Listen to Best Full Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

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Title: Mexican Hat

Subtitle: A Kevin Kerney Novel, Book 2

Author: Michael McGarrity

Narrator: George Guidall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-12-13

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 351 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Critically acclaimed author Michael McGarritys powerful tale is packed with constant surprises and nonstop action. When retired Santa Fe detective Kevin Kerney discovers a mysterious body, his quiet summer in the Gila Wilderness is interrupted. Narrator George Guidall holds you spellbound as Kerney tangles with a modern paramilitary group and a vicious 60-year-old feud.

Members Reviews:

Good Modern Western

I have read most of this series and like the first few books best. Good dialogue, good descriptions of the south west, good suspense. The narrator (George Guidall) is excellent as usual.

Series gets better & better

McGarrity and Guidall are a great combo. McGarrity's writes from his heart and Guidall brings all the characters to life!

Why no Unabridged Version?

Great story that suffers from the butchering done to make this an abridged audiobook. You can hear the cuts with long passages of silence before George starts speaking again as if they're chapter endings. I checked Amazon and the Audiocassettes are in unabridged format with George Guidall reading. So what happened?

great book! looking forward to the next book

the book was wonderful. great characters and of course George guidall is the best narrator.

Listen to ALL of these stories

Where does Mexican Hat rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Top 5%!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mexican Hat?

GREAT TREATMENT OF THE MODERN REALITY OF THE AMERICAN WEST!

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

GEORGE IS THE BEST! I LOVE HIS VOICE, CADENCE & DELIVERY!

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

YES-more than one! McGaarity really nails the heart of the west, today!

Any additional comments?

LISTEN TO ALL THESE STORIES-YOU WON'T REGRET IT! GREAT TALES OF THE MODERN WEST FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE LAWMAN!

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Title: The Night Ranger

Subtitle: A John Wells Novel, Book 7

Author: Alex Berenson

Narrator: George Guidall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-12-13

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1555 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

John Wells enters new territory, as he goes underground in East Africa to track four kidnapped Americans and the Somali bandits who snatched them, in the tough, thoughtful, electrifying new novel from the #1 New York Times best-selling author.

Four friends, recent college graduates, travel to Kenya to work at a giant refugee camp for Somalis. Two men, two women, each with their own reasons for being there. But after twelve weeks, theyre ready for a break and pile into a Land Cruiser for an adventure.

They get more than they bargained for. Bandits hijack them. They wake up in a hut, hooded, bound, no food or water. Hostages. As a personal favor, John Wells is asked to try to find them, but he does so reluctantly. East Africa isnt his usual playing field. And when he arrives, he finds that the truth behind the kidnappings is far more complex than he imagined.

The clock is ticking. The White House is edging closer to an invasion of Somalia. Wells has a unique ability to go undercover, and to make things happen, but if he cant find the hostages soon, theyll be dead - and the U.S. may be in a war it never should have begun.

Members Reviews:

Wells is finally moving out of the desert

Berenson's 7th John Wells installment is another solid effort that delivers. This time around Wells is contacted by his estranged son to assist in the rescue of kidnapped Americans in Africa. While the world believes a terrorist plot, Wells pieces together a more complex and sinister evolving series of motivations. As is typical, Wells struggles with his own unique brand of morality and ethical conduct. In the end Wells functions as a microcosm of the confusing mix of US intent and policy all while out-thinking everyone else.

The pacing is excellent with a gradual buildup, leading to an almost non-stop, but unclear where this is headed ending. This time out Wells is not officially CIA, but has their crucial support. At the same time, Berenson throws in numerous plot twists as well as doing an excellent job of interjecting contradictory governmental aims. In addition, the geographical translocation to Africa is refreshing to see Wells out of his element, but still quite capable. Berenson appears ready to move Wells in new directions, both personally as well as operationally.

George Guidall's narration is simply outstanding as would be expected. His range of voices is breathtaking. His flow and tone perfectly match the mood of the story.

Don't Look Past Berenson's John Wells

Alex Berenson is a seasoned reporter who has seen current combat theaters first hand - and transfers a lot of his experience through a "kick-butt" protagonist, John Wells. Wells' exploits are realistic - not supernatural - and his supporting cast should also keep a reader's interest while progressing through the seven books Berenson has written.

