Natalie

Obnoxious, judgmental sleuth

Revisado: 03-01-16

What would have made Bookplate Special better?

The main character, Tricia Miles, is very annoying. She's judgmental and rather small-minded.

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

It was utterly predictable. Predictability does not bother me when I read an excellent book, but this one does not meet that criteria.

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

Campbell has a good voice and I would seek out her other narrations. Her inflections are nice, and she is clear and a pleasure to listen to. Had I been reading the book in paper, I might have skipped parts or put it down.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It's very easy to listen to and I sort of enjoyed disliking most of the characters. There's a lot of implausibility. Side plots went nowhere and just took up space (smashing pumpkins, cats, the freegans).

Any additional comments?

I probably will not continue with this series. If the main character were a bit more amiable I might continue. It's odd that many reviewers say that the book has liberal viewpoints. I think that Tricia is very conservative and lacks imagination.

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Note so much as mystery as a sexcapade

Revisado: 09-27-14

Would you try another book from J. D. Robb and/or Susan Ericksen?

No, I would not try a JD Robb book although I have nothing against Susan Ericksen. The writing is filled with every sexual cliche possibly. It you like to read about throbbing and pulsating and golden orgasms you might enjoy it.

Would you ever listen to anything by J. D. Robb again?

No--I like well-written mysteries and thrillers. And it they are not well-written, they should be suspenseful. I am quitting just about mid-way through because there was a hour-long sex scene that bored me to deep irritation with all of the bad writing. I am not a prude; I just cannot tolerate writing that offers me nothing.

How could the performance have been better?

Performance was fine.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was disappointed. This book is well-reviewed. It's a poorly spent credit and I can not return it because I have had it over a year.

Any additional comments?

I have resolved to be more careful about buying books on Audible so that I can listen to them within 12 months. What a waste of a credit! I knew that Nora Roberts/JD Robb was very popular, but this foray into the tripe is too much for me. I do not consider myself a literary snob, so I am disappointed. I wish that Amazon had categorized this novel as "romance" instead of "Mystery/thriller".

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Review in the New York Times let me astray!

Revisado: 09-20-14

What disappointed you about The Vacationers?

There was little substance. The characters were mainly stereotyped wealthy New Yorkers. The plot is that their smugness gets a little bit rattled, but then they can return to "Eliteness".

Has The Vacationers turned you off from other books in this genre?

It has changed my opinion about the kinds of books reviewed and praised by the NY Times. I will do much better "due diligence" before I invest in books again.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I think that the narrator was just fine; she could not have done much better with the flimsy material.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Vacationers?

I would have said: "DO not publish this book". Or I would have given it some sort of Trigger Warning: Wealthy Smugness to Ensure"

Any additional comments?

It's a summer romp. And I should have stuck to the genres I can trust and the authors I have tested.

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Pace of story is glacial

Revisado: 09-20-14

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I think it would be a good book for those who like to get into the minutia of people's lives; but for people hoping to have a typical Lippman mystery, there's going to be disappointment

If you’ve listened to books by Laura Lippman before, how does this one compare?

I have read other books by her. The Tess Monaghan series reflects Lippman at her best. Her stand-alone novels are widely uneven, ranging from excellent to disappointing.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I thought that the narrator did a fine job. Linda Emond is a Broadway actress and singer who has a very pleasant voice.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I think not. I might get it from Netflix.

Any additional comments?

I am a bit torn. It is NOT just a mystery. It is NOT a romance. It is insufficient as a family saga: I feel as if it is, like Pirandello's play, "Six Characters in Search of an Author", "SIx plot lines in search of unity".

If anything, the genre is anthropological or sociological. Ultimately a letdown. I would recommend that Lippman fans procure this from the library and see what they think. Or give it a speedy try and return it if you are not swept in with the first hour.

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Fun caper

Revisado: 06-11-14

Would you listen to The Millionaires again? Why?

Yes, I enjoyed the book. I might not listen to it a second time because I recall the plot, but I would read other books by the same author.

If you’ve listened to books by Brad Meltzer before, how does this one compare?

n/a

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

I liked both Charlie and Oliver.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was amused, but not extremely so.

Any additional comments?

This is a fun romp/caper.

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Terribly difficult narration

Revisado: 06-11-14

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The female narrator elides her words so that they are extremely difficult to understand. For example the word "Balconies" sounds like "bakkanies" I had to give up after 15 minutes of tortured attempts to comprehend.

Would you ever listen to anything by Michael Ennis again?

Maybe but I would need to sample the narration first.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Listening to her words meant that I could not follow the plot line. I guess I cannot comprehend and listen at the same time!

Any additional comments?

Please avoid this unless you are fluent in navigating thick Italian accents. The book might be superb, but we cannot get around the narration.

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No motive, means, or explanation

Revisado: 06-11-14

What would have made Whodunnit?: Murder in Mystery Manor better?

I wish that an explanation had been provided. It is heinous to listen to a mystery for several hours and then have the murderer be revealed with not one single word as to motive, means, or opportunity.

Has Whodunnit?: Murder in Mystery Manor turned you off from other books in this genre?

It has made me very wary of listening to free books.

The narrator, however, was quite good.

Which scene was your favorite?

Probably the very first one---the set-up because I was oblivious to the face that the denouement would be such a let-down!

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It was a good traditional murder mystery in a time-honored genre---there was simply no mention of any motivation or means.

Any additional comments?

I was terribly disappointed!

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Homage to Miss Marple and her village?

Revisado: 06-11-14

Would you listen to Wicked Autumn again? Why?

Yes, I would. It is a good story with a great narrator and a complex mystery is woven. The tone is a bit breezy and tongue-in-cheek, which makes it a good listen for lighter moments.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wicked Autumn?

Learning about the background of Max Tudor, a former MI5 agent turned Anglican priest in the small village of Nether Monkslip.

Which character – as performed by Michael Page – was your favorite?

Max Tudor although other characters, who are less developed are memorable. I hope that some of them continue on in the series.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found it gripping and I enjoyed the homage to the traditional Golden Age of the British cozy mystery and the small town. I could imagine Miss Marple set down here. I like the town shops and the fair. On the other hand, I suspect that the author is am American because there are some non-Britishisms that I caught here and there, (but do not recollect).

Any additional comments?

I plan to continue with the series. It is the equivalent of "comfort food" for me. I hope that the minor characters will return and be better developed. Some readers might not be entirely comfortable with all aspects of this book--it is very contemporary despite the fact that I kept thinking it was the 1930's. Mentions of google or the internet sometimes seem jarring in contrast with the Olde Tyme Englishe Fayre.

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Boring Road--not much of a mystery

Revisado: 06-11-14

Would you try another book from Lori Roy and/or Marguerite Gavin?

Not from Lori Roy. Marguerite Gavin seems to be a fine narrator. I cannot believe that this book won an Edgar!

What was most disappointing about Lori Roy’s story?

The title, "Bent Road" is a misnomer. It should be straight and tedious road. It's very slow and tedious, plodding and repetitious, and the characters do not stand out in any way.

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

I liked her voice and she did as well as she could with the narration. In the end, however, if the words are ploddingly tedious, the best narrator cannot make a book come alive.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was disappointed---even angry---because this book has won an Edgar Award for best first novel. I suppose it looks atmospherically at dysfunctional families in Kansas, but the view is too claustrophobic for the listener.

Any additional comments?

I have decided to abandon listening after slightly over 2 hours. I don't care about this book or the characters. I listen to books because I like to be gripped and curious and eager to return. When I dread the "listen" it means it's time to toss the book. If the first two hours do not pull me in, why continue with a purgatorial listen?

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My favorite cousin is a nice young boy in the KKK!

Revisado: 04-19-14

What disappointed you about Down Home Murder?

It was a listing of terribly unhealthy fast food consumed by a very large family. The narrator felt so very sympathetic towards her cousin, a new member of the KKK.

What was most disappointing about Toni L. P. Kelner’s story?

I will never fall for a "deal of the day" again without doing much more investigation. This "mystery" was a disaster for me. None of the characters had any character except a love for fast food. The narrator cum "detective" is mainly memorable because she loved sausage biscuits. Having moved to Boston, she evidently could find nary a sausage nor a biscuit. Is this book an advertisement for Hardee's and McDonald's?

What didn’t you like about Gayle Hendrix’s performance?

Too much Southern, too much lightness--I really did not like her drawls and wondered seriously if the speed on my iPod was off. It was not.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was angry and disappointed. I did not like the trite treatment of race; I did not like the huge cast of greedy characters who cared more about the menu than the death among them.

Any additional comments?

I won't be fooled again. This is most certainly the worst "read" I have had on audible.com.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas