Audible Book Review: The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson

This is an engaging dystopian with a different twist.

The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson
Narrated by: Jayme Mattler
Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-02-18
Language: English
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Genre: Action & Adventure, Dystopian, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
A captivating tale of humanity pushed beyond its breaking point, of family and bonds of love forged when everything is lost, and of a heroic young woman who crosses a frozen landscape to find her destiny, this debut novel is in a postapocalyptic tradition that spans The Hunger Games and Station Eleven but blazes its own distinctive path.
Forget the old days. Forget summer. Forget warmth. Forget anything that doesn't help you survive in the endless white wilderness beyond the edges of a fallen world.
Lynn McBride has learned much since society collapsed in the face of nuclear war and the relentless spread of disease. As the memories of her old life continue to haunt, she's been forced to forge ahead in the snow-drifted Canadian Yukon, learning how to hunt and trap and slaughter.
But her fragile existence is about to be shattered. Shadows of the world before have found her tiny community - most prominently in the enigmatic figure of Jax, who brings with him dark secrets of the past and sets in motion a chain of events that will call Lynn to a role she never imagined.
Simultaneously a heartbreakingly sympathetic portrait of a young woman searching for the answer of who she is meant to be and a frightening vision of a merciless new world in which desperation rules, The Wolves of Winter is enveloping, propulsive, and poignant.
©2017 Tyrell Johnson. All rights reserved. (P)2017 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Review:
Lynn was sixteen when her family walked away from their home in Alaska society to live in the Yukon wilderness. Her father was dead and her mother, brother, uncle and a friend seek to escape the threat of nuclear war and the more present threat of a deadly flu virus. Lynn has had to learn to live off the land by honing her hunting and trapping skills. She also has to deal with unscrupulous neighbors who steal game and make unwanted advances. Rarely do strangers come near their small community (four cabins) so she is surprised to stumble upon an injured man with a dog.

Lynn is fascinated by Jax who brings excitement of tales from the world beyond. But he also brings danger as there are forces who are chasing him. And once they learn about Lynn, they will want to capture her too.

I enjoyed how this post-apocalyptic/dystopian story developed with a natural disaster which is different from zombie and . It is told from Lynn’s first person view so you have the struggles and memories of a young woman who has no real society other than her family. She struggles with being isolated and seeks to learn more about those who survived the pandemic. But she soon learns that she may not be safe…and she may be special.

The story is engaging and kept me interested until the end as I rooted for Lynn and Jax. The writing is lovely, clear and direct with strong descriptions. I also liked the chapter opening quotes from Walt Whitman. I recommend this to readers who enjoy young adult, natural dystopian.

Audio Notes: Jayme Mattler is a new to me narrator. She does a spot-on job with the narration, providing the appropriate aged voice for Lynn. She also does a good job on Jax and the other characters. She carries the energy of the book and the narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 2018 Audible Sci Fi Sale $4.95. This qualifies for 2018 Audiobook Challenge.

Audible Book Review: The Vanished Man: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel by Jeffery Deaver

This reminded me how much I enjoy forensic mysteries.
The Vanished Man
A Lincoln Rhyme Novel
By: Jeffery Deaver
Narrated by: Adam Grupper

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins
Abridged Audiobook
Release date: 03-07-03
Language: English
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Genre: Detective, Police Procedures
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
It begins at the prestigious music school in New York City. A killer flees the scene of a homicide and locks himself in a classroom. Within minutes, the police have him surrounded. When the scream rings out, followed by a gunshot, they break down the door. The room is empty.
Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are brought in to help with the high-profile investigation. For the ambitious Sachs, solving the case could earn her a promotion. For the quadriplegic Rhyme, it means relying on his protégé to ferret out the master illusionist they've dubbed "the conjurer", who baits them with gruesome murders that become more diabolical with each fresh crime. As the fatalities rise and the minutes tick down, Rhyme and Sachs must move beyond the smoke and mirrors to prevent a terrifying act of vengeance that could become the greatest vanishing act of all.
©2003 Jeffrey Deaver (P)2003 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Review:
Two young officers are first on scene to a murder of a young woman. A security guard called them into a supposedly closed music school where they stumble upon a man hovering over a body. They try to challenge the perp, but he slips out of the room. The officers hear him in the other room as they plan how to trap him. However, when they enter the room he has vanished. Lincoln Rhyme, the bedridden quadriplegic, former detective and his right-hand investigator, Amelia Sachs, are brought in on the investigation. The initial clues lead them to a magic shop where they encounter a young woman who has been studying and practicing the arts of illusion.

Another murder occurs, and it becomes clear that the murderer is using historic illusion tricks and settings. Rhyme and Amelia make progress due in big part to the aid of their budding illusionist. The murderer feels that Lincoln is a threat and he confronts him in a vulnerable situation. Now the case has become personal and Rhyme and Amelia must trap the murderer before Rhyme becomes a victim and before the murderer kills a crowd which they suspect he is going after.

I found the settings and history very interesting. The illusions and slight of hand add to the good suspense. The 'vanished man' continues to be a chameleon, one step ahead of the police. It has been a while since I read (listened) to a forensic mystery and this definitely reminded me why I enjoy them so much. I recommend this to readers who enjoy this genre.

Audio Notes: I was pleased with the narration by Adam Grupper. He adds distinct voices and excellent pausing and energy. I usually listen to unabridged versions, but this shorter version seemed just right for my enjoyment.

Source: 2004 Audible Credit Purchase. This qualifies for 2018TBR, Audiobook and a "V" title for Alphabet Challenge.