Friday, 15 September 2023

ALONG CAME A SPIDER


Along Came A Spider by James Patterson
Book 1 in the Alex Cross series
Narrated by Ako Mitchell
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook


What have we got? A missing little girl named Maggie Rose . . . a family of three brutally murdered in the projects of Washington, D.C. . . . the thrill-killing of a beautiful elementary school teacher . . . a psychopathic serial kidnapper/murderer who is so terrifying that the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police cannot outsmart him — even after he's been captured.

Gary Soneji wants to commit the crime of the century. Alex Cross is the brilliant homicide detective pitted against him. Jezzie Flanagan is the first female supervisor of the Secret Service. They complete one of the most unusual suspense triangles in any thriller you have ever read.

Alex and Jezzie are about to have a forbidden love affair — at the worst possible time for both of them. Because Gary Soneji is playing at the top of his game. The latest of the unspeakable crimes happens in Alex Cross's precinct and it happens under the nose of Jezzie and her men.

Alex faces the ultimate test: how do you outmaneuver a brilliant psychopath?
Source: Info in the "About Along Came A Spider" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13145.Along_Came_a_Spider on 02/06/2023.


Buy Link(s):
  Audible Books


My Thoughts:
First book of the vaunted Alex Cross series that I have finally gotten around to reading.

I know, I am sooo late to the party!

This is my first crime thriller where the protagonist is an African-American. Now, why is that?... I would have expected the author to be African-American too. But last time I checked, James Patterson is a white guy. Mmmm... What preconceived ideas do I have in my subconscious? I'm not white, by the way.

Then I discover that there is a dvd loosely based on the Alex Cross character played by Morgan Freeman! Now, that! Is. A. Bonus!

This book reminded me why I am not really a crime fiction fan. I am an escapist reader. I don't want the ugly side of life during my field trips to fairy land. I want to escape reality!

I am so used to plot-less-ness in urban fantasy books (my usual genre) that I was impressed with this one!

This is my first Ako Mitchell listen and I like the way he reads!


Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (12 hrs and 1 min listening time)
Plot = 5
Narration = 5


Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Alex Cross Series:
Book 1: ALONG CAME A SPIDER Book 2: KISS THE GIRLS Book 3: JACK & JILL Book 4: CAT & MOUSE Book 5: POP GOES THE WEASEL Book 6: ROSES ARE RED Book 7: VIOLETS ARE BLUE Book 8: FOUR BLIND MICE Book 9: BIG BAD WOLF Book 10: LONDON BRIDGES Book 11: MARY, MARY Book 12: CROSS Book 13: DOUBLE CROSS Book 14: CROSS COUNTRY Book 15: ALEX CROSS'S TRIAL Book 16: I, ALEX CROSS Book 17: CROSS FIRE Book 18: KILL ALEX CROSS Book 19: MERRY CHRISTMAS, ALEX CROSS Book 20: ALEX CROSS, RUN Book 21: CROSS MY HEART Book 22: HOPE TO DIE Book 23: CROSS JUSTICE Book 24: CROSS THE LINE Book 24.4: CROSS KILL Book 24.5: DETECTIVE CROSS Book 25: THE PEOPLE VS ALEX CROSS Book 26: TARGET: ALEX CROSS Book 27: CRISS CROSS Book 28: DEADLY CROSS Book 29: FEAR NO EVIL Book 30: TRIPLE CROSS Book 31: CROSS DOWN


 
Meet The Author

About James Patterson:
James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author. Among his creations are Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, and Maximum Ride. His #1 bestselling nonfiction includes Walk in My Combat Boots, Filthy Rich, and his autobiography, James Patterson by James Patterson. He has collaborated on novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton and has won an Edgar Award, nine Emmy Awards, and the National Humanities Medal.


The Narrator

About Ako Mitchell:
Ako Mitchell is an actor, writer and director known for I'm in the Corner with the Bluebells (2014), Aliens vs. Predator 3 (2010) and Lake Placid: The Final Chapter (2012). Ako is also known for his extensive stage work including Sister Act with Whoopi Goldberg and Fences with Lenny Henry both in London's West End.



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

Sunday, 10 September 2023

CURSED WOLF


Cursed Wolf by Brogan Thomas
Book 1 in the Creatures of the Otherworld series
Narrated by Poppy Royana
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook


Loathed by those who should love her, can one fierce woman discover the secrets of her unique blood in time to be her own rescuer?

Forrest Hesketh desperately clings to humanity. Trapped in an infuriatingly inept wolf form since she was nine years old, the traumatised girl’s hope of regaining her ability to shift is slowly fading. But as her abusive pack plots to kill her, her desperate act to help her kind stepbrother finally triggers the broken young woman’s transformation.

Stunned that suddenly everyone wants her after fourteen years of horrific treatment, Forrest struggles to relearn basic skills while dodging kidnappers and assassins. And with a powerful shifter councilman determined to claim her as a mate, even the protection of a gorgeous dragon can’t guarantee her safety.

With monsters closing in, will Forrest’s undaunted courage be enough to keep her alive?
Source: Info in the "About Cursed Wolf" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54817962-cursed-wolf on 26/06/2021.


Book Trailer :


Buy Link(s):
  Audible Books


My Thoughts:
This is my first Brogan Thomas book and I am so very glad that I stumbled into her! I like her author's voice! The sassy sarcasm and the way she weaves a wonderful world and her characters are loveable! Though the plot has tiny little holes in them and kinda predictable. However, I can forgive that because this is urban fantasy after all, not crime fiction. And the first chapter took a little bit of perseverance on my part to get through. A more forgiving reader might not struggle as hard....

This is also my first Poppy Royana listen and I like the way she reads! Her British accent and young voice fits Forrest to the T! I like the way she reads her lines with sarcasm and vive!


Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 4
World building = 5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = 4.5
Plot = 4
Narration = 5


Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Creatures of the Otherworld Series:


Books In The Rebel of the Otherworld Series:


Meet The Author

About Brogan Thomas:
Brogan lives in Ireland with her husband and their eleven furry children: five furry minions of darkness (aka the cats), four hellhounds (the dogs), and two traditional unicorns (fat, hairy Irish cobs).

In 2019 she decided to embrace her craziness by writing about the imaginary people that live in her head. Her first love is her number-one favourite furry child Bob the cob, then reading. When not reading or writing, she can be found knee-deep in horse poo and fur while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.


The Narrator

About Poppy Royana:
Born and raised in the South East but finding her home in the North, Poppy is a bi British Narrator based in not too sunny Manchester. With experience in musical theatre, Poppy is both a singer and a book lover and teaches singing when she’s not found narrating in her booth.

Poppy’s voice could possibly be mistaken at times for Olivia Colman’s so we’d like to think that, in our opinion, Poppy has an award-winning voice. She sounds warm and uplifting whilst being articulate and crisp; and not only that but she can nail sarcasm to a T. There’s really not much Poppy can’t do!



FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook copies of the book were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.

Tuesday, 5 September 2023

DEATH WISH

Death Wish by Harper A. Brooks
Book 1 of the Reaper Reborn series
Narrated by Eugenie Danglar
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook


About Death Wish:
Life’s a b*tch — but what comes after isn’t much better.

Jade Blackwell, a paranormal reaper, helps supernaturals cross over after death. Her job comes with lots of rules — but not following them is kind of her thing… until it ends up involving her in something much deadlier than she ever imagined.

With the protective veil fading away, demons are crossing realms and impregnating humans, and Jade’s best friend is among their victims. She’s determined to save her friend, even if it means working with Cole Masters, a dangerous demon halfling and notorious gun-for-hire.

But time is running out to fix the barrier and find a demon cure. With supernaturals everywhere in danger, and the balance between good and evil tipped for the worst, Jade must choose between her own eternal afterlife… or the living world she so desperately wants to be a part of.

Either way, death is coming.

The explosively popular Urban Fantasy genre meets the Otherworld Series in this spunky new grim reaper tale by RONE Award winning author, Harper A. Brooks.
Source: Info in the About Death Wish was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44034245-death-wish on 25/08/2019.


My Thoughts:
Promising start to a new-to-me series!

The reaper theme with the in-between limbo place where reapers socialise has been around the block a few times already. Namely, the Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. series by Angela Roquet has exact the same premise. Charley Davidson series by Darinda Jones is another reaper story. So originality-wise this book does not rate very high. However, among the reaper books that I have read thus far this one has the best story telling quality. I also like the way Eugenie Danglar reads. The words are clear. She pauses between scenes to let the listener know that the scene has changed. Or at least give an indication that the scene has changed so that the listener does not get confused when the story lines changes and no longer make sense. And her voice is not aggravating to the ears. Kudos to the narration! Being the first book in the series, it is of course, a coming of age kinda book. Journey of self-discovery while battling good versus evil and saving the world. What I do not like is that our heroine has the tendency to be too stupid to live (tstl). What is that all about!?!


Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 3.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 3
World building = 4
Cover art = 4
Pace = 4
Plot = 3
Narration = 5


Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Reaper Reborn Series:



Meet The Author

About Harper A. Brooks:
Harper A. Brooks lives in a small town on the New Jersey shore. Even though classic authors have always filled her bookshelves, she finds her writing muse drawn to the dark, magical, and romantic. But when she isn't creating entire worlds with sexy shifters or legendary love stories, you can find her either with a good cup of coffee in hand or at home snuggling with her furry, four-legged son, Sammy.

She writes historical and paranormal romance.



The Narrator

Eugenie Danglar





FTC Disclosure:
The different formats of this book were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.