Audio Book Reviews: Three More Jack Reacher Novellas by Lee Child

This reminded me why I like this author and this character.

Three More Jack Reacher Novellas
Written by Lee Child
Narrated by Dick Hill

Run Time 8h 9min
Release Date: May 16, 2017
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Genre: Mystery, Short Stories, Thriller
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher Description
Lee Child once again demonstrates his mastery of the thriller genre with an unbeatable collection of three Jack Reacher novellas and six short stories, together for the first time in one pulse-pounding collection from the #1 New York Times bestselling author
Too Much Time: In this original novella featuring Jack Reacher after his time in the army, Reacher finds himself in a hollowed-out town in Maine. He witnesses a random bag-snatching but sees much more than a simple crime, in a tale that leads into Lee Child’s new Reacher novel, The Midnight Line.

Small Wars: Lee Child goes back to 1989, when Jack Reacher is an MP assigned to solve the cold-blooded murder of a young officer.
The telex is brief and to the point: One active-duty personnel found shot to death ten miles north of Fort Smith. Circumstances unknown. The victim was shot twice in the chest and once in the head. A professional hit. The crime scene suggests an ambush. Military police officer Jack Reacher is given the case. He calls his older brother, Colonel Joe Reacher, at the Pentagon for intel and taps Sergeant Frances Neagley to help him answer the big question: Who would kill a brilliant officer on the fast-track to greatness?

Not a Drill: Jack Reacher is on the road, hitching a ride with some young Canadians who are planning a hike through the dense forests of Maine. They part ways after sharing a hot meal, and Reacher checks out a quiet town surrounded by countryside serene enough to cool even his raging wanderlust. But not for long. First the trail is suddenly closed. Then the military police show up in force. Maybe it’s a drill. Or maybe it’s trouble-the kind of trouble that always finds Reacher, no matter how far he travels off the beaten path.

And for the first time on audio, additional stories featuring Jack Reacher, including: James Penney’s New Identity, Everyone Talks, Maybe They Have a Tradition, Guy Walks into a Bar, No Room at the Motel, and The Picture of the Lonely Diner

Review:
Jack Reacher was once a military enforcement officer. He lives on the road because that is the way he likes it. He has excellent observation skills and is always watching his situation. He doesn’t always toe the line himself as he has his own sense of real justice. One might think that trouble follows him but, really, he tends to step into trouble. After all, when he sees trouble, i.e. crime, he almost always takes action to handle it, even though he may not be invited. This collection of stories finds Jack doing his normal – stepping into trouble and finding ways, legal or on the edge, to solve it.

In Too Much Time, Jack steps in to stop a bag snatcher. When the police turn on him and declare him to be a conspirator in the crime, he rethinks his observations and knows the crime wasn’t what he saw. He finds soon realizes that someone is anxious to take his view point out of the picture. Jack will have to convince another officer to look more closely at the circumstances if he wants to survive.

Small Wars takes place in 1989 when Jack is still an MP and called on to solve a murder of a rather brash young officer. Once again, Jack can see beyond the obvious at the crime site to unwind the events that resulted in the murder.

The third featured story, Not a Drill, finds Jack hitching a ride to the northern most point of our interstate highways. Jack doesn’t expect to see the three young people again but … things happen. The next day the forest trail is roped off and soon unexpected authorities are turning people away. Once again, Jack has stumbled upon trouble and he feels the need to help his young friends find their way out.

I totally enjoyed Jack’s acute observations and solutions in these stories. As a bonus there are six more short stories. There was only one that I didn’t really find delightful – from a procedural point of view. The package makes me want to go back to the beginning of the series and start listening again. I will have to pick up some more audios in the series.

Audio Notes: Dick Hill is a classic narrator. I hadn’t listened to his narration recently, but I was quick to recognize his distinctive voice. His tone fits Reacher’s character with dry and deliberate presentation. The narration enhanced the story pleasure for me.

Source: 8/14/2021 Chirp Under $2.00. This qualifies for 2022TBr, 2022Audiobook and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Ayiti by Roxane Gay

This was not what I expected, but very interesting in its own right.

Ayiti

By: Roxane Gay

Narrated by: Roxane Gay

Length: 2 hrs and 46 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 07-17-18

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genre: Anthology, Collection, Short Stories

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary From New York Times best-selling powerhouse Roxane Gay, Ayiti is a powerful collection exploring the Haitian diaspora experience. Originally published by a small press, this edition will make Gay’s debut widely available for the first time, including several new stories. In Ayiti, a married couple seeking boat passage to America prepares to leave their homeland. A young woman procures a voodoo love potion to ensnare a childhood classmate. A mother takes a foreign soldier into her home as a boarder, and into her bed. And a woman conceives a daughter on the bank of a river while fleeing a horrific massacre, a daughter who later moves to America for a new life but is perpetually haunted by the mysterious scent of blood. These early stories showcase Gay’s prowess as "one of the voices of our age” (National Post, Canada). ©2011, 2018 Roxane Gay. Recorded by arrangement with Grove Atlantic, Inc. (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Review:

Ayiti: meaning Haiti.  This is an interesting collection of stories that are mostly not easy listening. Ms. Ayiti tells the tales of various Haitians or their children showing their experiences in Haiti and beyond. After I started listening I looked up the meaning of diaspora: A diaspora (/daɪˈæspərə/) is a scattered population whose origin lies in a separate geographic locale.

