Laura

I Didn't Want It To End!

Revisado: 01-27-25

In A Midwinter Murder, the newest installment of the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, Lady Eleanor had been very excited to spend her first Christmas with her fiance, Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon, at her residence, Henley Hall - That is until she received an invitation to a three-day Christmas shooting party from the Duke of Auldwyk, a man she didn't even know. Reluctantly, she and Hugh agreed to attend, having no idea of the chaos that awaited them. Not only had their holiday plans changed, they were almost derailed completely - by murder.

This was my first time listening to any of the books from the series, and it won't be my last - The story hooked me within minutes. The narrator was terrific. She's been the narrator of all the audiobooks and knows these characters intimately. She could voice and slide from one to another seamlessly, something she could do because she's worked on the series for so long.

The story flowed easily, and the narrator brought it to life so well that I felt like I was there. Eleanor, Hugh, and Eleanor's staff and pets soon became my friends - albeit in print. I became invested in their lives and what they were doing and feeling. That's the mark of a great writer whose story was paired with an equally great narrator - I completely lost track of time as I listened and was genuinely sad when it ended.

Set in the 1920s, The Eleanor Swift series is a set of historical cozy mysteries. There were even historical notes and recipes at the end of the book, even on the audio recording, which further enhanced my understanding of the period, culture, and daily life in early twentieth-century Yorkshire.

I love cozy mysteries because while they focus on murders, they leave out any really gory details. They may mention some blood, but that's more often than not as far as it goes. Many also feature animals as the amateur sleuth's sidekick, usually cats and dogs. The reader gets to find out things about the murder right along with the major characters. I like to try to guess who the murderer is before they're caught - It keeps my critical thinking skills sharp.

I started to read cozies in my late teensI would recommend A Midwinter Murder for readers aged seventeen and up.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for considering this book for my review via NetGalley. All of the opinions expressed in this review are my own. The fact that the book was given to me as an Advanced Reader Copy in no way influenced my review, and I am leaving it voluntarily.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Delightful - Like Reuniting With Old Friends

Revisado: 01-21-24

I've loved James Herriot's work since I was a young girl (over forty years). The TV series came first, as it started only three years before I was born, I started reading the books when I was twelve, but it wasn't until later, when I saw pictures of Jimmy and Rosie as young children, that I realized that the main characters were based on real people. Now, I've seen all of them in pictures. Jimmy and Rosie are grown up, and I've seen them in pictures, and on video, and even heard them speak, along with their Dad.

He's such a vivid writer, that not only did I get swept into the story, but I forgot that the stories, taken from diary entries and notes, happened long ago. When James left Helen to join the RAF, I cried a river. It doesn't help that wars are going on as I write this review - Senseless killing and violence - all for want of land and power.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Put a smile on my face within minutes!

Revisado: 01-15-24

James Herriot (Alf Wright) brings his life as a country vet in the Yorkshire Dales to life in All Creatures Great Small with such colorful and vivid writing, that I immediately forgot the rough day I was having, and the nasty weather outside.

I've loved the "All Creatures" series since I was a little girl, and I can no longer hold a physical book, or read small print. The discovery of the audiobook was a relief, as the books had become trusted friends during countless hospital stays, and other difficult times throughout my life, and thanks to the audio format, the series continues to brighten my days and nights - just as they always have.

To find that Christopher Timothy, who played James Herriot in the first television adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small was the narrator of the audiobooks makes them extra special.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Dai and her friends do it again!

Revisado: 08-21-23 El oyente recibió este título gratis

In The Joy of Murder, Gloria Oliver brings back amateur slueth, Diayu Wu and her friends. Truman Pierce's mother is accused of murdering a well-loved member of the 'Little Mexico' community in Dallas. Can Dai and her friends catch the true culprit before an innocent woman is put on trial and given the death penalty?

Once again, the story is told from her brother Jaques' point of view. He loves Dai as if she were his blood sister, and is incredibly grateful that she convinced her parents to bring him into their family when they were young, but due to the family's circumstances, as well as her disability, he also knows how protective they can be - If they knew what she was up to, they would definitely not be pleased with either of them.

As usual, Oliver's writing style is both fun and informative. I learned a lot of new vocabulary and about a lot of Mexican customs that I'd never heard of before, like the importance of a Sociedad to Mexicans and Mexican Americans. I was curious about everything that I learned about, and I did a bunch of research. Imagine my delighted surprise when I learned that the religious order that's associated with the Catholic television network that I watch has monthly Sociedad Days that they livestream on their YouTube channel. I was so excited that I found a real-life connection between the book and my research. I joined the sodality, and I can see why they appeal to a large number of people. The blend of Church teaching and fellowship provides me with a sense of purpose and helps me grow in my faith.

