MN. JONES

oh so many "he said/she said" moments

Revisado: 07-18-24

I tried. I can't listen any longer. I usually devour John Scalzi books, but this one is bad. The plot is excellent and intriguing. The narration is impeccable, as usual when Wil Wheaton is at the helm, and the character development was moving along nicely, But... the ending every statement with " he said" or " she said" to indicate a.character said something is grade school level writing. If a sentence, which includes dialog, is set up properly, there is no need for "he/she/they said." Scalzi's other books don't do this, or I simply haven't gotten to them yet. " I suppose I'll never know how this novella ends, because I just can't finish it," he said.

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Worthy of a very long series

Revisado: 03-14-24

I just exited the fantastic and fun ride that is "Starter Villain." John Scalzi knocked this one out of the park. ***possible spoilers, maybe not, but probably*** Poor Charlie can't catch a break. Until he does. Then he is in way over his head. His uncle Jake, a billionaire, has seemingly left Charlie as the heir to a parking garage company. Well, it's a cover for a more lucrative portfolio of companies that are not always on the level. Did I mention that Charley is in over his head? Well, he does have help from a sharp company assistant, his faithful cat, who happens to be sentient and has been all along, much to Charlie's surprise. Then there's some sentient dolphins threatening union action, some whales that could be packing WMD heat, and it's just possible that Charlie is wanted for arson and murder of a few government officials. Think quickly, Charlie.

This book was hilarious and serious at the same time. What made it so much better is Will Wheaton's narration. Wheaton put so much sarcasm, wit, smarminess, wry condescension, and humor into the tale, in just the right places, that had me pausing the book so I could laugh and not miss the next bit. Wheaton has a knack for emphasizing the right phrases so the author's meanings are perfectly conveyed. I have listened to many Wheaton narrations and he has never failed to improve already well-written prose. Yeah, Wheaton is that good. I'd listen to him read the Microsoft End-User License Agreement, and nobody's ever made it all the way through without falling asleep.

As I said in the headline: This book is definitely worthy of a series. It finishes strong and solidly, but I would pre-order every future book. Today.

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A smashing British cozy mystery series

Revisado: 05-09-23

Steve Higgs writes the way I love to read. He doesn't waste words with supurflous adjectives or plot filler. Mr Higgs has several series I am currently reading and he knows how to keep me interested until the final word of the epilogue. His "Felicity Phillips" series is one such series that is chock full of humor, well-developed characters, and tight plot lines that moves the story along at a good clip. His economic use of words means one must pay attention and know that every word is important to the story. Rarely do I ever solve the crime(s) before Felicity. The main protagonists are so well developed that it is hard not to care deeply for them, even though they are fictional. Yes, this work is that good.

I have previously read the books in this box set and was thrilled to find the audiobook version available. The narrator is perfect for this series as she sounds just like I had envisioned Felicity and Amber to sound. She has great diction and her cadence flows perfectly with the author's. intended timing of the story. I had to binge-listen to this box set of books because I got so caught up in the stories, even though I had read them previously. I am sad this set is over, but oh well, on to the next book.

Give this series a listen and you might see why he is one of my favorite modern British authors.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

A well-woven "who dunnit" tale

Revisado: 03-28-23

I love a good cozy mystery. I love British cozy mysteries better. What's more, I love a good British cozy mystery that is on par with Agatha Christie. This story hits the trifecta. Judith is every bit as clever as Miss Marple and leads a somewhat mysterious life herself. She is well capable, and self-sufficient, and thought she had a fulfilling life until her neighbor was found dead. Being a crossword setter, Judith possesses a predilection for clues and she has a highly developed spatial reasoning ability. Thrust into a mystery and conspiracy only she can see, she knows the police will never solve what they consider to be an accident or suicide. That is until another body turns up. Now Judith knows she was right and she must investigate and catch the murderer herself. Through her investigation, she meets some ladies who become more than allies, they become friends.

In a tightly woven tale of mystery, suspense, well-developed characters, and a few misdirections, Thorogood delivers pure gold. He has written vivid and believable characters that the reader can't help but love and they serve their purpose to keep the tale moving without plot holes or wasted words. Nicolette McKenzie isn't he perfect narrator, as she possesses a refined voice with clear diction and reading tempo. I thought she voiced the characters perfectly, and between Ms McKenzie and MrThorogood, the characters came to life, This is a fast-moving novel that delivers everything one would want in a cozy British mystery, including well-timed British humor and snark. Being the first in a series, I am thrilled at more adventures to come.

Take a break and spend some time with Judith and the gang in Marlow. You just might find yourself involved in a mystery.

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Excellent slow build with sweet finish

Revisado: 03-25-23

It was slow to take off, for me. Once I got into the flow of the story and got a feel for the characters, I loved the story. The character development was rich and vivid, the scenery was detailed enough without feeling like it was its own character, and the plot moved alone in a spooky and relentless pace. The narrator did a fine job of moving the story alone and his many voices were completely enjoyable. This is a tale that I will return to many more times.

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Wow! What a ride!

Revisado: 01-23-23

As a middle-aged male with a lot of time on my hands, In other words, I am your everyday garden-variety, grumpy old man. I love to read books and listen to well-performed audio books. I love cozy mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy, whodunits, and anthologies. I hit a trifecta when Torrent Witches was recommended to me. I saw all of the rave reviews and thought I'd give it a whirl. I was hooked within the first paragraph. Natalie Duke is an amazing performer. Her timing, rhythm, voices, diction, and understanding of the text is impeccable. I have hundreds of audio books both from Audible and from other sources and I listen to them again from time to time. This one will be repeated several more times in the coming years. Tess Lake has written an awesome series that captures not only the imagination, but one's heart. The story arc itself winds its way onto many rabbit holes that do get resolved, eventually. I have not found a single plot hole and I do look for them, for fun. Every single character is someone that I can relate to and identify with. The main characters were all so well-written that they became friends that I could watch in my mind's eye and feel in my heart. I felt true feelings for them and wanted them to be happy. With so many books being quickly written, these days, I don't often feel such things in books, anymore. Through Ms. Lake's writing, it is obvious that she deeply loved her characters as she told the story. I recall listening to two books, back-to-back, in one day. I was so transfixed that I couldn't help it. I kept swapping out the earbuds as the batteries in one pair would die, I"d put them on charge and pop in another set. Yeah, these books are that good. Take some advice from a grumpy old man, you'll thank me later. So, do yourself a favor and take a trip to Harlot Bay. Stop by the Torrent Mansion for a visit and meet some characters who will soon become your dearest friends. You won't be disappointed.

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why isn't this already a streaming series?

Revisado: 07-17-22

This book was an absolute bombshell, as sultry, mysterious, and sexu as Nurse Craddock. There were many laugh out loud moments that got me strange looks, as I listened with my headphones in public spaces.
The story line, while preposterous, is enticing and makes me wish it were possible. The narration of the cast and ambient sounds made feel like I was watching the scenes unfold right before my eyes because the cast is top-notch. I swear I was listening to Nixon and Kennedy, but Natasha Lyonne stole the show. It wasn't just the character, but the way Natasha brought her character to life.
This is one audio book that is so immersive, with 3D effects, that you must use stereo headphones to really get the whole experience. Why this isn't a Prime streaming series, I don't know! Just imagine it!

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esto le resultó útil a 8 personas

Jeremy Robinson created another masterpiece

Revisado: 06-14-21

I love Jeremy Robinson's mind. Jeremy writes the kind of stories that I like to read and or listen to. NPC was a tough book. Seriously. Before buying this book I had read the reviews, even the negative reviews, and had a preconceived notion that I might not like this book. however being a Robinson fan, I thought I would give it a shot. I'm glad I did. Normally, I shy away from books that dwell too heavily on theology, religion, spirituality, the meaning of life, etc. however I knew that if I started this book and didn't like it then I could return it. I started the book and was hooked. As a former believer, I understand a crisis of faith, doubt, disbelief, apologetics, and existential dread. for years I struggled with my own Christian faith, and finally left things at being a Humanist. I am a Humanist.