The experiences are at times distressing, horrifying, haunting, and touching. One particularly striking story tells of a grandmother’s experience at Massacre River, a river that divides Haiti and the Dominican Republic which the author describes as a border between two geographies of grief.” The tales describe the horrors of the past, the memories of her grandmother, and the lifelong impact the event had on her.

I almost didn’t get too far along because the language is very raw (foul) and graphic (rape and sex). I didn’t realize that the stories have been included as erotica, which is a genre/material I don’t generally read. Provided the raw language and sexual content wouldn’t bother the reader, I recommend this to readers who enjoy history and immigrant experiences.

Audio Notes: Roxane Gay narrates her own collection and does a good job. Not only does her voice fit the work, but she brings her own energy. It is likely I would not have read this in print so I am glad I picked up the audible on Daily Deal.

Source: 05/25/2019 Audible Daily Deal $.99. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Tin Man: A Galaxy's Edge Prequel by Jason Anspac and Nick Cole

Oh, I liked this! Now I want to listen to the first full book.

Tin Man: A Galaxy's Edge Prequel
By: Jason Anspach, Nick Cole
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Series: Galaxy's Edge Series, Book 0.5
Length: 52 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-28-20
Language: English
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Military Space, Science Fiction, Short Stories
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

Publisher's Summary
The heart of a hero.
In the wilds of a jungle planet, the Legion fights in brutal combat as Republic marines fly their SLICS from one tragedy to the next.
H292, a repurposed warbot, shows the heart of a hero as he wades into the battle not to destroy - but to save.
©2018 Jason Anspach and Nick Cole (P)2020 Podium Publishing

Review:
The Legion is under siege and getting their backsides kicked (and worse) in fierce combat trying to hold their territory against s vicious alien in the wild jungles of a distant planet. The Republic marine pilots are on constant mission to try to retrieve the troops, mostly injured or decimated. After the loss of another human co-pilot, experienced medical pilot, Captain Reese, is assigned an ancient warbot named H292. Reese is a Marine who cares for his men and struggles to save those who survive the nighttime fighting. When he relaxes, Reese listens to ancient music from the 1990s. Folk rock songs like “A Horse with No Name” and “Tin Man” by America.

Reese doesn’t expect much from a robotic warbot. H292 hopes to be of service even as Reese dubs him “Tin Man”. Tin Man apparently watches his Captain and learns how a true Marine serves in the field.

This novella is an introduction to the struggles of the elite Legionnaire troops and a view of a heroic warbot. It tells a complete story within itself, even if it is short and just a taste of the series. I liked Reese as a leader but also adored Tin Man and his actions. I won’t say this is ‘fun’ as that seems a bit crass considering the wartime deaths and maiming. I am sure the references to the America songs added to my enjoyment. However, I totally enjoyed this and will soon be listening to book 1. This is a quick, engaging listen.

Audio Notes: I love listening to books narrated by R.C. Bray. In my opinion, his narration adds to the story. His voice contributes to the characters and action for me. I recommend this quick, inexpensive Audible.

Source: 3/28/2020 Audible Purchase $1.99. This qualifies for my 2020Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

I enjoyed the storytelling in this collection.
The Last Wish
By: Andrzej Sapkowski
Narrated by: Peter Kenny
Series: The Witcher Saga

Series: The Witcher Saga
Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 05-05-15
Language: English
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Genre: Anthology Fantasy, Short Stories, Sorcery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Geralt of Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin.
And a cold-blooded killer.
His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world.
But not everything monstrous-looking is evil, and not everything fair is good...and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.
The international hit that inspired the video game The Witcher.
©2008 Andrzej Sapkowski (P)2015 Hachette Audio

Review:
Geralt of Rivia is a witcher. They are rare; respected by some; reviled by others. They are not quite a sorcerer, nor an assassin but they trade in elements of each. The true purpose of witchers is to kill monsters. They are dedicated from youth and given to be trained to be stronger physically and mentally. They learn potions, spells, and fighting arts. Over the years Geralt has become skilled and wise and able to prevail in most situations.

This book is a collection of stories of monsters- natural and unnatural - friends, twists and surprises. Geralt doesn’t go unscathed but he comes through. The stories include dark tales where choices have to be made between greater and lesser evils, some of which are human. Even fighting a demon genie involves fighting a power-hungry witch.

I wasn’t familiar with the game, but I liked the sound of a cunning ‘wizard’ who fights monsters. I enjoyed the action and the touch of humor in the stories. I especially liked the old-world feel of the stories. I recommend this to readers who like dark fairy tales.

Audio Notes: Peter Kenny does a grand job with the narration. He provides unique voices for the characters and captures the depth and mystery of The Witcher. The narration added to my enjoyment of this work.

Source: June 2018 Audible Sale. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019Audiobook and #SciFiMonth 2019.