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Title: Vacations Can Be Murder

Subtitle: A Charlie Parker Mystery, Book 2

Author: Connie Shelton

Narrator: Lynda Evans

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-17-12

Publisher: Books In Motion

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 32 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Charlie's last case left her tired and emotionally drained, so her office staff convinces her to vacation in Kauai. Charlie is riding in a helicopter when she and the pilot spot a dead body lying on the rugged rocks of Kauai's NaPali coast. Mack Garvey, the owner of the helicopter tour company, is accused of the murder. Charlie wants to avoid the whole mess but is persuaded to help Garvey prove his innocence. As the tension builds, Charlie roots out the suspects one by one never dreaming that her own life is about to be snuffed out by sinister means.

Members Reviews:

Not as good as the first

This installment wasn't as good as the first. I'm not sure I will buy the next one. What makes a cozy mtstery believable is the reason the lead character gets involved. I didn't buy it this time. Skip this one.

Love the story, but not the delivery

I love all the Charlie Parker books. However, the quality of the presentation was extremely poor. As I listen to the narrator, I can actually hear papers rustling, as if shuffling the script pages. It is quite distracting from the story. The story like is top-notch, but the delivery gets a "D" for delivery.

Loved it!

I love Connie Shelton's books. I can't wait to start the next one. She keeps you guessing until the end.

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Title: The Curse of One-Eyed Jack

Subtitle: A Dark Hollows Mystery

Author: J. Kent Holloway

Narrator: Katherine Joan Taylor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-16-12

Publisher: Seven Realms Publishing

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 32 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

One-Eyed Jack has returned....

FBI crime analyst Kili Brennan has come to Boone Creek, in the Appalachian foothills of Kentucky, looking for her missing brother... looking for answers. Instead, she finds a world of suspicion and superstition. Locals say her brother, and a string of others, may have been killed by One-Eyed Jack - the fabled giant guardian that protects the fantastic archaeological monument he was researching. As Kili's search intensifies, the danger escalates, and the only person that can help her is a man whose mysterious past might be just as frightening, and infinitely more dangerous, than the dark secrets she is determined to uncover. A man named Ezekiel Crane.

Members Reviews:

A Fun Romp!

What made the experience of listening to The Curse of One-Eyed Jack the most enjoyable?

Great story, fast paced, kept you guessing!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Curse of One-Eyed Jack?

When Kili starts getting mysterious phone calls.

Did Katherine Joan Taylor do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes, everyone had a distinctive voice.

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

Definitely!

Any additional comments?

I'd listen to it again!

Fantastic

I really didn't know what to expect from this book, if I'm honest the image on the cover kind of freaked me out. But I wanted to give it a go and boy am I glad I did. It was such a fun, interesting story. J. Kent Holloway really knows how to grab the readers attention, keeps them turning the page and happy to beg for more. I cannot wait to read the next instalment.

I've never really liked female narration but Katherine Joan Taylor has own me over. She did such a brilliant job bringing the characters to life, capturing the listeners attention and she doesn't let go until the very end.

Charming writing; bravura performance

If you could sum up The Curse of One-Eyed Jack in three words, what would they be?

Let's see, if I could sum up "The Curse of One-Eyed Jack" in three words, they'd be Magical, Suspenseful and Thriller.

Who was your favorite character and why?

One-Eyed Jack was my favorite, because I couldn't figure out who/what he/it was until the end.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene between Granny Craine and the boy Jimmy.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Who or what is killing people off in the wilds of Kentucky, and why are the folks of the nearby town keeping the killer's identity secret?

Any additional comments?

The narration of this book is particularly stong; the dialect spot-on while remaining understandable.

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Title: Baldi: Series 5

Author: Simon Brett, Mark Holloway, Martin Meenan

Narrator: David Threlfall, Tina Kellegher, T.P. McKenna

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-01-12

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

On sabbatical from the Franciscan order, Father Paolo Baldi is working as a philosophy lecturer in Dublin when his life takes an unexpected turn and he finds himself helping the police to solve crimes.

