Taking some cues from Home Alone’s Kevin McCallister, Nancy devises some clever schemes to get her investigating done from her bed. But for all her plans, Nancy still can’t find the source of the break-ins. Or the purpose. What’s worse the mood of the hotel has turned decidedly un-merry. People are leaving in droves and the jolly hotel owner is worried about the hotel’s success.
With all the odds stacked against her, can Nancy solve this crime in time to save Christmas? Or is this one Yuletide she’ll wish to forget?

Review:
Nancy Drew is excited to enjoy a ski resort vacation with her father. She arrives early and skis right into trouble, hitting an unmarked ice patch when she agrees to fill in to ski an easy slope for a missing staff member who doesn’t show up. The doctor puts a full leg cast on Nancy and tells her to stay in her room for the next twelve days. Nancy isn’t one to sit quietly and she soon spies suspicious activity from her window.

Nancy learns there have been break-ins in guest rooms and then the first dinner of the season is nearly ruined. Nancy is aware there is tension regarding the ski resort and a pipeline that wants to go across land owned by the resort owners. She goes to one owner to try to help solve some of the problems and gets limited support. She also discovers two boys snooping around the other owner. She soon learns that the boys are Frank and Joe Hardy. She knows things aren’t right when the local sheriff shrugs off handling complaints against an employee and instead arrests Frank Hardy.

Even when the owner tells Nancy that her job is done, she presses on with the help of Joe. Nancy experiences another incident in the snow paths which is clearly an attack and not an ‘accident’. She and Joe find clues and hidden passageways before coming face to face with threats of death. Can Nancy and the Hardy boys solve the crimes before the resort is closed for good?

This was an easy, light listen. I liked the multiple crimes and clues as well as Nancy’s determination to solve the cases. I read the Hardy Boy stories rather than Nancy Drew as a young girl apparently because the Nancy Drew books didn’t get published popularly until I was already in college. I was delighted when Frank and Joe showed up as characters in this book. The plots involving these teen detectives are engaging, with twists and danger. I was a little surprised about the current day environmental issues, considering these were written years ago. H however, I liked the light pacing and clean nature of the story. I plan to listen to more in the series when I want a light read. I recommend this story as a very nice holiday read for young and older mystery fans.

Audio Notes: Jorjeana Marie does a fine job with the narration. Her voice fits the main character and she makes the listening easy to enjoy.

Source: 1/20/2020 Chirp Purchase $.99. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, and 2021AudioAlphabit goals.

Audio Book Review: Mysterious Abduction by Rita Herron

This is a quick, easy listening Romantic Suspense.
Mysterious Abduction
Written by Rita Herron
Narrated by Steve Campbell

Run Time 6h 20min
Release Date: March 1, 2020
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher Description
She’ll never give up on finding her baby.
And neither will the sheriff of Whistler.
For five years, Cora Reeves has searched for her baby, who went missing in a fire—a baby she swears is still out there. When the private investigator sniffing out clues ends up dead, Sheriff Jacob Maverick’s on the cold case. As old evidence takes on new meaning, Jacob is desperate to ensure Cora’s safety. Especially once he realizes how far someone is willing to go to keep her from learning the truth behind what really happened that fateful day…

Review:
Cora’s new born daughter was taken when a fire broke out in the hospital the night of the infant’s birth. Eventually her obsession with trying to find the child, resulted in a divorce by her husband. It has been five years and Cora still studies the faces of young girls so much so that she has just been fired from her position as a teacher after another mother complains. But suddenly the private detective who has been working with her sends a text saying he is stopping the search. She drives to his office only to find it in flames.

The local Sheriff, Jacob, lost his father to the hospital fire five years before so he has always been concerned for Cora. There were no new leads to find her baby or the hospital arsonist until now that the investigator has been murdered.

Events begin to heat up as Cora pushes for clues. When it appears that her life is now in danger, Jacob steps in to keep her safe. Jacob tries to maintain his professional position but soon he is unable to resist holding Cora – to give comfort and maybe share more.

I liked the mystery and clean nature of this quick story. Cora is an interesting combination of fragile and determination. I liked Jacob’s strong, supportive character. There were several suspects that began to be revealed and I did figure out the culprit fairly quickly, although not quite the extreme nature of the motives. I recommend this to readers looking for a quick romantic suspense.

Audio Notes: Steve Campbell does a fine job with the narration. He carried the voices and emotions well. His narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 12/31/2020 Chirp $3.99. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook 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.

Audio Book Review: A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman

I totally enjoyed this Historical mystery.
A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder
Written by Dianne Freeman
Narrated by Sarah Zimmerman

Run Time: 8h5m
Featured in: Agatha Award Winner
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Genre: Cozy, Historical, Mystery, Woman Sleuth
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher Description
Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, enjoys more freedom as a widow than she did as a wife. After an obligatory year spent mourning her philandering husband, Reggie, she puts aside her drab black gowns, leaving the countryside and her money-grubbing in-laws behind. With her young daughter in tow, Frances rents a home in Belgravia and prepares to welcome her sister, Lily, arriving from New York—for her first London season.
No sooner has Frances begun her new life than the ghosts of her old one make an unwelcome appearance. The Metropolitan police receive an anonymous letter implicating Frances in her husband’s death. Frances assures Inspector Delaney of her innocence, but she’s also keen to keep him from learning the scandalous circumstances of Reggie’s demise. As fate would have it, her dashing new neighbor, George Hazelton, is one of only two other people aware of the full story.
While busy with social engagements on Lily’s behalf, and worrying if Reggie really was murdered, Frances learns of mysterious burglaries plaguing London’s elite. The investigation brings death to her doorstep, and Frances rallies her wits, a circle of gossips, and the ever-chivalrous Mr. Hazelton to uncover the truth.

Review:
Frances Wynn is a young widow at the turn of the century, 1899. Frances is an American heiress who married into nobility to become Countess of Harleigh. The marriage didn’t turn out as pleasant as she would like so she is glad to be finishing her period of mourning for her wastrel and unfaithful husband, Reggie. She is also ready to leave the Harleigh Estate and her greedy, mooching brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

Frances takes her young daughter and moves into a home in the nice Belgravia neighborhood of London. Her first surprise is to discover that George Hazelton is her next-door neighbor. George is a very nice man, but he is one of two people who knows the true and embarrassing circumstances regarding Reggie’s death by heart attack.

Frances doesn’t want to seek help from George again, but he is ready and willing to help protect her when the police receive an anonymous letter implying that Frances poisoned her husband. Frances is also coping with a lawsuit by her brother-in-law trying to get control of her funds. The arrival of her younger sister, Lily, for her first season in London might be a problem except she comes baring funds that will help Frances in the interim. Frances’ aunt is helpful as Lily’s chaperone and a wise guide to Frances.

While trying to protect Lily from unsuitable suitors, Frances becomes involved in the activities of a thief who is taking valuables during the society events. Suddenly Frances, with the help of George, is trying to solve the possible murder of her husband, protect Lily, and uncover a thief.

I really enjoyed the characters, the mysteries, and the turn of the century setting of this story. Frances is a good mix of decorum with the addition of American independence. Most Victorian historicals are before vehicles and telephones so it was interesting to have these elements included in the story. There is attraction between Lily and George but not yet romance. I will definitely be picking up book 2 of the series. I recommend this to readers who enjoy clean, historical cozy mysteries.

Audio Notes: Sarah Zimmerman does a beautiful job with the narration. I liked the voices and the pacing – all good. I will enjoy listening to more by this narrator.

Source: 9/27/19 Chirp $1.99. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

#FraterfestRat Audible Book Review: Once Upon a Haunted Moor: The Tyack & Frayne Mysteries, Book 1 by Harper Fox

This is a good, short start to a mystery series..

Once Upon a Haunted Moor: The Tyack & Frayne Mysteries, Book 1
By: Harper Fox
Narrated by: Tim Gilbert

Series: Tyack & Frayne, Book
Length: 2 hrs and 57 mins
Release date: 12-04-17
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: LGBTQ, Mystery, Supernatural
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Gideon Frayne has spent his whole working life as a policeman in the village of Dark on Bodmin Moor. It's not life in the fast lane, but he takes it very seriously, and his first missing-child case is eating him alive. When his own boss sends in a psychic to help with the case, he's gutted - he's a level-headed copper who doesn't believe in such things, and he can't help but think that the arrival of clairvoyant Lee Tyack is a comment on his failure to find the little girl.
But Lee is hard to hate, no matter how Gideon tries. At first Lee's insights into the case make no sense, but he seems to have a window straight into Gideon's heart. Son of a Methodist minister, raised in a tiny Cornish village, Gideon has hidden his sexuality for years. It's cost him one lover, and he can't believe it when this green-eyed newcomer stirs up old feelings and starts to exert a powerful force of attraction.
Gideon and Lee begin to work together on the case. But there are malignant forces at work in the sleepy little village of Dark, and not only human ones - Gideon is starting to wonder, against all common sense, if there might be some truth in the terrifying legend of the Bodmin Beast after all. As a misty Halloween night consumes the moor, Gideon must race against time to save not only the lost child but the man who's begun to restore his faith in his own heart.
©2013 Harper Fox (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Gideon Frayne is a policeman in his home village on the edge of the Cornish moors. He is frustrated as the days pass, and he hasn’t located a missing young girl. Gideon is a bit surprised, and annoyed, when his superior indicates that a psychic has been called in. Gideon is set against the idea and then he meets Lee Tyack.

Circumstances leave Lee without a reservation, so he ends up staying with Gideon. At first Gideon is very skeptical about Lee’s not so clear visionary clues. But soon he realizes that the clues make sense once they get the right interpretation. A little romance develops between Gideon and Lee as they get closer to finding the missing girl. Soon Gideon realizes that Lee is in danger too. On a dark, foggy Halloween night, Gideon sets off into the dark moors and the caves there in hopes he can save the girl and his new friend.

I am very impressed by the writing in this short mystery which has a beautiful tone even with the darkness of the settings and issues. The mystery isn’t terribly deep, but the dangerous creature and the physic element adds to the plot. Gideon and Lee are two distinct and different characters, but they work well together. The relationship between Gideon and Lee is tastefully handled. I might be inclined to read more in the series.

Audio Notes: Tim Gilbert does a wonderful narration. His accent fits the story and he enhances the haunting tone while portraying clear characters. I would listen to more narration from Gilbert.

Source: August 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, and #FraterfestRat goals.

#Fraterfest Audible Book Review: Murder by Other Means: The Dispatcher, Book 2 by John Scalzi

This is a good, short mystery series.
Murder by Other Means: The Dispatcher, Book 2
By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Zachary Quinto

Series: The Dispatcher, Book 2
Length 3h 33m
Release date: 09-10-20
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Mystery, Science Fiction & Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

About This Audible Original
From Hugo and Audie Award-winning author John Scalzi comes an exciting sequel to The New York Times best-selling, number one Audible hit The Dispatcher, performed by the incomparable Zachary Quinto.
Welcome to the new world, in which murder is all but a thing of the past. Because when someone kills you, 999 times out of 1,000, you instantly come back to life. In this world, there are dispatchers—licensed killers who step in when you’re at risk of a natural or unintentional death. They kill you—so you can live.
Tony Valdez is used to working his job as a dispatcher within the rules of the law and the state. But times are tough, and more and more Tony finds himself riding the line between what’s legal and what will pay his bills. After one of these shady gigs and after being a witness to a crime gone horribly wrong, Tony discovers that people around him are dying, for reasons that make no sense...and which just may implicate him.
Tony is running out of time: to solve the mystery of these deaths, to keep others from dying, and to keep himself from being a victim of what looks like murder, by other means.
©2020 John Scalzi (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC

Review:
Tony is a dispatcher who is accustomed to killing … as long as it is within the rules which allow him to kill, or “dispatch” people whose lives may be saved when they come back to life. Tony agrees to take a job that isn’t quite on the up and up, but he needs the money. He doesn’t expect the situation to cause trouble as it isn’t in the interest of any of the participants to reveal the job.

As Tony is in the bank to deposit his fees, he becomes a witness to a bank robbery. The head of the gang turns to shoot the others, with that apparently being their get-away plan. The problem is, the first man shot stays down instead of disappearing. The dead man is the one in a thousand who stays dead. That means the cops can trace the identity of at least one of the robbers who turns out to be another dispatcher. As the investigation moves forward clues begin to point to Tony as part of the gang, if not its leader.

The lead detective is soon found dead, supposedly of a suicide. Then others associated with the robbery. Tony is in a race to uncover the true villains before others around him die of murder ‘by other means’ while the authorities focus only on him.

I like Tony’s character as he uses his assassin skills to help others even if it isn’t always comfortable. I enjoyed this mystery and the twists that Tony has to untangle. I also like that this is a quick listen. I recommend this to fans of mystery with a twist.

Audio Notes: Zachary Quinto’s narration fits this series nicely. His voice captures Tony’s personality and character and keeps the edgy nature of the mystery. I liked listening to this mystery.

Source: August 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook goals and #FraterfestRat #5.

Audible Book Review: The Dispatcher by John Scalzi 4.5

#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.

Book Review: Killer Lawyer (Jake Wolfe Book 3) by Mark Nolan

This is a very good crime thriller. I want to continue the series.
Killer Lawyer (Jake Wolfe Book 3)
by Mark Nolan

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07L5GLJQ1
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 19, 2018
File size ‏ : ‎ 2208 KB, 416 pages
Genre: Action, Crime Thriller, Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

Jake Wolfe is a young lawyer who leads a secret life as a government assassin. Trained by the CIA, Jake now wants a new life of peace and quiet, living on a boat and practicing law. But when his city is shocked by a serial killer and he’s framed for the murder of a friend, Jake must race against time to find the killer before he strikes again.
Drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse; at every step Jake and his loved ones are being hunted by the clever, twisted madman. As the city is gripped in fear of the seemingly random shootings that could strike anybody, Jake investigates and uncovers ominous clues until a shocking reversal of fortune changes everything.
With the clock ticking and lives at stake, will Jake be able to find and stop the killer in time, or will he become the next victim?
Buckle up for a wild ride as Jake Wolfe and his exceptionally intelligent dog, Cody, return to action in this page-turning thriller in Mark Nolan’s bestselling series that has earned thousands of 5-star ratings on Amazon and Goodreads.

Review:
Jake is a former military man who has been recruited as a secret government assassin. He has passed the bar to become an attorney although he doesn’t exactly have paying clients yet. Mainly because he keeps charging only a $1.00. Jake lives on a friend’s boat with his ‘retired’ military dog, Cody. Jake has been dating local veterinarian, Sarah, but she put a hold on their growing relationship after seeing Jake in defensive mode. She feels his life style is too dangerous… which may be true.

Currently Jake is executing (no pun intended) a mission directed by his ‘handler’. He community is dealing with a serial killer called the “Random Killer”. Jake’s sweet elderly neighbor is killed and clues left implicating Jake. Before the local authorities have fully cleared Jake, he has convinced his handler to get him deputized to the Marshall’s office so he can get on the task force hunting this killer.

Jake and Cody set off to find the killer who leads everyone on a chase from one end of town to the other. Unfortunately, Jake’s actions have put the killer on the hunt for Jake and those he loves. Will Jake be able to get the killer before he injures someone he loves? Will his activities result in Sarah totally ending their relationship?

I really like Jake as a character although it does cause mixed feelings to think that assassins and secret organizations exist around us. Author Nolan gives the reader an intriguing view of the killer too, following his thoughts and activities. I like the combination of danger, action, issues of diplomatic immunity, tidbits of law, and a touch of romance in this series and I will look to read more. I recommend this to fans of the strong, silent hero crime thriller.

Source: Author 2019. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021 Alphabet, and Author goals.

 Dead Lawyers Don't Lie: A Gripping Thriller (Jake Wolfe Book 1) by Mark Nolan; 4.75
 Vigilante Assassin (Jake Wolfe Book 2) by Mark Nolan; 4.5

#NetGalley Book Review: The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton

This is an engaging and easy reading mystery.

The Keepers
by Jeffrey B. Burton

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08FZB2D45
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books (June 29, 2021)
File size ‏ : ‎ 3382 KB
Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cadaver Dog, Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Jeffrey B. Burton's The Keepers is the next installment of the Mace Reid K-9 series, featuring golden retriever cadaver dog Vira and her handler, Mason Reid.
Mason “Mace” Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection―that is, he trains dogs to hunt for dead bodies. He calls his pack of cadaver dogs The Finders, and his prize pupil is a golden retriever named Vira.
When Mace Reid and Vira are called in to search Washington Park at three o'clock in the morning, what they find has them running for their very lives. The trail of murder and mayhem Mace and CPD Officer Kippy Gimm have been following leads them to uncover treachery and corruption at the highest level, and their discoveries do not bode well for them . . . nor for the Windy City itself.
The Keepers is an exciting, fast-paced mystery filled with courageous dogs you'll want to root for.

Review:
Mace is a dog trainer who has a special golden retriever, Vira. Vira not only sniffs out the dead bodies, she also picks up the scent of the villains who delivered the death blows. The first scene involves a music artist and Vira is silent at the gruesome crime scene and at the funeral. Mace begins to wonder if Vira didn’t get the killer’s scent until Mace and Vira join CPD Officer Kippy to interview another suspect.

Shortly after solving the first murder, Mace and Vira are called in to find a missing person when foul play is suspected. Vira quickly finds the body which has clearly suffered a brutal death. Before leaving the area, Vira alerts to two men who arrive on scene. Mace calms Vira and gets out of the way because she has just focused the crime on members of the authority.

Mace is soon threatened, and he is ready to move to Alaska. Kippy and her partner talk Mace into a plan to take their suspicions to another arm of authority. But they don’t realize the deadly determination of the criminals they are trying to gather evidence against.

The story moves quickly and has good action. I cringed when several characters suffered injuries. I enjoy the easy mode of the writing and I like the gentle, developing relationship between Mace and Kippy.

I liked book one, The Finders, and book two. I will be glad to read more in the future. I recommend the series to fans of easy mysteries, especially involving dogs.

Source: NetGalley 7/11/2021. (Seen at Inside of a Dog.) This qualifies for 2021NetGalley goal.

Audible Book Review: Q & A by Ben Winters

I liked the legal aspects and irony of this quick mystery suspense.

Q&A
By: Ben H. Winters
Narrated by: John Zdrojeski, Robert Creighton, Jay Snyder, Nicole Lewis, Kathryn Kates, Michael Braun, Elizabeth Evans, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Justis Bolding

Length: 2hrs and 8 mins
Release date: 01-14-21
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Thriller & Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.

About This Audible Original
An interview recorded on an iPhone.
A police interrogation tape.
An FBI wire.
At the center of them all is a writer researching a legal thriller... or is he? And somewhere within those recordings is the truth about a murder trial and a web of lies stretching back three decades.
Written by Ben H. Winters, the best-selling author of Underground Airlines, The Last Policeman, and the Audible Original Inside Jobs, Q&A is a tantalizing puzzle and a gripping tale of obsession and revenge.
Because you can never really know the truth of a conversation—even when it's all on tape.
The full-cast production of Q&A stars:
John Zdrojeski as The Young Man
Robert Creighton as Lou Douglas
Jay Snyder as Detective Murphy
Nicole Lewis as Detective Garcia
Kathryn Kates as Judge Goldman
Michael Braun as Fannon
Elizabeth Evans as Mary-Ellen
©2021 Ben H. Winters, LLC (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC

Review:
The primary character is a writer interviewing a defense attorney supposedly in a preparation of writing a legal thriller. But as the interview proceeds, there appears to be a different motive. The first interview leads to a confrontation with the police and then another interview with a Judge. The facts are building and shifting to a new perspective. Then a final interview culminates in a plot twist that isn’t totally a surprise at that point.

This is a quick listen and quite enjoyable. I was drawn by the legal thriller and writing aspects and stayed for the twists. Highly recommended to mystery/suspense fans.

Audio Notes: This is a full cast production that makes for good listening. I’m glad this was included in the Audible Plus Catalog.

Source: January 2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook goal (and third round on Alphabet).

Audible Book Review: Hour of Need by Melinda Leigh

This is an easy listen mystery with romance.

Hour of Need
Scarlet Falls, Book 1
By: Melinda Leigh
Narrated by: Cris Dukehart

Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
Release date: 12-09-14
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Mystery, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.0; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
A 2015 Daphne du Maurier Award finalist from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.
While fighting in Afghanistan, Major Grant Barrett receives devastating news: his brother and sister-in-law have been murdered in Scarlet Falls, the sleepy suburb of Grant’s youth. Emotionally scarred from war, the career soldier returns home on emergency leave to temporarily care for his orphaned nephew and niece. But when someone tries to kidnap the kids and their teenage babysitter, Grant knows it’s not a random act…and neither were the murders.
Already devastated by her neighbors’ violent deaths, Ellie Ross is shattered by the attempted abduction of her teenage daughter so she desperately turns to Grant for help. As they navigate a deadly search for the truth, they struggle with growing feelings for each other and Grant’s impending return to Afghanistan.
But time is running out. The killer is growing bolder by the hour, and Ellie and Grant must find him before the children become his next victims.
Bestselling author Melinda Leigh delivers another gritty mystery simmering with spine-tingling passion in this first Scarlet Falls novel.
©2014 Melinda Leigh (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

Review:
Major Grant Barrett is given emergency leave to return home after his brother, Lee, and sister-in-law, Kate, are murdered in the streets of Scarlet Falls. Grant needs to take charge of his orphaned six-year-old nephew, Carson, and 4-months-old, colicky niece, Faith. He is relieved to have the help from his neighbors, Ellie Ross, her mother and her teenage daughter, Julia.

Ellie is a legal assistant who worked for Lee and she is aware that Lee had taken on a controversial civil case. The case was the result of a suicide of a high school student involved in an ice-skating club who was allegedly being mercilessly bullied by two other girls on the skate team. The managing partner at the firm directs Ellie to find the case file, and any others that Lee had at home, and bring them back to the office. Before Ellie gets a chance to try to gather the office files, she is accosted by a man with a gun who threatens to kill her mother and daughter if Ellie doesn’t deliver the civil case file to the blackmailer. Ellie would like to trust Grant with her secret but she is too afraid to risk her family.

Grant and his high finance lawyer sister, Hannah, are staying at Lee’s home with the children, while a third brother/Uncle Mac, floats in and out to help. The group is not aware that the house is under surveillance until Grant comes home to find the house ransacked. A few days later a man tries to kidnap Carson while Julia is with the children at the park. Now Grant is determined to uncover Ellie’s secrets and to track down his brother’s murderer.

Grant and Ellie are drawn to each other but are reluctant to indulge their attraction since he is a career military man expected to return to Afghanistan within a month. She has experienced abandonment in her youth and doesn’t want to put herself or her daughter through that loss. Still, Grant and Ellie find themselves seeking comfort as they try to keep their families alive and safe.

This is what I consider an easy romantic suspense. I was glad to listen to this as a change to the sci fi genre which I have been into. The story is not heavy on action although Grant does get a chance to show off some of his soldiering skills. The bullying issue is sad, and the crime has some good twists. I enjoyed the mix of family, mystery, and not too heavy romance. I would read more by Ms. Leigh and I recommend this to fans of mystery romance.

Audio Notes: I think this is my first experience with Cris Dukehart as a narrator although she appears to be a prolific narrator. I enjoyed her clear, skilled presentation. She provides distinct voices and inflection fitting the scenes. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 12/13/2019 Audible Member Sale $5.24. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: One Hit Wonder by Kristi Rose

This is a quick, light, character focused mystery.
One Hit Wonder
by Kristi Rose
Narrated by Jennifer Stoneking

Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
Release date: 12-13-19
Publisher: Vintage Housewife Books
Genre: Mystery, Women’s Detective
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher Description
Do your job or move along already. Trouble is, I’m in too deep to do either one.
A year into Samantha True’s forensic photography classes she knows three things:
1. Crime scenes are messy.
2. Especially when you throw up on them.
3. She may not be cut out for this.
When the police drag her to an investigation, she’s just as baffled by the scene. With clues like superhero masks, disco balls, and Bigfoot, are they ever going to find who did it?
As she digs deeper into the photographic evidence, she realizes her small town is full of secrets. And she might be happier staying in the dark.
A laugh-out-loud mystery that will keep you guessing and quickly turning the pages. One Hit Wonder offers the just right reader escape, but fair warning, this book leaves readers wanting more.

