SAINT JUSTICE
Book 1 in the Christopher Wren series
Narrated by Jeff Harding
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
THEY TRIED TO PUT HIM IN A CAGE. BIG MISTAKE.
Chris Wren was the ultimate black-ops warrior — a relentless killer highly skilled in psychological warfare. As an elite Marine then CIA assassin, he infiltrated and destroyed the world’s darkest terror cells, jihadi threats and criminal cartels — all to keep the homeland safe.
But the darkness took a toll on his family. When his wife takes the kids and runs, fearing Wren’s enemies, he goes AWOL to keep them safe — until a biker gang in Utah tries to put him in a cage.
Big mistake.
Now Wren’s out for payback in the desert. But as the body count rises and the heat soars, a stunning national conspiracy unravels, with the clock ticking on a devastating attack. To save his country, Wren must plunge deeper into the darkness than ever before — and risk losing his family for good.
But justice must be done, and soon…
This is my first Mike Grist read and I like the way he tells a story.
I do not understand the psychology, the basis, nor the system of Wren‘s Foundation. Or why it works. It is so much simpler to just accept that it does, whether it is realistic or not.
While the ending resolved the current dilemma in the book it is also a cliffhanger that points to the next book at the same time. An incentive to encourage readers to buy book 2. While a very good marketing ploy, I do not like it. I do not like cliffhangers.
I’ve been listening to Jeff Harding as Charlie Parker by John Connolly for more than ten years now. Every time I hear him it is like hearing Charlie Parker talking. It takes a lot of adjusting to hear him as Christopher Wren.
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 3
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (7 hrs and 49 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5
Mike Grist writes the bestselling Christopher Wren and Girl Zero thriller series.
He was born in the UK to a British father and American mother, and spent his childhood winging between the family farm in Kentucky and a terraced house in Manchester. At 18 he finished his last year of high school in Indiana, took Greyhounds across the US coast-to-coast then worked at a summer camp in Massachusetts.
Fascinated by the extremes of human behavior, Mike got his undergraduate degree in Psychology then followed up with a Masters in motivation theory. After backpacking through India, he taught English in Tokyo, Japan for 11 years, also documenting the dark side of the country’s gangs, cults and abandoned places. His photography and articles about urban exploration have been featured in the Guardian and the Daily Mail.
Now based in London, UK, Mike enjoys working out, eating out, running his local writers’ group, playing ultimate frisbee and spending time with his wife and two cats.
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The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
TOE THE LINE
Book 1 in the DC Jake Tanner series
Narrated by Aubrey Parsons
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
The owner of a jewellery store has been kidnapped.
The people responsible are known as The Crimsons, an organised crime group the police have been hunting for years.
A deadly collar bomb has been attached to her neck.
To save her, DC Jake Tanner, on the first day of secondment from the Met, must answer a series of riddles and clues to defuse the device.
The countdown to save her has begun…
But as the investigation develops, two things become clear: this is The Crimsons’ last height, and they’re willing to do anything to ensure their survival; and two, not everyone is on Jake’s side. A knot of corruption operating deep within the heart of Surrey Police is working against him every step of the way.
Without knowing who to trust, Jake must decide whether to toe the line of duty or turn against his colleagues and solve the case that could cost him his life…
When I bought this book, I did not realise that this book has been sold before under a different title. That made me a bit apprehensive going into this story. Like there might be something dodgy. Or perhaps the author upgraded the story so it changed title?…
Besides, what does “Toe The Line” got to do with the story?! I could stretch my imagination to make a pretty good guess. But, it would be a stretch!
I got confused with Mark/Murphy. The narration is confused too. I read Murphy in the ebook but I hear Mark. Or I read Mark in the ebook but I hear Murphy. Only to find out that his name is Mark Murphy in chapter 15. The script that the narrator was reading is obviously not the same one as the kindle ebook that amazon is selling. I hate it when that happens!
