Audiobook Review: Golden Handcuffs

 Golden Handcuffs
Author:  Polly Courtney
Narrator: Anne Day-Jones
Unabridged, Lengths 11 hrs 57 mins
Publisher: Polly Courtney

Publishers Summary

"A job at Cray McKinley is whatever you make of it. For the real high flyers, there's no limit to what you can achieve."
Abby is a high flyer. But she's not your average banker. Driven by something other than money and status, she has her own reasons for climbing the ladder. And so does Mike. An ambitious young graduate with an equally impressive CV, Mike is in it for the six-figure salaries and fast cars. He's got the skills, the grades and the swagger to make it all the way to the top.
But neither Abby nor Mike is prepared for the life that awaits them behind the mirrored glass doors. In a world where verbal abuse is commonplace, greed is everywhere and sexual harassment is just part of the fun, the young bankers are forced to find new ways to compete - and not just against one another.
Based on the author's experiences as a junior investment banker, Golden Handcuffs is a fresh, gripping insight into life inside a Wall Street bank and what it really means to sell your soul to the City.
©2006 Polly Courtney (P)2014 Polly Courtney

My Thoughts:
Golden Handcuffs truly paints a grim picture of the experience of working in the banking industry. The horrible greed and deceit fostered by competition to climb the corporate ladder would make it hard to trust co-workers. Any young person who wants to go into banking should read (or listen) so they'd know that the prestige of the position and the financial rewards may not be worth the abuse they would face.  I thought it would be more interesting but I'm probably not the right audience for it.  I couldn't understand why Abby put up with being treated so badly.  She didn't seem to care about the prestige or the money.  Her romantic relationship with traitorous Mike did not ring true.  I found any account of Mike and his life to be as boring as watching paint dry.  Abby was more interesting even if I couldn't figure her out.  At the end of the story I wanted to kick her. 

 Narrator Anne Day-Jones has a pleasant voice and her tone and pace were great. There are a few glitches in the production (skips, repeats, overlapping lines) but they were not her fault.  I liked her performance and definitely want to hear more of her work.  

The story is based on the author's actual experience as a junior investment banker and the whole time I was listening, I kept thinking that it would have been better as an autobiography instead of a fictional story.   I give it 3 stars and recommend it to any young person looking to get a position in banking or any highly paid corporate position. 

Review copy provided by the author. 

Audiobook Review: Going Shogun

Going Shogun
Author: Ernie Lindsey
Narrator: DJ Holte
Unabridged, 
Length: 6 hrs, 19 min
Publisher: Ernie Lindsey 6/18/14
    
Publishers Summary:
On the run. Out of time. A brownie recipe worth millions.
Lovable loser Chris waits tables by day and dreams of making something better of himself by night. But, under the almighty, oppressive rule of The Board and their divisive caste system, it's nearly impossible. That is until his super-geek pal and fellow waiter, Forklift, hits upon a foolproof scheme: steal their employer's ultra-popular, top secret recipes and sell them on a black market internet site.
It's all fun and games until the mysterious death of a local hacker shatters their surefire plan, sending them on a fast-paced adventure through the city's seedy underground, where they hope to salvage what's left and avoid capture by the Board Agents at all costs. Nobody comes back from that. Nobody.
©2013 Ernie Lindsey (P)2014 Ernie Lindsey

My Thoughts:
Listening to Going Shogun is the most fun I've had in ages.  I'm on my third time listening and I'm still giggling and grinning.  I love Ernie Lindsey's sense of humor and his ability to tell a story so vividly I feel as if I'm there.  I was totally entertained by the adventures of Chris (aka Brick) and his best friend Forklift and their world dominated by a controlling government agency called The Board.  Chris seems to be an ordinary young man looking to better his station in life.  Forklift, with his buck teeth and zebra striped hair stands out in a crowd, as Chris puts it "like a French fry in a basket of Tater Tots." Forklift also has a unique jargon which he seems to invent as he speaks.  I love the street slang and names that were just plain funny, like the garage band Grime and Punishment or the country band  Tale of Two Kitties. 

I have the Kindle version and I had to check it to determine if the adventurers are going to Urine Town or You're-in-Town.  But reading Going Shogun it and hearing DJ Holte's performance is  like the difference between watching a black and white movie on a 19" TV  and then watching it at the theater in full color with surround sound. His performance is perfect with a unique voice for each character.  He is able to capture the emotion of the moment, whether the characters experiencing danger,  excitement or romance.

The review copy was provided to me by DJ Holte.   Below is a review video he created. 

I give Going Shogun  5 stars and highly recommend it with a warning:  Every audiobook you listen to afterward will seem mighty dull. 

Audiobook Review: Authority: Southern Reach Triolgy, Book 2

Authority:
Southern Reach Trilogy, Book 2
Author: Jeff Vandemeer
Narrator: Bronson Pinchot
Unabridged, 10 hrs 35 mins
Publisher: Blackstone Audio 
Release date: 5/6/14

Publishers Summary:
The bone-chilling, hair-raising second installment of the Southern Reach Trilogy.

For 30 years, a secret agency called the Southern Reach has monitored expeditions into Area X - a remote and lush terrain mysteriously sequestered from civilization. After the 12th expedition, the Southern Reach is in disarray, and John Rodriguez (a.k.a. "Control") is the team's newly appointed head. From a series of interrogations, a cache of hidden notes, and more than two hundred hours of profoundly troubling video footage, the secrets of Area X begin to reveal themselves - and what they expose pushes Control to confront disturbing truths about both himself and the agency he's promised to serve.
©2014 Jeff VanderMeer (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.   

My Thoughts:  
The second installment of this trilogy was not at all what I expected.  The story is told from the prospective of John Rodriguez who has chosen to be called Control,  a nickname from his childhood. Authority was confusing and surreal and at first I found it hard to keep my attention on the story.  Control has been sent to the Southern Reach to replace the previous director who was also the psychologist in charge of the last expedition to Area X.  After listening to the story a second time I realized confusing aspect was deliberate on the part of the author.  It showed the state of mind of  Control, who didn't really seem to have any control over himself or events.  As the replacement director, he didn't seem to have any real authority at the Southern Reach either, partly due to the animosity of his assistant director, Grace.   He is working undercover to find answers about Area X and makes his reports by phone to an unknown handler that he refers to as the Voice.  There are strange clues such as a squashed mosquito on his windshield and blocks of time he has no memory of, but Control finally learns some truths about what is happening to him.  There are plenty of unexpected plot twists and an ending that I didn't expect.

The best part of Authority was Bronson Pinchot's excellent narration.  He is great at performing the different voices, especially the voices of creepy Whitby, odd Cheney and the moody biologist.   Pinchot has the ability to make a creepy scene even creepier with his tone and inflection.  While listening to the scene with Whitby and his weird art, I felt cold chills down my spine.  

I didn't like Authority quite as much as Annihilation.  I give it a B  for story and A+ for narration.  Branson Pinchot is now one of my favorite narrators.  I can't wait for the final installment of the trilogy.  

Review copy provided by Blackstone Audio.
 

Audiobook Review: Phantom Canyon

Phantom Canyon
Authors: Susan Bridges, Jeffrey Thorne, Jeffrey Bridges
Narrators: Pendant Productions 
Unabridged, Length 2 hrs, 35 min
Publisher: Pendant Productions 2/27/14


Publishers Summary:
Sam, a guilt-ridden blacksmith, gets a telegram from the woman he left behind, asking for help. He returns to his hometown to find the "afflicted" roaming the streets, and discovers that letting go of the past is even more difficult than battling supernatural hordes. 
©2014 Pendant Productions (P)2014 Pendant Productions

My Thoughts:
This audio drama was truly a treat for me.  As an old fart who dates back to BT (before television) I can remember sitting with my ear glued to the radio so I wouldn't miss a second of CBS Suspense! or Gunsmoke.   I am not usually a fan of westerns or horror however Phantom Canyon is a combination of both genres that I found intriguing.  But was not the weird western horror tale that drew me in right away.  It was the humor.  I've listened to and laughed out loud several times at this line, "And what? Finishing that sentence is liable to get you told to selfcopulate."   I really enjoyed the story and the sound effects were outstanding, especially the zombie sounds.  Very creepy.  The writing and acting is topnotch.  I highly recommend Phantom Canyon to anyone who likes a good creepy story but my recommendation comes with a warning.  If you love to listen everywhere you go like I do, you just might find yourself in the grocery store with your hand clamped over your mouth so you won't appear to be walking around laughing out loud at nothing.  I had to listen to that part again when I got home.  

Review copy provided by Jeffrey Bridges and Pendant Productions
You can find Phantom Canyon on Amazon and iTunes

Audiobook Review: Annihilation: Southern Reach Triolgy, Book 1

Annihilation:
Southern Reach Trilogy, Book 1
Author: Jeff Vandemeer
Narrator: Carolyn McCormick
Unabridged, 6 hrs.
Publisher: Blackstone Audio 
Release date: 2/4/14

Publishers Summary:
If J. J. Abrams, Margaret Atwood, and Alan Weisman collaborated on a novel…it might be this awesome.

Area X has been cut off from the rest of the continent for decades. Nature has reclaimed the last vestiges of human civilization. The first expedition returned with reports of a pristine, Edenic landscape; all the members of the second expedition committed suicide; the third expedition died in a hail of gunfire as its members turned on one another; the members of the eleventh expedition returned as shadows of their former selves, and within months of their return, all had died of aggressive cancer.
This is the twelfth expedition.
Their group is made up of four women: An anthropologist, a surveyor, a psychologist - the de facto leader - and a biologist, who is our narrator. Their mission is to map the terrain and collect specimens; to record all their observations, scientific and otherwise, of their surroundings and of one another; and, above all, to avoid being contaminated by Area X itself.
They arrive expecting the unexpected, and Area X delivers - they discover a massive topographic anomaly and life forms that surpass understanding - but it's the surprises that came across the border with them and the secrets the expedition members are keeping from one another that change everything.
©2014 Jeff VanderMeer (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.   

My Thoughts:
Annihilation is just way too short so I'm glad it's the first in a trilogy.  It's intense and riveting and left me with many questions. I wanted more and hoped I had only downloaded part of it.  I checked and rechecked but, alas, I'll have to wait for the second installment.  So, I listened to it again.  It seemed to me that the group of women were already annihilated before they began the mission.  They were stripped of their names and identified only by their respective skill set.  And they knew there was a good chance they would not come back from the mission.  The story is told from the viewpoint of the biologist.  Even in the beginning, her viewpoint is different from the others.  What the others describe as a tunnel, the biologist sees it as a tower.  She is changed even further by the accidental ingestion of spores from the creeping fungi (which is writing words on the wall).  The biologist's reason for joining the expedition is also different; her husband was a part of the previous expedition.  

Carolyn McCormick delivers the biologist's detached observations of people and vivid descriptions of Area X with perfection.  McCormick has been a favorite of mine since I enjoyed her performance in The Hunger Games.  There are plans to make The Southern Reach Trilogy into a movie (read about it here) but I want to hear Carolyn McCormick read the next two installments to me before I see the movie.  

I highly recommend Annihilation to anyone who enjoys dystopian science fiction.  I give it an A+ for story and narration.

Review copy provided by Blackstone Audio.

 
 

Audiobook Review:The Pink Tarantula: A Novel in 9 Episodes

The Pink Tarantula: A Novel in 9 Episodes
Author:  Tim Wohlforth 
Narrator:  Stephen R. Thorne
Unabridged, Length 6 hours
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc 12/30/13

Publishers Summary:
In this novel of nine closely related episodes, we join Crip and Henrietta, as unlikely a detective duo as ever hit the streets.
Crip and Henrietta aren't your typical California private eyes. For one thing, Crip's real name is Tom Bateman. His sometime sidekick with body piercings and spiked green hair, Henrietta, calls him "Crip" because he's in a wheelchair. When she isn't mocking him, Henrietta grows marijuana, hangs with jailbirds, and brings in cases that reek of trouble - and weed - at first sniff. Henrietta's idea of a favor? Well, a couple of crazed fighting dogs need a home.
In these episodes, we watch Crip and Henrietta's relationship grow as both characters struggle to bridge chasms of bitterness and mistrust. The private eye business in California hasn't gotten this kind of a reworking since Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler planted their gumshoes onto these mean streets. 

My Thoughts:
The episodes in The Pink Tarantula would make a fantastic adult animated series starring this unusual detective team, Tom Bateman, a private eye on wheels and Henrietta, with her green spiked hair, green nails and green panties showing through ragged jeans.  Henrietta calls Tom "Crip" and enjoys insulting him.  Tom doesn't actually like Henrietta but finds life without her dull.  She is constantly dragging him into unusual cases, such as an investigation into the murder of her friend Jesus Christ who had been living in her bushes.  One of the reasons I chose this book was its unusual title.  The Pink Tarantula Beauty Salon shows up in the eighth episode as a murder scene.  The murdered hairdresser is Henrietta's friend so naturally she calls Crip.  The unusual duo are colorful and interesting but seem one dimensional. That may be why I kept visualizing their actions in a comic book or adult animation. 

 Narrator Stephen R. Thorne has a perfect voice for Crip but not so much for Henrietta.  If this novel is ever made into an animated series, they should get Thorne to do Crip's voice.  

I would give The Pink Tarantula three stars all around.  There was a lot of repetition and it didn't really hang together as a novel, but man, would I love to see it as an adult animation! It would have to be rated R, of course, due to the graphic violence and Henrietta's language.  Henrietta would need a nickname too, perhaps Hinx.  The series could be named "The Adventures of Crip & Hinx." I'd be hooked from the first episode. 

Review copy provided by Blackstone Audio 
 

Audiobook Review: Invitation to Die

 

Invitation to Die

(An Emily Castles Mystery, Book 1)

Author: Helen Smith

Narrator: Alison Larkin

Unabridged, Length 6 hrs 20 min

Publisher: Brilliance Audio 10/15/13

Publishers Summary:

Twenty-six-year-old Emily Castles is out of work…again. So when famous romance author Morgana Blakely offers her a job helping out at a conference in London, Emily accepts. Just as eagerly, American blogger Winnie Kraster accepts an invitation from Morgana to attend as a guest, not realizing she has, in effect, accepted an invitation to die.

As a cast of oddball characters assembles at the conference hotel, grievances, differences, and secrets begin to emerge.
When Winnie goes missing, and then is found murdered nearby, Emily begins to suspect that someone involved with the conference is responsible. Could it be one of the organizers, one of the authors, a member of the hotel staff, or even the supplier of the chocolates for the conference gift bags?
Emily teams up with guest speaker and eccentric philosophy professor Dr. Muriel to find out. Offbeat and engaging, this entertaining comic mystery is the first to feature amateur British sleuth Emily Castles.
©2013 Helen Smith (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.  

My Thoughts: 
Absolutely hilarious!  Although I love mysteries, it wasn't the story that kept me listening. Oh, there was a murder committed and plenty of red herrings to keep me guessing but I was laughing so hard at times that I missed a clue or two.  The Romance Writers of Great Britain are hosting a conference which will include blogger reviewers who have won a writing contest.  One of the bloggers is murdered before anyone even meets her.  Is it because of a one star review she has written about one of the authors' novels?  The writers are a zany bunch.  Cerys Cadfael is in a snit due to "picking up something nasty on the Google alert" (it was a negative review of her latest work).  Zena writes sensual romance novels and her ritual for inspiration includes lying in her bath. She prepares for her day with chanting and an altar.  She even has a portable altar for when she travels.  Morgana Blakely, famous romance novelist, is presiding over the conference.  She has hired Emily Castles to help.  Morgana seems to need a lot of drinks to calm her nerves and give her courage to deal with the publicity over the murder.  Emily is a very unusual sleuth.  She solves the crime by noticing anomalies and sometimes stops during her investigation to wonder WWJD.  What would Jesse do?  Jesse was a much loved deceased pet dog.  A little silly but funny as well.  I was entertained by the way Emily's mind works.  

I couldn't seem to keep up with the male characters.  The names Des and Lex (or was it Les and Dex?) were so close I couldn't remember which was which.  Maybe I just didn't find the men as funny as the women.  

Alison Larkin's performance was brilliant. I thought she was particularly good with Morgana and Lena's voices.  Invitation to Die is definately a book that is better heard than read.  I would have pronounced Cerys as if it begins with the letter 's' when it's such a beautiful name if pronounced right.  

This was my first experience with Helen Smith's writing.  I really like her wit and sense of humor.   I'm looking forward to more of her work.  I give Invitation to Die 5 stars because I laughed all the way through it.  

Review copy provided by the author.  Listen to a sample here.











 
 

 

 

Audiobook Review: Harmless

Harmless
Author: Ernie Lindsey
Narrator: DJ Holte
Unabridged, 
Length: 10 hrs, 34 min
Publisher: Ernie Lindsey 11/11/13

Publishers Summary:
From the USA TODAY and Amazon best-selling author of Sara's Game,..this is Harmless, an unconventional love story, a murder mystery, and a laugh out loud, hilarious work of fiction. 

