CUT SHORT

Cut Short by Leigh Russell
Book 1 in the DI Geraldine Steel series
Narrated by Lucy Price-Lewis
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Cut Short:

When D.I. Geraldine Steel relocates to the quiet rural town of Woolsmarsh, she expects to find her new home to be somewhere where nothing much ever happens; a space where she can battle her demons in private. But when she finds herself pitted against a twisted killer preying on local young women she quickly discovers how wrong she is...

By day, the park is a place for children's games, for people walking their dogs or taking a short cut to avoid the streets. But in the shadows a predator prowls, hunting for a fresh victim. When an unwitting bystander comes forward as a witness she quickly becomes the next object of his murderous obsessions — someone whom the killer must stop at all costs.

D.I. Geraldine Steel is locked into a race against time, determined to find the killer before they discover yet another naked corpse. But can she save the lives of the town's young women — or will Geraldine herself become the killer's ultimate trophy?

Source: Info in the "About Cut Short" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18745888-cut-short on 25/08/2023.

Buy Link(s):

 

My Thoughts:

This is my first Leigh Russell read and I am glad that I stumbled upon her!

The story telling quality is good but for some reason I find myself needing breaks every now and then.

The plot wasn't very twisty for a crime fiction. However, it is not the twistiness of the plot that brought me reading enjoyment but how they got there. How the bad guy got caught. It is more about the journey than the actual end. Not that the end does not matter as well, because it does!

I got a little annoyed with the victims in the story. It was like they were running through hurdles to get killed! Geez!

This is my first Lucy Price-Lewis audiobook listen and I would buy audiobooks by her again.

Quantitative Evaluation:

Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 3.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 3.5
Pace = (8 hrs and 46 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 4.5

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries

Books In The DI Geraldine Steel Series:

 

Meet The Author

About Leigh Russell:

Leigh Russell has sold over a million books in her Geraldine Steel series of crime novels. Published in English and in translation throughout Europe and in China, the Geraldine Steel titles have appeared on many bestseller lists, including #1 on kindle. Leigh's work has been nominated for several major awards, including the CWA New Blood Dagger and CWA Dagger in the Library.

Leigh has also written a trilogy featuring Lucy Hall, set in the Seychelles, Paris and Rome, and two standalone psychological thrillers.

Leigh serves on the board of the Crime Writers Association and chairs the judges for the prestigious CWA Debut Dagger Award.

She is represented by Bill Goodall.

leighrussell.co.uk | twitter | facebook | amazon | goodreads

The Narrator

About Lucy Price-Lewis:

Lucy Price-Lewis is a professional narrator and voiceover artist who hails from Wiltshire, England. In addition to having recorded over forty audiobooks she is an experienced Director with a demonstrated history of working in the media production industry. Skilled in Audio Books, Audio Editing, Editing, Journalism, and Radio. Strong professional with a Postgraduate Diploma focused in Broadcast Journalism from London College of Communications.

linkedin | goodreads

FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.

STRAIGHT SHOT

Straight Shot by Jack Lively
Book 1 in the Tom Keeler series
Narrated by Jeff Harding
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Straight Shot:

Ex-Special Forces operator Tom Keeler is a rambling man. He’s just passing through the town of Alencourt, France, and in less than an hour, someone tries to kill him.

Nice place, nice try.

But it’s a case of mistaken identity, and they picked the wrong guy.

The French police can’t be trusted, except for the beautiful Cecile Nazari.

She finds out fast, that keeping up with Keeler is a dangerous occupation.

Because someone’s preying on the weak and unprotected.

Someone murderous.

But they never counted on coming up against a guy like Keeler.

Source: Info in the "About Straight Shot" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59593456-straight-shot on 27/07/2023.

Buy Link(s):

 

My Thoughts:

This is my first Jack Lively read and I am glad that I stumbled upon him!

I had to switch gear to the level of violence this book packs because if that happened here in the UK, there would be serious consequences with the law. But I guess a sleepy old town in France would be a little bit more tolerant than us in Britain. I took that view anyway. So much easier to enjoy the book that way.

After 20 books of narrating Charlie Parker of the Charlie Parker series, Jeff Harding, IS Charlie Parker in my head! It took willful and conscientious effort to hear him as Tom Keeler.

Quantitative Evaluation:

Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 3
Pace = (11 hrs and 2 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Tom Keeler Series:

 

Meet The Author

About Jack Lively:

Jack Lively was born in Sheffield, in the UK. He grew up in the United States of America. He has worked as a fisherman, an ice cream truck driver, underwater cinematographer, gas station attendant, and outboard engine repairman. The other thing about Jack is that since he grew up without a TV, before the internet, he was always reading. And later on, Jack started writing. All through those long years working odd jobs and traveling around, Jack wrote. He’d write in bars and cafes, on boats and trains and even on long haul bus trips.

Eventually Jack finished a book and figured he might as well see if anyone wanted to read it.

Tom Keeler is a veteran combat medic who served in a special tactics unit of United States Air Force. The series begins when Keeler receives his discharge from the military. Keeler just wants to roam free. But stuff happens, and Keeler’s not the kind of guy who just walks away.

Jack Lively lives in London with his family.

jacklively.com | twitter | facebook | instagram | amazon | goodreads

The Narrator

About Jeff Harding:

Jeff Harding is one of the most active American actors based in Britain. He is regularly seen in film and TV but he maintains interest in fringe theatre. He is particularly active in voice-over and radio. Having competed in rowing for many years, he still lives by the Thames and rows regularly – an appropriate sport for the reader of Ben Hur.

facebook | imdb | goodreads

FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.