I like the twisty plot. That one was a pleasure to read! Even though there are plot holes in there. Like, if a character is involved in the plot/scheme, it shouldn’t make her faint in fright because she knows what is going on already. Holes…
The story telling quality though… I find myself needing frequent little breaks in between. This made the pace a little slow despite the convenience of the audiobook format.
Aubrey Parsons narrated this book and that is what made me buy this book to begin with. Obviously I am an old Aubrey Parsons fan.
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (10 hrs and 15 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
Jack Probyn hasn’t experienced the world. He’s never even owned a pet. But he’d like to; there’s still time. His twenty-two years on the planet have been spent in the United Kingdom, with a few excursions overseas — a particular favourite of his was Amsterdam. Or Norway. Both of which were lovely.
But what Jack lacks in life-experience, he more than makes up for in creative ingenuity. His Jake Tanner series is the birth child of a sinister and twisted mind, and a propensity to assume the worst will happen in even the most mediocre situation.
Finding himself pigeon-holed as a millennial, Jack decided to stick with the stereotype and do things his own way. After all, he felt entitled and he wanted to destroy industries.
Enter: writing.
The love of writing was rekindled in Jack’s life when he (briefly) entered the corporate world, and the passion snowballed from there. No more will the millennial writer find himself working 9-5, indulging in the complexities of business life, or wearing a M&S suit.
He will take the world by storm with his pen(keyboard) and his ability to entertain and enthral readers.
Professional voice over artist and singer for over 20 years. Based in the UK, I have a very neutral British accent. However, I can mimic most UK & Irish accents along with General American and various U.S. regional accents. In addition to voiceover work I am a professional singer.
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
TAKEN TO THE HILLS
Book 1 in the Luke Sackville Crime Thrillers series
Narrated by Aubrey Parsons
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
Abductions and murder are not what ex-DCI Luke Sackville expected when he left the police after tragedy struck his family.
Luke’s return to the workplace was meant to be a soft landing but when a woman vanishes after being accused of taking bribes, he is assigned a disparate team and tasked with tracking her down.
Their search becomes more urgent when her disappearance is linked to the death of a second woman. When a third goes missing the hunt becomes a race against time. Luke’s return to work presents him with the most challenging case of his career as the murder victims mount.
Promising start to a new-to-me series!
Luke’s world is chuck full of bad guys! If I say anymore it would be spoilery-ish. So, I’ll stop there. I am definitely a fan of this series now!
This is my first S J Richards book and I would definitely look out for more works by this author.
Interesting perspective for a story from a, sort of, outside point of view. Luke is no longer police. So that is an added challenge to his investigation. He no longer have access to things he usually had as police and he has to get used to that.
I’m an old Aubrey Parsons fan. So, of course, his narration was wonderful!!
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (7 hrs and 30 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
Let’s get one thing straight: my name’s Steve. I’ve never been called ‘SJ’ but Steve Richards is a political writer hence the pen name.
I was born in Bath and have lived at various times on an irregular clockwise circle around England. After university in Manchester my wife and I settled in Macclesfield before moving to Bedfordshire then a few years ago back to Somerset. We now live in Croscombe, a lovely village just outside Wells, with our 2 sprightly cocker spaniels.
I’ve always loved writing but have only really had the time to indulge myself since taking early retirement. My daughter is a brilliant author (I’m not biased of course) which is both an inspiration and – because she’s so good – a challenge. After a few experiments, and a couple of completed but unsatisfactory and never published novels, I decided to write a crime fiction series as it’s one of the genres I most enjoy.
Professional voice over artist and singer for over 20 years. Based in the UK, I have a very neutral British accent. However, I can mimic most UK & Irish accents along with General American and various U.S. regional accents. In addition to voiceover work I am a professional singer.
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
MURDER IN THE HOLLOWS
Book 1 in the Jake Cashen series
Narrated by Alexander Cendese
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
One small town’s dark secrets lay hidden in the hollows…
Rumors have swirled around Jake Cashen his whole life. Is he crazy like his father? Is it true they booted him out of the F.B.I. right after he cracked a career-making RICO case? Was he dirty?
Only Jake knows and he’s not telling.
He came back to his tiny hometown at the foot of Ohio’s Blackhand Hills to serve as a deputy sheriff. He hopes to punch a clock and keep his head down until retirement.
It was a solid plan. Until someone put a bullet in the head of a revered county judge.
Jake’s new boss knows Jake has a particular set of skills. The Sheriff pins a detective badge on him whether Jake likes it or not. He could have said no. But as Jake watches the locals nearly bungle the case in the first five minutes, he knows he’s all in.
As Jake digs into the murder, he soon learns Judge Rand had enemies in every corner. And someone hiding in plain sight may be plotting to bring his investigation to a deadly end.
To bring a cold-blooded killer to justice, Jake’s forced to confront every truth he’s tried to escape. Even the ones that could bury him.
Murder in the Hollows is the gripping first book in the Detective Jake Cashen thriller series. A former police detective, author Declan James brings you authentic crime fiction that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of Connelly, Box, Dugoni and Baldacci.
Crime fiction is not really my genre. But I sampled the audiobook and I wanted to listen to more. So, kudos to Alexander Cendese for selling this book to me!
For me to like this book given that it is not my kind of read means that the story telling quality must be compelling enough for me to read it. That is not an easy thing to do! But Declan James managed it! So now, of course I gotta go and buy the next book in the series…
The story of this book and that of Message In The Bones is so similar that I sometimes got the story lines of the two books confused…
I need to stop reading similar books!
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (7 hrs and 45 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
Before putting pen to paper, Declan James’s career in law enforcement spanned twenty-six years. Declan’s work as a digital forensics detective has earned him the highest honors from the U.S. Secret Service and F.B.I. For the last sixteen years of his career, Declan served on a nationally recognized task force aimed at protecting children from online predators. Prior to that, Declan spent six years undercover working Vice-Narcotics.
An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, Declan enjoys hunting, fishing, grilling, smoking meats, and his quest for the perfect bottle of bourbon. He lives on a lake in Southern Michigan along with his wife and kids.
Alexander Cendese is a New York–based actor and narrator. He has performed on Broadway (A View from the Bridge) and in regional theater, and has narrated numerous audiobooks. His television and film credits include the CW’s Beauty and the Beast, Best Man in the Dark, and Catskill Park.
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
A LITTER OF BONES
Book 1 in the DCI Logan Crime Thrillers series
Narrated by Angus King
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
A missing child. A tormented detective. A ticking clock.
Ten years ago, DCI Jack Logan stopped the serial child-killer dubbed ‘Mister Whisper,’ earning himself a commendation, a drinking problem, and a broken marriage in the process.
Now, he spends his days working in Glasgow’s Major Investigations Team, and his nights reliving the horrors of what he saw.
And what he did.
When another child disappears a hundred miles north in the Highlands, Jack is sent to lead the investigation and bring the boy home. But as similarities between the two cases grow, could it be that Jack caught the wrong man all those years ago?
And, if so, is the real Mister Whisper about to claim his fourth victim?
I’ve read JD Kirk‘s Robert Hoon Thriller series first before I started reading this book. I understand that this series came first and that Hoon was the off-shoot story. However, I love Hoon so much that I wanted to read more of this author. I just hope that I haven’t messed up royally by reading Hoon first before the DCI Logan series.
The main protagonist is DCI Logan and he is supposed to be the expert in the case having collared the original Mister Whisper. If it was Lt. Eve Dallas of the In Death series by JD Robb, then it would only be Dallas and Dallas alone who would know, catch and apprehend the perpetrator. Not the case here.
Logan might be the main protagonist, but catching the perpetrator is a team effort. I love the In Death series! But I like the “team effort” better!
I like the way Angus King pinched his nose to give Jinkies his character.
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (7 hrs and 31 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
JD Kirk is the pen name of multi-award-winning author, screenwriter, and writer of comics, Barry Hutchison.
JD Kirk lives in the Highlands of Scotland with his wife, two children, and a number of sturdy umbrellas. Despite writing from a young age, ‘A Litter of Bones’ is his first novel, and combines his love of the Highlands, crime thrillers, and cats.
#Actor #Audiobook narrator including Booker Prize Winner 2020 #Shuggiebain.
Not to be confused with US Senator @Senangusking
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
RANDOM IN DEATH
Book 58 in the In Death series
Narrated by Susan Ericksen
Genre: sci-fi crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
In the new crime thriller from #1 New York Times-bestselling J.D. Robb, a small and easily concealed weapon wreaks havoc, and the killer is just a face in the crowd.
Jenna’s parents had finally given in, and there she was, at a New York club with her best friends, watching the legendary band Avenue A, carrying her demo in hopes of slipping it to the guitarist, Jake Kincade. Then, from the stage, Jake catches her eye, and smiles. It’s the best night of her life.
It’s the last night of her life.Minutes later, Jake’s in the alley getting some fresh air, and the girl from the dance floor comes stumbling out, sick and confused and deathly pale. He tries to help, but it’s no use. He doesn’t know that someone in the crowd has jabbed her with a needle — and when his girlfriend Nadine arrives, she knows the only thing left to do for the girl is call her friend, Lieutenant Eve Dallas.
After everyone on the scene is interviewed, lab results show a toxic mix of substances in the victim’s body — and for an extra touch of viciousness, the needle was teeming with infectious agents. Dallas searches for a pattern: Had any boys been harassing Jenna? Was she engaging in risky behavior or caught up in something shady? But there are no obvious clues why this levelheaded sixteen-year-old, passionate about her music, would be targeted.
And that worries Dallas. Because if Jenna wasn’t targeted, if she was just the random, unlucky victim of a madman consumed by hatred, there are likely more deaths to come.
Wonderful to see Bella again!
I like the way this investigation came together. Bits and pieces of clues from different threads of the investigation came together to provide information to the investigating team that enabled Lt Dallas and her team get the bad guys. Although it is still Lt Eve Dallas who cracked the case. This time around at least the information gathering was a team effort. I like that better than it is just Dallas and Dallas alone who got the killer. Kudos to this book!
As usual Susan Ericksen did a wonderful job of narrating this book!
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (13 hrs and 6 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
J.D. Robb is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series and the pseudonym for #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. The futuristic suspense series stars Eve Dallas, a New York City police lieutenant with a dark past. Initially conceived as a trilogy, readers clamored for more of Eve and the mysterious Roarke. Forgotten in Death (St. Martin’s Press, September 2021) is the 53rd entry in the series.
Susan Ericksen is a Renaissance woman. In addition to being an Earphones-winning audiobook narrator and director — she’s a writer, an amateur linguist, an actress, a mother, and a wife. In the 1980s she joined former classmate David Colacci in western Michigan, where he was artistic director for the Hope Summer Repertory Theater. Twenty miles away, a fledgling audiobook publisher called Brilliance was looking for narrators.
Susan has recorded around two hundred audiobooks for Brilliance, BBC Audiobooks, Tantor, and Hachette. “It was a natural step. As repertory theater actors, the whole point is to be able to do Shakespeare one night, a musical the next night, and Noel Coward the next. So you have multiple personalities and multiple character voices and physicalities. These are such valuable skills for doing audiobooks.”
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
WEB OF LIES
Book 1 in the Detective Sebastian Clifford series
Narrated by Jonathan Keeble
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
A trail of secrets. A dangerous discovery. A deadly turn.
Police officer Sebastian Clifford never planned on becoming a private investigator. But when a scandal leads to the disbandment of his London based special squad, he finds himself out of a job. That is, until his cousin calls on him to investigate her husband’s high-profile death, and prove that it wasn’t a suicide.
Clifford’s reluctant to get involved, but the more he digs, the more evidence he finds. With his ability to remember everything he’s ever seen, he’s the perfect person to untangle the layers of deceit.