Some reviews lamented on the religious angle however for me it was no different than a space opera that deals with alien intelligence or an alien characteristic. If one merely substitutes religion with an alien culture then it's easier to get through instead of being bogged down in any theological ideology. I challenge those that left bad reviews saying that this book was proselytizing the Christian faith, and say that it was merely the authors theory that our world might possibly be a simulation and how the simulation could be written or managed or programmed... somebody's got to be at the keyboard to write the code, right? At the end of this audiobook the author has an epilogue or author's notes that discuss and explain why he wrote the way he wrote.

I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed the journey that Ezekiel took and I enjoyed the pace in which the story moved, like the way the story ended. I actually got quite breathless in some of the scenes because I got so wrapped up in the action and the mystery. In fact, one day as I was listening to this story my dog and I took an extra long walk going much farther than we normally would because I lost all track of time, all sense of space, location, bearings, etc. Luckily, she didn't mind the extra long walk.

One more challenge for you. I suggest you give this book a try. If you read or listen to The Others, then this book is just as good if not better. There's action, romance, mystery, dirty dealings, terrorism, science fiction, comedy, two grumpy old men, and a couple of $20 four letter words. It's good fun; it really is.

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inconsistent audio levels.

Revisado: 09-23-20

this was a.waste of credit... I couldn't finish and couldn't return. The story had potential, but another narrator is needed. Seriously. The audio levels are too inconsistent and I simply tired of adjusting my audio to hear some parts and keep my eardrums when Frakes decided to tell for no apparent reason.

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esto le resultó útil a 6 personas

A Epic Journey into an Unseen World

Revisado: 09-17-20

I must admit that I was dubious that this type of audiobook would entertain me. I do like fantasy, horror, terror, fiction, science fiction, and mystery stories. In fact, those are the staple of my print, Kindle, and audio library materials. What I was dubious about was the "full-cast" treatment, as that isn't my style. For some reason, I prefer a single voice narrator, giving me his or her treatment with different voice inflections. Nonetheless, I am so glad to say I was incorrect in my assumptions. I knew that Neil Gaiman penned some incredibly vivid and touching stories, so I gave "The Graveyard Book" a shot. Had I not, I was going to purchase the Kindle version and read it for myself, and I still may do that, and re-listen and read along with the cast. Yes, it is THAT good. While each character that Mr. Gaiman painstakingly created was deep and complex, the cast truly brought them to life and gave them voices that I could not have imagined just reading the words from the page. Each actor gave their character a complete and believable life. I listened to this audiobook while going about my everyday tasks and often found myself standing still or sitting down because the story got so intense and interesting that I didn't want to miss a single word of Bod Owens's incredible journey. Yes, the story was that immersive for me. The characters of Bod, his friends, and his adopted family, as well as his enemies, were deep, yet relatable, and I found myself yearning to meet (most of) them in real life. There were also a few other characters I'd rather kick in the teeth, as well.

The well-developed plot moved along, without plot-holes, and despite other reviewers' dubious claims, I found the pace a perfect tempo for the whole masterpiece. I truly believe that a book like this cannot be rushed, and to do so does an injustice to the characters and the plot. The bottom line is that some things must be said and some points must be painstakingly laid out; otherwise, the story becomes flat and one-dimensional and the reader (or listener) is left wanting. True to Mr. Gaiman's style, he covered all plot points and gave each character a full story to tell, and they did it with style! I am not ashamed to say that I listened to the final chapter with tears in my eyes, as the story weaved its final thread, completing a tapestry of compassion, friendship, bravery, and heartfelt affection, but most of all, hope.

If I had to sum up 'The Graveyard Book' in one sentence, I would say, "The cast brought an already perfectly written story to life." This will remain one of my favorite audiobooks for a very long time to come.

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