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Title: A Stranger's Game

Author: Joan Johnston

Narrator: Julia Gibson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-12-11

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 52 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

From New York Times best-selling author Joan Johnston comes a dazzling new Bitter Creek novel that features all of the passion and intrigue in Texas high society that her readers and listeners know and love, mixed with an explosive, spine-tingling tale of murder, wrongful imprisonment, and a woman who counts no cost too high to see a killer brought to justice.

FBI Special Agent Breed Grayhawk has the hottest sex in his life with a stranger who calls herself Grace Smith, only to discover early the next morning that her real name is Merle Raye Finkel - and she's a convicted double murderer who broke her parole a year ago and disappeared. Now she's his prime suspect in a terrorist threat against the U.S. president.

Grace Caldwell is determined to find the killer who framed her for the murder of her father and stepmother - and make him pay. She burgles the home of her number-one suspect and nets a surprising haul: a hot-pink, silk-covered diary -- the record of a sex-addicted wife's adventures -- which suggests that Grace's suspect is a serial killer. But her theft has been caught on tape, and the man she's been chasing becomes the hunter... with Grace as his prey.

With just five days until the president arrives in Austin, Texas, the last thing the FBI needs is a serial killer on the prowl - and a terrorist suspect who will stop at nothing to clear her name. The clock is ticking down, and Agent Grayhawk is racing time to discover the truth about his dangerous lover.

Members Reviews:

Average story

it was a good overall story. the story was just kinda messy being that it had so many story lines. other than that and I didn't really like the ending, it would have been a 4.

Great Suspense, Bad Drama

Stranger's Game was incredibly suspenseful at times with some likable characters but too much family drama. Grace could have been an amazing character if she was more consistent. One minute she was brilliant and methodical, determined to find justice, next minute impulsive and reckless.

For example, Grace has sex with Breed (virtual stranger) without a condom because she isn't worried about getting pregnant. And she sits down to read a diary in the middle of searching a house for evidence. Later, when she thinks the FBI SAWT team will swarm her home at any moment, she goes to bed rather than hide out in the woods or start walking to anywhere else. Really?

Besides the Grace & Breed storyline, there was a subplot involving Kate (widow with twins) and Jack (Texas Ranger) and assorted relatives of Breed whose connections weren't really explained. While both are likable characters, there was so much (possibly from previous books) that didn't make sense. Books that are part of a series and can't stand alone should be clearly marked as such.

Joan Johnston is a gifted writer, able to mix suspense, humor and romance. If only Audible would offer the entire series or make it clear in the book's description that this novel is part of a series..

Excellant!!!!

If you could sum up A Stranger's Game in three words, what would they be?

A Great read!!!

What did you like best about this story?

The Two story line going on at the same time.

Which character as performed by Julia Gibson was your favorite?

Grace and Kate

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

No flim .

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Title: Devious

Author: Lisa Jackson

Narrator: Joyce Bean

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-29-11

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 36 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The crime scene at St. Marguerites cathedral in New Orleans is shocking, even to seasoned detectives like Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya. A novice nun named Sister Camille has been found dressed in a yellowed bridal gown and viciously garroted, her body covered with an altar cloth.Valerie Houston is devastated by her sisters death. For weeks, shed begged Camille to leave St. Marguerites, where she seemed determined to live as some kind of martyr. But Camille had a knack for making bad choices - she joined the convent in part because shed fallen for Vals soon-to-be ex-husband, Slade. Convinced the police arent doing enough, Val begins to investigate. Slade, on a mission to repair their marriage, is determined to help her. But the deeper Vals inquiries go, the more twisted the case becomes. St. Marguerites is far from the tranquil retreat many believe, and everyone, from handsome Father Frank OToole to the mysterious Mother Superior, has their own agenda. Despite their closeness, even Camille had a hidden life Val never suspected. But someone knew about Camilles past and Vals, too. Now she has no choice but to catch a devious, depraved killer intent on purging St. Marguerites of all its sins before she becomes the next victim.

Members Reviews:

EXCELLENT LISA JACKSON

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

Up in the top ten

What other book might you compare Devious to and why?

Any of Lisa Jackson's novels

What about Joyce Beans performance did you like?

She makes all of the characters real. She gives richness and depth to them

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

When the Reverend Mother's past was revealed. I had already figured it out but it was written and narrated beautifully

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Title: City of Lost Girls

Author: Declan Hughes

Narrator: Stanley Townsend

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-28-11

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 30 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

In LA theres a killer on the loose. He kills young and rootless girls and he always kills in threes. Back in Dublin, Ed Loy is reunited with Jack Donovan, a film director friend from LA. When the victims of the Three-in-One Killer are discovered in LA at locations Jack used for his movies, Loy begins to suspect Jack. He flies to LA, hoping that whatever he finds will point away from his old friend. And then, when he finally unearths the truth, it looks like it may be too late. In Dublin, the killer has broken his pattern. Time is not on Loys side as he mounts a desperate fight to outwit a ruthless psychopath and save the last of the lost girls.