There's someone for everyone...even Steve. Steve Pendragon is an eccentric (and sometimes delusional) used car salesman in love with Kerry, the quiet, secretive girl next door - only she doesn't know it. When the would-be love of his life turns up dead, all signs point to Steve.   Once the detectives hit a dead end in their investigation and he becomes the prime suspect, Steve is left with only a reluctant police officer and a crooked private investigator to help him prove his innocence. Could a kindhearted homeless woman and a cryptic note in Kerry's diary provide the key to the mystery?
©2013 Ernie Lindsey (P)2013 Ernie Lindsey 

My Thoughts:
I totally enjoyed Harmless! Actually enjoyed doesn't really express how I experienced it.  I couldn't put it down.  My plans to go out shopping or visit a relative flew out the window as soon as I started listening.  I took the whole day and listened from beginning to end. I love mysteries that include humor.  This book has all the required elements of that kind of mystery - laugh out loud moments, plot twists and surprises, and an unconventional love story.   Steve Pendragon appears at first to be a clueless, self-centered man.  The people he chooses to be his friends find him acutely annoying.  He can't seem to get to the point of a story without going off the subject.   I found him fascinating.  I liked the way he observed the world and how he found character attributes in other people that he identified with.  He is a bit psychic and describes himself as "operating on a higher plane."  He is obsessed with the post office and mail delivery.   

What I liked most about Harmless was the performance of the narrator, DJ Holte.  It was as if I had Steve following me around telling me his story and not minding when I laughed at him.  That's an experience I would never get from the print version.  From the first word of the audio sample, I knew this was a voice I would enjoy.  I'm adding DJ Holte to my list of favorite narrators and hope to hear more of his work.   

Author Ernie Lindsey has crafted a story that is funny and entertaining with a main character you will grow to love.  I highly recommend the audio version of Harmless and give it 5 stars all around.  

Review copy was provided by DJ Holte.  Listen to a sample here

Audiobook Review: Happiness as a Second Language: A Guidebook to Achieving Lasting Permanent Happiness

Happiness as a Second Language: 
A Guidebook to Achieving Lasting Permanent Happiness
Author: Valerie Alexander
Narrator: Valerie Alexander
Unabridged, Length 3 hrs, 8 min
Publisher: Valerie Alexander 10/1/13

Publishers Summary:

The Ultimate Happiness "Textbook" for Everyone!
Happiness as a Second Language teaches happiness step-by-step, in the same manner as one would learn a new language. Each chapter builds on the concepts and exercises in the previous one, starting with the most basic lessons, progressing through the intermediate stages, and finally graduating to the more advanced concepts.
In addition, the audiobook contains "Audiobook Bonus" segments at the end of select chapters where the author has created exclusive audiobook content containing additional anecdotes and examples.
It is simple and straightforward, the instructions easy to follow, and the sample situations familiar, touching, often heartbreaking and sometimes hysterical. Listening to this book is the first step in your journey towards a lifetime of happiness.
Some of the work may seem hard, but with time and effort, you can be fluent in happiness.
©2010 Valerie Alexander (P)2013 Valerie Alexander

My Thoughts:

I think of myself as a happy person already so one of the reasons that I decided to listen to this book is that I felt that it would give me some insight about myself and inspiration to enhance my happiness.  It absolutely did.  

In the chapter "Saying Who You Are," Alexander uses the example of following a slow driver (which she usually has no tolerance for) but stopping to say out loud "I am happy" and then realizing that happy people don't let one slow driver ruin their day.  I've never let slow drivers bother me.  In fact, people riding with me are sometimes annoyed that I don't just whip around the offending driver.  The first time I listened to the book I thought to myself, well, maybe I do know some happiness baby talk.  Then the second time I listened, I realized there are other annoyances and frustrations that I allow to momentarily ruin my happiness.  I'm now trying to stop and realize that I'm a happy person and happy people do not let minor annoyances take their happiness away.  That's just one insight of many.  I listened twice and now I'm going through the Kindle edition, making notes and learning more.

I know people who live in a world of misery, not realizing that it can be changed.  I will recommend Happiness as a Second Language to any of them who will listen.  Anyone can learn the language of happiness. 

Valerie Alexander's narration is perfect.  She has a very pleasant voice and sounds so happy.  I give Happiness as a Second Language a five star rating.

Audiobook review copy provided by the author and publisher Valerie Alexander. 

Happiness as a Second Language in audio format is available at Audible. The Kindle edition is available at Amazon.

 
 

Audiobook Review: The Impersonator

The Impersonator
Author: Mary Miley
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Unabridged, Length 11hrs, 58 min
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc 9/17/13

 Publishers Summary:
 In 1924, a young vaudeville actress takes on the role of a lifetime when she impersonates a missing heiress in The Impersonator, the 2012 MB/MWA First Novel Competition winner. 

In 1917, Jessie Carr, fourteen years old and sole heiress to her family's vast fortune, disappeared without a trace. Now, years later, her uncle Oliver Beckett thinks he's found her: a young actress in a vaudeville playhouse is a dead ringer for his missing niece. But when Oliver confronts the girl, he learns he's wrong. Orphaned young, Leah's been acting since she was a toddler.  Oliver, never one to miss an opportunity, makes a proposition - with his coaching, Leah can impersonate Jessie, claim the fortune, and split it with him. The role of a lifetime, he says. A one-way ticket to Sing Sing, she hears. But when she's let go from her job, Oliver's offer suddenly looks a lot more appealing. Leah agrees to the con but secretly promises herself to try and find out what happened to the real Jessie. There's only one problem: Leah's act won't fool the one person who knows the truth about Jessie's disappearance. 

Set against a Prohibition-era backdrop of speakeasies and vaudeville houses, Mary Miley's The Impersonator will delight readers with its elaborate mystery and lively prose.
©2013 Mary Miley Theobald (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.   

My Thoughts:

I loved The Impersonator so much that I listened to it again.  I don't find many audiobooks that please me so much in every way.   I love Leah Randall.  She  is a truly delightful character and it was a real treat to follow her adventure impersonating the young heiress Jessie Carr.  I loved the mystery and suspense as Leah/Jessie turned her talents to solving murders and, even though it would put her own life in danger, she tries to find out what happened to the real Jessie.

I loved that it was set in the Roaring Twenties and is all about vaudeville.  Author Mary Miley made vaudeville come alive for me and sent me researching for more about that era.  I especially loved the way real vaudeville performers were integrated into the story.  My favorite was Jack Benny.  Leah had shared the stage with Benny and become friends.  She asked him to help her with the murder investigation and he gladly did so.  I can remember sitting with my ear glued to the radio when I was a very small child, delighting in the Jack Benny Show (his later ones).  A warm memory that sent me searching the internet where I found all of the Jack Benny Shows.  

I loved the narration.  This was my first experience with Tavia Gilbert's work.  Her stellar performance gave Leah/Jessie's voice energy and sparkle.  She was great with all the voices.  I'm adding her to my favorite narrator list.

I was happy to find The Impersonator is the first in the Roaring Twenties series.  I can't wait for the next one!  I absolutely loved it and I give it 5 stars for story, narration and production.  I would recommend it to anyone who who likes a good mystery/thriller, especially one set in the Roaring Twenties. 

Review copy provided by Blackstone Audio via the Audiobook Jukebook Solid Gold Reviewer program. 


 

Audiobook Review: Dream Doctor: Dreams, Book 2

Dream Doctor: Dreams, Book 2

Author: J.J. DiBendetto

Narrator: Heather Jane Hogan

Unabridge, 11 hrs, 6 min

Publisher: James J. DiBendetto 
Audio release date: 10/2/13

 Book Description 
 

“I didn’t expect to be woken up by someone I don’t know dreaming about killing somebody. I thought I was done with that once and for all…”

But Sara’s not done with it. As if adjusting to life as a newlywed and starting medical school weren’t difficult enough, she’s started seeing the dreams of everyone around her, again. Before everything is said and done, those dreams might destroy Sara’s hopes of becoming a doctor, wreck her marriage and even end her life…

“Dream Doctor” is the thrilling second novel in the Dreams series©2013.
 James DiBenedetto (P)2013 James DiBenedetto. 

My Thoughts:

Dream Doctor, the second book in the Dreams series, begins about a year and a half after Dream Student.  Sara and Brian are now married and Sara is very busy with medical school.  The dreams have begun again.  More than one person is dreaming about killing the unpopular professor, Dr. Morris.   And Sara is seeing the dreams of people who are close to her - friends, classmates and family.  Being newly married, she wants to tell Brian everything but has to learn to keep the secrets of those whose dreams she sees.  Keeping the details of her dreams to herself is good practice. After all, a doctor's duty is to keep patient information private.  But she doesn't have to keep the dreams of the potential killer to herself and Brian makes a great partner in helping to solve the mystery.  I love the combination of romance, college life and mystery.  I can see how Sara is maturing as a person and future doctor. 

I do have one nit picky thing that bothered me.  Sara is intelligent and a college student.  She should know the "I and you" grammar rule (e.g. "following Brian and I" instead of "following Brian and me").  

Heather Jane Hogan has a nice voice and I enjoyed her performance except for her pace.  Again, as in Dream Student, I had to speed it up.  Her slow pace might not bother other listeners as it does sound dreamy. I'm glad my audiobook app has the option to listen faster.  

Dream Doctor can stand on it's own but is a great sequel to Dream Student.  I recommend the series to anyone who likes a bit of romance along with the mystery.

Review copy provided by James J. DiBendetto, author and publisher. 

 

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Audiobook Review: A Guide For The Perplexed

A Guide for the Perplexed
Author: Dara Horn
Narrator:  Carrington MacDuffie
Unabridged, Length 10 hrs, 34 min
Publisher: AudioGo
Release Date: 9-9-13

Publishers Summary:
A thrilling new novel exploring how memory shapes the soul, by "an astonishing storyteller."
Software prodigy Josie Ashkenazi has invented a program that records everything its users do. When an Egyptian library invites her to visit as a consultant, her jealous sister Judith persuades her to go. But in Egypt's post-revolutionary chaos, Josie is kidnapped - leaving Judith free to usurp her sister's life, including her husband and daughter, while Josie's talent for preserving memories becomes her only hope of escape.
A century earlier, Solomon Schechter, a Cambridge professor, hunts for a medieval archive hidden in a Cairo synagogue. What he finds will reveal the power and danger of the world Josie's work brings into being - a world where nothing is ever forgotten.
Interweaving stories from Genesis, medieval philosophy, and the digital frontier, A Guide for the Perplexed is a spellbinding tale sure to bring a vast new listener to the acclaimed work of Dara Horn.
©2013 Dara Horn (P)2013 AudioGO

My Thoughts:

The idea of a software that automatically records and preserves memories was intriguing and it reminded me of some of my friends who try to record their life with Facebook and other social media.  It also made me wonder what does happen to our digital life when we are no longer here to monitor or publish our memories?  Of course, in recording our own memories, we add only what we want others to know.  Josie Ashkenazi has invented a software, called Geniza, that records everything and is so precise, it can even make predictions. 

I like a work that leads me to do research and it was interesting to look up Solomon Schechter and his discovery of the rare Hebrew manuscripts (the Cairo Geniza).  However the three story lines left me a bit confused.  I wish it had been a guide for me.  Instead of being spell bound, I was perplexed.  I didn't find the characters to be well developed and had many questions.  Why did Josephine have a nickname (Josie) but Judith did not?  As a Judith who has been called Judy all my life by friends and family, I found that odd.  Could it have been the author's attempt to show the pervasive "Mom loves you best" syndrome?  Why did Judith insist on her sister going to Egypt in the first place?  If it was to take over Josie's life, why did she give it up so readily? Why did Josie forgive her sister so easily?  And why didn't the story end when it should have instead of going on and on like the Energizer bunny?

Carrington MacDuffie's performance was excellent.  She handled the accents and male/female voices perfectly, especially the Scottish twins who would have bored me to tears if I met them in real life.  This was my first experience with her work and I would like to hear more.

I give A Guide for the Perplexed 3.5 for story and 5 stars for narration.

Review copy provided by AudioGo via Audiobook Jukebox.


 

Audiobook Review: Dream Student

Dream Student: Dreams, Book 1

Author: J.J. DiBendetto

Narrator: Heather Jane Hogan

Unabridged, 11 hrs & 33 min

 Publisher: James J. DiBendetto  7/17/13

Publishers Summary:

What would you do if you could see other people's dreams? If you could watch their hidden fantasies and uncover their deepest, darkest secrets without them ever knowing?
Sara Barnes is about to find out. She thought that all she had to worry about was final exams, Christmas shopping and deciding whether she likes the cute freshman in the next dorm who's got a crush on her.  But when she starts seeing dreams that aren't hers, she learns more than she ever wanted to know about her friends, her classmates…and a strange, terrifying man whose dreams could get Sara killed. 

Dream Student is the thrilling first installment of the Dreams Series.
©2013 James DiBenedetto (P)2013 James DiBenedetto   

My Thoughts:
The idea of seeing other people's dreams got me interested in hearing the audio version of Dream Student.  It's an intriguing concept, seeing into other people's minds by way of their dreams. I loved how Sara met Brian, the young man she fell in love with through meeting him in her dreams and seeing him in his.  Not all her dreams are that pleasant.  Someone is murdering young women, and Sara is terrified when she sees the killer's dreams.  I enjoyed this peek into college life from the prospect of a young girl.  She was experiencing college during the same time period I did - late 1989 through 1990.  I was a commuting adult student working my way through college and always wondering how it was for the young people who got to live on campus. 

 I was a little confused at first.  The story was told in Sara's voice but when the dreams happened I was ejected out of her head and the omniscient voice relayed the dream.  Dreams are probably like that but I wouldn't know.  I don't remember mine.  I sort of wished she would just stay in her head and tell me she was in the dream.  But that's just me.  Once I got over my initial confusion I really enjoyed Dream Student.  The voice of the narrator sounded pleasant and appropriate for the age group.  However, she read at such a slow pace I felt that if I had to listen that slowly I wouldn't  be able to enjoy the story.  I did something I rarely do - I sped up the pace to 1.2x and enjoyed it a bit faster than the 11 hrs & 33 mins. 

Usually I recommend the audio version but in this case I think the print version would be just as enjoyable.  However, I look forward to more in the Dream series in audio format. I give it 4 stars for story and narration.  

Review copy provided by James J. DiBendetto, author and publisher. 

Audiobook Review: A Reason to Live: A Marty Singer Mystery Book 1

A Reason to Live 
(A Mary Singer Mystery, Book 1)
Author: Matthew Iden
Narrator: Lloyd Sherr
Unabridged, Length 8 hrs, 10 min
Publisher: Matthew Iden  8/14/13

Publisher's Summary:
 In the late 90s, a bad cop killed a good woman and DC Homicide Detective Marty Singer got to watch as the murderer walked out of the courtroom a free man. Twelve years later, the victim's daughter comes to Marty begging for help: the killer is stalking her now. There's just one problem: Marty's retired...and he's retired because he's battling cancer. But with a second shot at the killer - and a first chance at redemption - Marty's just found…a reason to live.

©2012 Matthew Iden (P)2013 Matthew Iden

My Thoughts:
When I plugged in my earbuds and the oddly familiar voice filled my ears I knew that I would enjoy this audiobook even if the story was ho-hum.  But I was totally hooked by the time I head the voice say, "....as my day dragged itself across the floor of my life."  The writing is crisp and vivid and the characters wonderfully developed.  I laughed out loud at Marty's description of the paper gown he had to wear in the doctor's office.  I felt a sinking in the pit of my stomach when the symptoms of cancer appeared and he got the diagnosis.  Scary feeling, even second hand.

I love Marty Singer.  He is a hero who agrees to help a scared young woman even when his own life is uncertain due to his battle with cancer.  Amanda's mother was murdered twelve years ago and Singer was one of the investigating officers.  She kept his card all these years and has asked him for help.  It seems the murderer (who got away with it) is back and stalking her.  The mystery and plot twists kept me captivated and entertained all the way to the end. 

This was my first audiobook experience with Lloyd Sherr as narrator.  When I looked him up, I saw why his voice seemed so familiar.  He's a voice over artist that I've heard many times and he's the perfect choice for Marty Singer.  His voice pinned me in the moment, left me feeling the emotions of a man worried about his own life, but also a hero who forgets himself long enough to help someone else.  A Reason to Live is already a five star novel in print but I don't think I would be able to imagine Marty as perfectly as Sherr performed it.  I have always been an avid reader but the added dimension of a voice such as Sherr's adds a wonderful intimacy.   A Reason to Live is a winning combination of mighty fine writing and excellent narration. It's the first in the series and I can't wait to hear more.   I highly recommend A Reason to Live to anyone who loves a good mystery.   You would enjoy it in print but the audiobook is outstanding.   I give it five stars for story, production and narration.

Review copy provided by Matthew Iden, author and publisher.

A Reason to Live is available at Audible.com and iTunes
Kindle and print versions at Amazon.com





 

Audiobook Review: The End of Vandalism

The End of Vandalism
Author: Tom Drury
Introduction: Paul Winter
Narrator: Lloyd James
Unabridged, Length 10.5 hrs
Publisher: AudioGo  9/1/13


Publisher's Summary:
Welcome to Grouse County, a fictional Midwest that is at once familiar and amusingly eccentric, where a thief vacuums the church before stealing the chalice, a lonely woman paints her toenails in a drafty farmhouse, and a sleepless man watches his restless bride scatter their bills beneath the stars. At the heart of The End of Vandalism is an unforgettable love triangle set off by a crime: Sheriff Dan Norman arrests Tiny Darling for vandalizing an anti-vandalism dance and then marries the culprit's ex-wife Louise. 

My Thoughts:
When I began listening to Paul Winter's introduction to The End of Vandalism I was impatient and didn't really pay attention.  He was talking about an author I wasn't familiar with and I wanted to get on to the story.  Except, there really wasn't a story.  The characters were engaging (there was around 60) and their details were interesting, but there was no plot.  No clues to pick up on, no exciting action to move it along.  Yet it was one of the best books I've listened to in a long time.  When it ended, I was ready to hear what Paul Winter had to say so I listened to the introduction again.  He described it as "an intelligent and kindhearted examination of a group of economically adrift characters in the modern American Middle West. And it's fucking funny."   He was right. When I heard Mary's description of how her friend Hans Cook took LSD because it made his neck feel better, you could probably hear me laughing in the next county.  I replayed it and laughed again until I had tears in my eyes.   Suddenly I didn't care it lacked plot, clues or exciting action.  I was listening to people such as I've known in my life except they weren't from the south, and well, maybe they were more eccentric. And definitely funnier.  It was like a delightful river of conversations and scenes flowing along with no apparent destination and I never knew where it would take me.  Lloyd James has a wonderful way of carrying you through the river of narrative.  His performance of all the voices was perfect, especially the women and Mary in particular.  I am sure The End of Vandalism is wonderful in print but with Lloyd James, it was absolutely fantastic. 

This was my first experience with Tom Drury's work. I loved it and I'm looking forward to more. I'm also adding Lloyd James to my list of favorite narrators.  I give The End of Vandalism 5 stars and highly recommend it.

Review copy provided by AudioGo. 

Audiobook Review: Easy Innocence

 Easy Innocence
Author: Libby Fischer Hellman
Narrator: Beth Richmond
Unabridged, Length: 10 hrs 59 mins
Publisher: Books in Motion 8-7-09

Publisher's Summary
Removed from the gritty streets of Chicago, the residents of the North Shore sleep easily in their million-dollar homes. Easily, that is, until a local girl is discovered bludgeoned to death in the woods. Quick to blame the man with the bat, the North Shore returns to its version of normalcy. But the accused's sister isn't so willing to forget and hires Georgia Davis - former cop and newly-minted PI - to look into the incident.
What Georgia finds hints at a much different, darker answer. It seems that some privileged, preppy schoolgirls on Chicago's North Shore have learned just how much their innocence is worth to hot-under-the-collar businessmen. And while these girls can now pay for Prada, iPhones, and Jimmy Choos with their earnings, they don't realize that their new business venture may end up costing them more than they can afford.
©2008 Libby Fischer Hellmann; (P)2009 Books In Motion   

My Thoughts: 
This was my first experience with Libby Fischer Hellman's work and is the second book in her Georgia Davis series.  There is enough references to the first book in the series to make me want to go back and start the series from the beginning.  I found the story hard to get into at first but did enjoy getting to know Georgia Davis. She's smart and strong but also vulnerable.  She's a former cop who was kicked out of the force and is now earning her living as a private investigator.  Tired of routine cases such as skip traces and cheating spouses, she jumps at the chance to investigate the murder of a school girl in order to prove the innocence of the mentally challenged man accused of the crime.  Soon she is caught up in a world of rich, spoiled teenagers involved in prostitution and the adults who exploit them.  

This was also my first experience with narrator Beth Richmond.  During the first half of the book, her voice and style just didn't work for me.  I don't know if it was because I became accustomed to her voice or she improved that much for the last half, but I ended up enjoying her performance very much and realizing she was perfect for this book. 

It wasn't an "I couldn't put it down" listen but it did have plenty of plot twists and red herrings to keep me interested and the solution was a complete surprise.   I give it 3.5 stars.

Review copy provided by Fischer Hellman Communications.

Audiobook Review: B. & E. A Whit Pynchon Mystery

B. &. E.  A Whit Pynchon Mystery
Book 5
Author: Dave Pedneau
Narrator: Chet Williamson
Unabridged Length 8 hrs, 16 min
Publisher: Crossroads Press
Release Date: 04-30-13

Publisher's Summary:
 
The Incident: An interrupted burglary on a peaceful Milbrook street ends in the stabbing of a citizen and the murder of a cop. And that's only the beginning of a criminal nightmare for special investigator Whit Pynchon.

The Invasion: Whit has good reason to believe that the bloody B. & E. is the latest in a rash of break-ins committed for the same reason: to steal firearms. Even worse, the culprits may be neo-Nazi terrorists, who rove through small towns like Milbrook, committing robberies as part of a larger, more treacherous plan.

The Investigation: Even with the help of his lover, newspaper editor Anna Tyree, Whit has his hands full - with an obnoxious new police chief, a rabble-rousing minister, a pack of eager news hounds and the elusive killer thieves, whose vengeance is set to explode.

My Thoughts:
B. &. E (Book 5) was more predictable than  A.P.B. I enjoyed it anyway, even though I guessed who the mastermind was right away.  It was still fun to see if I was right and the plot twists kept me interested.  It was just the right length to keep me company during a day of household chores and mowing the lawn.  The time period for this book seems to be about a year after Book 1. Whit's daughter, Tressa, who was my favorite character in A.P.B. was not a part of this book.  Whit and Anna have been living together and now she is editor of the paper instead of a reporter.  Cohabiting with the paper's editor has not softened Whit's irritation and annoyance at the press.  In fact, Whit seems to be annoyed about a lot of things - the ineptness of the investigation when a police officer is murdered during a break in, the obnoxious new police chief who admits he is no detective and the job of catching the murderous thieves.  Whit is still longing to retire to the South Carolina Low Country and hates his job.  Again, what I enjoyed most is the wonderful performance of Chet Williams.  He is especially good at showing Whit's moods.  He does the voices so well I never had to wonder who was talking, even the women and teenagers. 

