Jerrilynn

Joe Barrett is the only redeeming quality

Revisado: 07-06-21

If you are looking to learn more about the Ted Bundy case you will be disappointed. This book is not about his representation of Ted Bundy it is a revolting, narcissistic, interminable spewing of what makes John Henry Browne his own hero. The previous reviews talking about the shameless name dropping is NOT an exaggeration. At first I thought that was just the intro as he explained his road to becoming an attorney, but really it's not. He certainly does his best to emphasize his contact with Jimmy Hendrix and his family. A perfect example of a "has been" trying to prove that he "was". He also mentions other cases that he participated in, always making himself out to be the unsung hero. At the risk of being redundant, it's revolting. This is an incredibly short book. I'm only 1/2 way through and I doubt seriously I'll finish it. I don't remember the last time I was so disappointed in a book. He sells this book by doing interviews giving the idea that this book was about his representation of Ted. In the first 4 hours I don't think 30 minutes have discussed the Ted Bundy case.

Now, if you just are a fan of John Henry Browne and can't wait to learn more about why he's a great guy this is the book for you.

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Ending is broken off

Revisado: 02-16-20

The book ends abruptly. It’s clear it’s not over. Audible should do something about the file. I should have believed the reviewers that said the book ends without finishing the book.

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HOWEV' VER

Revisado: 05-05-17

Would you try another book from Trevor Marriott and/or Yaz Shah?

NO!!!!

Has The Evil Within turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. Just this author and this narrator

How could the performance have been better?

Well, of course we have to make allowances for the fact the the narrator is British, but seriously the accent was really getting on my nerves.

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

Complete irritation with the word "However". I am not joking, when the book had 5:10 min left I wrote down the time stamps every time she said "However" for the next 30 minutes. 10X in 30 minutes. A word can be over used. In fact it irritated me to the point that when I got to the next book every time I heard the word however I was annoyed again.

Any additional comments?

The material was good or I would have never made it to the end of the book.

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Return to Classic Phelp's Style

Revisado: 04-16-17

What made the experience of listening to Don't Tell a Soul the most enjoyable?

I was getting to where I was ready to stop reading Phelps. Most of what he's put out in the past few years did not live up to his earlier writings, but this one? This one is amazing!

I love that Phelps does extensive research, he interviews as many people as he can. Phelps reports on the history of both the victim and the perpetrator. He does an full coverage of the trial, and the aftermath. He talks to family and friends of both women. This was a most satisfying read!!! Thank you Mr. Phelps for returning to your earlier style. I hung on every word so to speak.

I would recommend this book to anyone who looks for case studies on women killers, or psychopathy in women.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Don't Tell a Soul?

N/A

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Yen – was your favorite?

N/A

If you could give Don't Tell a Soul a new subtitle, what would it be?

A Story of Female Psycopathy

Any additional comments?

N/A

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Narrator was to whiney to enjoy

Revisado: 10-15-16

What would have made She Wanted It All: A True Story of Sex, Murder, and a Texas Millionaire better?

Well the book was extremely boring. I have in the past liked this author, but this one was just dragging on and on and on and on and on... You get the idea.

What was most disappointing about Kathryn Casey’s story?

That's hard to say, I think that it is just plain boring.

Would you be willing to try another one of Moe Rock’s performances?

No! Her voice is whining and sounds like a petulant preteen any time she is reading dialog. It made it that much harder to listen to the book.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The research was if accurate well done.

Any additional comments?

I can't think of anything else except that if you are considering this book, listen to the sample first to make sure you don't find the narration as painful as I did.

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Nothing but Guts

Revisado: 10-13-16

Where does A Thousand Miles to Freedom rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Not a fair question, I have something like 600-700 audio books. I would say it falls in the top 200. It is a book I will listen to again and probably again. It is one I will recommend, in fact I already have. It is one I will share.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Thousand Miles to Freedom?

I think when Eunsun was able to go to South Korea and then to the United States. Her gratitude, her pleasure, her persistence are incredible.

Have you listened to any of Emily Woo Zeller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I've never heard her reading before. She was wonderful!

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

Freedom Does Not Come Free

Any additional comments?

Everyone should read this. Everyone. It should be opened with an open heart, and an open mind, and Eunsun might just find a way to open the eyes of the reader into some greater truth of the human spirit. She is possibly the woman I admire most at this time. She ranks right up there for me with Elizabeth Smart, Harriet Tubman, and Helen Keller. None of their stories are the same, all of them were exceptionally strong, courageous, and inspiring.

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Weber comes of as a parading peacock

Revisado: 10-13-16

What disappointed you about Silent Witness?

This book should have been a testament to Karla Brown. This book should have focused on the injustice of her death, the solace and minimal justice available to her family, friends, and fiance. The majority of this book was a lot of preening on how brilliant, clever, and oh so important Don Weber was as the prosecutor. To hear him tell it it was he alone that shouldered the great burden of seeing to justice for Karla. It was an embarrassing display of peacock parading that I have ever encountered in a true crime book and I was ashamed for Weber and Bosworth.

Would you ever listen to anything by Don W. Weber and Charles Bosworth again?

I have purchased others. I'm going to have to go back and listen to see if I just missed this in past books. If this is in fact their usual style then no, I most certainly will never purchase another book by them.

Which scene was your favorite?

This question is not applicable to true crime. There is no favorite scene.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Silent Witness?

Everything that is gloating about Weber and his actions other than what is necessary to tell the reader/listener what happened to bring the case to justice.

Any additional comments?

I am truly sorry for Karla's family, friends, and fiance. I believe Weber and Bosworth owe them an apology.

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Social Media and the Age of Entitlement

Revisado: 09-04-16

What did you love best about Pretty Little Killers?

This story is so completely incomprehensible that the best part about this book is that the authors attempt to make since of what so clearly makes no since.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Pretty Little Killers?

It id difficult to answer this question without offering a spoiler. I would say that the most memorable moment for me in this story is when one of the killers, Rachel, confesses. However, I cannot say I wasn't equally rattled when Rachel pleads guilty to the crime, and apologizes for her actions acknowledging that it simply isn't enough. The father's response is about what I suspect would be my response, only he was far nicer about it than I think I could have been.

What does Pam Ward bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Sometimes when I read a book myself, especially one with this much information I forget to give a different voice to the individuals than the narration that fills in between the dialog. I think that's something Pam Ward does for this story.

If you could give Pretty Little Killers a new subtitle, what would it be?

I think I would give it the title of this review, "Social Media and the Age of Entitlement". In reality, those two things are the real motive for this crime.

Any additional comments?

The book concludes with recommendations for ways to try to protect your child from today's technology and how to stay engaged in your child's life. The sad truth is, there is no way to protect them from the friends that they have had all through growing up. There is no way for a parent to predict these kinds of things. The Neesen's could not have protected Skylar by being stricter with her. They could not have protected her by monitoring her friends more closely. The only thing they could possibly have done is be more aware of the tensions and strife between the girls that would have been evident from their social media accounts. This does NOT make them in any way at fault. This story will be the fodder of my fears for the next 3-6 years while my daughter finishes high school and college.

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Feels A Little Like Bram Stoker

Revisado: 06-12-16

If you could sum up Follow You Home in three words, what would they be?

Complex Fear and Frustration

Who was your favorite character and why?

Daniel, I suppose. As the majority of the story is written from his point of view, it is easy to empathize with him.

What about James Langton’s performance did you like?

This is a very good narrator. His tone is appropriate and interested in the material. He pauses to give the reader a chance to keep up. You know when he is changing persons from the tone and cadence. Langton will go on my list of preferred narrators. (Yes I actually keep a list)

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

Yes. This book keeps you interested in what's happening.

Any additional comments?

As my title suggests, this book is written to a large extent in the beginning as Bram Stoker wrote Dracula. It is written as a first person account. It begins in Romania. There are creepy things and spooky things that make your spidey senses tingle.

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Touching and Wonderful

Revisado: 02-16-16

If you could sum up Pay It Forward in three words, what would they be?

Innocence, Beauty, Tragic

What other book might you compare Pay It Forward to and why?

The only book that comes to mind is "Defending Jacob" by William Landay. The stories are in no way similar. The comparison comes to mind because to some extent you are expecting a happy ending, and well, though there is some joy in Trevor's accomplishments, the ending cannot be said to be happy. In fact I think it is the tragedy at the end that makes me select "Defending Jacob."

Have you listened to any of William Dufris’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to any other narrations by William Dufris, but I will say this, you hear every character as a separate voice. He is excellent at drawing the pauses where they should be so that the reader can take a breath with him. He is beyond excellent.

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

Where Wonder Begins

Any additional comments?

So I saw this movie years ago. The book as so often is the case, far outstripped the movie. Things that took me by surprise included:

1. This book literally had me bust out laughing on more than one occasion. It was fantastic to have such sarcasm and wit mixed into a story I would consider a drama.

2. I didn't remember things from the movie that were present in the book, like the enormity of the project, how it had taken on a life of it's own, that by the narrator's introduction tells you has changed the world as we know it.

3. I do not remember Trevor meeting Bill Clinton in the movie. That was a fabulous addition to the story.

This book was such a great story because it is the ideal of what we could be if we as a society chose it. The ending is sad, but I would still strongly recommend this book for any audience 13 and up. It may not be appropriate for a younger audience because there are some items a parent would not want to have to explain. One example, to illustrate, includes a transsexual who experiences a great deal of violence.

If you have seen the movie, definitely get the book. It's worth every minute.

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