Review:
Samantha is trying to find a career for her future. Her current focus is on forensic photography and she finally has the opportunity to exercise her intern skills with a real crime scene … actually two crime scenes. Unfortunately, she had to face the scene while fighting through the flu and word boxing with one of the handsome detectives who always seems to dismiss her efforts. Throwing up on the scene doesn’t win her any respect. But she pushes on to the second scene, trying to pick up the important details the photographer has to preserve for the police.

Sam takes the work seriously and ponders the facts she has seen. She realizes that she has recognized details she needs to bring to the attention of the police, especially before someone realizes she has info that would make her a target.

This is a quick, easy listen. I totally enjoyed the banter and the forensic details. There is just a hint of a possible future romance which is nice. I would be willing to read more in the series and I recommend this to mystery fans who enjoy a quick read.

Audio Notes: Jennifer Stoneking does a nice job with the narration. She provides distinct voices for the various characters and she portrays good emotion. I enjoyed the listening experience and would like to hear more by this new-to-me narrator.

Source: October 2020 Purchase at Chirp $.99. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: Unforgettable by Eric James Stone

I enjoyed this entertaining futuristic spy adventure.
Unforgettable
by Eric James Stone
Read by Bryson Carr

Run Time 8h 23min
Release Date: April 20, 2020
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Action Adventure, Mystery, Sci Fi, Spy Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher Description
In the near future, a fluke of quantum mechanics renders Nat Morgan utterly forgettable. No one can remember he exists for more than a minute after he’s gone. It’s a useful ability for his career as a CIA agent, even if he has to keep reminding his boss that he exists. Nat’s attempt to steal a quantum-chip prototype is thwarted when a former FSB agent, Yelena Semyonova, attempts to steal the same technology for the Russian mob. Along with a brilliant Iranian physicist who wants to defect, Nat and Yelena must work together to stop a ruthless billionaire from finishing a quantum supercomputer that will literally control the fate of the world.

Review:
Imagine if your own mother didn’t remember you after walking out of your room for one minute! This is the problem Nat Morgan has faced since he was born! His mother had to be his world as he grew up as the teachers and children in school wouldn’t remember him minutes after he walked out of the room. His mother did a good job until tragedy hit and changed their circumstances.

Nat had to find a way to make it on his own. He managed to convince the CIA to hire him and he was assigned a particular handler with special steps to remember Nat when he calls in from missions.

Nat obtains the quantum-chip prototype but his plan of escape is interrupted by a former FSB agent, Yelena. A fluke event puts the pair working together, although for different purposes. Nat wants to stop a master plot for control while Yelena is set on saving her sisters who have been kidnapped. It looks like cooperation might work best especially when they realize they need to obtain the help of a brilliant physicist who may be their only hope to stopping a tyrannical billionaire from completing a supercomputer that will control the world.

Nat is a little naïve but that is understandable due to his solitary upbringing. Being unforgettable has its advantages (storage closets come in handy) but there are more problems than you might think. His mother helped him to learn creative means to help others remember him when he needs them to.

The writing felt more like “light” entertainment than intense suspense. Still, the story moved along quickly, and I enjoyed the action and light romance. The suspense builds with a few twists and an ending that leaves open the possibility of more adventures. I recommend this to fans of futuristic, spy adventure.

Audio Notes: Bryson Carr does a good job with the narration. He provides the younger tone of the primary character but also provides appropriate accents and voices for the other characters. The energy and delivery enhance the reading experience for me.

Source: 8/30/2020 Chirp $2.99. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, and 2021Alphabet Audio goals.

Book Review: Low Tide (The Forgotten Coast Florida Suspense Series Book 1) by Dawn Lee McKenna

This is a real to life mystery with a strong female protagonist.
Low Tide (The Forgotten Coast Florida Suspense Series Book 1)
by Dawn Lee McKenna

ASIN : B00Z2BXCXE
Publisher : The Sweet Tea Press (June 5, 2015)
Publication date : June 5, 2015
Print length : 191 pages
Genre: Mystery, Small Town, Suspense, Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

In Apalachicola, Florida, sinister things are afoot, as sinister things tend to be.
Lt. Maggie Redmond is called to a crime scene on St. George Island, where she is met with the body of Gregory Boudreaux. The medical examiner calls it a suicide, but no one knows that Maggie has a horrible connection to the dead man.
When Gregory’s uncle, Bennett Boudreaux, the richest and scariest man in town, takes a sudden interest in Maggie, people start to wonder, Maggie included. Maggie knows he may suspect her of killing his nephew, but she finds herself slowly drawn to the man.
As Maggie fights to help a young girl escape the clutches of a volatile drug dealer who’d love to see Maggie dead, she also struggles to hide her dark link to a dead man, and her burgeoning relationship with her boss, Sheriff Wyatt Hamilton.
Unfortunately, secrets have a way of revealing themselves at low tide.

Review:
Maggie is a police Lieutenant called to the scene of a dead man on St. George Island. The dead man, who appears to have committed suicide, is Gregory Boudreaux, a local man related to a rich and powerful man in town. Maggie has known the deceased since school days, but no one knows the truth of their past association. One of the first people Maggie interviews is Gregory’s Uncle, Bennet Boudreaux. Bennet is a man in his sixties but still makes an impression, especially with his power and confidence in his ability to control the narrative around him.

Maggie runs into a small time criminal she has arrested in the past. This time she sees him with a wraith of a young girl who is holding an infant while shielding two toddlers. Maggie suspects the girl, Gracie, is being bullied and tells her to call on Maggie if there is trouble.

Meanwhile, Maggie has to juggle her personal life issues while doing her job. She is a single mother since divorcing her husband, due to his bad life choices. Maggie has found it hard to move on from her childhood sweetheart, but she is glad to often find support from her boss, town sheriff, Wyatt. Their relationship seems to be growing closer and they struggle to balance their attraction with their work situation.

Danger comes after Maggie when it appears someone wants her to not look to closely at Boudreaux’s death. She is also stirring up trouble from a different direction when Gracie turns informant and seeks her help.

The writing has a good, easy flow. The story is character driven with a nice mix of intrigue, suspense, danger and a touch of romance. The multiple real to life threads are interwoven with Maggie's involvement. The ending closes part of the threads but leaves one wide open for more police (and personal) adventure.

The setting is the Forgotten Coast of the Florida Panhandle, within a few hours of my hometown. The author shares wonderful local, small town color. I am reading this with others in my local Woman's Club, which is a great group of service intensive ladies. They plan to forge ahead with the next book in the series. I recommend this to fans of easy mystery set in a small beach town.

Source: Free Kindle 2017. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021eBook goals.

Audio Book Review: The Golden Day by Ursula Dubosarsky

This is a beautifully written, unusual mystery story.
THE GOLDEN DAY
by Ursula Dubosarsky
narrated by Kate Rudd

Length: 3.75 hrs.
Release date: 08-06-13
(Candlewick on Brilliance Audio)
Genre: Historical, Mystery, Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

While participating in a field trip that a young class is told not to mention to anyone, their teacher disappears. What happened that day? And whom can the kids talk to? Kate Rudd has the perfect voice to narrate the innocence, wonder, and confusion of a classroom of young girls as they try to figure out what has happened to their teacher. Rudd’s emotional narration captures the girls’ worry and sense of a world gone awry. The novel crafts subtle tension, and Rudd's voice crafts a tone to match as the story unfolds. Her narration builds just the right amount of suspense in a sophisticated thriller that leaves listeners wondering what they believe about what happened.
S.B.T. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2013]

Review:
The morning started with a hanging. The young teacher of a class of eleven young girls tells them about the event and then announces they are going to the park to contemplate death. The girls are excited to be out on a secret field trip with their lively teacher. They visit the park where there is a mysterious poet. Then their teacher meets up with a workman who leads them all on an adventure into the seaside caves. The girls get frightened in the dark cave and lead each other out the way they went in. But their teacher doesn’t come out. What happened to her?

Initially the girls won’t speak to the headmistress or the substitute teacher as they were told not to tell anyone about the field trip. Finally, the school counselor interviews the one child who bursts into tears at the slightest upset. All the others know that she will tell where they went. But they still can’t find the teacher.

The prose in this little piece is beautiful. The mystery and intrigue are carried through to the twist at the end. I am very glad that I got this title through the SYNC program. Sometimes they share some real gems! I recommend this to those who enjoy lovely prose and or a quick mystery.

Audio Notes: Kate Rudd does a beautiful job with the narration. Her presentation carried the mood and enhanced the experience.

Source: SYNC Week 8: June 13 – June 20, 2019. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, 2021Alphabet Audio and 2021Color goals.

