Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Shadow of the Rock

Author: Thomas Mogford

Narrator: Daniel Pirrie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-14-14

Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

On a humid summer night in Gibraltar, lawyer Spike Sanguinetti finds Solomon Hassan, an old school friend, waiting on his doorstep. Accused of murdering a Spanish girl in Tangiers, Solomon swears his innocence. He has managed to skip across the Straits, but the Moroccan authorities demand his return. Spike travels to Tangiers in the hope of delaying the extradition. Solomon's boss Nadeer - the founder of a renewable-energy company called Dunetech that is on the verge of financing an enormous solar-powered site in the Sahara - suggests that if Spike can delay Solomon's trial until after the deal is signed, he will persuade the governor of Tangiers to bury the extradition demand. Complicating this offer, Spike encounters a Bedouin girl who insists that Dunetech is engaged in a nefarious scheme linked to the disappearance of her father. As Spike uncovers the truth, he finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into a world of secrets, corruption, and murderous lies.

Members Reviews:

Disappointing

Well, what a disappointment "Shadow of the Rock" (SOTR) was. Seemed like a winner of a series. A lawyer based in Gibraltar agrees to help a friend accused of murder in Morocco; and the next book takes place in Malta. After seeing Bogart in "Casablanca" years ago, I'm a sucker for anything with a Moroccan tag, be it a book, restaurant, movie, so I was predisposed to writing a good review for this, but no way. While reading SOTR I often felt like I was watching a foreign language film with no subtitles. I got a sense of what was going on based on the action, but the dialogue was often unclear, and the descriptions of place were lacking. While that was the major problem for me, there were others. The plot was confusing, and I'm not sure what the miracle technology is all about that is so central to events in the book. Also, the hero lawyer (a tax lawyer!) had no problem gaining access whenever to the key executive of a company which has billion euro potential - uhhh, not likely. Ditto for a sex scene and a torture scene. I believe the second book in this series got better reviews than SOTR, but no thanks - I'm done.

could have been really good

Loved the detail about Gibraltar and Morrocco but the lead was two dimensional, not as clearly fleshed out as some of the other characters.

Good

A good pacy thriller. Well worth a read. Moves at speed and keeps the reader guessing. Recommended by William Boyd.

Sleuthing in GIBRALTAR and TANGIERS

Spike Sanguinetti can find his place alongside other European sleuths, and probably (I believe) is the first to be based on the Rock of Gibraltar. But he's not a detective, he's a tax lawyer who is a character on a mission to defend his friend from way back, Solomon Hassan.

Solomon stands accused of murder of a young woman, across the water in Tangiers, and Sanguinetti finds himself travelling there to try and delay Solomonâs extradition to stand trial â he is Jewish and fears incarceration in North Africa.

Tangiers is very different to the Rock, which the author refers to as the âmagical island for the idle Englishâ (and amazingly is apparently only the size of Hyde Park â the things you learn!).

From Gibraltar the reader dives right into the melee that is Morocco.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Looking for La La

Author: Ellie Campbell

Narrator: Stevie Zimmerman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-13-14

Publisher: Across the Pond Press

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Bored stay at home mother, Cathy, finds her predictable routine upturned as she investigates a lipstick-covered love postcard sent to husband, Declan. Who is this mysterious La La? Could Declan really be having an affair? And.... wait. Is Cathy actually being stalked?

With all her friends hiding secrets, a sexy admirer igniting long-forgotten sparks, and the stress of organizing the school's Save The Toilets dance, soon it's not only Cathy's marriage that's in jeopardy. Add in the scheming antics of Declan's new assistant and a possible murderer on the scene and the stage is set for a dangerous showdown and some very unsettling, even deadly, revelations.

Members Reviews:

Kept me wanting more!

If you could sum up Looking for La La in three words, what would they be?

Comedy, Drama, Mystery

What does Stevie Zimmerman bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Stevie's voice in this story was key, she really painted a picture for everything that was happening and her character contrast was brilliant. It would not have been the same reading it myself. The story plus her voice kept me wanting more!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I loved this book, I could barely wait to get to work the next day and finish it! All of the different characters and their stories and how they all eventually unraveled. This was my first read for the sisters and I am hooked! I can't wait for more releases to audible!

Delightful!

Would you consider the audio edition of Looking for La La to be better than the print version?