Returning for his fifth series, Father Baldi investigates a string of curious murders. Along with Tina, Paolo uncovers the truth behind the killings of several rockabilly band members, as well as delving into the highly competitive world of celebrity chefs and exposing a rift in a community of environmental activists. Follow the priest-cum-sleuths thrilling adventures as he solves mysteries throughout Ireland.

The episodes included are: The Million Dollar Question, A Very Neglected Fish, A Green Murder and Food of the Blue.

David Threlfall, Tara Flynn and T.P. McKenna star in this exciting series written by Barry Devlin, John Murphy, Andrew Martin and James McAleavey in the series created by Barry Devlin.

Members Reviews:

Another Good Buy/Read!!

Would you listen to Baldi: Series 5 again? Why?

Strong characterizations, good performances and direction make these radio dramas come alive, as always!

What other book might you compare Baldi: Series 5 to and why?

All the Baldi collections provide good value, entertainment, and high production values.

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

Baldi is not a 'book' character so much as a BBC creation, but faithful to its core character, a priest drawn to solving crime, though not in quite the same way as Chesterton's "Father Brown."

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

These collections of radio episodes differ as much in their plotting, as in their moral lessons. All of them offer insights to criminal motivation, with much sympathy for the fallen.

Any additional comments?

Keep them coming!

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Title: Blood of the Prodigal

Subtitle: An Amish-Country Mystery, Book 1

Author: P. L. Gaus

Narrator: George Newbern

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-20-11

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 205 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

A compulsively readable new series that explores a fascinating culture set purposely apart.

In the wooded Amish hill country, a professor at a small college, a local pastor, and the county sheriff are the only ones among the mainstream, or "English", who possess the instincts and skills to work the cases that impact all county residents, no matter their code of conduct or religious creed.

When an Amish boy is kidnapped, a bishop, fearful for the safety of his followers, plunges three outsiders into the traditionally closed society of the "Plain Ones".

Members Reviews:

Interesting view of the Amish attitiudes

I really liked the way the author incorporated cultural bits of Amish beliefs into how the main characters went about solving the crime. The two main characters, "English", were likeable and sympathetic to the Amish points of view. The sherrif was a bit more jaded in his view than they, but he was smart enough to work in the background with his knowledge of crimes and Amish to ensure that the crime was solved. Unfortunately, the plot was not riveting for me. If you want to learn more about Amish life and views, I think you will find this story very interesting, if you are looking for an action type book, it will probably be too slow for you. I definitely liked the book enough to check if there are more to the series because the main characters seem like they be fun to observe as they evolve.

You should find George Newbern a good narrator. I enjoyed his style and was able to easily distinquish between the characters. If you aren't too picky and like Amish, give P.L. Gaus a chance.

A fascinating look at a separate culture among us

Most of us know something of the Amish - that they try to live separate from the technological world, that they are pacifists, and maintain old crafts - that there is deep faith, but also a mandated conformity to the norms of the community, that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. A child is taken by his father, who had been banned from the community for wildness, and the Bishop is reluctant to do more than verify the child is OK - but lacking the resources, he asks two outsiders who understand the community to locate the child.

This story is complex, but the twists and turns are logical and "character-driven", based on the characters as shaped by the needs of the culture. The end is satisfying,

Living separate is sometimes good.

Fascinated with mysteries peopled with Amish, I thought of the movie "Witness" with Harrison Ford as I downloaded this title. Not as suspenseful as the afore mentioned movie, it is an easy listen and introduction into an authentic Amish community separate but within an "English" community. The author appears to have done thorough research into a little understood relationship of disparate communities living parallel to each other. With the exploration into human nature that the structure of this mystery allows, the study of traditional values versus modern temptations is expanded. The mystery is well written and structured, I didn't guess the ending until the author meant me to see it. A good, nay, excellent GP mystery with equally good narration.

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Title: Deal with the Dead

Subtitle: A John Deal Novel

Author: Les Standiford

Narrator: Ron McLarty

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-21-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Les Standiford is the best-selling author of the famous John Deal suspense series, including Presidential Deal. The quickly paced plot, intriguing characters, and electric dialogue found in Deal With the Dead will please longtime fans and enthrall newcomers. John Deal is attempting to resurrect his late fathers failed building firm when he makes an awesome discovery. Now he faces the strong-arm tactics of the same secret organization that ruined his father.

Members Reviews:

More Deal!!

I've read all of the John Deal series. Hope Les Standiford will be writing more, soon. I'd rate him right up there with Carl Hiasson, Randy Wayne White and James W. Hall, in the top Florida writers.

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Title: 13 Million Dollar Pop

Author: David Levien

Narrator: Paul Boehmer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-02-11

Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 56 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Frank Behr is on an executive protection detail of Bernard Kolodnik, a hard-driving business mogul on the verge of making a move into big-time politics. Behr is working for the Caro Group, an uneasy fit both philosophically and literally. Working for someone else rubs him the wrong way - but with his girlfriend nine months pregnant, Behr is doing what he has to. An attempt is made on the client, and Behr manages to protect him and repel the attackers, getting them both to safety. Behr is celebrated for his heroism and moved to a different assignment, but he can't help but investigate what happened in that garage - and why the cops are either making no headway, or burying the incident.

Critic Reviews:

"A professional-grade actioner...compelling..." (Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

Disappointing WRETCHED narration

What did you like best about 13 Million Dollar Pop? What did you like least?

I enjoy the characters. Narration and CHOPPY story-eech.

What was most disappointing about David Leviens story?

To much "extra" gory violence. The narration was abysmal. I dont know if Boehmer has an accent that he is trying to cover up, but it was difficult to listen to. He also has a very odd cadence. At times I had no idea which character was speaking. Also, this book throws music in every now and then. ILOVE Frank and Susan but could not wait until this book was over.

A real disappointment

Would you be willing to try another one of Paul Boehmers performances?

no

Could you see 13 Million Dollar Pop being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

no

What went wrong??

If you could sum up 13 Million Dollar Pop in three words, what would they be?

Unfortunate narrator choice

What was one of the most memorable moments of 13 Million Dollar Pop?

Nothing in particular, liked it all!

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator was different than the two previous books and he didn't work for this series in my opinion. I found it very challenging to enjoy this book as much as I had the previous two.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Two wrongs make Behr wanna set it right!

Any additional comments?

I checked on the 4th book's narrator, I would have skipped it if it hadn't been the original narrator but thankfully they went back to what worked so well for Book 1 & 2!

Oh well

I downloaded the first in this series and thought the author had promise. The clues seemed to fall on the PI's hands, but the story kept me interested. The second book was a little less successful. Still, I downloaded the third, thinking the author IS a good writer -- almost. Well, instead of getting better the experience got worse. The author seems to have fallen in love with his macho character and I simply couldn't take one more description of his intricate workouts (yeah, yeah, we get it -- he's fit). I also couldn't understand why his much-younger, pregnant girlfriend didn't make a run for it while she still could -- "Susan, this guy is a self-centered jerk. Get out of there!" Sorry, but there are no redeeming qualities here....I tried to make myself finish it, but simply couldn't. The experience was made worse by the reader (the first two were read by Scott Brick). Mr. Boehmer is "just" a reader -- he doesn't add anything to the story...and this story could have used some help.

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Title: The Sixth Man: Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, Book 5

Author: David Baldacci

Narrator: Ron McLarty, Orlagh Cassidy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-30-11

Publisher: Macmillan Digital Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 50 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

After alleged serial killer Edgar Roy is apprehended and locked away in a psychiatric unit, private investigators Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are called in by Roys lawyeran old friend of Sean Kingto look into the case. But their investigation is derailed before it begins: while en route to their first meeting with the lawyer, King and Maxwell discover his dead body.

A rash of terrifying events begins to unfold, and it is up to King and Maxwell to uncover the truth: is Roy a killer or not? But the more they dig into his past, the more they are bombarded with obstacles, half-truths, and dead ends that make filtering the facts nearly impossible. As each new theory brings a new revelation, King and Maxwell will be pushed to the limit. Could this deadly case be the one that leaves the duo permanently parted?

Members Reviews:

Great book, average recording.

The narrative is wonderful as all Baldacci books are... but the recording is way too heavy on the sound effects which made certain parts seem trite. Dialling them down would have lead to a 5/5 review.

Another David Baldacci gripping tale

Ron and Orlagh are my favourite audiobook narrators, that added to a great David Baldacci tale and I found it difficult to stop listening. As usual there were many close calls for Sean and Michelle, and some excellent twists in the storyline.

Why do American heroes have no flaws?

This book demonstrates precisely why I seldom dip into modern American crime fiction and try to stick with European authors where possible. Why do American heroes always have to be so perfect?. They can never be clever, they have to be the cleverest. And what is so special about being a Rhodes Scholar? It's almost impossible to find a hero who wasn't one and this book's no exception. Sporting achievement? No problem, it's Olympic standard across the board. Modern America is in denial. So many of its people suffer Third World Standards in health, education and housing and yet books, TV and film continue to portray a different country altogether. The world has moved on. It's time American fiction moved on too.

Enjoyable

A good read but you do need to concentrate as there are many characters and you can loose what's going on. I enjoyed this book.

Ruined by 'music'

Good, well-paced, well read story but ruined for me by the extraneous noises. I wish the publisher would not insult the intelligence of the listener by signalling 'tense' episodes with whining discordant music or making banging noises to indicate shots. Books should be about words. If a publisher cannot resist embellishing the text he should, at least, warn purchasers of the noise content.

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Title: Welcome to Paradise

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Laurence Shames

Narrator: Ron McLarty

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 06-16-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 32 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Laurence Shames has attracted enthusiastic fans with his Key West novels, which include Florida Straits, Mangrove Squeeze, Scavenger Reef, and Sunburn. Each of these books is a hilarious mixture of zany crimes and offbeat characters. Welcome to Paradise is his best yet.

When Al Marracotta, Mafia boss, takes a weeks vacation in Key West, he looks forward to days of sun, sex, and seafood. Alan Tuschman, New Jersey furniture salesman, is a reluctant tourist. He has won a week in Key West for his sales record. But they have something in common: vanity license plates that read BIG AL. So when two goons are sent to ruin Big Als vacation, its not long before they target the wrong guy. Between the frustrated henchmen and the baffled Als, each chapter grows loonier than the last. And with the addition of a romantic wild card, the winsome Katy Sansone, the tough guys schemes are tempered by more tender scenes. Narrator Ron McLartys fine performance keeps the action moving at a brisk clip.

Members Reviews:

Not his absolute best, but great anyway.

Laurence Shames can write like nobody's business, and Ron McLarty can narrate. They are a fine pair in this book, which features a Key West setting and a confusion between two Big Als. One is a mobster, a fish market boss in New York. The other is a meek but successful furniture salesman in New Jersey. Two colorful mob hit men are hired to take out one of them. They try to take out the wrong Al, and they try to do it with the theme "death by seafood." The love interest, a young woman named Katy, plays a central role in the plot. McLarty voices all the characters with skill and wit. He is very experienced at this. Shames is so witty that you want to hear it again so you can get all the jokes. He gives you a sense of place that convinces me that he lives there and loves it. All the locations sound real. Duvall Street sounds like a perfect miniature Las Vegas, with tourists and t-shirt shops and bars. My only complaint with this book is the absence of Bert the Shirt. I know that Shames can't use the same character in all these books, but I sure wish he could. I could listen to the adventures of Bert and his ancient chihuahua Don Giovanni for a very long time.

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Title: Unraveled

Subtitle: A Knitting Mystery, Book 9

Author: Maggie Sefton

Narrator: Jane Jacobs

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-09-11

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 47 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Spring is in the air of Fort Connor, Colorado - a time of new beginnings for the House of Lambspun knitters. But for fellow knitter Jennifer's new real-estate client, it is his end. He's been murdered, and Kelly Flynn is left unraveling a tangle of clues. This may prove to be her most challenging project yet.

Members Reviews:

Maggie Sefton

Would you listen to Unraveled again? Why?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I'm an avid knitter and have been waiting for Ms. Sefton's books to be released in audio format. I only hope more of this series is soon in audio format.

Disappointing

As a romance novel this barely works. As a mystery it doesn't work at all. So if, like me, you're a mystery fan, then I'd give this one a pass.

Inane, benign and boring.

Maggie Sefton handles narrative okay, but her grasp of dialogue is non-existent. I was looking for a cozy mystery with interesting characters, a twisty plot and nothing too gruesome. Well, it's not gruesome, but it's also not interesting in the least. Imagine you gathered together a bunch of members of a cult in which no one was allowed to say anything bad to or about anyone but one not nice member. You put all the benign people around a quilt frame to sew except the bad person who was, happily, dead. That is this book, and the narrator doesn't help. Her narration does go with the book, but that's unfortunate. She keeps it so chipper and upbeat, she and the book become worse than boring--they are unforgivably, obnoxiously perky.

A great disappointment

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I am an avid knitter so was very excited to find a mystery novel with knitting woven in (excuse the mixed metaphor). However, I found the story so drawn out and boring that I can't make myself listen to the end. I can't even be bothered to skip to the last chapter to find out 'who done it'. Perhaps if you are a fan of the series and have an existing relationship with the characters you would enjoy this, but I didn't like it at all.

Love the series

What disappointed you about Unraveled?

nothing about the book disappointed me

What do you think your next listen will be?

the next book when it is ready

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Jane Jacobs?

no one, she is great

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I loved the book

Any additional comments?

There is nothing else I have to say

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Title: Live Bait

Subtitle: Monkeewrench Series, Book 2

Author: P. J. Tracy

Narrator: Buck Schirner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-12-11

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 65 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Minneapolis detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth are bored - ever since they solved the Monkeewrench case, the Twin Cities have been in a murder-free dry spell, as people no longer seem interested in killing one another. But when elderly Morey Gilbert is found dead in the plant nursery he runs with his wife, Lily, the crime drought ends - not with a trickle, but with a torrent. Who would kill Morey, a man without an enemy, a man who might as well have been a saint? His tiny, cranky little wife is no help, and may even be a suspect; his estranged son, Jack, an infamous ambulance-chasing lawyer, has his own enemies; and his son-in-law, former cop Marty Pullman, is so depressed over his wife's death a year earlier he's ready to kill himself, but not Morey. The number of victims - all elderly - grows, and the city is fearful once again. Can Grace McBride's cold case-solving software program somehow find the missing link?

Members Reviews:

Good Story!

I really like the first book in the series. And the second is does not disappoint....on number three!

It's okay

I did not enjoy this book as much as the first--I kept having to rewind. (Without spoiling it) I thought the motive for the killings was somewhat trite and rather obvious, and at the same time preposterous (Ludlum-esque, I'd say). Throughout, it felt like the author was reaching to keep all the series characters involved (which is an appropriate goal because the characterization was one of the most interesting parts of the first in the series). I also feel it's a mistake to name two characters so similarly, Maury and Martyvery easy to conflate them when listening, and I think it would happen when reading as well.

I really like listening to these types of series while driving, so I'll give the next one a chance, but this one really failed to hit the mark for me. The narrator is fine throughout, does a good job of differentiating the voices.

Outstanding Book!

Any additional comments?

This was the first P.J. Tracy book I ever listened to and I loved it enough to buy it a second time(first time was cassette!)