Audible Book Review: Hold Your Breath: A Novella by Wendy Walker

This is an engaging little suspense.
Hold Your Breath: A Novella
By: Wendy Walker
Narrated by: Dylan Baker

Series: Audible Original Stories
Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins
Release date: 10-01-20
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Mystery, Psychological, Thriller & Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

About This Audible Original
From the best-selling author of All Is Not Forgotten and Don’t Look for Me comes a sharp, compulsive thriller about a young woman who narrowly escapes a violent crime and the psychiatrist helping to recover her memory of the suspect.
Gabby Ashford has just survived an attempt on her life. Detectives have connected her story to two other cases in the area: Professional women drugged at a bar, brought to their homes, and drowned in their bathtubs. Gabby, who miraculously woke up in her own bathtub unharmed, could be the key to finding a serial killer on the loose—but she has no memory of the attack.
Gabby admits herself to a high-end rehabilitation center to recover and to seek the help of a psychiatrist renowned for his work with memory recovery. As Dr. Forrester works with Gabby—interviewing not only her but her overbearing fiancée, her emotionally fragile brother, and the local detective working the case—questions about Gabby’s story, her past, and the ethics of memory recovery emerge.
Dr. Forrester, the central voice of Walker’s breakout debut All Is Not Forgotten, is a fascinating and deeply complicated character, barreling toward the truth of the case at hand while wrestling with the demons of his own past. Shocking and succinct, Hold Your Breath will have you on the edge of your seat from the first minute to the last.
©2020 Wendy Walker (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
Gabby has reported that she has survived an encounter with a serial killer. She checks herself into a rehabilitation center where she hopes to be safe and where she can seek the skills of Dr. Forrester, a renowned psychiatrist. Dr. Forrester experienced a traumatic event after gaining fame a few years before while helping to solve a mystery with his work in memory recovery. He doesn’t see patients anymore, but Gabby has specifically sought him out. Forrester interviews Gabby, her fiancé and her strange, damaged brother. He obtains file notes and information from the local detective on the case.

Dr. Forrester is also spending time with a young patient, Billie, who diligently observes the other patients, sets up projection models and eagerly shares them with the Doctor. Billie has questions about Gabby, but the Doctor explains that he can’t share any information with her.

While Dr. Forrester is ruminating on the facts and evidence surrounding Gabby’s event, he also shares rambling memories from his own past. Slowly the reader gets a better understanding of Gabby and Dr. Forrester that results in a twisted climax.

I liked the intrigue and psychological twists in this mystery. There were several suspects to work through and good details and clues to piece together. This was a quick read/listen and I will be interested to read more by Ms. Walker. I recommend this to fans of psychological mystery. I think you’ll get a kick out of the ending.

Audio Notes: Dylan Baker does an excellent job as narrator. He carries the mysterious tone while providing clear and perfectly fitting cadence and emphasis. The narration added to the twisting story.

Source: October 24, 2020 free with Audible Plus Catalogue. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet goals.

Audio Book Review: Night Stalker by Shirlee McCoy

This is a suspenseful thriller with a second chance romance.
Night Stalker
Faith in the Face of Crime (FBI: Special Crimes Unit Book 1)
by Shirlee McCoy
Read by Emily Durante

Run Time 5h 37min
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Christian, Mystery, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Night Stalker
Faith in the Face of Crime (FBI: Special Crimes Unit Book 1) by Shirlee McCoy
Read by Emily Durante
Run Time 5h 37min
After Special Agent Adam Whitfield’s ex-wife is nearly killed when she stops an abduction, the serial killer that Adam’s been hunting turns his focus on Charlotte Murray for getting in his way. Now, as the Night Stalker closes in, Adam has two missions: bring the murderer to justice and save Charlotte—because failure isn’t an option.

Review:
Charlotte and Adam separated after tragedy struck their family and grief overwhelmed their relationship. Charlotte lives quietly in their little lakeside home that is set away from the busier community. She has adjusted her life and has tried, not fully successfully, to convince herself that she has accepted her circumstance. One night her dog growls and she steps outside to investigate. She prevents an abduction but gets injured in the process. She wakes up in the hospital to find her ex-husband, Adam, hovering.

Since Adam left Whisper Lake, he has been involved with a special FBI unit pursuing a serial killer known as the Night Stalker. He was headed to investigate the abduction which fit the profile and MO of the Stalker, but he was told he couldn’t be part of the team as his ex-wife was involved. That only strengthened his reason to go even if he had to go on personal time.

Charlotte and Adam struggle with their painful past and their apparent incomplete relationship. Meanwhile, Charlotte’s elderly neighbor is barely saved from an attack and it is clear that the Stalker is now stalking Charlotte as a loose end witness. Can Adam capture the killer, keep Charlotte safe, and maybe win her back too?

The plot isn’t totally smooth as I had to wonder why the long illusive Stalker is suddenly making mistakes. It was easy to root for Charlotte and Adam even though there is emotional self-think which isn’t always my favorite to read. I was glad that the story moved along at a quick pace. I also like that the author includes a picture of underlying faith. The author shows that people of faith are not exempt from sorrow and struggle, but she also shows that God is faithful to guide the believer who seeks Him. I enjoyed this quick romantic suspense and recommend it to readers who enjoy the genre with a faith foundation.

Audio Notes: Emily Durante does a very nice job with the narration. The narration is clear and conveys the energy and emotions of the characters. I enjoyed the audio experience.

Source: 12/6/2020 Chirp purchase $3.99. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet goals.