I enjoyed both the audio and print versions of this book. I read the book last year and was searching for a book to get me through a long, boring car journey and found LOOKING FOR LA LA. Stevie Zimmerman brought the characters to life and kept me laughing so hard that I hardly noticed the time passing. An overall 5 star performance by the author and the narrator!

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Desolate Sands

Subtitle: Detective Alec Ramsay, Book 5

Author: Conrad Jones

Narrator: Mil Nicholson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-10-14

Publisher: Conrad Jones

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

When well-known community activist, Lacey Taylor goes missing whilst walking her dog, the police are at a loss to find any evidence as to where she is. A local man finds the collar, which belonged to her dog near Crosby Beach, home of the eerie Iron Men statues (Anthony Gormley's 'Another Place') and DI Annie Jones calls in the canine units to aid the search. What they find shocks even the most hardened detectives on her Major Investigation Team.

Members Reviews:

Dark and Gruesome - just how I like them!

What a fantastic story writer Conrad Jones is, this book has lots of twists and turns and moves along at a good pace. There is some gruesome violence - so if you like your books dark, you'll love this!

gripped

Desolate Sands is a gripping story with several twists and a few surprises right to the end all in all a very good read.

Excellent novel shame about the narrator

Would you consider the audio edition of Desolate Sands to be better than the print version?

Not remotely

Who was your favorite character and why?

Annie Jones, she's a great character who bounces back from adversity

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The only thing I liked about the performance (in terms of narration) was that it was NOT narrated by Paul Holbrook, I disliked the fact that it was narrated by Mil Nicholson who, did at least attempt a British accent (unlike Paul Holbrook in earlier novels) , but still sounded stiff and stilted, the pronunciation of many words and phrases was distinctly off-putting she sounds like an old lady out of puff after running for a bus who then has to re-adjust her dentures when she stops for breath

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were several moments that made me stop and think but nothing that particularly moved me, although I was extremely impressed with the way the story continued well after the point that I felt certain would be the End. I was delighted to discover that there were another 2 hours to go after what I had imagined would be the finale. Mil's narration was pretty bad but not bad enough to distract from what is, at the end of the day, a rather brilliant storyline.

Any additional comments?

This is an excellent addition to the Alec Ramsey series, if you enjoyed The Child Taker and Criminally Insane you will love this (although, to be clear, it does NOT feature Tank)

Plenty of twists and turns

What did you like most about Desolate Sands?

An intricate plot, never sure who did what until the end. A lot of unexpected happenings too. A bit too graphic in parts so I had to move forward.

Have you listened to any of Mil Nicholsons other performances? How does this one compare?

No I haven't. I did find some characters voices confusing as to who was speaking. Still not sure if Mil is male or female.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes but I can't give it away

Any additional comments?

A good listen, but be aware of the language and gory descriptions.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Shoulders of Giants

Subtitle: Jake Abraham, Book 1

Author: Jim Cliff

Narrator: Michael David Axtell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-18-14

Publisher: Jim Cliff

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

A missing girl. A ruthless killer. A rookie P.I.

Jake Abraham is a child of the 80s, brought up by Jim Rockford, Thomas Magnum and three beautiful girls who worked for a man named Charlie. He's loving his new job as a Private Investigator and already has his first client - a disgraced former police captain whose daughter has disappeared.

When the girl shows up dead, Jake is drawn into a dangerous world of organised crime, police corruption, infidelity and serial murder.

With a terrified city in the grip of a killer who's always one step ahead of the police, how can a raw young P.I. hope to make a difference?

The Shoulders of Giants is a fun, fast paced thriller in the mold of Raymond Chandler and Robert B. Parker.

Members Reviews:

This could be the start of a really good series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It's a quick read/listen. Good fast pace and can easily be listened to in a day.

What other book might you compare The Shoulders of Giants to and why?

I would probably compare this tithe Jude Hardin "Nicholas Colt" books. The main character in this is not quite so wreckless but still daring.

Which character as performed by Michael David Axtell was your favorite?

I thought Michael David Axtell did a good job with the whole book. No complaints.

Any additional comments?

I probably would have made this book a little longer and fleshed out the main character (Jake Abramson) a little more, provided more background etc. I think there was enough of a story here to do that. But... I do think this was a good book. Certainly contained enough mystery and suspense as well as a few antagonists making the reader guess right up to the final chapters "who done it".

I am hoping this writer will continue with this character, I think it could turn into a really good PI series.

If this review was helpful please indicate so. I base many of my own purchases on reviews and always leave feedback to let the reviewer know their time writing it is valued. Thank You.

Predictable yet Fun Mystery Style

Summary: Jake Abrahams a wet-behind-the-ears PI with an office and one heck of a first case. It fell to him because nobody else will touch it.

Additional Comments:

- I heard the audiobook version, and I think that made all the difference. The narrator pulls off the unassuming, still learning PI vibe very well. The first person perspective serves well here.

- Im going to use quotation marks even though I might be paraphrasing here: unless she was held against her will or dead against her will. Thats the kind of humor you can expect from this book. You either love it or hate it.

- The bad guys not particularly believable, but thats typical of these sorts of books. Jake zeros in on the bad guy pretty handily even though nobody else will believe him.

- Things sort of just work out, but Jakes lovable all the same. I think theres room for his character to grow and sharpen his skills.

- The title still doesnt make much sense to me, but Im going to chalk that up just one of those things.

- Content warning: off-screen sex, some curses, including a half dozen f-bombs

- Narration 5/5

- Story 4/5

- Characterization 4.5/5

Conclusion: Jake Abrahams a PI you may want to keep an eye on. Hes going to have many exciting adventures ahead.

*I received a free copy of the audiobook.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Hula Done It?

Subtitle: A Passport to Peril Mystery

Author: Maddy Hunter

Narrator: Kathleen McInerney

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-09-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 20 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Dead in the water.

For travel escort Emily Andrew and her fellow Iowans, aloha means "hello" to all the sun, surf, and scrumptious cuisine their Hawaiian cruise has to offer. But for Professor Dorian Smoker, a renowned expert on the legendary Captain Cook, aloha also means "good-bye" - as in "man overboard."

Sure, it could have been an accident. But Emily wonders if some guest with a grudge might have knocked off the opinionated professor. Or maybe it had something to do with that missing journal Nana's friend lent him - the one with the mysterious treasure map. Emily figures the map is probably a fake. But when another copy turns up, she and her friends take off, rafting down rivers and plunging through jungles to find the treasure themselves. Unfortunately, Professor Smoker's killer just might have the same idea. And this tropical heat wave could quickly turn into a crime wave...

Members Reviews:

Very Entertaining

This was an entertaining story. Emily was funny and delightful. As with each new book, there was a host of new quirky charaters. The story was fast paced and the best thing was no Jackie. I look forward to the next one.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Murder on Alcatraz

Subtitle: A Peyton Brooks' Mystery, Volume 4

Author: M.L. Hamilton

Narrator: Kelley Hazen

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-08-14

Publisher: ML Hamilton

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

When a serial killer strikes in the City, Peyton confronts an adversary who is always one step ahead of her. And as the body count rises, Peyton faces a future where her one constant, her partner, may be taken away from her. For eight years, Peyton and Marco have been an unstoppable team; however, one ill-fated trip to Alcatraz may change that relationship forever.

Members Reviews:

IM CHECKING EVERYDAY for #5

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes

What other book might you compare Murder on Alcatraz to and why?

Any edge of your seat thriller. But the psychological games between the main character's via the police shrink are riveting as well.

Any additional comments?

You're hanging from the cliff on two points on this one. I can't wait to find out what happens to Peyton and Marco.

Really loved it. Can't wait for next one.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The plot keeps you interested the whole time and this book tells the background story of Marco and Peyton's partnership.

What about Kelley Hazens performance did you like?

How she brings the book to life. She makes you laugh, she makes you frown, she makes you gasp. No matter how much I get into a story, I never react that way when I am reading it in print.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, yes, yes.

Any additional comments?

Definitely give this series a chance. You'll be rewarded. Each book gets better and better. The characters have more dimension, the stories become more complex and the narrator is fantastic. Can't wait for the audio version of the next book in the series. I was sad it was over.