Members Reviews:

Great Reader Wasted on So-So Story

Stanley Townsend does an amazing job with all the characters and especially deliniating the villian's "thoughts" from the rest of the dialogue; however, he can't help the meandering story line.

The mystery itself is pretty standard stuff--three girls missing in Dublin, three girls missing years ago in LA, must have something to do with the movie company working in both places--but Hughes' writing gets bogged down in long internal conversations that some characters have with themselves and that have very little to do with the main story. He drops some nice misleading clues that keep your interest in the missing girls plot, but seems to stop his own momentum with these self-analysis monologues.

Slow

I typically devour audio books when I'm driving and can listen to most anything. I have tried listening to this book several times and have given up after an hour or so. I think it is the narration. The reader using a voice that is probably meant to be dark and menacing but it comes out to be overly affected and slow.

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Title: Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body

Subtitle: Agatha Raisin, Book 21

Author: M. C. Beaton

Narrator: Penelope Keith

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-14-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 24 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Penelope Keith - who starred as Agatha Raisin in the popular BBC Radio 4 series reads M. C. Beatons eagerly-awaited murder mystery.

Agatha Raisin has never been one for enforced holiday cheer, but her friendly little village of Carsely has always prided itself on its traditional Christmas festivities. However, this year Mr John Sunday, an officer with the Cotswold Health and Safety Board, has chosen Christmas as the time to crack down on what he sees as gross misconduct by everyone. But when Mr Sunday goes too far, he is soon found lying face down in the petunias, very much dead. Agatha is on the case, but with so many people having threatened the life of the victim, its hard to know where to start....

Members Reviews:

Beaton cannot be beat!

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

Agatha is perfect. The story is fun. Beaton is a genius. Technically you can start anywhere in the series and it is blast. One Agatha Raison book and you will automatically be searching for the rest. This narrator is good. She does a very good job helping the listener recognise the various characters. Highly recommened.

What other book might you compare Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body to and why?

The only one whol comes close is the Maggody series by Joan Hess, and only the earliest ones.

What about Penelope Keiths performance did you like?

She is engaging, elloquent and professional.

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

There is no way to stop a rollercoaster on an incline and who wants to? Pressing pause is a tough decision!

A series of short stories not a novel.

I was a little disappointed to discover that it was a short story initially. However it is a good set of short stories. Well-written.

Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body

This book was a good choice for me, for straight after the holiday. I enjoyed the fast moving story that had lots of different characters, I found them easy to visualise. The descriptions were good, and not 'too wordy' the story had a few twists and turns too. Everything that M C Beaton writes is worth reading, in my opinion. Penelope Keith is superb as a narrator of this genre. Recommended!

Worth the money!

Thoroughly enjoyed the story brilliantly read by Penelope Keith. If you are looking for something more than a straightforward whodunnit but not so grand as a classic, this is a good choice.

Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body

Brilliant as usual, the continuing life of Agatha Raisin, Village Life, Friends, Loves and of course murders to solve.

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Title: Appleby and the Ospreys

Subtitle: An Inspector Appleby Mystery

Author: Michael Innes

Narrator: Raymond Adamson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-07-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 57 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Available to download for the very first time, the fantastic Inspector Appleby series by celebrated crime writer Michael Innes.

Clusters, a great country house, is troubled by bats, as Lord and Lady Osprey complain to their guests, who include first rate detective, Sir John Appleby. In the matter of bats, Appleby is indifferent, but he is soon faced with a real challenge - the murder of Lord Osprey, stabbed with an ornate dagger in the library.

Legendary character Inspector John Appleby of Scotland Yard inspired a lasting vogue for donnish detective fiction. Innes's detective novels are playfully highbrow and rich in allusions to English literature and to Renaissance art.

Members Reviews:

Bats in the belfry

In this particular Appleby mystery, Sir John, lately retired from Scotland Yard, is lunching at Clusters, the neighboring Osprey estate. Most of the luncheon chit-chat concerns bats in the church belfry, and the reader is gently introduced to the people who will soon be suspects in the murder of Lord Osprey.

As always with Michael Innes's mysteries, you can enjoy "Appleby and the Ospreys" for its sophisticated, veddy upper-class British dialogue, as well as for the fiendish commission and solution of the murder

H.R.F. Keating in his 1987 book, "Crime & Mystery: the 100 Best Books," says this about our literate ex-Commissioner of New Scotland Yard:

"To Appleby one could well apply the words which Michael Innes, writing under his own name in the novella "The Man Who Wrote Detective Stories," employs to describe that hero: 'He loved tumbling out scraps of poetry from a ragbag collection in his mind - and particularly in absurd and extravagant contexts.' "

Since this is a vintage British manor house mystery, the guests and family of Sir Osprey are in the library drinking sherry when a mysterious shadow is seen on the balcony over the moat. Upon investigation, no one is seen, but the mysterious intruder is remembered when Sir Osprey is found, stabbed to death in his library later that evening.

Appleby soon discovers that many people had a motive for killing the late, unlamented lord. The local publican bursts into the manor and threatens to murder an already-dead Sir Osprey, who he claims had been fooling around with his daughter. There is also a valuable coin collection hidden somewhere within the vast architectural pile of Clusters. Supposedly only Sir Osprey knew its whereabouts, but many of his guests are avid numismatists. Did one of them gain access to the coins, then murder his or her host?

Appleby solves the mystery with his usual wit, ingenuity, and aplomb. The bats come to his aid in a very startling manner upon the discovery of the murderer.

Customary Fine Innes, Reader a Bit TOO British

Michael Innis's Appleby, now in retirement, engages once again in crime-solving. Witty, literate, decent, in a word, classy. I took to the very British reader immediately; however, as the book went past mid-point his British accent seemed to go to an extreme and my ease of listening ended. Could be my own hearing. At any rate, there was little I could not understand, though the strain of trying to hear, did decrease the pleasure of the last thirty or so minutes.

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Title: The James Deans

Subtitle: A Moe Prager Mystery

Author: Reed Farrel Coleman

Narrator: Andy Caploe

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 05-04-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 53 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, and Gumshoe Awards! Winner of the Shamus, Barry, and Anthony Awards!

Still reeling from his wife's recent miscarriage, Moe Prager is bullied into taking the case of an up-and-coming politico whose career has stalled over the suspicious disappearance of a young woman.

It's been almost two years since Moira Heaton, State Senator Steven Brightman's intern, vanished on Thanksgiving Eve 1981. In spite of Brightman's best efforts to clear his name, he has been tried and convicted in the press. As a reluctant Moe peels away the layers of the case, he discovers the tragic circumstances of Moira Heaton's disappearance are buried deep in the past and that there is another more heinous crime at the heart of it all.

Will the ugly truth set Brightman free or will it bury all the players beneath the crumbling artiface of corruption, murder, and hate?

Critic Reviews:

Winner of the 2006 Anthony, Barry, and Shamus Awards

"Moe Prager is a far from perfect hero, but an utterly appealing one. Lets hopefor many, many more cases. (Laura Lippman)

"Coleman draws inspiration from the real-life Gary Condit/Chandra Levy case for his appealing third hard-boiled mystery set in the early 1980s (after 2004's Redemption Street)....Not everyone will go for the heavy-handed humor (a long-winded 'southern politico' named Clinton 'had better stay in Arkansas, because he has about as much chance for national office as the Mets have of winning a second World Series'), but all will cheer the likable, virtuous Prager." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Intricate plot, rich main characters. Narration ok

This is my first venture into the Moe Prager mysteries, the third in the series of six (to date.) The protagonist, Moe Prager, is a private detective of the "Sam Spade" genre and part-time wine merchant. Growing up in a Jewish family in New York, he married an Irish woman whose father he cannot stand, apparently for good reasons. It makes for a mixture of cultures that is typically New York. Moe is basically a good guy who cares about people, the opposite of the detached, coldly analytical detective. He is smart and has friends and relatives he likes and to whom he is committed. The plot was intricate and entertaining. I can't say how much I may have missed by starting in the middle of the series. I look forward to listening to others. The narration is acceptable, but it would have been better if Moe had a Brooklyn accent. Occasionally, a yiddish word comes into his vocabulary, but seems out of place. I will try others in the Moe Prager series. I note that some of his most recent ones have won awards, so maybe they get even better!

As usual a great story.

great book great narration Moe is such a complex character well written and a great series.

I'm loving Moe Prager

The James Deans was a great story with an average reader. I listen to all my books and love a strong main character, Moe is a new favorite. The reader was good but not great. The voice alterations are enough to follow the characters, however the emotions are lacking...

Interesting Story

It was an interesting story, but not really my type of book. It was not a waste of my time though.

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Title: Inspector Ghote's Good Crusade

Author: H. R. F. Keating

Narrator: Sam Dastor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-12-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 37 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

This was no ordinary murder, for the victim was Frank Masters, millionaire and philanthropist. The case was bound to attract much public attention. But Inspector Ghote finds that his demands for evidence are met with nothing but lies and evasions.

Members Reviews:

A time when refrigerators cost 1.000 Rps

Very good reading by S. Dastor. I love the Inspector Ghote series!

From a distant past in India, but still do very true in many parts

No Clouseau

It is difficult for me to square the customer rating of this book with my own opinion. All I can say is that Ghote is no Clouseau and certainly no Hamish Macbeth.

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Title: Skeleton Hill

Author: Peter Lovesey

Narrator: Michael Tudor Barnes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-19-10

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Battle and burial are built into the history of Lansdown Hill, so it is no great shock when part of a skeleton is unearthed there. But Peter Diamond, Bath's Head of CID, can't ignore the fresh corpse found close to the folly known as Beckford's Tower.

The hill becomes the setting for one of his most puzzling cases, involving golf, horseracing, Civil War re-enactment and the Cyrillic alphabet. Inevitably, Diamond butts heads with the group of vigilantes who call themselves the Lansdown Society, discovering in the process that his boss Georgina is a member. She resolves to sideline Diamond by sending him to Bristol and handing the skeleton investigation to his deputy, Keith Halliwell. Fortunately, matters don't pan out as Georgina plans.

Members Reviews:

A very entertaining puzzler

I enjoyed this Peter Diamond novel.. I intend to listen to more of them..

Diamond can not help being a character one can love.. and enjoy..

Well read entertaining detective story.

I liked the story and narrator. Very well read. Easy to listen to. Its that elusive 'perfect' partnership - well written interesting story, with an equal perfect pitch narrator .

Would thoroughly recommend to fans of this genre and anyone else who'd appreciate these attributes.

Enjoyable listen

I like the Peter Diamond books and this one does not disappoint. It is well read and keeps you guessing to the end. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys detective stories.

They get better!

This was a believable plot, well executed with enough twists and turns to keep even the most experienced crime novel reader guessing.

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Title: Slaughter in the Cotswolds

Author: Rebecca Tope

Narrator: Caroline Lennon

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-11-09

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 33 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

When her elder sister turns up on her doorstep after witnessing a horrific killing, the rural serenity descends into a web of suspicions and confrontations. As usual, investigating a murder while being a responsible housesitter proves to be no easy task; especially when you've got a temperamental parrot on your hands.

Members Reviews:

Mediocrity in the Slaughters

I really want to like this series just based on their locale. However the mockery of the Cotswolds mars the books. In addition, the lead character, Theo, has floundered too long in her personal life to be much of heroine. This book in particular seems like a forced addition to the series rather than a a work worth reading. I would like to see the author produce a notable book seven that does more than narrate some half-clever solution to one or more murders while the heroine drifts along with the same personal issues not dealt with.

Do Not Want To Leave The Cotswolds.....

Just ONE more book to read of Ms Tope's wonderful series, I have enjoyed The Cotswolds Mysteries so much, Ms. Tope is so insightful of human nature and the feelings of people, regarding death of a family member, interaction of sisters and feelings about a beloved dog, these and her outstanding writing make her books a fine combination of mystery and characters and places you want to know better.

Five Stars

Enjoyed all of them. As I always do

Done with this series.

The meaningless murder of animals seems to be a recurring theme of this author, and the main character is becoming more and more of a useless, emotionless sociopath. Not finishing this book - or the series.

I only finished this to see if she killed the parrott, too

This is a book about a professional housesitter who screws up her job. There is a "mystery" but it takes up so little of the main character's time or interest that it is of almost no importance.

How would you feel about a professional housesitter who managed to get your dogs killed and expose you to huge fines and a law suit? How would you feel if still expects to be paid ("If the Angells decided to withold part of her payment") at least something? It's especially galling since she was specifically warned not to let the dogs loose, but since she didn't like the way the dogs were treated, she decided to put one on a makeshift leash and let the other loose with no restraint.

But of course it's not her fault. The owners are at fault for housing the dogs the way they do (if you don't like it, don't take the job), her father is at fault for dying and the sheep are at fault for being prey.

BTW, according to the story, this is not the first time she has screwed up a housesitting job. As a matter of fact, she seems to be proud of the way she has screwed up, and yet her business flourishes.

I must assume she is the only person in all of England who is willing to take in the mail. Certainly, she has no business doing anything else in anyone's house.

Two stars for coherent writing and lack of typos, but don't bother reading this unless you need reinforcement for your decision to send the dogs to a kennel while you are on vacation

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Title: Praying for Sleep

Author: Jeffery Deaver

Narrator: Anthony Heald

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-03-09

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 20 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

A taut psychological thriller in the tradition of Silence of the Lambs and Deliverance, Praying for Sleep will keep you on the edge of your chair.

Members Reviews:

A few hours I'll never get back...

I'm a true Jeffrey Deaver fan and have been for a number of years (written and audible) but I have to admit this one completely disappointed me. The audio quality was horrible, the narration was less than exciting and the actual storyline was quite boring. Pass this one by and you won't be wondering how to recover the hours you spent listening.

Volume

This production could not be enjoyed because an audible level of volume was not attainable. We had to return it to our library unused.