Margaret Thompson

A true mystery: a long list of plausible suspects

Revisado: 03-18-17

Would you listen to Left Hanging again? Why?

Yes, I'd listen again. Every character presented a taste of today's cowboy culture in a place that seemed very true to life, and each presented his or her own puzzle to be solved. The narrator made every character interesting and distinct, and together, the author and the narrator made Left Hanging feel like a real picture of Wyoming.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This is the second book about a TV reporter removed from her familiar world of big time news and deposited somewhat reluctantly into an environment very far away, both culturally and geographically. Especially in this second story, her curiosity, her desire to do her job well even for a small, remote population, and her ability to adapt to new surroundings and entirely new challenges makes her especially appealing.

What about Jane McLaughlin’s performance did you like?

The tone and pace of the narration made the story easy to listen to. She moved smoothly through a long list of characters, all very different, and made it easy to distinguish one from another. Many had their own accent and peculiarities, as would be expected in a Wyoming rodeo setting, and each one seemed authentic.

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

A small town fights to keep its real West rodeo and doesn't shy away from murder.

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Good story. GREAT performance!

Revisado: 01-23-17

Where does Dry Bones rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The story was interesting, but for much of the time, it felt labored. The storyline seemed so unlikely as to be contrived. The characters were actually more interesting than the sequence of events because the story often felt so implausible. Certainly, none of it felt "urgent" in the way a page-turner does. In the end, it all came together, explained in a way that made sense, but by that time I felt tired from the long wait. Overall, I found "Dry Bones" enjoyable for more than the story alone.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The narration was the most enjoyable aspect of the experience, with several voices and accents done perfectly, seamlessly, male and female alike. A most talented performance!

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

The pace was perfect. The several voices were so distinct, perfect in accent, and simply well done in every way.

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

The story really never pulled me in. I kept wondering why anyone would go to all the trouble of burial in the way the story describes. It made no sense to me until the very end, and by then, I was already thinking it was improbable to the point that the ending didn't feel terribly convincing.

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Engaging characters make great start to new series

Revisado: 12-13-14

Where does Sign Off rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I liked it! It is well written, well read, and definitely entertaining. The writer knows how to put a good sentence together, and while the story evolves somewhat slowly, it held my attention and moved along without rambling. I'd have given the story five stars, except for its unusual pace, although in fairness, a slower start provides added emphasis to the fish-out-of-water story of a big-city reporter and her introduction to life in the great open West. Rather than a more traditional mystery format that puts the crime up front with a bang, the writer uses several beginning chapters to set out characters and background. I tend to prefer the straightforward thriller, but this story's central character is an easily relatable recently divorced female reporter, and the writer's intentions are clearly to develop her, as well has her exploits, in new directions. All the time used to explain this character, then, and where she is at the moment is not wasted, and thanks largely to the narrator's lively approach and distinct voices (good male voices too, which is hard for many female narrators), the character-driven chapters that begin the story with an introduction to interesting people and places as opposed to nefarious acts make a fun and funny listen, even for a more action-oriented listener, like myself.

What other book might you compare Sign Off to and why?

The main character, for whom the narrator's voice was just perfect, is matter-of-fact at times, but always extremely likable. While she is not unlike other determined female leads in sundry best-selling mystery and crime series, I am reminded more of the woman in the TV series The Good Wife--a story driven by the interactions of groups of characters you can like and relate to, with a strong female at the forefront.

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

For a listener more accustomed to action than character, the energetic narration through the beginning chapters held my interest, I think, more than might have been the case with the written page. Actually, the story includes a multitude of characters, and rather than finding them too many, the several distinct voices made this most enjoyable. Some of these voices--the male voices in particular--were raspy or resonate or otherwise filled with a character that made me more immediately picture the individual than if I had been reading.

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

A smart, professional reporter takes on a totally unfamiliar environment and never backs down from the challenge, even when it looks like a murder, or could be her own.

Any additional comments?

There will be a Part Two (there are more books in the series, apparently) and I'll be there when they are released on Audible. Definitely worth a credit.

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A sweet story aided by a most enjoyable narration

Revisado: 08-10-13

Would you listen to Moonlight Wishes in Time again? Why?

More a sweet fantasy than a story of the paranormal or science fiction, I liked the characters and wanted to stay with the story to see what became of them. I didn't have as much trouble absorbing the time travel aspect as I did the good and kindly gentleman of 1825 England who accepted it so easily and completely, almost as quickly as it was told to him. But whenever my mind felt events had turned too much toward the unbelievable, the narrator brought me right back with clear and distinct voices that set my disbelief aside and put me into a realm--and a romance--of what seemed like real people.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending pleasantly tied up all the loose ends and left me with a feeling of satisfaction. Overall, I definitely liked it. At the finish, I felt like the storyline when combined with an excellent narration had left me with a sense of light fun, a slightly different slant on happy tales of adventure for the sake of true love, and a dose of hope for sweet romance--sometime, somewhere, however one might get there.

What about Jane McLaughlin’s performance did you like?

I thoroughly enjoyed the narration. Different voices were so clear, distinct and consistent that I never had a second thought as to which of the several characters was speaking. The pace seemed just right and helped me absorb the story thoroughly, without any of the need to backtrack that sometimes happens with an audible book if you aren't giving it your full attention. I thought the narrator did especially well changing from the voice of a contemporary American character to the voices and accent of English characters 200 years in the past, and I never doubted which perspective was which. In fact, when the storyline seemed to stretch my imagination a bit too far, it was the narration that brought me back to the author's fictional world in a way I could picture and appreciate.

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

A modern woman finds the man of her dreams in 1825.

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Good story, very entertaining narration.

Revisado: 02-17-13

If you could sum up In the Garden of Seduction in three words, what would they be?

Lively, fun, entertaining.

What did you like best about this story?

Writing and narration that made the story flow well and made the characters come to life. I wanted to stay with it, and found a fun romance to the end.

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

This one is different from the other I listened to because this one is done in an English accent. McLaughlin sounded like one of the sisters in Downton Abbey and really did a good job making me see and feel each character.

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

It flowed quite evenly, I thought. Perhaps a typical romance story, but fun nonetheless.

Any additional comments?

I look forward to more by the same author and narrator.

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Completely engaging, well-written and well-read!

Revisado: 01-22-13

Where does Midnight's Tale rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's the first time I've listened to a short story, and I so thoroughly enjoyed it that I plan to find more. I would love it if this author and narrator would continue with more work of this kind.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Midnight's Tale?

Because it was a short story, there was no one particular moment or event, but I found the author's expression of the goat's viewpoint to be fun and imaginative.

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

She made the story sparkle. I haven't found other of her performances, but will be watching for them. I thought she was marvelous. Just the right touch!

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

I've been listening to books 25 and 30 hours long--and sometimes longer, and it was most refreshing to find one just long enough to take me to the grocery store and back that could be so entertaining. And all the more so because of the narrator's clear, lively reading. Truly well done.

Any additional comments?

I gave the story four stars instead of five because I didn't want it to end. I wish the author had done more with the ending, but overall, I liked his work and would definitely buy more of his stories.

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