Listen to this audiobook free with a 30-day trial. Go to http://audiobookspace.com/free

Title: Think Fast, Mr. Peters

Subtitle: Toby Peters, Book 13

Author: Stuart Kaminsky

Narrator: Stephen Bowlby

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-06-14

Publisher: HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Hollywood detective Toby Peters is asleep on his floor when the dentist who shares his office calls, wailing that his wife has left him. While on the one hand, Toby is shocked that a woman as unpleasant as Mildred could ever attract a suitor, he's even more surprised by the name of the alleged Lothario: Peter Lorre, the scaly-voiced, bug-eyed Hollywood character actor.

Though he can't imagine why the dentist would want her back, Toby agrees to track down his missing wife. He finds Lorre in a greasy spoon near the Warner Brothers' lot, but the actor doesn't know a thing about the missing Mildred. Her boyfriend turns out to be a Peter Lorre impersonator, and by the time Toby finds him, he's doing a very credible imitation of a dead man. The bullet was meant for the real Lorre, who has just become Toby's client - whether Toby likes it or not.

Contact me for any questions: [email protected]

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Player on the Other Side

Subtitle: Ellery Queen, Book 28

Author: Ellery Queen

Narrator: Mark Peckham

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 04-16-14

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

A card with the letter "J" on it appeared in Robert York's mail, and a day later he was dead. Then another card showed up, and Ellery Queen knew he was up against a brilliant killer who made a game of death by warning his victims. The only clue was the signature "Y" and Ellery had to find him and stop his remorseless vendetta before "Y" won his mad game.

Members Reviews:

Enjoyed!

Very good story and enjoyed the narrator. He dramatize the story excellency. Recommend reading this book.

The Ultimate Ellery Queen

This is by far my favorite Ellery Queen novel. A psychological thriller with a classic detective, the genre does not get any better than this.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Faint Praise

Author: Ellen Hart

Narrator: Aimee Jolson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 04-08-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Everyone knows Arno Heywood. He's been a Minneapolis TV personality for years. So when he jumps to his death from a downtown high-rise, it's a shocker--especially since he dies wearing women's clothes, a suicide in drag.

In chic Linden Lofts, where Arno lived, the other tenants are spooked, and smart investigator Jane Lawless soon finds out why. They, like Arno, have secrets to conceal, and the shadowy someone with a full set of keys who's scouting out their apartments may soon make that impossible. Can one of Linden Loft's upscale professionals really be an aspiring blackmailer? Before Jane and her pal Cordelia can make sure, a brutal murder ups the ante.

Critic Reviews:

"The plot resonates with fascinating details, a good bit of action, several keen twists, and a soupon of romance for the protagonist." (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)

"The characters are diverse and well rounded, the plot is intriguing, and the style lively and literate." (The Armchair Detective)

"Intelligent and engrossing...a very complex puzzle." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Goodish

Would you try another book written by Ellen Hart or narrated by Aimee Jolson?

Yes but one would hope it would be more plot led than character led.

What does Aimee Jolson bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you had only read the book?

She has a laid back style of narration which goes well with the characterisation

Do you think Faint Praise needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I believe there are plenty out there

Any additional comments?

I felt at times that the plot got lost amongst the authors love for her characters. Perhaps a bit less me, me, me and a bit more concentrating on the story would make it a better whodunit.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: A Small Sacrifice

Subtitle: A Jane Lawless Mystery, Book 5

Author: Ellen Hart

Narrator: Aimee Jolson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-08-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

When Cordelia Thorn ventures to Summer Green, Wisconsin, for a reunion with some old college friends, she finds trouble in paradise. Twenty-plus years have definitely changed things. Soap opera star Diana has become an alcoholic. Curt and Annie's marriage is falling apart. Orson is hostile and surly. And Theo, the most passionate of them all, suddenly dies - of an apparent heart attack.

Alarmed, Cordelia sends for her old friend Jane Lawless to do some quiet snooping. Together they follow their hunches - into the not-so-carefree past and back to the troubled present, where they find a single match could blow up all their lives....

Members Reviews:

unexpected ending

Where does A Small Sacrifice rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

So far this has been the most surprising book i have listened to.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how they friends stuck by each other all throughout the years and how Theo put himself in harms way to support Diana.

Have you listened to any of Aimee Jolsons other performances? How does this one compare?

this is the first series i am listening to for this narrator and i love her.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

when they were reminiscing about the good days, how Diana was before she started drinking so excessively and they need to bring her back.

Any additional comments?

I am really enjoying the Lawless series, really love them. Cordelia is the best, i swear.