Furthermore, Berenson is a really good writer. He knows how to explain the undercurrents of America's fight against extremism - and weave the many details and subplots together to create an interesting, informative book.

Lastly, George Guidall brings this book to life with an excellent performance. I hope Berenson and Guidall continue with John Wells and cast.

A transparent, high-tech thriller, well read.

This is the first of Berenson's novels I've read.

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Title: The Confession

Author: Sheldon Siegel

Narrator: Sam Guncler

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-01-13

Publisher: Sheldon Siegel

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 187 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Confessions abound - some of them quite unexpected - in Sheldon Siegel's legal thriller, the fifth in the outstanding Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez series set in San Francisco.

Mike Daley doesn't go to confession much since he left the priesthood twenty years ago and became a lawyer, but that doesn't stop his old friend, Father Ramon Aguirre, from trying to get him there. "It wouldn't kill you to go to church once in a while," he tells Mike. But it does kill someone.

For several months, a ruinous sexual harassment suit has been building against the San Francisco Catholic Archdiocese, and when the plaintiff's lawyer is found dead, an apparent suicide, an almost audible sigh of relief is heard in certain quarters. But that is before the police find evidence of murder. Even worse - the evidence points to Father Aguirre.

Mike and his ex-wife law partner, Rosie, jump in to take the priest's case, but what started out as difficult soon appears impossible as forensics, witnesses, and secrets from Father Aguirre's past all incriminate their client. Soon, their wits are the only things keeping the priest from a life sentence or worse, and wits simply may not be enough-unless they can conjure up a miracle of their own.

Of Siegel's most recent book, Publishers Weekly said, "The verdict is clear; another win for Siegel." And so it is again with The Confession.

Members Reviews:

A Great Legal Thriller

This novel held my attention from beginning to end, and it had a plausible ending. The story is very interesting which centers around the San Francisco Catholic Archdiocese, a sexual harassment suit, and a murder which is made to look like suicide. This is a very interesting and suspenseful story with well developed and interesting characters. This story had solid twists and turns that kept me listening wanting to know what will happen next.

The main characters, Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez (his ex-wife and law partner), are pressed into service when their friend, who is a priest, is caught in a circle of deception and is accused of murder. Mike feels obligated to defend him but as soon as forensics, witnesses, and secrets from the priest's past comes crashing down around them, a bad situation becomes worse.

Sam Guncler's narration is very very good. Especially his ability to switch between the supporting characters' dialogue, the protagonist's (Mike Daley) inner voice, and Daley's spoken words.

narration is excellent! Story is really good, too

I enjoyed the story & Sheldon Siegel's writing style. The narration by Sam Gunther was incredible. I was especially impressed with his ability to switch between Mike Daley's (the protagonist's) inner voice & spoken voice.

Great courtroom thriller; great narration!!

The Confession is a fascinating combination of law, religion, and suspense. It is a great story of a lawyer doing his job with incredible competence. The narrator is as good as the novel.

VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. This is a wonderful novel.

Entertaining

Good story with plausible ending. Like the narrator very well. He has a wide range of voices that keep the story interesting.

Great book!!

This is a really good read!! Wonderfully developed characters, a story that will keep you on your toes (with all sorts of twists and turns) all the way to the end, and fabulous narration.

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Title: Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham

Subtitle: An Agatha Raisin Mystery, Book 8

Author: M. C. Beaton

Narrator: Penelope Keith

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-17-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 388 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

He was a hairdresser to dye for....

Members Reviews:

The series is a delightful addiction.

The murder is always a surprise but the mystery not what compels read. Agatha Raisin had raised her status in business until she sold her company and retired early.

In her new life she is dropped into enough unknown that her learning social skills and romance she bumbles into and through mysteries until she solvesvthem usually by becoming a victim of confrontation.

Found myself laughing through every book in series.

One day men will learn to appreciate Agatha (I hope!)

I simply can't stop reading and listening to this series! Agatha is the most endearing character because it is so easy to relate to her humanness and frailties. The plots keep you engaged as well as provide the backdrop for her evolving character. Well done.

Always a light-hearted romp!

Delightful characters brought skillfully to life by the masterful narration by Penelope Keith! Very enjoyable, and I like them just as much on the second or third reading.

Agatha at her best

As a sleuth, Agatha is at her best in this novel. James isn't around and that's a plus. Unfortunately, Charles is. I wish Agatha had differnet male friends.

Not Liking the "Loose" Agatha

The murder mystery was fine, except for the fact that Agatha regretted not having slept with the guy . . . I do like the vicar's wife quite a lot . . . but the last three books have Agatha in and out of bed like a jack rabbit . . . with different men :( YUCK . . . these books used to be a lot of fun . . .

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Title: Every Dead Thing

Author: John Connolly

Narrator: Jeff Harding

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-13-12

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 338 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Have faith. I will find you.

Former NYPD detective Charlie "Bird" Parker is on the verge of madness. Tortured by the unsolved slayings of his wife and young daughter, he is a man consumed by guilt, regret, and the desire for revenge.

When his former partner asks him to track down a missing girl, Parker finds himself drawn into a world beyond his imagining - one where 30 year old killings remain shrouded in fear and lies, a world where the ghosts of the dead torment the living, a world haunted by the murderer responsible for the deaths in his family, a serial killer unlike any other, a monster who uses the human body to create works of art and takes faces as his prize. But the search awakens buried instincts in Parker: instincts for survival, for compassion, for love, and, ultimately, for killing.

Aided by a beautiful young psychologist and a pair of career criminals, he becomes the bait in a trap set in the humid bayous of Louisiana, a trap that threatens the lives of everyone in its reach. Driven by visions of the dead and the voice of an old black psychic who met a terrible end, Parker must seek a final, brutal confrontation with a murderer who has moved beyond all notions of humanity, who has set out to create a hell on earth: the serial killer known only as the Travelling Man.

In the tradition of classic American detective fiction, Every Dead Thing is a tense, richly-plotted thriller, filled with memorable characters and gripping action. It is also a profoundly moving novel, concerned with the nature of loyalty, of love, and of forgiveness. Lyrical and terrifying, it is an ambitious debut, triumphantly realized.

Critic Reviews:

"A stunner...as riveting and chilling as

The Silence of the Lambs." (

San Francisco Examiner)

"

Every Dead Thing is intelligent, deep, and literate, and it is difficult to believe that this is John Connolly's first novel, so confident is the writing.... Buy it and be scared." (

The Saturday Times, London)

"[A] darkly ingenious debut novel." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Horrible narration

I actually enjoyed the book. It was classic Connolly, with maybe even a bit of Dave Robicheaux's South Louisiana tossed in, for good measure. Not great literature, but a much better than average detective novel.

The real problem was with the narrator. Yes, I know that he made no real attempt to add a serious Louisiana accent, and I can deal with that, since some accents are very tough to get right. Or, in the case of a Scottish accent, if you get it right, the narration is totally unintelligible. The problem is that there were 1/2 dozen words that he completely mispronounced. Since some of them were place names and not just N'Awleans, but when he mispronounces Metarie, Ponchartrain, etc. and they are words/place names that come up repeatedly, it's like fingernails on a chalk board. It should have been basic research to check on those names.

Brief, he ain't

Is there anything you would change about this book?

This boy's need to impress defiles his ability to convince. Like most Irish ( my Irish Catholic Law Professor Father-in-law was testament to the verbosity of the breed) Connolly's deluge of description at times withers the reader. We get it, and would prefer moving along in the plot. If I get lost in lyricism or minutiae, my interest in the story can be obscured.

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Title: Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley

Subtitle: Agatha Raisin, Book 4

Author: M. C. Beaton

Narrator: Penelope Keith

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-05-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 610 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

After six grueling months back in London, Agatha Raisin returns to her beloved Cotswold village of Carsely - and to the charms of her neighbor, James Lacey. True, James is less than thrilled to see her, but Agatha is soon distracted by a sensational murder. The victim, hiker Jessica Tartinck, spent her life enraging wealthy landowners by insisting on her walking clubs right to hike over their properties. Now she has been found dead....

Members Reviews:

A Very British Anti-Cozy Mystery

This series, and especially this book, is a good listen for any time you just want something on that you don't have to think or care too much about. Agatha Raisin is a prickly, unpleasant antiheroine, but that's part of the draw of the series. She's unique, and uniquely endearing. Her very British village is picturesque, her part-time London career exciting, her middle-aged waistline realistically thickening, her love life realistically mostly non-existent, her pub meals realistically overcooked and tasteless. Penelope Keith is an able, lively and entertaining narrator who makes very few voicing mistakes.

Now for the bad news: M.C. Beaton, after taking care to ensure that the first volume (Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death, which I highly recommend) was carefully written, detailed, suspenseful and top-notch, seems to have subsequently either lost steam or become so impatient to earn money quickly that she began dashing these sequels off like hotcakes off the griddle. This one is plotted so carelessly that mild-mannered, cautious characters (not just Agatha herself) say impetuous things that their characters would never say, do impulsive things that their characters would never do, and even commit murder in more or less the same way they did in the previous book (Potted Gardener). Not only that, but plot holes abound. Toward the end, for example, when James Lacey (Agatha's new partner in private detection) announces, "So, it was [Character X]!" I actually rewound the recording twice just to see how on earth I had missed his seeing the body of Character Y on the floor, the only sight he could have seen that would have led him to that conclusion. He never had seen it. The author had forgotten to make him see it.

I'm not sure I'll be spending a credit on volume 5.

Grade: C. Bechdel test: Pass.

I love Agatha Raisin!

I purchased the Agatha Raisin books on my mother's recommendation. The narrator Penelope Keith is wonderful and makes the characters in the book entertaining. Agatha is an independant older woman who is always getting into mischief and embarrasing herself while trying to solve mysteries. I laughed out loud! Great series! I wish Audible had the whole series.

Hikers, Hilarity, and Homicide

Book Four in the series finds Agatha back home in Carsley after a grueling six month stint in London on a PR job . . . ready to settle in with her cats and the calm life in the Cotswolds, Agatha reintegrates with her friends, including her next door neighbor, James . . . whom she has the hots for . . . but no sooner than Agatha gets home, one of the Walkers of Dembley, Jessica Tartinck, is found murdered . . . once again sending Agatha and James on the search for the killer . . . as James and Agatha become walkers to find out just what this group is really up to, things begin to HEAT up . . . in more ways than one . . .

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Title: Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener

Subtitle: Agatha Raisin, Book 3

Author: M. C. Beaton

Narrator: Penelope Keith

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-02-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 762 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

When Agatha returns home after a sojourn in the capital, she finds a new woman ensconced in the affections of her attractive bachelor neighbor, James Lacey. The newcomer, Mary Fortune, is superior to Agatha in every way, especially when it comes to gardening. With Carsely Open Day approaching, Agatha longs for some fascinating crime to remind James of her genius for investigation and to distract him from Mary. Soon a series of assaults on the finest gardens is followed by murder when Mary herself is discovered buried upside down in a terracotta pot....

Members Reviews:

Brilliant!

Penelope Keith brings Ms. Beaton's wonderful stories to life! They were made for each other. Brilliant!

Some Odd Dischordant Notes

She turned on the television set and stared blankly at a movie, the kind which tried to make up for lack of script with exploding cars and blasting guns.

Excerpt From: M. C. Beaton. Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener. St. Martins Press, 1994.

The above quote jumped out at me because if you substitute "iPhone" for "television set," "audiobook" for "movie," and "loudmouthed heroine and petulant villagers" for "exploding cars and blasting guns," it pretty much described my response to the experience of reading/listening to this book. There's something--or many somethings--a little off with every aspect of this book, from characterizations to dialogue to silly, unbelievable plot. But it moved along rapidly and was good for times when I needed or wanted to focus on something else while listening.

I'll probably be listening to the next installment in this series only because I've already purchased it. I'm pretty sure I'll be quite ready to say farewell to prickly, foul-mouthed Agatha and her inconsistent fellow villagers at that point.

Another Fun Little Tale

For my money, this story sees both the characters and the me come in to their own. The story is fun with sufficient misdirection and turns, the village gels, and characters gain more than simple personalities. The voices are differentiated well - and there are several, and the personalities come through in intonation, cadence, and emotion.

Looking forward to the next one.

Recommended.

Fickle Friends, Frosts, Flirts and Finagling

The more I listen, the more I like middle aged Agatha Raisin . . . retired from her public relations job in London . . . and expanding a bit around the waist, Agatha bounces back and forth between her desire to fit into that little black dress and an overwhelming need to feed her growling stomach . . . in this third book, Agatha has just returned from a long vacation, to find a new woman, Mary Fortune has moved to the village . . . and set her sights on her handsome neighbor, the retired Colonel James Lacey . . . everyone is busy preparing for the Carsely Garden Show . . . and so, not to be out done, Agatha decides to join the garden club, as well . . . the cast of characters gathering at the Red Lion, the vicar and his wife, the Carsley's Ladies Society, all have become welcome friends, all bringing their own personalities . . . and Agatha is no longer a new comer, she belongs there . . . so when another person turns up DEAD, they look to her to help Detective Bill Wong solve the case . . .

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Title: Full Disclosure

Author: Dee Henderson

Narrator: David de Vries

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-02-12

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 853 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Ann Silver is a cops cop. As the Midwest Homicide Investigator, she is called in to help local law enforcement on the worst of cases, looking for answers to murder. Hers is one of the regions most trusted investigative positions. Paul Falcon is the FBIs top murder cop in the Midwest. If the victim carried a federal badge or had a security clearance, odds are good Paul and his team see the case file or work the murder.

Their lives intersect when Ann arrives to pass a case off her desk and onto his. A car wreck and a suspicious death offer a lead on a hired shooter he is tracking. Paul isnt expecting to meet someone, the kind that goes on the personal side of the ledger, but Ann Silver has his attention.

The better he gets to know her, the more Paul realizes her job barely scratches the surface of who she is. She knows spies and soldiers and U.S. Marshals, and has written books about them. She is friends with the former vice president. People with good reason to be cautious about who they let into their lives deeply trust her. Paul wonders just what secrets Ann is keeping, until she shows him the John Doe Killer case file, and he starts to realize just who this lady he is falling in love with really is....

Members Reviews:

Dissapointed

This was my first Dee Henderson book and i guess I expected more from all the hype about her books. I felt the pace was sluggish, far too complcated and I found the character of Ann Silver more strange than sympathetic. I wanted to like her but found her tedious instead. Even the story line seemed to plod along rather than move smoothly. Because this author has many good reviews for previous books I will probably give her another shot, but will approach with caution.

David de Vries was good with the delivery of the story

DEE surprises you again

What made the experience of listening to Full Disclosure the most enjoyable?

The narrator has a great voice range to bring all these characters to life.

Any additional comments?

If you love Dee Henderson, you will love this book. She has done it again with characters that make you think and that you will enjoy. This story has a lot of twists and turns. If you like mystery and romance this book is for you.

Disappointed - Had Great Potential but Falls Flat

I have read all of Dee Henderson's books and for the most part, they are all wonderful. Dee hasn't written any books in a while so when this book came out, I immediately purchased it. I really wanted this to be a good book but instead of a good story, what I got was a great disappointment. One, Dee spent a great deal of time talking about her other books which I found to be very tacky and boring. In fact, it was so bad I wanted to fast forward through these parts which would of meant that I would of had to fast forward through a lot of the book. Two, there were way too many stories going on at one time. The first hour or two was great then for the next 9-10 hours it was torture. The final hour was good. In my opinion, the main characters voice was horrible. At times it was simply unbearable. I guess I expected more from Dee after the O'Malley series.

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Title: Whispers Under Ground

Subtitle: Peter Grant, Book 3

Author: Ben Aaronovitch

Narrator: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-28-12

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2024 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

It begins with a dead body at the far end of Baker Street tube station, all that remains of American exchange student James Gallagher - and the victim's wealthy, politically powerful family is understandably eager to get to the bottom of the gruesome murder. The trouble is, the bottom - if it exists at all - is deeper and more unnatural than anyone suspects...except, that is, for London constable and sorcerer's apprentice Peter Grant. With Inspector Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, tied up in the hunt for the rogue magician known as "the Faceless Man", it's up to Peter to plumb the haunted depths of the oldest, largest, and - as of now - deadliest subway system in the world.

At least he won't be alone. No, the FBI has sent over a crack agent to help. She's young, ambitious, beautiful...and a born-again Christian apt to view any magic as the work of the devil. Oh yeah - that's going to go well.

Members Reviews:

Lesley's Back!

