Hush by Anne Frasier

Audiobook narrated by Emily Beresford 

I’ve been a regular reader of Anne Frasier’s thrillers for almost as long as she’s been writing them. What a happy surprise to see that Hush has made its way to audio!

This is a tautly constructed police procedural, an intelligent and meaty story with a deliciously creepy serial killer. Chicago police detective Max Irving and criminal profiler Ivy Dunlap are refreshingly human and a welcome change from the stick figure kickass heroine and waxed-torso-of-steel hero so tiresomely prevalent in romantic suspense. They’re professionals who work together to stop the Madonna Murderer’s latest killing spree after a hiatus of sixteen years. A supporting cast of police personnel, reporters, victims and their families, and Max’s troubled teen son all play necessary roles as Max and Ivy close in on the crazy (yes, crazy) killer. 

Narrator Emily Beresford succeeds in bringing distinct voice to each of the book’s key characters. Maybe a little too crazy-sounding for the villain, but certainly entertaining. Very nice job from a new-to-me narrator.

Grade B+ for author and narrator. I liked it a lot!

Note: As I post this review the audible whispersync price is $1.99. Great deal.

Review copy provided by the author.

 

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Edge of Midnight

Audiobook narrated by Bernadette Dunn

Edge of Midnight has interesting leads and Leslie Tentler is a compelling storyteller. Problem is I’m tired of this same story told over and over again by every author of romantic suspense. In fact, lore says that no romantic suspense author worth her salt can join the club until she’s written this story.

• Serial killer targets heroine.
• Cop/Navy SEAL/FBI agent swears to protect her with his life.
• Heroine blithely/stupidly ignores dire warnings that she’s not safe and delivers herself into villain’s clutches.
• Hero tortures himself with guilt but pulls it together just in the nick of time.
• Rescue! Happily ever after.

I’ve read this plot dozens of times. Some writers like Tentler tell it better than others. But, gosh, I’d love some variation. Still, I’ll try this author again. She’s got a style. Dunn’s narration was appropriately suspenseful and a good match for the book’s content.

I liked it. THREE QUARTER MOONS for both author and narrator.

All the Queen’s Men by Linda Howard

Unabridged Audiobook narrated by Kate Forbes

Abridged narrated by Megan Gallagher 

I’ve often said that I came to romance through the door marked Romantic Suspense and All the Queen’s Men is that door. Back in 1998 I picked up the paperback on a mass market table in a mall bookstore. I’d been reading a steady diet of man thrillers and my joy knew no bounds as I sat in that mall food court falling in love with my new discovery. A thriller with romance, a hero who falls hard when he zeroes in on his woman and…sex! Do I love it as much now as I did way back then? Why, yes, even more now that I own two audio versions, a Kindle book, and more than one paperback (just in case).
John Medina is the sexiest, coolest, most mysterious, and darkest special ops guy ever. He’s hotter than James Bond; a hero that every woman can love. I’ve read countless romantic suspense series  with covert ops guys who are pale shadows of the original iron man John Medina. There is nothing he doesn’t do better than anyone staying cool and composed as he stares down and outsmarts the baddest terrorists. All while clad in his tailor made Armani tux. Oh yeah, baby. It’s a new world order.

Lethal by Sandra Brown

Audiobook narrated by Victor Slezak

Sandra Brown specializes in the wronged, seemingly villainous hero who strikes fear and loathing in the hearts of everyone but that one special woman, and she sure has a knack for tortuously testing his heroism until justice prevails. In Lethal, deep undercover FBI agent (c’mon, you didn’t really believe he was a mass murderer) Lee Coburn is about to discover the identity of a particularly nasty criminal mastermind known as The Bookkeeper when all hell breaks loose. Coburn is set up as the shooter when seven people are executed by the Bookkeepers’ minions. He flees straight into a Louisiana swamp, to be found lying muddy and blood-smeared in the yard of widow Honor Gillette by her four-year old daughter Emily.

Knight by Kristen Ashley

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Hard to believe that it’s been over a year ago that I experienced my first book from Kristen Ashley. Experienced is exactly the right word because you don’t just read her books. Approximately 500 KAs later, I admire the hell out of this woman. I still say do not start with Knight (do as I say, not as I did) because it is so over the top and not representative of her usual addictive style.

Anyhow, wrestle your inner book critic into submission before you read Knight and enjoy. It’s a barrel of monkeys.

I loved the Motorcycle Club as well as the ‘Burg series. YAY! for Ashley’s working class heroes and heroines.

I’m totally flummoxed as to where to start with Knight. I rated it three stars at Goodreads because my manifesto over there says that I award stars based on the entertainment factor. OMG OMG did this ever entertain. Allow me to tell you about it and you decide if you can handle it, my friends.