I give B.&E. 3.5 stars for story and 5 stars for narration.  If you like a good thriller, you can't go wrong with this one.

Review copy provided by Crossroads Press. 

Audiobook Review: A.P.B. A Whit Pynchon Mystery

A.P.B A Whit Pynchon Mystery
Book 1
Author: Dave Pedneau
Narrator: Chet Williamson
Unabridged Length 8 hrs, 4 min
Publisher: Crossroads Press
Release Date:  04-01-13

Publishers Summary:
Special investigator Whit Pynchon and crime reporter Annie Tyson-Tyree race against time to find the psychotic killer who is murdering the wives and girlfriends of all the cops in the small West Virginia town of Millbrook.

My Thoughts:
This first book in this series has the recipe for an entertaining mystery.  There's Whit Pynchon, special investigator for Tony Danton, the prosecutor in Millbrook, WV.  He's a divorced loner who  longs to retire to the South Caroline Low Country and plans to do so in exactly one year and six months.  Then there is his teenage daughter, Tressa, who is the light of his life and lives with his ex-wife.  Whit hates reporters so when Annie Tyson-Tyree comes into the picture to report on the horrible murders of a cop's wife, Whit is very resistant to her.  So there's the budding romance.  Tressa conspires to get Annie and her father together.  More murders happen.  Soon Annie and Whit are in a relationship that includes both a romantic connection and mutual interest in solving the case.  Even though some aspects were predictable,  I enjoyed the story all the way to the satisfying ending and look forward to more in the series.  Most of all I enjoyed the narration of Chet Williamson.  This was my first experience with his work and I've added him to my list of favorite narrators.  His voice is perfect for this type of novel and I am looking forward to hearing more of his work.  I always research narrators and found that Chet Williamson is an author too and has narrated some of his own work.  My wish list just got longer!

I give A.P.B. 4 stars for story and 5 stars for narration.

Review copy provided by Crossroads Press.  

Audiobook Review: Giovanni's Room

Giovanni's Room
Author: James Baldwin
Narrator: Dan Butler
Unabridged, Length 6 hrs, 49 min
Publisher: AudioGo Ltd 4/1/13

Publisher's Summary:
Set in the 1950s Paris of American expatriates, liaisons, and violence, a young man finds himself caught between desire and conventional morality. With a sharp, probing imagination, James Baldwin's now-classic narrative delves into the mystery of loving and creates a moving, highly controversial story of death and passion that reveals the unspoken complexities of the human heart.

My Thoughts:
I found Giovanni's Room  to be emotionally intense and powerful.  David, a young American, has fled to Paris to escape something in himself that he does not want to admit.  His girlfriend, Hella, is traveling on her own to give herself some time to decide what she wants from their relationship.  David spends time with his friends in a gay bar to prove to himself that he is not one of them.  Then he meets Giovanni and begins a love affair that makes him realize escape will never happen.  The novel begins with the end.  Hella is on her way back to America and Giovanni's fate is sealed.  I could empathize with David, being torn between two lovers and fighting against something in himself that he didn't want to accept.  I could feel for Hella, knowing she lost her fiancee to another man.  But my sympathies were mostly with Giovanni, who thought David was his salvation and begged him not to leave. I won't say any more for fear of spoiling it for other readers but when the last chapter was over I had a lump in my throat for hours.

Dan Butler was the perfect voice for David.  At first I thought he was reading too slowly and deliberately but I soon saw that his interpretation gave David's thoughts a dreamlike quality.  It was almost as if David was seeing his memories through a curtain as a way to keep them from being so sharp they would destroy him. 

James Baldwin is an amazing writer. When Giovanni's Room was published in 1957, I'm sure people were outraged at a black man daring to write about gay white men.   It's such an important literary work, I don't know why I never discovered it until now but I'm glad I did.  I give it 5 stars.

Review copy provided by AudioGo. 

Audiobook Review: The Song Dog

The Song Dog
Author: James Mclure
Narrator: Steven Crossley
Unabridged, Length 9 hrs, 37 min
Publisher: AudioGo Ltd, 4/2/13

 Publisher's Summary:
The year is 1962. Young Lieutenant Tromp Kramer of the Trekkersburg Murder and Robbery Squad has been ordered up to Jafini, a small, dusty town in northern Zululand, to investigate the "hero's death" of the town's chief detective, Maaties Kritzinger--another Afrikaner maverick, and one with many secrets. Kramer finds himself increasingly identifying with the victim as the investigation proceeds. And then his path crosses that of Bantu Detective Sergeant Mickey Zondi, who is trying to locate a multiple killer whose summary execution will quiet the spirits of his ancestors. Despite the racial differences, the two men sense a kinship...one that might prove dangerous in rural South Africa in the year of Nelson Mandela's imprisonment.

My Thoughts:
I absolutely love this series!  I listened to and reviewed The Artful Egg a few weeks ago and was delighted to have the chance to review The Song Dog because this prequel to the series shows how Lieutenant Tromp Kramer and  Bantu Detective Sergeant Mickey Zondi first teamed up to solve a crime.  At first Kramer thought Zondi was a suspect in the bombing and set a trap to catch him.  Zondi was curious to see what Kramer was up to and ended up saving Kramer when someone tried to shoot him.  Kramer had become increasingly frustrated with the inept investigations of the Jafini police department. He quickly recognized the intelligence and ability of the Bantu detective and arranged for Zondi to work the case with him. Despite their racial differences, the pair make an excellent crime-solving team.  I don't listen to many books twice, but I did listen to The Song Dog a second time.  It was fun to experience the investigation knowing where all the clues and seemingly unrelated incidences would lead.  Listening to Steven Crossley is such a treat.  He gives each character a personality and I especially liked his performance of Kramer.   I give The Song Dog 5 stars and recommend it to anyone who loves good detective fiction with a historical setting and plenty of humor. 

Review copy provided by AudioGo.