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Title: Murder 101

Author: Maggie Barbieri

Narrator: Gayle Hendrix

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-30-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 85 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Safely away from the chaos of Manhattan, St. Thomas, a small college on the banks of the Hudson River in the Bronx, is supposed to be tranquil, bucolic, and serene. Unfortunately, English professor Alison Bergeron has found it to be anything but. Recently divorced from a fellow professor and even more recently without a car - it was stolen - she has been hoofing it to school. One Friday evening, two NYPD homicide detectives drop by her office. The good news is that they found her beat-up Volvo; the bad news is that the body of one of the students in her Shakespeare seminar was in the trunk.

Not only are Alison's chances of getting the car back bleak, but suddenly she's the primary suspect on a list that includes, among others, the murdered student's drug-dealing boyfriend, Vince, and the girl's father's business rivals (he's head of an old Italian family . . .).

Accused of a crime that she didn't commit, Alison enlists her best friend Max's emotional support and services as an amateur sleuth. Their fumbling efforts to clear Alison's name could land her in even hotter water with Detective Bobby Crawford, the handsome investigating officer (and former altar boy) - not to mention the nuns at St. Thomas.

Maggie Barbieri's charming professor and down-to-earth detective make an unlikely but lovable team in her delightful debut mystery.

Editorial Reviews:

Lively and endlessly entertaining, full of mysterious twists and turns, Maggie Barbieri's Murder 101 plunges listeners into a great story from the first sentence. Gayle Hendrix performs the story of Alison Bergeron, professor at the idyllic college on the Hudson River, St. Thomas. After finalizing her divorce and having her car stolen, detectives tell her that her car's been found complete with the body of a student in the trunk. Funnier than expected, dramatic and romantic, this is a mystery that listeners will keep coming back to.

Members Reviews:

Pleasurable Reading

This is lightweight but satisfying. It's probably only a 3.5, but I upped it because it was enjoyable. The pacing is good, the characters are fun, and the plot is interesting enough. Although romance hovers, it adds to the plot rather than interfering with it. Such melodrama as there is, is of a comical nature rather than overblown and stupid. There's a touch of Evanovich -- not nearly as fall-down funny, but definitely some laughs, and some zany co-stars.

Narrator Ruins the Story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I enjoyed what I heard of the story, but the narrator was horrid. At 50 minutes of listening I had to quit. I'm going to buy the book and finish reading it, I can't tolerate listening this to it a minute longer.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator's voice is very sing-songy -- and quite monotonous, her pacing and interpretation are grating. There is little or no distinction in character's voices. Male voices are really weak.

Compelling

Love the chemistry between Allison and Crawford. Narration was smooth. Great series, this is my second listen of the books, can't wait for newest edition.

A bit over the top

Would you try another book from Maggie Barbieri and/or Gayle Hendrix?

I will try another book in this series - the story is ok - the narrator seems to get mixed up in her voices sometimes.

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Title: Ask Bob

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Peter Gethers

Narrator: Adam Verner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-06-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A wise, witty, sometimes heartbreaking love story about a pet doctor who discovers that the best relationships are often the most surprising.

Dr. Robert Heller is one of New York Citys leading veterinarians, and his "Ask Dr. Bob" advice column is hugely popular among pet lovers. Yet Dr. Bob understands animals a lot better than people, and he could definitely use some advice of his own - especially when it comes to his family. His father is angry and controlling, his mother is nearly invisible, and his brother seems bent on destroying not just his own life but the lives of everyone around him. As for Bobs wife, Anna, she is all but perfect, assuming one can ignore her own colorful but deeply dysfunctional clan. And then, just when Bob thinks hes figured out what it takes to thrive in the human world as comfortably as he does among cats, dogs, and hamsters, tragedy strikes. How can he go on living when he is suddenly, soul-killingly alone?

In previous books, Peter Gethers has written charming true tales about what a man can learn from a beloved cat. Now he ventures into new territory with a funny, touching novel about a pet doctor who finds out what it means to be human and what a family must do to truly become a family. Full of unforgettable characters, Ask Bob will remind everyone that sometimes we need a lot more than love to make the world go around - but that love is an awfully good place to start.

Members Reviews:

Dear Dr. Bob - Pets are likeable.....Are you?

Apparently the only thing consistent about Dr. Bob are his treatment of pets and his newspaper articles. As for the rest of his issues, I can't decide if I like him or not. Listing for hours to someone who treats himself as a victim and mostly makes repeated overly-detailed references to making love gets tedious.

I too felt deceived by what the premise of the book appeared to be and what I actually found. I was ready to quit about halfway through the book, but thought it had to get better. To my disappointment, it did not.

I finished the book and was mainly just glad it was over. I found nothing enchanting or uplifting. Yes, there is somewhat of a happy ever after, but by the time I got to it, I really didn't care about Dr. Bob, his family or his sex life.

I must say the narration was excellent. It was what got me through the entire book and I congratulate Mr Verner for making a rather sad tale more interesting.

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Title: Stolen

Author: Daniel Palmer

Narrator: Peter Berkrot

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-01-13

Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 37 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The future looks bright for John and Ruby. John's business is growing, and they're talking about starting a family. But when Ruby receives a life-changing diagnosis, and insurance won't cover the treatment, John steals a customer's identity and files a false claim. The plan works perfectly - until the customer in question contacts John with a startling proposition. If John and Ruby play a little game he's devised, he won't report their fraud. The rules are simple: commit real crimes. But if they fail, there will be deadly consequences. With each round, the crimes get more twisted. John and Ruby can't disappear - and they can't go to the police. Their only option is to keep playing, while trying to outwit a psychopath who has no intention of letting them leave this game alive.

Critic Reviews:

"In Stolen, Daniel Palmer updates a classic premise, the ordinary man thrust into an extraordinary situation, and the result is a twisting, suspenseful chiller of a book." (William Landay, New York Times best-selling author of Defending Jacob)

Members Reviews:

Great story except for so many things!

First the premise is great for the times. Not many families could withstand extended medical expenses and the bureaucracy of insurance carriers so I thought it was worth a shot. The beginning was a very interesting ABC if what to think about when stealing an identity, the difficultly being diagnosed with a potential death sentence but after the villain began his 'game' I wondered if I was losing brain cells listening to the end.

I enjoyed all the characters and excellent narration just too ridiculous for me. And quite long except for all the chapters I ff through!

Wish I knew before buying.

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I thought that the story line was interesting, but if I knew that there would be so many gory scenes I wouldn't have bought it. I do think that others might enjoy the book.

Any additional comments?

My first time listening to Peter Berkrot and found him easy to listen to.

Predictable

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

A more intriguing plot with twists and turns. This was very predictable; almost farcical.

Has Stolen turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

Did Peter Berkrot do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes, he was ok. Didn't do women's voices too well. Too much falsetto.

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

I couldn't believe it was the same author as Delirious and Helpless, which were excellent books with deep plots and characters.

Any additional comments?

Too predictable and in the end you wish John and Ruby would just die and put you out of your misery. Then the villain is revealed in a few short sentences and his story has no bearing on the plot at all.

Adventurous and gripping

Loved the character voices and seeing what we can be pushed to do when necessary

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Title: The Journey Begins

Subtitle: Waking God, Book One

Author: Philip F. Harris, Brian L. Doe

Narrator: Michael Welte

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-31-13

Publisher: All Things That Matter Press, Inc.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Welcome to the Third Edition of Waking God: The Journey Begins. The Waking God Trilogy is not about the doom and gloom that organized religions would have you believe. It is not about an Armageddon style "end times" that pits good against evil in some final battle where religious dogma is triumphant. Yes, there is a final battle of sorts, but as Mantrella says, "It is not about saving humanity, it never has been." While the trilogy comes down hard on organized religion and its "worn out dogma," it is not atheistic. Instead, it totally rejects the idea of some schizophrenic super-being that loves to punish and reward its servants, and recognizes a Universal consciousness of which we are all a part. It acknowledges that within each of us there is a "god seed" that is waiting to experience an awakening brought on, as in any major evolution, by not only environmental, but also social, economic, and political stress that will help to create a spontaneous evolution in humanity. Or, if allowed to remain dormant, this same seed will be our undoing.

The prophecies all speak of a choice. Nostradamus, the Hopi, the Mayans, the I Ching, the Riddles of DaVinci and the Tarot speak to a time of choosing. Hidden codices, books of revelation, and ancient sacred texts also speak of this time of choosing. That time is upon us. The elements are all there. From bursts of energy from the center of our galaxy to the scientific discoveries about the true nature of our reality, the puzzle nears its completion.

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Title: Learning to Stay

Author: Erin Celello

Narrator: Kate Rudd

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-29-13

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

What do you do when the man youre married to is no longer the man you married?

Elise Sabato is proud of her husband, Brad, for serving his country...and grateful when he returns home to her. But the traumatic brain injury he suffered in Iraq has turned him from a thoughtful, brilliant, and patient man into someone quite different - someone who requires more care and attention than Elise can give while working at a demanding law firm. And when Brad ends up on his familys farm, hundreds of miles away, she wonders where their marriage is headed.

Elise feels she must decide between the life she always wanted and the life she seems to be living...until she finds inspiration in the most unlikely of places: a lovable dog named Jones, who teaches her that when the best-laid plans take unexpected turns, sometimes you end up right where you were meant to be.

Critic Reviews:

"A timely novel, but also a novel that speaks to the tides of any marriage, in peacetime or at war." (Joseph Monninger, author of Margaret from Maine)

"Riveting and tenderthe emotional battle a wife must wage to bring her husband back to her." (Erika Marks, author of The Mermaid Collector)

Members Reviews:

Extremely poignant and powerful

The story is carefully crafted, and just when you become cynical that there's going to be an unexpected twist or the "deus ex machina" will solve everything, the story delves deeper. It is an excellent recording that often had my husband coming it to the garage wondering what's wrong as I sat listening to it in my car (not running lol), crying.

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Title: Trouble on the Doorstep

Subtitle: Jolie Gentil Cozy Mystery Series, Volume 5

Author: Elaine Orr

Narrator: Christy Lynn

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-28-13

Publisher: Lifelong Dreams Publishing

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

From Hurricane Sandy to B&B repairs to Aunt Madge's wedding in three weeks. If Jolie can handle that surely she can deal with a sobbing woman who shows up at midnight. The next morning, when Jolie learns that Pooki's husband is missing and his partner is dead, it seems there may be a connection to some shady hurricane repairs at Ocean Alley's senior complex. Jolie incurs the ire of a prominent builder, her boyfriend (local reporter George Winters), and of course the police - so she knows she's on to something.

Members Reviews:

Another interesting Jolie Gentil book

Jolie Gentil gets her Aunt Madge married off to Jolies boss and sent on her honeymoon and is ready for a much- needed rest when a screaming, panicked woman comes to the door of the Cozy Corner B&B owned by her aunt in Trouble on the Doorstep by Elaine Orr. Pooki plays a voice mail from her husband, telling her to turn off her phone and not use any of their credit cards and also to stay away from anyone she knows. Jolie takes in Pooki, but the next day the news comes out that Steve, the business partner of Pookis husband, has been killed in a hit and run accident, and Pookis husband is missing. When the radio reports that Steve had received a letter threatening him against bidding on a project to do repairs on the senior citizen complex in Ocean Alley, Pooki says that her husband also received a similar letter. At this point, Jolie insists on taking Pooki to the police to report these details. Then, later that day, Jolie comes home to find Pookis husband hiding in her kitchen. Going to the police station to get the detective to talk to the husband, Jolie returns with the detective, only to find the man stabbed to death.

Against all the orders of her friends and boyfriend, Jolie gets involved in investigating. Ordered to visit a senior woman whom Jolie particularity dislikes, she learns that the man who came to check the womans home from the hurricane damage gave a ridiculously high estimate for the cost of repairs. With the two partners now out of the way, the company with the ridiculous estimate will be left as the sole bidders on the project. Could the project be behind the murder or possible murders?

This book was an enjoyable read. I liked seeing how it is Jolies concern for other people that inspires her to get involved in the case and not just pure nosiness. The plot proceeded smoothly and kept me listening. I did not like her relationship with her boyfriend, George, the local reporter, who gets upset at Jolie for not telling him that the wife of the missing man was with her. He seems more concerned about his getting a scoop than about Jolie. He takes turns with Scooby staying with Jolie for her safety, but we dont really sense that he is doing anything out of real love for her. His selfishness makes me hope that in the future, Jolie finds someone better, unless George makes significant changes in his attitude and life.

Christy Lynn narrates the audio version of this book. I liked her portrayal of the book, especially after the publisher selected a man to narrate the previous book despite the fact that Jolie serves as the books narrator. She helped to make this book enjoyable.

I liked listening to Trouble on the Doorstep, which helped me to stay distracted from my migraine pain, which was pretty bad that night.

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Title: Treasure of the Deep

Subtitle: Nick Caine, Book 2

Author: J.R. Rain, Aiden James

Narrator: Graydon Schlichter

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-20-13

Publisher: J.R. Rain LLC

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Nick Caine is a part-time archaeologist and full-time antiquities thief--a looter. And a very good one, too.

Now stranded on a small, forgotten island in the southern Maldives, Nick Caine and his ever-faithful sidekick Ishi are thrown into a desperate fight for survival. Seemingly betrayed by Marie Da Vinci, Nick is forced to gamble his and Ishi's very existence on an ancient map. The parchment document promises an incredible horde of hidden pirate treasure.

