delacemi

No Logan in sight and still brilliant.

Revisado: 02-12-25

Months ago J.D. Kirk gave a tiny hint that he was working on something for Audible, in the form on an Audible Original. Honestly, I thought it would be a prequel to the Logan stories or a supplemental or side story about someone in that universe.

Wrong.

I love and I mean LOVE the Logan series along with both of its spin-offs. I also confess I have never read his Space Team series, published under his real name, Barry Hutchison. But fans of the Logan series have all recommended Space Team for its similar 'taste and feel' of the Logan series, which I have come to understand as they have a great storyline with Kirk's typical humor.

If I had listened to Him without knowing who wrote it, I would have never guessed it was Kirk/Hutchison. That's not to say this was bad, but it did not have the 'taste and feel' of the Logan books at all.

And that didn't matter at all.

Him was gripping from the first few minutes of listening until the very end. Him shows how gifted of a writer Kirk/Hutchison really is, to be so varied in style but yet equally gripping and entertaining.

To be frankly honest, Him freaked me out a bit. Not the someone's-under-my-bed kind of fear but the real fear of AI becoming powerful, more I and less A.

This novel was also heart-breaking.

The first time she hears Nick's voice gutted me, because I remember the first time I ACCIDENTALLY replayed a saved voicemail after my grandmother (more my mother than anything) died and how much of a visceral reaction I had. The pain of loss was still too new that hearing her voice was an instant opening of a wound that hadn't even begun to heal. I could see how Sarah would cling to this AI version of her husband.

Take your dramamine because Him has more twists and turns; this book will toss you about. Just when I thought I saw how the storyline was going, bam, a sharp turn.

And then there's the narrators.

Fantastic.

Louise Brealey's voice was familiar but I couldn't quite place her. Looking at the other books she's read didn't enlighten me, so I went to look at her CV on IMDB. Gillian Chamberlain from the TV version of the Discovery of Witches. Then it clicked.

But then there's David Tennant. You tell me, Dr. Who doesn't love David Tennant? I adore him. He would have been all the inducement I needed to give this Audible Original a go but mixing my favorite author and Mr. Tennant, well that's was pure gold for me.

(cross-posted on Goodreads)

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Grieving Gordy Gets Going

Revisado: 10-02-24

Gordy Haig has left the Dales. She's left her team and boss/mentor/friend DCI Harry Grimm to embark on a new path. However she was supposed to make this move with her partner but unfortunately, life and the universe had other plans and Gordy lost her partner, but still chose to make the move to Somerset.

For anyone just starting out in the Grimm-universe, this first novel in a new series might not have the same effect for those of us who have been along on the full journey. The level of emotion, the heartbreak, it was all there on the page.

I'm looking forward to getting to know Gordy's team and see her become the leader we've had glimpses of in the Grimm novels.

As far as the crime went, I figured out who did it about halfway or 2/3's through, but that's ok. The crime aspect felt second string this time, and Gordy's personal struggles were the larger storyline. Or at least that's how it felt to me. Loved seeing a character we met a few times in the original series pop in. Think he might be a reoccurring guest star.

I'm an Audible user and I love and adore Aubrey Parsons reading but with Gordy being a woman, a new reader was more appropriate. Ruth Urquhart has done a great job.

Occasionally, lines were delivered in a less Gordy-like way, but I think it’s ok because she’s not actually herself right now. I’d say it’s kind of brilliant on David J Gatward’s part that he created this spin off right at a turbulent time in her life, where one would definitely not be acting their true self, to actually help the audio listener adjust to a new Gordy via Ms. Urquhart.

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Too much of a good thing? Never!

Revisado: 09-16-24

Book 20 of the DCI Jack Logan did not disappoint. This was a big case. Lots of guest stars and notable mentions made this the best book of the series, a book truly for the fans.

As we’ve come to expect, the humor was perfect throughout the novel. One scene caught me off guard with its brilliance, I nearly wrecked my car in laughter. Then, there were tears. Not a few stray drops running down the cheeks but full on ugly crying.

All I can say is JD Kirk is a national treasure and since I’m not a Scottish National, I’d say he’s a global treasure.

If you’re reading this and haven’t read the previous 19 books, along with the 5 Hoon books, and 2 Filson books….STOP!

Yes everyone can enjoy this installment as their first foray into the Logan-verse, BUT, you will enjoy this book a thousand times more if you knew all the background information. That’s why I say this book is truly one for the fans.

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Horrible narrator and fake DCI

Revisado: 09-03-24

I was excited for a female detective lead. The narrator ruined it. Tried to keep going but then DCI Allen is just not real. Had no issue with a happy home life but she just felt one dimensional...could it be the performance? Might it be better on the page? Perhaps.

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Great story; wrong narrator, & I love David Thrope

Revisado: 06-10-24

(Crossposted on my Goodreads)

The DI Barton Series by Ross Greenwood was/is (hoping for another installment one day) fantastic and so when I saw there was a new series, I had to give it a go.

Greenwood does creepy rather well when presenting the section of the story by the killer, making him a leader among his peers (and my other favorite authors). Loved that this story kept me guessing the entire time and I was actually surprised at the ending, even though I did figure out the baddie, it just unfolded in a way that took me by surprise, in a very good way.

My biggest complaint with this book has absolutely nothing to do with the story or the author, but has to do with the audio version.

Why was there a male narrator for a female-led series? This is not a slight or any type of disrespect to the reader, David Thorpe, who was amazing in the DI Barton series. However, having Thorpe narrate this new series does a disservice to the complicated, complex, and well descriptive female-led character. Greenwood did a great job helping us get into the heart and mind of DS Ashley Knight but it was less authentic to be read by a man.

The other critique I had for this audiobook was the excruciating long pauses...whether between chapters, as emphasis, or scene change, it was way too long....way too long.

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Better than expected

Revisado: 11-23-23

Free on audible is always a 50-50 experience. But this, this is adorable. It should be molten level of cheese but it was so good despite it being about mid-20 years old (only because I’m in my late 40’s and my inability to always relate to those in a different stage of life, not because there’s anything inherently wrong with stories about those in the mid-20’s). The stories they listen to and conclusions drawn are so poignant even for a cheesy rom-com. I found myself unable to stop listening. A familiar voice in Santino Fontana enhanced the experience as well, especially since I spent the first half trying to figure out where I knew his voice from and gave up trying and looked it up. 😂

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Cute and steamy romance with the wrong narrator

Revisado: 09-07-23

The story is cute and perfect for the romance genre. Is a novel of basically if they would just communicated, there would be no story to tell. Fluffy, swoony, and steamy.

HORRIBLE AUDIO. The reader has a fine voice and does a decent Scottish accent. However, the reader's voice is much older than the 21/25 year old main characters. Also, I have listened to over 200 audiobooks and generally, the reader has a slightly different voice for the actual dialogue and inner musing/narrator parts of the story. It was incredibly difficult to tell when actual dialogue was being spoken and when it was internal dialogue.

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Great but censored?!?!

Revisado: 05-11-23

I’ve wanted a UK crime noir type book set in Wales for awhile now and was happy to come across this book but why, WHY, was it censored. Racial slurs are bad but if they’re relevant to the story, then let them be. I don’t need anyone deciding what I should or should not hear. Shame on Audible, the production company, narrator, and/author for allowing this to happen.

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Need more Hoon

Revisado: 02-13-23

I’ve loved this series and can only hope for more installments! There’s plenty more directional words that can be used!

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Keeps getting better

Revisado: 01-25-23

The series started rough, with a brutal case but the characters grow on you can you can’t help but quickly move onto the next book.

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