Ellen

I may be done with Irina Shapiro for a while

Revisado: 04-11-24

No. Nope. No way. I tried really hard to like this book enough to not return it. It was like the author was trying to tick as many PC boxes as possible to draw people in. African American man that is not only extremely handsome but also cooks and whose family has a history with the plantation as slaves..check. Woman that owns the mansion and is not only extremely independent but rich and recently dumped by a man that refused to sign a pre-nup..check. Power couple that are not only interracial but beautiful...check. Gay couple...check. The author that is not only well known but believes he is a legend in his own mind...check, And it goes on. Many times while listening I did an eye roll when descriptions of different characters were given. After five hours I gave up. I like the author and I have Isolation Island in my library. This book was not for me.

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What a team!

Revisado: 10-30-20

I know some people are losing their minds at just the thought of Lee Child no longer bringing Jack Reacher to life. This book is the first of a few collaborations before Lee Child hands over the reins to Andrew. I think it went very well. Same Jack Reacher as always and the same great story line. Add to that Scott Brick who brings Reacher to life and you have a win, win, win situation. I have heard that Amazon Prime may do a Jack Reacher series and I'm hoping that happens soon. Just got to pick the right guy to play Reacher.

I have read and listened to every book in this series and I have loved every minute I have spent in Jack Reacher land. The great thing is you can go back and reread or re-listen to each book and still be entertained. Thank you for another great time and I for one am looking forward to your continued collaboration

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Hollow Ones needs filling out more

Revisado: 08-09-20

I have the Strain Trilogy books and audio and I truly enjoy listening to them and reading them over and over. The Strain Trilogy is up there with The Stand and Swan Song. I did not like the "made for TV version" of The Strain or The Stand. Too much is lost from the book when it is adapted to screen play. The characters are melded together to make someone new and the story is changed enough so that the people that truly loved the book cannot bear to watch. But I am rambling.

I have had this book on my wish list and even pre-ordered so that I could have it right away. That's how much I like these authors and their collaboration. That being said let me inform you as to why I did not like the book as much as I though I would. I had to remind myself that this was a new story line to follow and that it was unfair to compare this book with the previous works.

I felt like I was reading a pitch for a screenplay. There was so much missing that I almost stopped listening after the first 90 or so minutes. I continued listening thinking that the pace would pick up and the characters would be fleshed out more. I don't think they ever were. I wanted to know more about Solomon and Vernon. The who, what, when, where and why is missing from the little boy's story. The beginning of the connection with Solomon and Blackwood was only briefly touched upon. I spent much of my time thinking "wait, what?" and rewinding to listen again. There was much jumping back and forth in time in the story and I am hoping that the next book will fill in a lot of what seems to be missing. Why Odessa? And who exactly are Blackwood's two helpers? What's on the tapes?

I will be listening to this book again and I hope to pick up a few more pieces of the story. As I said before I like these two authors a lot and I will purchase the next book in this trilogy. Bottom line is I think it's an okay book. I think much is missing but I have high hopes that those missing things will be brought out into the light with the next book.

Apparently, the hook has been set and I am waiting to be reeled in by the next book. I say try it.

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No foot to stand on here.

Revisado: 02-13-20

First let me say this. Jefferson Mays did an awesome job. Awesome. I'm already looking for other books that he has narrated. Now, I will tell you why I am returning this book. I love Pendergast. I have either read or listened to every book that has his name in it. Some I totally liked and have listened to over and over again and some I just cannot get into no matter how hard I try.

Some people like Constance and some people don't. I like her well enough but not as a person of love interest where Pendergast is concerned. She seems to have an effect on any man she comes in contact with. I know it's because she is beautiful, and looks somewhat delicate but I think they are also attracted by her wealth of knowledge. Some people think she would be the perfect mate for Pendergast. I don't. Constance, to me, is in no way a weak person that needs protecting. She proved that with her interactions with Diogenes. Everything is supposed to be okay with her, Diogenes and Pendergast? Why?

I keep holding on wishing that D'Agosta and Hayward would come back. Or Corrie, Viola (Pendergast sent her away....why?) I'm still trying to understand why they killed Bill Smithback way back when. He and Dr. Nora were such a good team. Corrie was good in her own book. I'm hoping maybe Diogenes went away and is planning yet another diabolical action.

I'm half way thru this book and I have given up. There are two stories working here and somehow neither one is going anywhere. Would I purchase another book from these two men? You bet I would. I like them. I just don't like this story.

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Pretty good story with an excellent narrator.

Revisado: 08-23-19 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I received a free copy of this audio book in return for a honest review. When a book starts with a disclaimer like this one I sometimes will not go forward with it. I really don't need anyone to be my moral compass or political guardian angel. I read and listen for the sheer enjoyment of a good book.

I kind of laughed at the opening disclaimer thinking "oh, here we go again! Someone being judge and jury over a group of people that disagree with them politically and spiritually". and I was right. The author's ideology could have ticked me off to no end. Some of my best friends and loved family members are liberals and I don't think they are snowflakes, heterophobes, secular enemies of the right, or bleeding hearts or living in an alternate universe.

I liked the book. And while it is not one that I would listen to again or read a second time, I did like it. The characters were well developed and bouncing back and forth between past and present showed how things were so very different in previous years. The child abuse that Graham experienced and the non reporting of it was true to that time. His father was a sick, sick man and Graham will have to deal with his past to survive the present. The two reporters filled the quota for people of color and alternative lifestyles as did their dislike of Christians. These little digs were kind of here and there throughout the book and I thought unnecessary. It just irritated me and distracted me from the story. And that is why there is only a pretty good rating.

The narrator was very good. He was able to change voices and brought characters to life. I have said it many times in other reviews that the narrator can make or break a book. This narrator was an excellent choice he was an asset to your book.

I recommend this book. Some people will like it and some people won't. Give it a try.

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Some things never change.

Revisado: 08-23-19 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I read....alot and when I'm not reading, I'm listening to a book because someone has to do the housework and I have chosen me because I want it done right. This story is based on an actual murder that happened 100 years ago. It must have been difficult to research because there were only newspapers to get information from. So I think some of this might have been conclusions that the author formed based on the information she had.

I said some things never change because of the people involved. They were young and came from wealthy families that apparently saw nothing wrong with their "boys' being rapists, extortionists, liars, cheats and just basically rotten people and one girl in particular was really someone not to mess with.

It took me a few days to listen to the whole book. I would listen for a while, get a little bored and come back to it and listen some more. I like the true crime books that take place in the late 1800's and early 1900's. There really wasn't too much difference between Brooks-Burns of that era and some of the uber wealthy of 2019.

I was given a free copy in exchange for a review. If you are a history and true crime person you may like it. To me, the book is okay and the narrator was pretty good. You may like it. Never know until you try.

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Needs a different narrator

Revisado: 08-21-19

I have had this book on my wish list for quite some time because it had Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson in it. When I read and listened to Still Life With Crows and Corrie came on the scene as Pendergast's driver I became a fan of Corrie and became an even bigger fan with White Fire. I was also hoping that they would do a story with Nora Kelly and how she had progressed in her career and life after the loss of Bill Smithback.

I am almost two hours in to this book and I am going to return it because the narrator is not the one needed for this book. No disrespect to Cynthia Farrell as I am sure she has narrated other books with different results.

Nora Kelly has been approached by a man who has discovered where he thinks the third "missing" camp of the Donner Party is. However, he doesn't tell her (at first) that there just might be a treasure with this dig/excavation which is kind of sketchy to me. I have just finished the lead in to Corrie Swanson and that's as far as I am going. I will be getting a copy of this book to read because I think I will enjoy that experience better.

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It's okay

Revisado: 08-17-19 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I received this book thru audiobook boom in exchange for a review. I totally like paranormal stories, not so much into the vampire or zombie but I will listen to or read them. Now, on to the review.

This is a story about a PI who is called in to investigate some murders that have been happening in the town of Astoria. The people have been mutilated and all their blood has been removed from their bodies. The Sheriff wants Ian to go under cover and find out what goes on in The Morgue and see if there is any connection to the murders and the owner.

After almost three hours of listening Ian finally gets hooked up with an author who is going to be the financial backer for Ian and Scout. There is an awful lot of dialogue in this book. So much dialogue that seems to not go anywhere and bogs down the story so much that I found my mind wandering.

I don't really think I would call this a paranormal book and not much of a PI experience book either. There is a vampire. I thought the book was okay. The narrator was okay but I have to admit the background barks and other noises was very distracting. I would like to read the first book in this series. I think maybe there is some information about Ian and how he gets in to this business that would bring things in to focus for me.

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Another great listen!

Revisado: 08-14-19

This is book two in the series. Lacey and Sam go out to the Navajo Reservation to help a family member find peace and hand out some justice the Navajo way. I'm not really good at writing reviews but I must say that when you have a great story with interesting characters and a good narrator it makes for one awesome book. I liked the first book so much that I contacted the author and told her how much I liked it. I have only done that with one other author. I have never met the author or the narrator so this is not one of those reviews where you wonder if the writer of the review is a family member or close friend of either person.

I was given a free copy of Skin Walk in exchange for an honest review. I have a feeling that the next book will see the relationship of Lacey and Sam grow even more. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I totally recommend this book to everyone. On to the next adventure!

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Fitzpatrick and Firecloud! What a team!

Revisado: 08-08-19

This is the first time I have ever listened to a book written by Melissa Bowersock and read by Laura Wilson. I received a free copy in return for a fair review. Wow! What a great book. I loved everything about it. Everything. The characters Lacey and Sam are the perfect team. They both have a special gift. One for research and detective work and the other for communicating with the dead. Lacey and Sam just work so well together and it was refreshing to listen to a book without having to be a part of someone's bedroom activities or a bunch of profanity. Thank you for a totally enjoyable 5 hours. I will be either reading or listening to other books in this series.

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