He meets Detective Constable Bird, an underutilised detective at Market Harborough’s police force, who refuses to give him access to the records he’s requested unless he allows her to help with the investigation. Clifford isn’t thrilled. The last time he worked as part of a team it ended his career.
But with time running out, Clifford is out of options. Together they must wade through the web of lies in the hope that they’ll find the truth before it kills them.
This is my first Sally Rigby read and I would read her again.
I am an urban fantasy geek, so, not really a crime fiction fan. However, having said that, I do cross over to the dark side from time to time. Like now. Plotlessness is endemic in urban fantasy. So, a little plot already impresses me. This book’s plot impresses me. Another thing… the names of the police staff in Market Harborough police force sounded like, dog names… Huh!…
Seb is an ex-copper. However, by the name of the series “Detective Sebastian Clifford“, I take it that he’ll be re-instated to his former rank in the police force at some point in the series… (?) …
This is my first Jonathan Keeble audiobook listen and I like the way he reads! I also like that he gave Freddie Evans, the pub manager, a Welsh accent!
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (9 hrs and 17 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5
Sally Rigby was born in Northampton, UK. After leaving university she worked in magazines and radio, before finally embarking on a career lecturing in both further and higher education. Sally has always had the travel bug and after living in Manchester and London moved overseas. From 2001 she has lived with her family in New Zealand (apart from five years in Australia), which she considers to be the most beautiful place in the world.
Sally is the author of the acclaimed Cavendish and Walker series, and the more recent Detective Sebastian Clifford series. In collaboration with another author, she also writes psychological thrillers for Boldwood Books.
Sally has always loved crime fiction books, films and TV programmes. She has a particular fascination with the psychology of serial killers.
Jonathan Keeble is an award-winning actor who combines his audio work with a busy theatre and TV career. Much in demand, his voice work ranges from the voice of God in the Sistine Chapel to the Angel of Death in the film Hellboy 2, with all stops in between. He has featured in over 700 radio plays for the BBC, appearing in everything from Shakespeare to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Who; he also played the evil Owen in The Archers. He has recorded over 400 audiobooks, for which he has won multiple awards.
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
THE TAKEN ONES
Book 1 in the Steinbeck and Reed series
Narrated by Carly Robins
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
Two girls vanished. A woman buried alive. Between two crimes — decades of secrets yet to be unearthed in a pulse-pounding novel by the Edgar Award–nominated author of Unspeakable Things.
Summer 1980: With no fear of a local superstition, three girls go into a Minnesota wood. Only one comes out. Dead silent. Memory gone. No trace of her friends. The mystery of the Taken Ones captures the nation.
Summer 2022: Cold case detective Van Reed and forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck are assigned a disturbing homicide — a woman buried alive, clutching a heart charm necklace belonging to one of the vanished girls. Van follows her gut. Harry trusts in facts. Their common ground is the need to catch a killer before he kills again. They have something else in common: each has ties to the original case in ways they’re reluctant to share.
As Van and Harry connect the crimes of the past and the present, Van struggles with memories of her own nightmarish childhood — and the fear that uncovering the truth of the Taken Ones will lead her down a path from which she, too, may never return.
The story is not just crime fiction. It has an element of the paranormal in it. Van‘s instincts are so bang on that it borders on the supernatural.
I love the premise of this book! Paranormal hunches that are always correct! Catching the bad guys! Wonderful! What is not so wonderful is the way the author makes the heroine so masochistically subservient, it is royally pissing me off!
I think the author wrote it so that the readers would hate Detective Dave Comstock. And I do! Specially when he did not shake Van‘s hand and said “you never belonged“. No decent human being does that!! But, that’s the key word: “decent” human being, isn’t it?…
I got so annoyed with Comstock that I stopped reading this book and picked up another. Then when I forgot my annoyance, I picked this book up again. So, no, this book was not a fast-paced read for me.
