Tuesday, 30 April 2024

TOE THE LINE


Toe The Line by Jack Probyn
Book 1 in the DC Jake Tanner series
Narrated by Aubrey Parsons
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook


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…
Source: Info in the "About Toe The Line" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75560916-toe-the-line on 27/10/2023.


Buy Link(s):
  Audible Books


My Thoughts:
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.


Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 3.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 3
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 3.5
Pace = (10 hrs and 15 mins listening time)
Plot = 2.5
Narration = 5


Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The DC Jake Tanner Series:
Book 0.5: THE RED VIPER Book 0.6: A DEADLY VICE Book 1: TOE THE LINE Book 2: WALK THE LINE Book 3: UNDER THE LINE Book 4: CROSS THE LINE Book 5: OVER THE LINE Book 6: PAST THE LINE Book 7: (No Title Yet)


 
Meet The Author

About Jack Probyn:
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.


The Narrator

About Aubrey Parsons:
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.



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

Sunday, 21 April 2024

TAKEN TO THE HILLS


Taken To The Hills by S J Richards
Book 1 in the Luke Sackville Crime Thrillers series
Narrated by Aubrey Parsons
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook


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.
Source: Info in the "About Taken To The Hills" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/159533729-taken-to-the-hills on 24/10/2023.


Buy Link(s):
  Audible Books


My Thoughts:
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!!


Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
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


Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Luke Sackville Crime Thrillers Series:
Book 1: TAKEN TO THE HILLS Book 2: BLACK MONEY Book 3: FOG OF SILENCE Book 4: THE CORRUPTION CODE Book 5: LETHAL ODDS


 
Meet The Author

About S J Richards:
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.


The Narrator

About Aubrey Parsons:
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.



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

Thursday, 18 April 2024

DRAGON'S REACH


Dragon's Reach by JA Andrews
Book 1 in the The Keeper Origins series
Narrated by Kate Reading
Genre: fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook


Sable would do anything to protect her younger sister Talia from Kiva, the ruthless gang boss — including keeping secrets: a money stash, a family secret, and her own magical ability to sense the truth in people’s words.

But when Sable disobeys Kiva and he begins to unravel her secrets, her entire world unravels with them.

With Talia torn from her and Kiva’s henchmen at every corner, Sable stumbles into the most unexpected help — a traveling theater troupe. Far more than a means of escape, the mismatched band of actors quickly becomes the family Sable so desperately needs.

And with their help, the true power in her magic begins to awaken.

When Sable and the troupe come face to face with a looming danger that threatens the entire land, they risk everything to return and warn the city. Against time and her own self-doubts, Sable must perform the lead role in a play powerful enough to gain the attention of the entire city — including Kiva, who’s still hungry for her blood.
Source: Info in the "About Dragon's Reach" was taken from amazon on 18/04/2024.


Buy Link(s):
  Audible Books


My Thoughts:
At the first sign of too stupid to live (tstl) element in the story, I was very apprehensive! But, I continued on reading in the hopes that it won't appear again...

Unfortunately that is not to be...

The story telling quality is good enough for me to keep reading. However, I also needed frequent breaks from it. Some breaks are longer than others. When I have forgotten my annoyance, I'd pick this book up again. Because the world building is beautiful!

And then there is Purnicious. The best way to describe her is Harry Potter's Dobbie. Same character. Only this time Purn is a kobold instead of a house-elf.
Purnicious


Might not be the most original of ideas. Might be a Harry Potter rip-off. However, Purn is still loveable as all get-out!

Then the ending is a cliffhanger. I don't like cliffhagners!

I am an old Kate Reading fan and she gave a wonderful performance with this book!


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


Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Keeper Origins Series:
Book 1: DRAGON'S REACH Book 1.5: THE GHOST OF THE WHITE WOOD Book 2: RAVEN'S RUIN Book 3: PHOENIX RISING Book 3.5: THE DEAL IS STRUCK


 
Meet The Author

About JA Andrews:
A Andrews is a writer, wife, mother, and unemployed rocket scientist. She doesn't regret the rocket science degree, but finds it generally inapplicable in daily life. Except for the rare occurrence of her being able to definitively state, "That's not rocket science." She does, however, love the stars. She began writing stories and creating coloring books because these sorts of things need an outlet. And now good markers are a deductible business expense. She spends an inordinate amount of time at home, with her family, who she adores, and lives deep in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, where she can see more stars than she ever imagined.


The Narrator

Kate Reading
About Kate Reading:
Kate Reading is an Audie Award–winning narrator who has recorded hundreds of titles in many genres. She has received numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine, in addition to being named Narrator of the Year and Best Voice in Science Fiction and Fantasy. She has been recognized as Reader of the Year by Publishers Weekly and has appeared on Booklist's 2019 Top of the List for the American Library Association. She and her husband, narrator Michael Kramer, record at their home studio in Maryland, Madison Productions.

Born: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Spouse: Michael Kramer
Children: Vivian Kramer, Henry Kramer

Our home studio, Madison Productions, is located in Maryland.



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