The fabulous Lesley May in spite of her terrible tribulations has returned and I was glad to have her back. The spontaneity of Peter's character really works better with a more thoughtful type character like Lesley as counterweight. There are plots and subplots working in Whispers that had me a bit confused at times - there's a Taiwanese woman introduced briefly that had no connection to anything going on and a few other rabbit trails that the author may intend to pick up later but kind of muddled things for now. But it got sorted out fairly well by the end, the magical system seems to be coming together better with this third book, and the resolution to the murder of James Gallagher was quite good.

The sex scenes and rather icky fiend attacking men's groins that I disliked in Book 2 are gone.and we get our first American character. I was a bit concerned initially that Special Agent Kimberly Reynolds was going to be one of those "ugly Americans" that often turn up in the novels of European authors, but was happily surprised that she was not and her character added some interesting nuance to several scenes.

Aaronovitch has set up a structure that will support a LOT more stories if he wants to keep going (Book 4 due out later this year). There is so much more to learn about Nightingale, Molly, the river gods/goddesses, the interaction of magic and physics, and even Toby. And, of course, I will be watching to see what happens with Lesley now that she is apprenticed to Nightingale and has a huge motive to push the limits of magic.

As another reviewer noted, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith really doesn't do a great American accent (or Canadian either for that matter). However, he does do distinct voices for all characters so that you can easily tell who is talking and I still think he's a perfect voice for the character of Peter.

I am enjoying this series and recommend it. Dresden Files fans are likely to find it familiar fun.

Just Keeps Getting Better

This third book in the Peter Grant series is the best so far. Peter now has a friend and co-worker in the Folly, Constable Lesley May (former victim of magic and now learning to be a practitioner).

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Title: Hiss and Hers

Subtitle: An Agatha Raisin Mystery, Book 23

Author: M. C. Beaton

Narrator: Davina Porter

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-18-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 329 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of everyone's favorite sleuth, M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin is as feisty as ever - armed with her famous wit and biting sense of humor. This time, though, there's some biting of a whole other sort going on.

Agatha has fallen head over heels in love - again. This time, she has her eye on the local gardener, George Marston, but so do other women in their little Cotswold village. Shamelessly determined, Agatha will do anything to get her man - including footing the bill for a charity ball just for the chance to dance with him. And then George doesn't even show up.

Only partly deterred, Agatha goes looking for him, and finds his dead body in a compost heap. Murder is definitely afoot, but this killer chose no ordinary weapon: A poisonous snake delivered the fatal strike. Rising to the occasion, Agatha rallies her little detective agency to find the killer, only to learn that George had quite a complicated love life. But murderously complicated? Well, if she can't have George, at least Agatha can have the satisfaction of confronting the other women and solving the crime.

Members Reviews:

Pity for the narration but story also lacking

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. Plot was more vicious than usual, and narration was problematic.

Would you ever listen to anything by M. C. Beaton again?

Yes absolutely. In fact, I'm getting ready to fire up another one tonight on my way to work. I am a big fan of Hamish MacBeth and Agatha Raisin and after dozens of books, I guess no one should be too out of sorts when one turns up as a dud.

What three words best describe Davina Porters performance?

Awful. But she is actually a very GOOD narrator so her performance on this book was perplexing.

Did Hiss and Hers inspire you to do anything?

Switch it off several times. The story was particularly vicious in regard to how the killer murdered the initial victim, and Davina Porter's strange voices made it a struggle to listen to. It was also another multiple murder victim scenario, which has seemed to become a more and more common theme with Ms. Beaton's books. While I would never recommend against the Agatha Raisin stories, it does seem like in Ms. Beaton's more recent books, she has been using an ever expanding number of murders in lieu of making the story around the initial murder more interesting or perplexing.

Any additional comments?

I only listen to these books in audible form because I commute 100 miles to work every day. I am a big fan of Agatha Raisin and Hamish MacBeth mysteries and despite the let down with this one will continue to purchase them in audible formats for my commute. It's never easy to get used to a new narrator as I know only too well because the MC Beaton books have switched several times, but I couldn't adjust to Davina Porter's narration of this book. Davina Porter is actually a very good narrator whom I've heard before, and is pleasant to listen to - so I don't know what went wrong here but her voices really were pretty awful. Even after sort of adjusting to everyone else, I just couldn't adjust to her version of Agatha, who she turned into this sort of harsh crackling old ladyish voice that was just too far out of character if you read the Agatha Raisin books. If Ms.