Police outright harassing other officers of the law? Like, what century are these people living in?! I thought that was what the Bureau of Internal Affairs are for!…
I am also not very agreeable with vigilante justice. Not in fiction books anyway. So, I am in a dilemma here…
And what’s up with Van taking out garbage bags to the chute?…
At the start of the book, Van was kind of a weak cahracter. She lets people run rough shod over her. She takes her frustrations out on her poor subordinates. Then at the end, she all of a sudden speaks out to Comstock? That chracter inconsistency there brought the chracter development down a notch.
This is my first Carly Robins audiobook and I would listen to her again.
Now we have to wait a year for the next Steinbeck and Reed book to come out!
Character development = 3
Story itself = 3
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 4
World building = 4
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (10 hrs and 31 mins listening time)
Plot = 3
Narration = 5
Jess Lourey writes about secrets.
She’s the Amazon Charts bestselling, Edgar-nominated, ITW Thriller, Anthony, and Minnesota Book Award-winning author of young adult, magical realism, crime fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. She’s a retired professor of writing and sociology, a recipient of The Loft’s Excellence in Teaching fellowship, and a TEDx presenter (check out her TEDx Talk to discover the surprising inspiration behind MAY DAY, her first published novel).
She lives in Minneapolis with a rotating batch of foster kittens (and occasional foster puppies, but man are those goobers a lot of work). Drop by jessicalourey.com to find out more.
Carly Robins is an actress and voice-over artist. She can be heard on commercials, video games, and promos. Carly comes to narration with a passion for performance along with the capability to span several genres, from romance to children’s literature and thrillers.
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
SIMON SAYS… HIDE
Book 1 in the Kate Morgan series
Narrated by Kristi Alsip
Genre: psychic thriller
Format: ebook & audiobook
Newly promoted detective Kate Morgan stands up for the victims in the world, never backing down or giving up. From a family of victims, Kate will not tolerate those who take advantage of others. The worst ones prey on the hopes of desperate people to line their own pockets.
And when Kate finds a connection between more than a half-dozen cold cases to a recent case –– where a child’s life is in jeopardy –– she’ll make a deal with the devil himself to protect the child.
Having the gift of Sight, Simon St. Laurant knows that once he uses it, he can never walk away. But when nightmares of his own past are triggered, Simon can’t stand back and watch child after child being abused. Determined to help, Simon vows to save these children –– even if it means dealing with the cranky and critical Detective Kate Morgan.
Wonderful start to a new-to-me series!
This is my first Dale Mayer read and I am glad that I stumbled into her! Slow start but picks up about three-quarters through. It is interesting to follow the journey of a psychic who didn’t want to be one…
What’s even better?!? There are a few more books in the series!!
Being book 1, the book is about introducing the readers into this world. It’s not that the author did not spin a good tale, because she did. But the coming-of-age theme is salient in this book.
This is also my first Kristi Alsip listen and I like the way she reads. Fast becoming a fan! However, I have a whinge with the audiobook format… Chapter 2 comes after chapter 3… WTF! And the kindle ebook and audible audiobook is not whispersync! Darn it!! So, no! I am not happy with the audiobook!
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 4
World building = 4
Cover art = 4
Pace = (10 hrs and 25 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 4
About Dale Mayer:
Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her Psychic Visions and Family Blood Ties series. Her contemporary romances are raw and full of passion and emotion (Second Chances, SKIN), her thrillers will keep you guessing (By Death series), and her romantic comedies will keep you giggling (It’s a Dog’s Life and Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy series).
She honors the stories that come to her – and some of them are crazy and break all the rules and cross multiple genres!
To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series. All her books are available in print and ebook format.
About Kristi Alsip:
From: Chicago, IL, USA
SAG-AFTRA
Voiced radio and TV spots, nationally and regionally
Narrated several audiobooks of various genres
20 years of acting experience in Chicago theatre
Lead vocalist in rock band Crawford’s Daughter
Represented by Lori Lins Ltd, Chicago
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
WATER’S EDGE
Book 1 in the Highlands & Islands Detective series
Narrated by John McNab
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
A body discovered by the rocks. A broken detective returns to a scene of past tragedy. Will the pain of the past prevent him from seeing the present?
Detective Inspector Macleod returns to his island home twenty years after the painful loss of his wife. With a disposition forged in strong religious conservatism, he must bond with his new partner, the free spirited and upcoming female star of the force, to seek the killer of a young woman and shine a light on the evil beneath the surface. To do so, he must once again stand in the place where he lost everything. Only at the water’s edge, will everything be made new.
The rising tide brings all things to the surface.
This is my first G R Jordan read and I would probably continue reading this author… Probably. I want to know how Macleod and McGrath‘s relationship would develop, but I am not sure I have the patience to read through any more books in this series. We’ll see…
I presume that DI Macleod is near retiring because his views is hopelessly outdated. I first imagined him as a tall, well sculptured bloke only to read later on that he is shorter than Hope. Well, that was a bit of a downer!
I chapter 21, Hope was having difficulty coping with McKinney letting go of the life preserver ring and essentially committing suicide by drowning and that she saw him smiling before he let go. Then Macleod confessing, back at the station, that his wife “smiled too”. Well, I understood them smiling…
This is my first John McNab audiobook and I would listen to him again.
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 4
World building = 4
Cover art = 3.5
Pace = (6 hrs and 12 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 4.5
GR Jordan is a self-published author who finally decided at forty that in order to have an enjoyable lifestyle, his creative beast within would have to be unleashed. His books mirror that conflict in life where acts of decency contend with self-promotion, goodness stares in horror at evil and kindness blind-sides us when we are at our worst. Corrupting our world with his parade of wondrous and horrific characters, he highlights everyday tensions with fresh eyes whilst taking his methodical, intelligent mainstays on a roller-coaster ride of dilemmas, all the while suffering the banter of their provocative sidekicks.
A graduate of Loughborough University where he masqueraded as a chemical engineer but ultimately played American football, GR Jordan worked at changing the shape of cereal flakes and pulled a pallet truck for a living. Watching vegetables freeze at -40’C was another career highlight and he was also one of the Scottish Highlands’ “blind” air traffic controllers. Having flirted with most places in the UK, he is now based in the Isle of Lewis in Scotland where his free time is spent between raising a young family with his wife, writing, figuring out how to work a loom and caring for a small flock of chickens. Luckily his writing is influenced by his varied work and life experience as the chickens have not been the poetical inspiration he had hoped for!
Audiobook narrator / voice-over artist
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
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ABOUT US
Cherry Mischievous (CM) started out as a personal blog of Cherry. It still is, sort of, among other things. But now, we have evolved into a kind of blog where friends who share the same love of books also blog… to know more about us, click on our names to go to our profiles:
Please note that not all reviews here are positive, but then we do not expect the entire wide world to agree and have the same tastes as us. It would be an incredibly boring and monotonous world! Besides, even among ourselves we don’t agree! One would rate a book 4.5 while the other would rate the same exact book with only 3 or less… So have a look and see, especially if it is your genre of books, even though it garnered a low rating with us, you might find it interesting 🙂
Now, let me tell you about Cherry… I am an avid reader of SciFi/Fantasy/Romance books and always on the look out for a good book to read. I dabble in the black arts of light and shadow… err mmm… photography, I mean. I am also in great excess of 18 years old. I am a nurse and constantly getting in trouble because I refuse to live in a box of preconceptions of other people of how things are suppose to be. And let me tell you, nursing is dominated with “tradition” and “sacred cows“, as any nurse and nursing student will tell you. I love spaghetti, chocolate ice cream, coffee and of course, books! I positively abhor stories with cliffhanger endings and driving in London! I am slightly insane, sometimes sarcastic, can be obnoxious, and totally honest. And oh yeah, people call me tactless too 🙂 Welcome to my corner of the world!
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