The very words are music to a looter's ears - except the duo aren't the only ones interested in the hidden treasure. Modern day pirates are on the scene, and it's going to take all of Nick Caine's unflappable charisma to bail them out this time. The stakes quickly escalate, leaving Nick and Ishi very little time to narrow down the map's clues. Soon, their fate and that of an exotic Maldivian beauty named Norema hang in a precarious balance... proving once again that looting is a deadly business.

Members Reviews:

The Adventure Continues

Any additional comments?

It was fun to return to the adventures of Nick and Ishi, and I found it very interesting that this book picked up where the first book finished. I liked the characters that they interacted with in this book and the outcome of the story lines. It was fast-paced, and I listened to it in one sitting. I look forward to starting on book 3 soon!

Don't buy it.

Would you try another book from J.R. Rain and Aiden James and/or Graydon Schlichter?

This is a terrible contrived story. I would not buy another book by J.R. Rain/James and/or Schlichter. The plot was so thin and the story line was nothing.

Would you be willing to try another one of Graydon Schlichters performances?

No, his voice inflection and character interpretation is poor.

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

Disappointment

A good sequel

Where does Treasure of the Deep rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Near the top of the list

What other book might you compare Treasure of the Deep to and why?

Other nick cane books, quartermaine, Indiana jones, etc

Any additional comments?

I have enjoyed both books in the series (same author, narrator, and characters). They are light fun romps through adventures.

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Title: Apology

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Jon Pineda

Narrator: Emilio Delgado

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-04-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

When nine-year-old Tom Serafinos twin sister Teagan suffers a debilitating brain injury, a police investigation implicates his playmate Marios unclean immigrant, transient worker known as Shoe. Innocent of the crime but burdened by his own childhood tragedy, Shoe takes the blame for what is in fact an accident caused by his young nephew, ensuring Marios chance at a future publicly unscarred.

The lines between innocence and guilt, evasions and half-truths, love and duty are blurred. Can a lie born from resignation, fear, and love transform tragedy into hope? And is the life of one man worth the price of that lie?

Told in vivid scenes alive with imagery and with thematic echoes of John Burnham Schwartzs Reservation Road and Northwest Corner, Apology explores how the decisions we make in an instant reverberate in the years to come. Apology further paints a portrait of sacrifice within two immigrant families raising first-generation Americans. It explores the measure of duty we have toward one another, and the extent to which abandoning the wreckage of family and the past often leads to unexpected consequences.

Deeply empathetic and beautifully written, Apology marks the novelistic debut of a critically acclaimed Asian American writer.

Critic Reviews:

"Apology is a perfectly paced, deeply satisfying novel. Jon Pineda renders his characters with a compassion that refuses to lapse into sentimentality. (Ron Rash, New York Times best-selling author of Serena and The Cove)

"A spare and powerful novel about guilt, sacrifice, and the cruel butterfly effect sometimes triggered by our seemingly inconsequential acts. Pineda writes with precision and humanity." (Jonathan Evison, author of West of Here and The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving)

"Jon Pineda has written a novel that is, by any standard, an impressive success. Apology is a page-turner of ideas, and it shows us how our actions spin out in crazy directions, marbles that roll under our lives' furniture and come out in the most surprising times. I loved it." (Darin Strauss, author of Half a Life and Chang and Eng)

Members Reviews:

Thought-Provoking Book

I enjoyed reading this book as it explored how lives can be changed in a single moment. Shoe is an intriguing character. (The reviewer below says that Shoe's lame foot was never explained, but it was - check out around page 146.) His decision to take the blame for an accident caused by his nephew changes the lives of many. Watching these lives develop through the years was emotional and thought-provoking. I did feel that the ending, though, was disappointing. I wanted to learn so much more about the impact of the "apology" on the affected lives.

Excellent Novel

Excellent novel that intriqued me with how it wove the characters and the plot. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a fast paced spellbinding read.

decisions and their consequences

We all make decisions that in an instant change the way we live and the lives of others as well.

A POWERFUL Little Novel That Should Not Be Overlooked

4.5 Star Rating

It's hard to believe that Jon Pineda's novel, APOLOGY, barely hits the 200 page mark. Why? Because as I sat back and went through my notes to prepare this review, I was pretty much stunned at all of the themes and thought provoking, philosophical questions that I had written in the margins, not to mention the span of years that is covered within the story.

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Title: Strangers in Company

Author: Jane Aiken Hodge

Narrator: Casey Holloway

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-18-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Marian is in her mid-30s and trying to get over the shock of her 18-year-old twins leaving her to live with their father in the USA. As a distraction she takes a job looking after a younger woman, Stella, on a coach tour to Greece. It seems to be the answer to all her worries - financial and otherwise - although there is some mystery surrounding Stella's background.

As the tour gets underway, strange things begin happen, including some serious accidents. People become suspicious, and nobody is at all sure whom they can trust. Marion becomes increasingly worried, both for her own sake and for Stella's, and at the same time tries to resist her increasing attraction to a friendly classics professor who is also on the tour. A suspenseful thriller, tense and concise, that builds interesting characters with ease.

Born near Cambridge, Massachusetts to Pulitzer prize-winning poet Conrad Aiken and his first wife, the writer Jessie McDonald, Jane Hodge was 3 years old when her family moved to Great Britain, settling in Rye, East Sussex, where her younger sister, Joan, who would become a novelist and a childrens writer, was born. Their parents divorced in 1929. From 1935, Jane Hodge read English at Somerville College, Oxford University, and in 1938 she took a second degree in English at Radcliffe College, her mothers alma mater. She was a civil servant for a time, and also worked for Time magazine, before returning to the UK in 1947. Her works of fiction include historical novels and contemporary detective novels.

In 1972 she renounced her United States citizenship and became a British subject. For many years a believer in the right of people to end their own lives, Hodge chose to end her own by means of an overdose in June 2009. The Times obituary (pub. July 25, 2009) stated that she left "a letter expressing her deep distress that she had felt unable to discuss her plans with her daughters without risking making them accessories".

Members Reviews:

Great story, pity about the narrator

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

A much better voice. This narrator, had a high-pitched tone that grated on the ears, her idea of an English accent was ludicrous, and her gaps between words was off putting.

What other book might you compare Strangers in Company to and why?

Compared to Mary Stewart, early non Amelia Peabody titles by Elizabeth Peters

Would you be willing to try another one of Casey Holloways performances?

Not ever.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Strangers in Company?

I didn't last the distance, the narration totally distracted from my enjoyment.

Any additional comments?

I went and found my old falling apart paperback to finish the story. I had been pleased to see that some of the JAH titles had been recorded. Do them again with a better voice.

WHAT A COME DOWN!

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

A good narrator

What other book might you compare Strangers in Company to and why?

The author writes in a style similar to Mary Stewart and and I enjoy her books just as much as The Ivy Tree and My brother Michael.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

She reads the whole book at high speed and in a high breathless voice. I do not know what her language background is, but she mispronounces the most ordinary English words.

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Title: The Lighthearted Quest

Subtitle: Julia Probyn, Book 1

Author: Ann Bridge

Narrator: Elizabeth Jasicki

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-15-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

When Julia undertook to find her cousin, Colin Munro, last heard of sailing a yacht off the north coast of Africa, the quest seemed lighthearted enough. But, before she had finished, she was involved with Moorish antique dealers, a Belgian woman archaeologist, Purcell, the enigmatic barkeeper, and American airman, the saurian Mr. St. John, and numerous other characters charming or sinister. Julia's search takes her a cargo-boat to Casablanca, and thence to Tangier, Fez and Marrakech. Her 'dumb-blonde' beauty, camouflaging a lively intelligence, gets her through unexpected difficulties and dangers. Colin is found, and the mysterious reason for his disappearance at last revealed.

The first in a series of eight Julia Probyn novels, The Lighthearted Quest displays a blend of humour and adventure which transports us to exotic places and introduces us to entertaining people, but also throws a good deal of light on the explosive political issues that French Morocco encountered in the 50s.

Ann Bridge (1889-1974), or Lady Mary Dolling (Sanders) O'Malley was born in Hertfordshire. Bridge's novels concern her experiences of the British Foreign Office community in Peking in China, where she lived for two years with her diplomat husband. Her novels combine courtship plots with vividly-realized settings and demure social satire. Bridge went on to write novels around a serious investigation of modern historical developments. In the 1970s Bridge began to write thrillers centered on a female amateur detective, Julia Probyn, as well writing travel books and family memoirs. Her books were praised for their faithful representation of foreign countries which was down to personal experience and thorough research.

Members Reviews:

the worst reading I have ever heard

What would have made The Lighthearted Quest better?

A different reader. Elizabeth Jasicki has clearly taken on board the fact that the lead character, Julia, speaks a little slowly. The trouble is that she reads everything at half speed as a result (unless this whole recording is played at half speed) and it drove me so mad that I didn't finish the book, something I have never done before.

Would you be willing to try another one of Elizabeth Jasickis performances?

Under no circumstances.

Any additional comments?

I think I've made my views clear. This is a great book, with a narrator who probably reads very well normally but has just not got it right this time. Avoid.