I received an advance review copy of this title for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

So glad the series will continue!

Revisado: 07-12-23

In "Black Jade", Gloria Oliver introduces people to amateur sleuth, Daiyu Wu. She's driven, determined, and insatiably curious - These would normally be considered good qualities to have, but unfortunately, stereotypes about women, the blind and visually impaired, and people of Chinese heritage ran rampant in 1930s Dallas, just as they did elsewhere, and sadly, still do today with so many ethnic and marginalized groups.

Dai, as she's called by those closest to her, lives with her more than slightly overbearing parents, her brother Jacques, and her faithful canine companion Prince Razor.

While working at the family's laundry service, Dai smells the unmistakable scent of arsenic on a dress brought in by a customer earlier the previous day. She learns that it belongs to a young woman who was found dead a few days before. Convinced that the dress is connected to the murder, with help from an extremely reluctant Jacques, Dai endeavors to track down the culprit and bring them to justice.

Not only did I enjoy the story immensely, but I learned so much about Chinese history and culture and American history and culture in the 1930s - lots of new vocabulary and customs. I'm so glad Gloria Oliver plans to continue the series!

I also really love the fact that there's finally a sleuth with a disability. I don't enjoy the fact that Dai is blind, but it's nice to see the disabled population being represented and portrayed as doing something that able-bodied professional detectives normally do, doing it well, and getting credit for it. I, too, have a physical disability, although in my case, I use a motorized wheelchair for mobility. I feel that Dai is a woman after my own heart - She's kind, compassionate, driven, hard-working, intelligent, and determined. She may be blind, but like me, she tries not to let her disability define her.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

So engrossing, I couldn't stop listening!

Revisado: 04-20-23

The time that the Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church dread has come - The Holy Father has died, and they must undertake their most solemn duty - to elect a new one. Even more challenging, they must choose him from among their own ranks, in complete secrecy, and as expediently as possible...all while ensuring that they listen to God for guidance in making the best choice possible for the Church. It's definitely not for the faint of heart.

Robert Harris is well-known for his historical fiction - Here, he seamlessly blends the facts and history of the conclave with a mostly fictional, but extremely well-written and believable story, with totally believable characters. I finished listening to it in two days!

As I said, the story is fictitious, but Mister Harris has taken great pains to make sure that he got his facts about the conclave accurate. I watched some videos of the publicly visible aspects of recent conclaves and was amazed at the way the descriptions of the rituals in the book and the actual footage of them matched up.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

So engrossing, I couldn't stop listening!

Revisado: 03-13-23

In "The Mayfair Bookshop", Eliza Knight weaves a delightful story based on the life of British aristocrat, socialite and writer, Nancy Mitford and a fictional book curator, Lucy Saint Clair, a devout Mitford fan who is distantly related to Nancy's ex fiance. Lucy accepts a temporary position at Heywood Hill, the bookshop in London where Nancy worked as a staff member for several years. Lucy brings a stack of Nancy's letters with her to London, determined to uncover the secret behind a mysterious inscription in one of her favorite Mitford novels from her own home library, but she'll only be at Heywood Hill for three weeks - Is it to much to believe that she can solve the mystery in such a short time?

All the places and most of the people in the story were, in fact, real individuals, which greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the audiobook. Knight's thorough research into the lives of Nancy and her family members and friends, and the places where they lived, worked, and played is evident in the structure and depth of the book. I can honestly say that it's been one of my favorite reads of the year so far - encouraging me to learn about the Mitford family for myself.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Engrossing and Believable

Revisado: 02-11-23

In The Appeal, John Grisham writes about a small town in Mississippi where a major chemical plant has been poisoning the water with toxic chemicals for years. People had been dying of cancer right and left - eighty-six at last count - and their loved ones and other cancer victims are demanding answers. A local court found in favor of the victims, but the company appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court. Can they swing the Court in their favor before the case comes up on the docket?

As usual, John Grisham weaves a masterful, engaging, thought-provoking, totally believable story against the backdrop of an actual issue facing our nation's justice system. The stories are fictitious, but the background research that he does before writing them is so thorough, that they could easily be found in today's newspapers.

Longtime Grisham audiobook narrator Michael Beck's delightful character impressions and scene descriptions enhance an engrossing story.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Head Over Heels

Revisado: 08-30-22

I''m head over heels for this first installment of Duffy Brown's Cycle Path trilogy. The characters would have been believable and relatable anyway, but Ceit Zweil's colorful narration added to the engrossing story - I couldn't stop listening - and I love the series so much, that I already bought the other two audiobooks!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas