Tag: Audiobook Review
Audiobook Blog Tour: The Stiff in the Study by Shea Macleod
Author: Shéa MacLeod
Narrator: Yvette Keller
Publisher: Shéa MacLeod⎮2017
Series: The Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries, Book 2
Synopsis: Viola Roberts is at it again! The sleepy seaside town of Astoria, Oregon is the last place you'd expect to find a dead body. That is until the director of the local museum turns up dead in the study and Viola's friend, Portia, is accused of the crime. Viola ignores her looming deadline and bout of writer's block and sets out with her best friend, Cheryl, to solve the murder. From starting riots at local dive bars to breaking into crime scenes, Viola will stop at nothing to prove Portia innocent even if it means putting herself in the cross-hairs of the killer.
I've come to love the hilarious adventures of Viola Roberts and her sidekick Cheryl. Listening to this audiobook reminded me of the Golden Girls, or Laverne and Shirley from the old days of television. They feed off one another, complement each other. Narrator Yvette Keller plays the part perfectly. Her voice characterizations are on the money and color each personality just enough draw you into the story.
About the Author: Shéa MacLeod
Shéa MacLeod writes urban fantasy post-apocalyptic sci-fi paranormal romances with a twist of steampunk. Mostly because she can't make up her mind which genre she likes best so she decided to write them all.
After six years living in an Edwardian town house in London just a stone's throw from the local cemetery, Shéa headed back to her hometown of Portland, Oregon. She plans to live out her days eating mushroom pizza, drinking too many caramel lattes, exploring exotic locales, and avoiding spiders.
Shéa is the author of the Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries and the bestselling Lady Rample Mysteries.
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About the Narrator: Yvette Keller
Yvette Keller's first job as a narrator was reading aloud to keep her little brother out of trouble. Her favorite party trick is reading words upside down. Little kids need to see the pictures. Yvette lives in her beloved home town of Santa Barbara, using a lifetime of vocal stamina in her home studio. She produces technical VO industrials for Mesa Steps Consulting clients in addition to audiobooks. A lifetime of reading and speaking has proven one thing: Yvette loves stories. She is thrilled to be making books accessible and engaging through her narration work.
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Audiobook Blog Tour: The Corpse in the Cabana by Shea Macleod
Release date: Aug. 29, 2016
Synopsis: Sassy, snarky Viola Roberts quit her boring accountant job to pursue her dream of writing novels, even if it meant eating ramen noodles every day. Now that her career has taken off, she's headed to a writers' conference at an exotic Florida resort complete with white-sand beaches and swaying palm trees, where she plans to lounge in the shade drinking frosty beverages with little umbrellas. And, of course, no sojourn to tropical climes would be complete without her boozy, wise-cracking best friend, Cheryl.
When Viola discovers the diva of the author world dead (as a doornail) of unnatural causes, the police immediately consider Viola their prime suspect. But when the head detective turns a gimlet eye on Viola's best friend, the author has had enough! Along with help from hunky fellow writer Lucas Salvatore, Viola is determined to ascertain who killed the corpse in the cabana before she or Cheryl winds up in jail. Or worse.
This is one of the best cozy mysteries I've read in recent memory. The ever curious, Sassy Viola Roberts and her wise-cracking friend Cheryl, are quite the pair. Together they make a big splash when Viola discovers the body of a bestselling, well-hated writer named Natasha. With lots of enemies in her wake naturally there's a lot of suspects to weed out to discover the real killer. I typically don't like stories that feature a writer as the protagonist such as Viola Roberts, but this was so well done I loved it. Very entertaining and absolutely hilarious!
Narrator Yvette Keller does a phenomenal job of characterizing each character, especially bringing to life Viola's point of view. Her and Cheryl sounded like completely different persons which is critical for listeners of audiobooks. That's also a big reason why I enjoy listening to the audio version versus the ebook.
Audiobook Review: Runaway by Peter J. Thompson
About the Audiobook
Author: Peter J. Thompson
Narrator: Gary Tiedemann
Publisher: Peter J. Thompson⎮2019
Genre: Suspense
Synopsis: A corrupt corporation. Ruthless assassins. Will the family that runs together… die together?
Fifteen-year-old Zach Monaghan has a target on his back. In the witness protection program for his father's whistleblowing, he's now run away, back to his old home in Chicago.Zach wants to get back to his friends and to Lindsey, the girl he'd met right before being whisked off in the middle of the night. But escaping his fake identity won't last long if two contract killers catch up to him…
Big Joe Gorski has climbed the ladder from street thug to tycoon. Now he's got it all–riches–status–police, and politicians in his pocket. But life at the top is suddenly unsteady and one slip can bring it all down. With a scheming partner, politicians who won't stay bought and Feds breathing down his neck,Gorski has to move carefully. But being careful goes against his nature. He's a raging bull and he'll do whatever it takes to keep what he has … let the bodies fall where they will.
As the ruthless killer draws closer to Zach, surviving the greedy corporate plot may force the whole family to get their hands bloody…
The Runaway is a fast-paced thriller with dizzying twists and turns. If you like non-stop action, high-stakes tension, and large casts of compelling characters, then you'll love Peter Thompson's gripping novel.
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Great book and entertaining read. I laughed out loud several times! Hilarious. The writing was good, but the narration adds a certain quality that otherwise would be missed. Narrator Gary Tiedemann plays it perfectly. His characterization was spot on. From clueless teens, mob bosses, eastern European crooks, and goofy goons–It all made for a very entertaining experience. I assure you I would'nt had the same experience without the audiobook. Excellent. Keep your eye on author Peter J. Thompson. Enjoyable characters, creative plots, juicy suspense and point of view. Definitely recommending.
About the Author: Peter J. Thompson
Peter Thompson grew up on the east side of Chicago, in the shadow of the steel mills where the air was sooty and smelled of sulfur. His life wasn't always so gritty, but the grit and realism finds its way into his thrillers. He has always loved stories of every kind, and one of his joys is finding a way to get inside character's heads, seeing the world as they see it and feeling their triumphs, pain, and fear. He visualizes his characters when he writes, and they are larger than life in the big screen of his imagination.
Before pursuing his passion and becoming a full-time author, he tried his hand at everything from factory work, breaking cement in a construction crew, running his own pizza shop, and he was a well-regarded presence in the mortgage industry for nearly thirty years. When he isn't writing, Peter loves, spicy food, live music, and exciting and thought-provoking books and movies. He is a fitness buff who loves to spend time with his grown sons and is looking forward to traveling the world and seeking adventures with his lovely partner.
About the Narrator: Gary Tiedemann
Gary Tiedemann is a full-time voice-actor and narrator of audiobooks, with over 60 unabridged titles narrated and counting. He has voiced countless commercials and multimedia productions in addition to spending over 10 years on stage performing improv, sketch comedy and original works of theatre. Gary is a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans. He currently splits his time between Florida and Chicago. See more at http://www.garytiedemann.com
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Audiobook Blog Tour: Salvage Rat
Author: Larry N. Martin
Narrator: Jeffrey Kafer
Publisher: Tantor Audio⎮2018
Genre: Military Science Fiction
Release date: Sep. 9, 2018
Synopsis: Star Force pilot and hero Wyatt McCoy left his medals and career behind after the Rim Wars, disillusioned and bitter when he learns the truths behind the conflict. He takes his converted gunship, the Nellie B, and heads to the Near Fringe, salvaging derelict ships and abandoned stations and mining colonies.
Dr. Beth Parker is a space archaeologist, documenting the history of planetary expansion and colonization for Kalok Enterprises and the Interplanetary Mining Guild. A piece of alien technology embeds itself in Beth's arm, giving her the ability to see the energy impressions of long-ago people and events. When Beth uncovers proof of genocide that could bring down the big mining companies, she's the target of assassins.
Wyatt makes a split-second decision to intervene, launching them both into a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game with some of the most powerful organizations in the system. They can prove Kalok and Interplan killed millions – but can they live long enough to tell their story?
I found this to be a very entertaining book. Most of the space fleet space opera books are great on worldbuilding but lack character development. This one has both. Ex-military Star force pilot Wyatt McCoy and Archaeologist Beth Parker were a good pair to follow. Good action, tension throughout the book. Narrator Jeffery Kafer does a great job as always bringing each character to life.
About the Author: Larry N. Martin
Larry N. Martin is the author of the new sci-fi adventure novel Salvage Rat. He is the co-author (with Gail Z. Martin) of the Spells, Salt, and Steel/New Templars series; the Steampunk series Iron & Blood; and a collection of short stories and novellas: The Storm & Fury Adventures set in the Iron & Blood universe. He is also the co-author of the upcoming Wasteland Marshals series and the Joe Mack Cauldron/Secret Council series.
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About the Narrator: Jeffrey Kafer
Jeffrey Kafer – Jeffrey Kafer is a full-time SAG-AFTRA audiobook narrator. He has narrated over 450 books in almost every genre for such authors Clive Barker, Steve Alten, Maya Banks, Gregg Olsen and many others. He has 2 degrees in cinema and broadcasting and spent the first part of his career as a video game tester for Microsoft before following his true passion of acting. He's been on stage since he was 13 (his mom still has the bellhop costume she made) and currently lives in Los Angeles with his family and dog.
Audiobook Blog Tour: Living Proof by Peter J. Thompson
By: Peter J. Thompson
Publisher: Peter J. Thompson
Length: hours minutes
Synopsis: Government secrets. Biological weapons. Human subjects.
In a top-secret complex surrounded by miles of Texas scrubland, the United States military is working on a new form of germ warfare. Taken from homeless shelters and prisons, the subjects, discarded men and women of America, serve their country as unwilling lab rats.
Ramon Willis didn't commit the murder that put him on death row. But he's guilty of something worse – surviving the virus and escaping his captors. Knowing he can't take on the corrupt system alone, there's only one person he can turn to – Lena Dryer, the reporter who covered his case and watched him die.
With assassins dogging their trail and all their options for survival closed off, they must risk everything to bring this conspiracy to light. But time is short. When an extreme faction in the government pushes forward with the next phase of their plan, the fate of the nation hangs in the balance.
Great story concept and development of suspense! I like author Peter J. Thompson's writing style.
Narrator Gary Tiedemann does a good job portraying the story. I laughed several times in this one. His narrative tone is very layed back–but ramps up the tension very suddenly at times. Great voice, characterization, and impact.
To get in touch, find out more about future projects, please stop by http://www.authorpeterthompson.com. Sign up for his reading list to find out about new releases and receive free perks.
Blog Tour: Bridge To Burn by Rachel Amphlett
Detective Kay Hunter, Book 7
By: Rachel Amphlett
Narrated by: Alison Campbell
Series: Detective Kay Hunter, Book 7
Publisher: Saxon Publishing
When a mummified body is found in a renovated building, the gruesome discovery leads Detective Kay Hunter and her team into a complex murder investigation.
The subsequent police inquiry exposes corruption, lies, and organized crime within the tight-knit community – and Kay's determination to seek justice for the young murder victim could ruin the reputations of men who will do anything to protect their business interests.
But as Kay closes in on the killer, tragedy strikes closer to home in an event that will send a shockwave through her personal life and make her question everything she values. Can Kay keep her private and professional life under control while she tries to unravel one of the strangest murder cases of her career?
Have you discovered the Kay Hunter British detective murder mysteries yet?
It's always great crime and detective fiction in the Kay Hunter series. A body is found under bizarre circumstances, leaving Hunter and her team scrambling to find answers. Lies, cover ups, deception, family drama–Detective Kay Hunter has her hands full! This series is full of creative plots that won't disappoint.
About the Author: Rachel Amphlett
Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.
She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series.
Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel cites her writing influences as Michael Connelly, Lee Child, and Robert Ludlum. She's also a huge fan of Peter James, Val McDermid, Robert Crais, Stuart MacBride, and many more.
She's a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany's Luzifer Verlag.
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Audiobook Review: The King of Plagues by Jonathan Maberry
The Joe Ledger Novels, Book 3
By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Series: Joe Ledger, Book 3
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Saturday 09:11 Hours: A blast rocks a London hospital and thousands are dead or injured… 10:09 Hours: Joe Ledger arrives on scene to investigate. The horror is unlike anything he has ever seen. Compelled by grief and rage, Joe rejoins the DMS and within hours is attacked by a hit-team of assassins and sent on a suicide mission into a viral hot zone during an Ebola outbreak. Soon Joe Ledger and the Department of Military Sciences begin tearing down the veils of deception to uncover a vast and powerful secret society using weaponized versions of the Ten Plagues of Egypt to destabilize world economies and profit from the resulting chaos. Millions will die unless Joe Ledger meets the this powerful new enemy on their own terms as he fights terror with terror.
Review Concept
One of the best and most entertaining books I've ever read…er, listened to. First, the dynamic duo of Jonathan Maberry and Ray Porter is match made in heaven. Second, the characters are AWESOME. Ray Porter do an amazing job of bringing each one to life. Of course, the point of view character and overall cool dude, is Joe ledger. But there's so much more. The entire Echo team as part of the DMS (Dept. of Military Sciences) is pretty unique. Top, Bunny, Jon Smith, Rudy. Then there's the ever-mysterious Mr. Church. I love his underlying mystique behind in each book. It keeps you guessing and wondering…Exactly…Who is he? Even Joe Ledger is scratching his head wondering who he is.
I don't know about you but I love a great antagonist, or group of them. Makes the story ten times better. One thing Maberry shines at is creating GREAT BAD GUYS. The plot for King of Plagues was amazing. Creepy, quirky, unique, and formidable. They're all just great characters who believe in their motivations just as much as the good guys. Sebastian Gault, Toyz, the King of Fear, Raphael Santoro, Nicodemus, the goddess. Their plot for destruction was epic.
Ray Porter is exceptional narrator to the third power on steroids. He is the true voice of Joe Ledger. I couldn't imagine another. Not to mention Church and Rudy. These are my favorite three character voices. However, they were a number of impressive accents in this one. Scottish, Irish, British, etc. They were not only great accents, but they actually sounded like different people!!! That is insanely difficult, but the good narrators know how to do it well.
Audiobook Blog Tour: Alt Truths
Author: Alec Birri
Narrator: Jonathan Keeble
Publisher: Essential Music Limited⎮2019
Genre: Science Fiction Thriller
Release date: Jan. 2019
Synopsis: What if you knew men, women and children were being slaughtered but had to cover it up?'
Fake news. Alternative facts. Truth, lies, damn lies and statistics. Just who are we to believe? In this near-future dystopian thriller, that will be United Nations Police "moderators".
Thirty year old UNPOL officer Richard Warren has been embedded with the BBC and not seeing eye-to-eye with journalist Sarah Dyer is just the start of his problems. News of an Ebola pandemic is being withheld, and when it's discovered Sarah's artistic savant brother is involved, Richard's determination to get to the truth takes an unexpected turn. But what if the truth must never be known?
And Richard thought Sarah was a challenge. The very concept of right and wrong is about to be tested and in a way that's going to make fake news look like quality journalism.
This one was bizarrely fascinating. Encompassing all manner of things styled into one narrative was impressive, yet frustrating to keep up with at the same time. Here's where having a great narrator comes in. Jonathan Keeble is a first rate narrator who knows how to bring a story to life. He makes it interesting enough to follow and lead you to the final conclusion. I was impressed with his ranges of accents along with the narrative voice. Impressive! The American accents were respectable, English voices superb, and the west African accent was exceptional.
About the Author: Alec Birri
Alec Birri served thirty years with the UK Armed Forces. He commanded an operational unit that experimented in new military capabilities classified at the highest level (Top Secret Strap 3) and it is this that forms the basis of his novels. Although semi-autobiographical, for national security and personal liberty reasons, the events and individuals portrayed have to be fiction but are still nonetheless in keeping with his experiences.
About the Narrator: Jonathan Keeble
If you regularly enjoy listening to audiobooks then this Shakespearean actor will need no introduction. Winner of a 2016 SOVAS award, Jonathan's voice is rightly recognized as being one of the best, and his narration of Alt Truths is no exception.
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Audiobook Review: The Innocent by Taylor Stevens
VANESSA MICHAEL MUNROE #2
Vanessa Michael Munroe—the fearless heroine of the New York Times bestseller The Informationist—returns in a gripping new thriller.
Eight years ago, five-year old Hannah was spirited out of school and into the closed world of a cult known as The Chosen. Ever since, followers of its leader have hidden the child and shielded her abductor. Now, childhood survivors of The Chosen who have escaped to make a life for themselves on the outside know here to find Hannah and turn to Vanessa Michael Munroe for help. Munroe reluctantly takes the job, and travels to Buenos Aires to infiltrate the cult and save the girl. Inducted in to a world unlike anything she has faced before, Munroe must navigate unpredictable members and their dangerous cohorts, the impatient survivors who hired her, and the struggle against her own increasingly violent nature so she can rescue the child before the window of opportunity closes and Hannah is lost forever.
Audible | Amazon
NARRATOR PERFORMANCE:
Narrated by: Hillary Huber
Narrator-Story Connection: 10/10
Hillary Huber is fully locked into the story which makes it easy to access it through her.
Voice Creation/Switch Over: 10/10
The voice creation and characterizations were pretty impressive. Namely Vanessa "Michael" Munroe and Miles Bradford. I found myself in a trance while listening to these characters point of view. The male voice of Bradford was also very good.
Pacing 8/10
The pacing was a bit slow for my taste, but did fit the smooth, seductive, personality of Munroe. Once I got used to it it wasn't a problem at all.
Emphasis 8/10
These are the subtle things that bring out the personality of each character. Whether its tone, inflection, accent, etc. Huber does an excellent job here.
Reader-Story Connection 9/10
Huber intertwines herself with Michael and sucks you into her ultra-seductive style. I wasn't sure if she was just in character, or demonstrating her style of narration. Either way, it worked!
Emotional Intensity 7/10
The display of emotion was fitting throughout the story and in response to events in the book. Huber gives just enough to make an impact on the reader without being melodramatic.
Sound Quality: 10/10
Publisher: Random House Audio
Overall Performance: 9/10
Once I got used to Hillary Huber's narration it was lights out. It got me hooked until the last page. Now I'm on to book #3 in the series, THE DOLL.
Taylor Stevens
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Audiobook Review: Murder in Keswick by William Todd
By: William Todd
Narrated by: Ben Werling
Publisher: William Todd
While on a well-deserved holiday in the Lake District to get away from the toils and troubles of London, Holmes and Watson find no respite. As soon as they exit the train, they hear news of a grisly murder making its way around the murmuring commuters. A local aristocrat, Mr. Darcy, has been found missing his head!
And that very night, the wealthy widow finds a stranger in her home who, upon seeing her, abandons his plans and quickly leaves. She believes the intruder to be the murderer of her husband who is now after a large sum of cash she keeps in the house safe.
Unsure if the would-be thief is the murderer or an opportunistic burglar, Holmes devises a plan to catch the burglar, all the while investigating the murder of Mr. Darcy. Follow Holmes, Watson, and the local constable Mr. Wickham as they untangle the mystery surrounding a Murder in Keswick.
©2018 William Todd (P)2018 William Todd.
Audible | Amazon | Goodreads
The great Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson attempt a holiday and a bit of respite on a train to Keswick, but little do they know what awaits them. Holmes' brain craves stimulation of every sort when not actively "solving crimes". Well, he's delighted what they stumble across in Keswick. This should please many fans of of Holmes.
Narrator Ben Werling does a great job portraying Watson and Holmes throughout the book. His pacing is a bit fast for my taste, but I thought it appropriate given the characters especially Holmes. Sound production was pretty decent with a nice touch of cinematic sound effects. Very entertaining!
*I received this audiobook at no-cost from Audiobookworm Promotions. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.