Raylene

I liked the idea of how turning into a vampire is like getting a horrific disease. Since I know several people with rare, debilitating diseases, I could relate to how people in the book either turned away in fear and disgust or were able to see beyond the disease to the person within. Certainly, issues with spouses and children are usually an issue with people with disease or who have become a vampire (or other supernatural being). I will listen to the rest of the series just to follow the family issues and hopefully Rain will stay close to the reality.

I love reading anything by Martha Grimes, so when Audible began to carry the series, I started back with the first Inspector Richard Jury novel. Grimes writes wonderful characters. Jury is a sensitive, intelligent person who carries those traits into his job. In this book, we are introduced to his fellow policemen and to a group of residents in a small village that will be featured in future books. Melrose Plant, the epitome of an idle English lord but with a great wry sense of humor. Agatha, Plant's snobbish American aunt who strives to be more British than her neighbors. Shop and pub owners add more depth and wit to this cast of characters. Not only are the characters great, but Grimes writes a good mystery that keeps the reader engaged to the end. She is also marvelous at portraying children and adults' reactions to them.

This book is so good that I did not think it could get better, but narrator, Steve West, brought more life and depth to the book. Both his male and female voices are marvelous. I don't think I've listened to a better narrator.

Audible has the second book in the series and is issuing the third in a few weeks. I hope they keep coming!

The last few Pendergast novels have become more like formulas - nothing like the inventive thrilling series that began with Relic. The plot was thin. Pendergast has become less of a thinking top FBI agent and more of a plastic super hero. Enough is enough. Preston and Child have been among my top ten favorite authors for years, but I was disappointed with this book. On the plus side, Auberjonois is a great narrator.

I love the character in this novel. If you're looking for a sex packed romp as suggested by the covers, thank goodness you will be disappointed. Main character is strong, sensible and just trying to live a normal life despite his connections to gods and goddesses. Luke Daniels did a great job voicing the characters. I look forward to more fulfilling fantasy fare from Hearne.

At first I thought I wasn't going to finish this book, but I kept listening and pretty soon I didn't want to stop until the book was done. Unusual plot, interesting slightly odd characters, and fine narration. I'm glad I kept going.

Characters were well-done and easy to relate to. Plot line was plausible and made me wonder "what if" several times. The ending tied events together nicely, leaving a nice opening for further adventures. I liked the narrator. He voiced all characters quite well. I enjoyed this book very much and will read more of this series.

I found this book to be farfetched and trite. The characters were shallow and often dumb. Imagine a highly trained Navy Seal mouthing off to every authority figure that comes along and then going renegade to solve the problem of the president's kidnapping. Along the way he gets more breaks and second chances to fix mistakes than a reasonable reader should expect. I read one review that said that the Harvath series improved as the writer became more polished. I may try a library download to check this out but will not purchase another book until I've tried out other books. Hopefully I will find that the author has improved. In conclusion, I would recommend readers to thrillers such as early Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, or Martin Cruz Smith.

This book provides an intriguing story about art wrested from Holocaust victims and a retired Israeli security officer, turned art restorer, who searches for a missing Rembrandt. The author provides enough detail about Holocaust events to provide authenticity to the story. Characters are well drawn as their stories intermingle throughout the book. A good, satisfying listen.

Many P.D. James books begin with a long intro of characters - so long that you begin to think the story will never really start. But then the crime occurs and the mystery begins. James develops Dalgleish as a complex character who is both assured in his detecting abilities but hesitant about his personal life. James also does a great job with her English settings, so that you feel you are there with the characters. I have enjoyed reading this series.

Loved the narration by James Langton who gives the reader the essential sound of all tongue in cheek Victorian romps. The heroine, Eliza, has a perfect foil in the surprisingly adept Welllington. Reminds one of The Avenger as played by Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman.