Listen to Popular Authors Full Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

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 David Wolf Mystery Thriller Series: Books 1-4

Author: Jeff Carson

Narrator: Sean Patrick Hopkins

Format: Unabridged

Length: 28 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-06-17

Publisher: Cross Atlantic Publishing

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 19 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

If you love mysteries with action, suspense and a touch of humor and romance, then the David Wolf series is for you.

Foreign Deceit

Sergeant David Wolf of the Sluice County SD headquartered in the ski resort town of Rocky Points, Colorado, receives word that his brother has committed suicide in the Alps of Italy.

The Silversmith

Deputy Sergeant David Wolf has been waiting sixteen years for today's opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his late father and become Sheriff of the Sluice County SD, headquartered in the small ski resort town of Rocky Points, Colorado. What he's offered, however, isn't quite what he's expecting. And for Wolf, refusing turns out to be harder, and much deadlier, than he could have anticipated.

Alive and Killing

Just for a day, Colorado Sheriff David Wolf trades slogging through murky meltwaters and even murkier small-town politics for an overnight camping trip in the wilderness with his son.

But when a man with fresh burns turns up on their trail, falling from the heavy load in his backpack and running wild from something, Wolf suspects his father-son camping trip may have just taken a turn for the worse.

Deadly Conditions

The small town of Rocky Points, Colorado has just been hit with an epic snowstorm. When the snow removal process uncovers a dead body a young woman brutally murdered and clearly marked with some sort of cryptic message Sheriff David Wolf and his deputies are left scrambling to find a killer before he strikes again.

Members Reviews:

Good, solid, Western mystery.

If you like Longmire or other Western, macho mysteries youll like these. Great driving stories that even kept my husband interested.

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: Killing Season

Subtitle: A Thriller

Author: Faye Kellerman

Narrator: Charlie Thurston

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-17-17

Publisher: Harper Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 79 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

New York Times best-selling author Faye Kellerman delivers an electrifying crime novel of suspense as a young man's obsessive investigation into his sister's death draws him into the path of a sadistic serial killer.

He went searching for the truth. Now a killer has found him.

The more you know, the more there is to fear....

Three years ago, 15-year-old Ellen Vicksburg went missing in the quiet town of River Remez, New Mexico. Ellen was kind, studious, and universally liked. Her younger brother, Ben, could imagine nothing worse than never knowing what happened to her - until, on the first anniversary of her death, he found her body in a shallow grave by the river's edge.

Ben, now 17, is relentlessly driven to find answers to Ellen's homicide. Police believe she was the victim of a psychopath known as the Demon. But Ben's analytical mind sees patterns that don't fit, tiny threads and clues that are derived from other unsolved murders he has researched. Despite his all-consuming push for a real solution to the crime, Ben has hit a wall, until he gains an unlikely ally - the school's popular new girl, Ro Majors, who has secrets of her own. As the body count rises, a picture emerges of an adversary who is as cunning and methodical as deadly. And uncovering the truth may not be enough to keep Ben, Ro, and their loved ones safe from a twisted and fixated killer who has nothing left to lose.

Members Reviews:

Do not buy

Easily the worst audiobook Ive purchased this year. The storytelling was juvenile, there were long stretches of pointless, repetitive dialogue, and it set womens lib back fifty years. I was officially done when the main character and Ros ex boyfriend started negotiating the times theyd spend with her. Like hed take her to the prom but not winter finale, so they agreed other boy could take her to the latter. At that point I was in wtf mode and gave up. Who does that?! Its 2017! The story dragged on, there was no insight into the killer or their identity by the end of the first part-which I stuck with. I had an hour left on the first part before I threw in the towel. Im sure this wouldve been ok as a YA novel but it wasnt on par with other mystery/thriller offerings. Dont waste your time or credit on this one. A real stinker that I returned.

Disappointing

After starting to listen to this book, I thought it must have been written for teenage girls. I really have like Kellermans other stories. Just not my cup of tea.

Juvenile

The book seems to be geared towards young adults. Characters completely unbelievable. Dialogue is stilted. I would swear this was written by a hormonal teenage boy.

Not up to Faye Kellerman Standards

The characters here are cartoonish, the dialogue cookie-cutter and pedantic, the plot uninteresting and emotionally vapid. Very disappointing.

Someone owes me 17 hrs of my life back

Too long, characters whiny and not very likable. I found myself rolling my eyes several times throughout.

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: Jack of Hearts

Subtitle: Detective Jack Stratton Mystery Thriller Series

Author: Christopher Greyson

Narrator: Andrew Tell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-21-17

Publisher: Greyson Media

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 72 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

A heart-pounding mystery filled with action, humor, and a dash of romance.

Jack Stratton is heading south for some fun in the sun. Already nervous about introducing his girlfriend, Alice, to his parents, the last thing Jack needed was for the dog-sitter to cancel, forcing him to bring Lady, their 120-pound king shepherd, on the plane with them. The dog holds Jack responsible and wants payback. On top of everything, Jack is still waiting for Alice's answer to his marriage proposal.

When his mother and the members of her neighborhood book club ask him to catch the Orange Blossom Cove Bandit, a small-time thief who's stealing garden gnomes and peace of mind from their quiet retirement community, how can Jack refuse?

The peculiar mystery proves to be more than it appears, and things take a deadly turn. Now Jack finds it's up to him to stop a crazed killer, save his parents, and win the hand of the girl he loves - but if he survives, will it be Jack who ends up with a broken heart?

Members Reviews:

Fast paced mystery with a little humor & romance thrown in!

So, Jack takes his soon to be (hopefully) fiancé to meet his parents. When they arrive with their monster sized dog (thinking Lady might be problematic), they will soon realize they owe her their lives.

This is a fast paced mystery with family friendly language and although Jack and his girlfriend are living together, at his parents house Alice gets the bedroom and Jack gets the couch.

Good story with an unexpected ending and more than one criminal.

These books do not have to be read in order however the relationship between Jack and Alice progresses with continuity through each.

Ending is something I would expect from a chic-lit book but hey a romance is ok sometimes.

Andrew Tell does a very good job narrating.

This book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

If you found this review helpful please indicate so.

Thank You.

A new and wonderful Jack Stratton Mystery Thriller

Jack of Hearts is Book 7 in the Jack Stratton series. It has become one of favorite series and Christopher Greyson has become one of my favorite authors since the audio versions of some of the novels were first released five months ago. The series dwells in the light and fun part of the mystery/thriller genre. The novels also have more romance, but not sex, than most written by male authors. Author Greyson writes about some sympathetic but flawed main characters and he develops them brilliantly. The main characters are ex-cop Jack and his girlfriend Alice (Alice is not called Replacement for the first time in Jack of Hearts).

I love the Jack Stratton series and I highly recommend it. The books do not have to be listened to in order; indeed, Book 6 titled And Then She Was Gone should be read first followed by Book 1 titled Girl Jacked followed by Books 2, 3, 4 ,5 and then 7. Andrew Tell narrates all books in the series superbly.

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: Detective Jack Stratton Mystery Thriller Series

Subtitle: Data Jack

Author: Christopher Greyson

Narrator: Andrew Tell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-02-17

Publisher: Greyson Media

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 46 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Jack Stratton's back is up against the wall. He's broke, kicked off the force, and his new bounty hunting business has slowed to a trickle. With no money coming in, Jack's license to carry suspended, and no good job prospects on the horizon, Jack's got it tough. He thinks things are turning around when Alice (aka Replacement) gets a lucrative job setting up a home data network. That is, until he discovers it's for a handsome, jet-setting software tycoon. The "boy billionaire" as Jack grudgingly refers to him, takes a liking to computer-savvy Alice. Jealous, Jack thinks life can't get any worse, but when the computer program the CEO invented becomes the key tool in an international data heist, things turn deadly. In this digital age of hackers, spyware, and cyber terrorism--data is more valuable than gold. The thieves plan to steal the keys to the digital kingdom and with this much money at stake, they'll kill for it. Can Jack and Alice stop the pack of ruthless criminals before they can Data Jack?

Members Reviews:

Jack Stratton to the rescue!

This newest addition to the Jack Stratton series is as expected; good , light and fast paced. I really enjoyed this, I just wish these books were a little longer.

In this book Jack is working as a bounty hunter and Replacement is working for a billionaire. Meanwhile as Jack is earning little things at Replacement's job are getting dangerous. People are getting hurt and Jack's apartment is broken into. They know someone on the job with Replacement is doing something underhanded and Jack is kind of on the job, nothing official but... add in some corporate espionage, some guns a few guys with Russian accents a little romance and you have a very entertaining book.

Andrew Tell does an excellent job narrating.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

If you found this review helpful please indicate so.

Thank You.

Jack Stratton is down on his luck in Book 5

He's been kicked off the police force, had his license to carry a gun revoked, and is out of money. But he still has Alice, aka Replacement, who was raised by the same wonderful foster mother as he. He becomes a bounty hunter hunting bad guys without a gun while Replacement finds a job setting up a home data network for a handsome and single young billionaire. Jack is a little jealous. This is a fast paced novel that build suspense nicely while also dealing with Jack's and Replacement's unfulfilled romantic relationship.

Data Jack is Book 5 in this consistently outstanding suspense thriller series. Author Christopher Greyson delivers in every novel and is unusually talented in both story telling and character development. Book 7 is not yet available in audio. The series order should be rearranged to chronological order by the characters age. Book 6 should be listened to first.

Andrew Tell does a stellar job narrating the entire series. I love the Jack Stratton series and recommend it.

Well written but not my cup of tea ...

Based on a series with many readers and high reviews, I purchased Data Jack in the WhisperSync format. Reading the commercial briefs about the flavor of the Detective Jack Stratton, series, I expected a more hardened protagonist - maybe like Mike Connellys Harry Bosch. Much to my surprise I found the characters to be rather naive.

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 Girls in the Water

Subtitle: Detectives King and Lane, Book 1

Author: Victoria Jenkins

Narrator: Katie Villa

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-31-17

Publisher: Bookouture

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 69 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Two gone. One whose past could kill her.

When the body of Lola Evans is found in a local park on a cold winter's morning, Detective Alex King and her new recruit Chloe Lane are called in to lead the hunt for the killer.

Days later, a second girl goes missing. It seems the two shared a troubled history, and were members of the same support group. Who is the monster preying on these vulnerable girls?

As the detectives start to piece together the clues, Chloe realizes that she too is in danger - as she uncovers secrets about her own brother's death, which someone will kill to keep hidden.

Alex and Chloe are soon fighting for their lives, and in a race against time to reach the next victim, before it's too late.

Chilling and totally compelling with an utterly surprising twist, The Girls in the Water is perfect for fans of Robert Bryndza, Sarah Hilary, and Patricia Gibney.

Members Reviews:

Great book!

Solid writing start to finish. Great character development. interesting plot. Narrator does a wonderful job too.

Tell not show?

Oh dear.

Where was the editor? Everything is told not shown and not only that , it is told again and again, as if the reader is not able to remember anything for more than a couple of minutes.

meh...

Narrator was mediocre. Characters were underdeveloped. Ending felt stilted. Just never really got into it.

First half boring, 2nd better

The first half of this book was not much of a murder mystery. I would define it a character study. Mostly all about the personal relationships and problems in the lives of all the troubled characters. I kept thinking "when does the mystery start?" Finally about 3/4 into the book everything started to move forward and got a bit more exciting. All of the mysteries and questions get answered in the end and it turned out a bit surprising. my advise is skim the first 3/4.

Almost wish it were longer.

I didn't see the ending coming. Good and not so predictable. looking forward to the next read by author.

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: In This Bright Future

Subtitle: DC Smith Investigation Series, Book 5

Author: Peter Grainger

Narrator: Gildart Jackson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-04-17

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 336 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Two weeks of rest and recuperation - that's what the doctor ordered. Detective Sergeant DC Smith could listen to some music, make some of his own, and maybe even catch up on his reading; he is almost looking forward to it. And then there is a knock on the door. It's only his next-door neighbor, but it is the beginning of a sequence of events that will bring him face to face with some of the darkest episodes and the most dangerous people from his own past. This is Smith's fifth investigation, but this time it's personal.

Members Reviews:

Best (so far) of a great series

I have enjoyed this entire series on Audible and was looking forward to this book's release - which was perfectly timed for me being flat on my back for a few days. Alas I finished the book in one day which is the best endorsement I can give. Somewhat different from the rest of the series but an excellent story with usual excellent narration. One of the very few books I gave five stars in each category. Looking forward to the next book.

Best novel in a marvelous detective series!

Detective thrillers do not get better than In the Bright Future! This is Book 5 in the English detective DC Smith series. Smith is on forced leave and he goes to Northern Ireland and deals with people from his past. Gildart Jackson does his usual wonderful job of narration.

If you like the mystery/thriller genre, this is a must listen novel. It's definitely one of the best of the year.

Brilliant series

this is one of my favorite books in the series. I love the writing. lots of background information and character development. I highly recommend this.

Best yet.

I like the other books in this series that are available on audible but this one, in my opinion, is the best. I was a teen living in the USA during the riots in Northern Ireland and remember (vaguely) children being sent here so that they could get a break from the fighting. Not only was this a great story but it educated me on what was really happening during that time. I hope another D.C. Smith story is available soon.

A MUST READ

The best yet. D.C. Smith faces old ghosts from his past. This book covers 30 years his early years and his recent life. Woven together in a riveting story. As always in DC Smith stories are multi layered stories and the characters are well developed.

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 Child

Author: Fiona Barton

Narrator: Full Cast, Mandy Williams, Rosalyn Landor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-27-17

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 642 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The author of the stunning New York Times best seller The Widow returns with a brand-new novel of twisting psychological suspense.

As an old house is demolished in a gentrifying section of London, a workman discovers a tiny skeleton, buried for years. For journalist Kate Waters, it's a story that deserves attention. She cobbles together a piece for her newspaper, but at a loss for answers, she can only pose a question: Who is the Building Site Baby?

As Kate investigates, she unearths connections to a crime that rocked the city decades earlier: A newborn baby was stolen from the maternity ward in a local hospital and was never found. Her heartbroken parents were left devastated by the loss.

But there is more to the story, and Kate is drawn - house by house - into the pasts of the people who once lived in this neighborhood that has given up its greatest mystery. And she soon finds herself the keeper of unexpected secrets that erupt in the lives of three women - and torn between what she can and cannot tell.

Members Reviews:

Pacing Problems

Had this not been so highly recommended by a friend, I don't think I could have pushed on to finish this book because of the painstakingly slow progress and the straight recounting style the author, a former journalist herself, uses to tell this story. Usually, I appreciate a *show-don't-tell* type of read, feeling engaged in the process of fleshing out a novel. Too often Barton seemed to dawdle on the details in her procedural, until what were supposed to be interesting pieces of a puzzle felt like belabored points.

This is a book that is probably best as a companion for a couple of days, one to listen to a little while, set down at night, and pick up at your leisure. A good book for occupying time, because it's not a bad book, it's just not a book that holds you by the throat or one that is written with beautiful prose you might scribble down in a journal. Myself, by the end of what felt like a long slog, I felt too worn down to even care about the heart-rending journey I'd just listened to.

About the narration: Barton does very well including multiple points of view through her characters. The cast does a good job in most cases with their narration but I felt the total presentation lacked consistency. Some of the transitions between characters were confusing.

Avid mystery story listener loved this audio book!

This is now one of my top rated listens! Great narration, interesting story and characters. Really nicely done!

Lost in Narration

Any additional comments?

It's a good story. I did confuse the characters as the narrator's voices were not distinct and the name Anna is not that much different from Emma. As noted by previous reviewers, I too was bored by the endless ruminating and internal dialogue.

Tedious

The storyline is very labored. Coupled with strange narration this made for a very boring audiobook experience. Not interesting enough to continue listening.

Listen to this if you enjoyed "The Widow"

This is a bit of a slow starter, with several shifting POVs that require attention to keep the characters separate. It helps that there are multiple narrators. Unfortunately, the voices were not particularly engaging. The outcome of the disparate plot lines was apparent to me at about the 2/3 point, but it was rewarding to have everything nicely concluded with an emotional ending.

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: Secrets of the Dead

Subtitle: Detective Robyn Carter Crime Thriller Series, Book 2

Author: Carol Wyer

Narrator: Emma Newman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-24-17

Publisher: Bookouture

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 265 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Three murders. Three innocent victims. What secrets did they share with their killer?

A bottle of bubble bath and colorful, plastic boats were scattered in small puddles on the floor. In the bathtub lay Linda Upton, fully-clothed, her lips a shade of blue, and her bloodshot eyes wide open.

When a young mother is found drowned in the bath, clutching a receipt saying 'all debts paid', Detective Robyn Carter knows it's just the beginning of a harrowing case. She recognizes the signs of a serial killer, and when a second victim with a receipt is found, her worst fears are confirmed.

With the local press whipping the public into a frenzy, Robyn is under pressure to solve the crime yesterday. But her team can't find a link between the two bodies, and the cracks are starting to show.

With the local press whipping the public into a frenzy, Robyn is under pressure to solve the crime yesterday. But her team can't find a link between the two bodies, and the cracks are starting to show.

The press call him The Leopard for his stealth, speed, and brutality. Can Robyn stop the most twisted killer of her career before it's too late?

A heart-pounding, toe-curling, one-sitting serial killer thriller that will hook you from the first minute till the last. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, and Karin Slaughter.

Members Reviews:

Loved it!!!

Another great book from Carol Wyer. She is officially one of my favorite authors. It's not about figuring out who is doing the killing in this book, it's the how and who's next that keeps you intrigued.

Great plot - disappointing narration

What made the experience of listening to Secrets of the Dead the most enjoyable?

The plot was interesting although the police break with usual procedure constantly for no good reason.

Would you be willing to try another one of Emma Newmans performances?

Really not sure. Her narration is stilted as if she's in primary school reading the story for the first time. Poor emphasis & inflection. It really detracts from the plot. I'm still halfway through the story & it's driving me mad. I rarely write review but just had to say something. I came believe that the 48 other reviewers thought this was adequate narration!

Narrator makes book less enjoyable

This is my second Carol Wyer book and is as good as the first--not spectacular, but solid. I love police procedurals set in England and this fits the bill. The detective and her colleagues are believable and for the most part likable; the others who are not meant to be likable are indeed off-putting. But the entire experience is marred by a dreadful narrator. She has the softspoken voice of a kindergarten teacher, not a good fit for reading a police procedural with a reasonably tough female detective as the protagonist. But worst of all is her unfathomable habit of pronouncing the article "a" as a long a (to rhyme with day) the way an insecure second grade reader might. She is capable of using the more typical schwa and does this part of the time as well. I could find no rhyme or reason for her choices and it became quite distracting and annoying.

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: Jacks Are Wild

Subtitle: Detective Jack Stratton Mystery Thriller Series, Book 3

Author: Christopher Greyson

Narrator: Andrew Tell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-09-17

Publisher: Greyson Media

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 103 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Handsome white-knight police officer Jack Stratton is back in this action-packed, thrilling adventure. When his sexy old flame disappears, no one thinks it's suspicious except Jack and one unbalanced witness. Jack feels in his gut that something is wrong. He knows that Marisa has a past, and if it ever caught up with her - it would be deadly. Determined to buck the critics and listen to his instincts, he and his feisty sidekick Alice (aka Replacement) plunge ahead and start tracking down leads, hoping to find Marisa in time.

The trail leads them into all sorts of trouble - landing them smack in the middle of an all-out mob war between the Italian Mafia and the Japanese Yakuza. When evidence surfaces that Marisa was kidnapped, Jack must navigate through the warring parties, assassins, and cold-blooded hit men to outwit the cunning kidnappers before it is too late. As the body count rises, the stakes in this game are life and death, with no rules except one - Jacks Are Wild.

If you love a strong hero, smart women sleuths, and more twists and turns than a piece of licorice - you have found your book!

Members Reviews:

Great story with gret narration!

Jacks Are Wild is the third novel in the Detective Jack Stratton Mystery Thriller series. I read the entire 6 novel series before any novels were available in audio format. I love this offbeat series about a young police detective raised in a whorehouse where his mother worked as he goes about his job with a heart of gold. This story is about the kidnapping of the woman Jack is dating. My favorite character continues to be Alice (also known as Replacement) who is the enthusiastic young woman Jack rescued and who now shares his apartment in a platonic relationship. Andrew Tell narrates perfectly. Novels 4 and 5 in the series are not yet available in audio, but I hope they will be soon.

Great Action and New Characters

This audiobook is terrific. Lots of suspense and action. New and old characters blend well and didn't figure out this ending. Now I can't wait for more from this author. Narrator did a great job, too.

great book, great series

love the characters love the writing great story you really root for the main character. I'm going to continue to read the rest of the series can't wait to hear what happens next

A Good Read

Ive read a few of Jack Stratton Mysterys and I really enjoy them. All so far have been light, funny and with characters that you enjoy reading about. Most of the time I read Si-Fi and Super Hero books but once in a while I want something different but good and these mysteries hit the spot. If your looking for something fun and light with a few books in the series these are the books for you.

Plenty of swearing but no foul language...

I like Greyson's books. Plenty of excitement, humor and suspense, but the swearing ruins it for me. No foul language, but still, if you aren't used to it, it just ruins the story. It doesn't take bad language to make a plotline come together. I've never known an author who lost readers because their books did not contain swearing, but I've known a few who lost some because they included it. Deborah Owen, Creative Writing Institute

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: Cold Earth

Subtitle: A Shetland Mystery

Author: Ann Cleeves

Narrator: Kenny Blyth

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-18-17

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 512 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

In the dark days of a Shetland winter, torrential rain triggers a landslide that crosses the main road and sweeps down to the sea.

At the burial of his old friend Magnus Tait, Jimmy Perez watches the flood of mud and water smash through a house in its path. Everyone thinks the home is uninhabited, but in the wreckage he finds the body of a dark-haired woman wearing a red silk dress. Perez soon becomes obsessed with tracing her identity and realizes he must find out who she was and how she died.

Cold Earth is the next audiobook in Ann Cleeves' beloved Shetland series, which is now a major success for the BBC.

Members Reviews:

Wonderful Return to Shetland

Ann Cleeves brooding detective Jimmy Perez is back with a new murder to solve. This story delves less into island life than some earlier books, but we get a glimpse into a bit of Jimmy's inner turmoil.

Unique Setting and Characters

This has become one of my favorite mystery series. Before discovering these stories on television and in books I knew nothing about Shetland. Now I look forward to every literary visit to this place.

The characters in a story must appeal to me if I am to enjoy their story. I like Jimmy Perez. He is complex. He is brave. He is smart. He is gentle and loving. He has experienced difficult times through this series of stories. He has learned from his experience and managed to heal and survive without turning bitter or angry.

My enjoyment of this book does not rest solely on the "puzzle" of the crime to be solved. The author creates a cast of characters that I care about in a place that is fascinating. That is enough.

Narrator Kenny Blyth is superb.

Ann Cleeves wonderful as always

What made the experience of listening to Cold Earth the most enjoyable?

Another fabulous chapter in the Shetland series

What other book might you compare Cold Earth to and why?

Ann's Vera series. She has a way with making the location an equal to her characters. She creates a mood theme as well as very good mystery.

Which character as performed by Kenny Blyth was your favorite?

Kenny Blyth is Shetland.

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

No, just hope the next one will be in the near future.

Any additional comments?

I am not big on stars, commentary means more to me when I read reviews. If you like Ann Cleeves you will love this book. If you have not read her works start at the beginning if you can. Not sure how this would work as a stand alone, and the characters are not quite the same as the wonderful TV series.

Reader Makes the Story Come Alive

I really enjoyed the TV series because of the unique setting of The Shetland Islands.

This tale reveals the unique lives of those who make the islands their home. Kenny Blyth with his Scottish accent adds so much to the atmosphere. This is not a fast paced story but more an in-depth study of the characters, interesting people. I was hooked from the beginning when a house slides down a hill in the heavy rains during a funeral. There's an unidentified woman inside. The story develops from there as Inspector Perez searches beyond his own fantasies. Overall good book. Excellent reader.

Disappointing - end is a summary, not an ending

What disappointed you about Cold Earth?

The end, the last quarter or so, was so badly done - just rushed and summarized, like she couldn't be bothered to write it properly.