Pleasant Mystery in a Living Urban Fantasy World

I've always had a soft spot for urban fantasy, but generally along the lines of a Dresden Files/Daniel Faust perspective with the protagonist perpetually needling the fantastic around them. This book was a pleasant change of pace into a cozy mystery where the characters exist within a well thought out world and work cases within their niche while interacting with the rest of their fantastical ecosystem as well as the normal world.

This particular case was definitely interesting as important people from across the spectrum of fantasy creatures were involved in a ransom case, which left the diverse members of the PI-esque firm opportunities to do what they do best, and in some cases overstep bounds and improve as a group.

The author also manages to include details about the lives of her characters outside the work place, with familial and romantic relationships but not focusing on those to the detriment of the story. It definitely feels like a well thought out universe to which I could easily return in the future.

Narration was pleasant as well, the narrator doing a good job of presenting the different characters and unique traits of their particular kind.

I received the review code for this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily posted this honest review. Thank you!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Mystery, Enchantment, and Surprises

J.B and Jemma get together while her twin brother Jason fights an enchantment with the office fairy. People are bribing people in high positions and they must find out before life gets crazy. Another exciting book that captures your attention!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Another Hit

This story was given to me via audiobook boom and this is my voluntary review. This is a continuation of a series that captured my attention from the first book. The narrator added so much to the story. All of the characters were vital to the story and it would not have been complete without each one. So glad that Jason will get the help he needs. Grandpa was something else.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

The Series is improving, but still unfocused

Kearney returns with the third book in this series. The story was a little better than the previous two, but it was still a little unfocused between the characters personal problems which seemed to take precedence over the actual case/mystery.

This time, three of Tropolis' most powerful citizens, the mayor, a vampire and a crime boss, are being blackmailed, and have hired JB to find the perpetrator. The members of JB's agency, including himself, all have personal issues going on - a possible cheating husband, JB's father is dying plus he is in a new relationship with Gemma which is distracting him, and Jason is in thrall to Zhanna. I'd really like to see the mysteries themselves take precedence over the characters personal issues, as well as having the mysteries be a little deeper and the main focus of the story.

Kearney got a new narrator for this one, and she is a great improvement over the previous one. She kept my attention and made the story more enjoyable. It's too bad the first two can't be re-recorded with her, but that is expensive and probably not justifiable.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Truely enjoyed final book

I really enjoyed this final book But I want more. The characters were so vibrant and had a lot of depth. I could really get into more books with these characters. I hope the author plans on writing more in this series.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Ancestral Secrets: Book 3 in the Adept Solutions S

It's been a great few days between JB and Gemma. They connected at a friend's wedding and are enjoying their closeness. When JB goes to the cafe for coffee beans and donuts he's kidnapped and taken. When the hood is taken off he finds himself with the local crime boss who wants to hire him to find a blackmailer. Shortly thereafter the mayor hires him to find a blackmailer. Then the local head vampire hires him to, yup you guessed it, to find a blackmailer. Now JB and his troop must discover who the blackmailer is and why. Their investigation leads to a government agency nicknamed DogPee. Now the game is afoot and the adept agency must chase down clues and suspects while facing personal issues.
Apryl Renee West brings each character to life and embues each with a personality.
Fantastic audio and story.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

I'm going to miss the Adept Solutions team........

Ancestral Secrets is the third and final book in this series...at least for now. This book continues to be very character driven, and I am still loving these characters. In this story, Adept Solutions is hired by four separate magical bigwigs, and they all want the same thing: to discover the person or persons blackmailing them for secrets in their ancestry. It would seem like a simple case - bill four clients for working one case. Of course, nothing is straightforward or easy in the magical city of Tropolis. Add to the work stress, all of the team are struggling with personal issues. I don't want to spoil the story, so I will just say that the team all comes out well in the end, and the author did a great job of pulling me into each person's drama. The ending left me conflicted; sad about some outcomes and very happy about others, but I was thoroughly entertained throughout the entire story and actually the entire series.

It took me awhile to get used to Apryl Renee West's narration, but that was all about me having listened to the first two books with a different narrator. West does an admirable job of living up to her predecessor, and I would listen to another of her narrations in the future. She does not differentiate overly between characters, but I always knew which character was speaking, so her subtle variations were successful.

I received a copy of this audiobook at my request in exchange for this honest review.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

JB's adventures continue...:)

This is the third book in the series and it's as entertaining as the previous two. It also has the same strengths and weaknesses as the other books in the series. On the one hand, the plot is fast-paced and logical, the characters are likeable and the banter between them quite funny; on the other hand, the case is solved almost too easily, without bigger obstacles and red herrings on the way. But there are also new players in the game and the background is better developed, focusing more on the magical-normal tension which so far has not been so obvious and not a big part of the world building.

Narration by Ms West is really good, though you can easily speed it up a bit without loosing much from her performance. She does voices well and the characters' personalities come out nicely in her interpretation.

DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Smoothly Written Fantasy

Opens with a seemingly clear storyline, but escalated into an intriguing detective mystery. The characters were clearly described additional characters coming in as plot thickens. Has some good comic relief at perfect timing. Narration was performed quite well and was easy to understand. I recommend this audiobook for ages 15 and older due to some tense situations.
I was given this audiobook for free and I freely give it my rating and opinion

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

What a difference a narrator can make

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

What a difference a narrator can make. This was another installment in what has been a solid urban fantasy, PI series. The narration, though, is more engaging and dynamic to listen to. All in all, this made for a great listening experience and 4 hours of entertainment.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful