Ben

Taylor Anderson is back with his second book in his Destroyermen series. With book two Anderson seems to have worked out his "pace" problem from book one. He still gets a little too indepth with the battles and dialogue during the battles, which tends to weigh on the action sections, but he has improved dramatically from book one. He holds true to the plot line of alternate realities and does a fantastic job of filling out his "native" species that his Destroyermen must interact with. An improved book from book one and compelling all the same.

William Dufris hits his stride in book two and shows why he has as many books on Audible as he does. Gone is the slight hesitation and over emphesising during the battles and his character development via vocal performance is superb. He brings Anderson's creation to life and breathes the wind into the sails of imagination.

Ok I've had to deal with some federal types in my career and most of them don't fit the corner that Lee Child tries painting the FBI into in this book. I can think of three specifically though that could be exact copies of the "moron" feds in this book, but they are all desk jockies that never would have a case this big. I would never call any of the feds I've dealt with "over-bright", but never this stupid and never this crooked. And even though I know the chances of Lee Child ever reading this are slim, just a heads up. Someone that stupid and crooked, would have a very hard time climbing the ranks in law enforcement. You might end up with one, but a whole department of them? No. Most of your problems are either stupid OR crooked. The stupid ones are usually straight arrows and the crooked ones are usually wicked smart. Both find their way to the top but never do you have the trifecta of stupid, crooked, and all powerful. That was my only complaint with the book and the only reason it got 4 stars instead of 5. Child held true to his story and really did a good job of filling it out to give you a lot of differant suspects.

Again J. McClain does a good job as Jack Reacher, but he just doesn't do a great job. To get this up to 5 stars would require Dick Hill.

Ok don't assume that the headline reflects anything other than I didn't want this book to end. That and all those reviews saying there is no cliffhanger; did you actually listen to the whole book? There are several huge cliffhangers in this book, and I can't wait to see which way J. G. Hemry takes them. Hint: All the cliffhangers are before you get to the last chapter. Granted this book could stand as the final one if it had to, but there are still huge sections of this story still unwritten. This is a great book, but it comes no where close to closing this story out.

Christian Rummel did a fantastic job. As some other reviewers have mentioned, he seems to have forgotten a few things here and there, but nothing serious. Couldn't really tell if the minor mistakes were Hemry's doing or Rummel's, but they were so minor it doesn't bear elaborating. When it's all said and done this is a five star book all the way around.

Lee Child is back with the second adventure of Jack Reacher. This time he's trying to be "Mr. Nice-Guy" and gets caught in a kidnap attempt. What to do? How does he save his fellow captive? Who does he trust? This new adventure takes a little while to develop but once it does it is a high speed ride. Lee Child does a good job of keeping you interested and invested in the story. This is a great read and really engrossing.

Most of the reviewers of this book don't like that it was narrated by Jonathan McClain. Now like everyone else I think that Dick Hill is the voice of Jack Reacher, but McClain does a good job. If you haven't listened to alot of Reacher books with Dick Hill, than McClain doing this narration won't bother you. Not as good as Hill, but good all the same.

Who is Jack Reacher? Where does he come from? And what is he doing in a small Georgia town on the day the murders start? Lee Child does a fantastic job introducing his character and immediately putting him in harms way. The only drawback is that Child introduces individuals or their names early in the book and then walks away just long enough that when he mentions them again you are trying to scramble and remember who they are. His writing draws you in and makes you want more.

Dick Hill does a great job presenting Lee Child's work. He makes Jack Reacher come alive and swagger his way through this modern mystery. This is a good book, good performance, and good overall story.

As I've written before I'm not a huge fan of the Sword of Truth series. Not because its a bad series or because the premise of the book is bad, but because Goodkind doesn't take this series to it's full potential. He tries to make the story rely on one or two people and build his world around them. One problem is that that's not how the world works. There are no serious back characters that this story can rely on. This is a very narrow veiw of a massive world and it tends to disturb me. It's one thing to have a main character you follow around, but you need something or someone that you can move away from the main character and build side stories that help fill out the world and move the story. If it wasn't for Dick Hill's performance this story wouldn't have even registered as an average story overall.

Dick Hill does a good job with this work and takes this story from poor to average with his performance. Goodkind was lucky to get this performer, because without Hill this wouldn't even garner a listen. Overall this is a poor story made average by a good performance.

Just when I finished mourning the end of the Legion of the Damned series William C. Dietz is back with an encore presentation. One of the greatest series in Sci-Fi is back with an installment that will drag you back in and get you hooked all over again. Andromeda's Fall is by far William C. Dietz's best work yet on the LotD series. Murder, court intrigue, suspense, and betrayal are just a few of the things that make this book an "I can't put this down" type of book. This book has earned it's spot at the beginning of one of the best Sci-Fi series of all time, and it is one more example of why William C. Dietz is considered one of the best authors of any genre.

Isabelle Gordon takes this new book and knocks it out of the park. On a side note it probably would have helped if she had listened to at least one of the other LotD books, but the things she mispronounces are so rare that it really doesn't play that big a role in how good this performance is. All in all this book is ready for its debut in the Sci-Fi Hall of Fame alongside all of the other LotD books.

I don't think Audible could have made a better choice for their Christmas give-away this year. Of course being a Sherlock Holmes fan I'm not biased or anything. The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle is one of my favorites because it is so short and simplistic that even non-Holmes fans tend to enjoy it. I can't tell you the number of people I've introduced to Sherlock Holmes by pointing out the Blue Carbuncle to them and letting them see Holmes and Watson at work for themselves. Now as for Alan Cumming reading this presentation, I have to admit I was a little wary. I'm not a huge fan of Alan, although he does fantastic work as an actor. Some of the projects he chooses in his acting career are not among my favorites and I think that biases me a little when it comes to him. I thought he did a good job with this performance though. I don't think I could listen to a whole Holmes addition with him, but this story was definently one that I look forward to listening to again.

Ok I know my profile says "you write it, I read it!" I do draw the line somewhere though. I DON'T READ ROMANCE NOVELS. Ok once, but that was on a bet (I try not to lose bets, especially ones that have payment for a huge expensive dinner date involved). This is about as close to a romance novel as I get (unless there is money involved or something worth reading a romance novel for, and yes that includes another date). I'm a huge vampire freak (and no I don't consider Twilight a legitimate vampire story), and so I was instantly drawn to this series when it came up on my recommended list. Little did I know that about one quarter of this book is a romance novel. Of course being the typical "guys guy" that I am, I rolled my eyes, muttered "You have got to be kidding me", and continued listening when the first hints of the romance part of this book showed up. By the time the action got hot and heavy I was trying really hard to turn off the book. I mean really I was, for some reason I couldn't get my pause button to work and I had to sit and endure listening to that feminine hormone enduced passage rot away my brain cells. If that wasn't bad enough Jeaniene Frost just sort of slips it in here and there, so I am really enjoying the story only to have hot stuff find her way into my listening pleasure. I mean really what self respecting guy doesn't turn it off? Like I said I was having technical issues, so I really didn't have a choice. It's a conspiracy really, because the pause button worked just fine at every other point in the book (I complained but Audible said the problem was on my end, yea right). So even though I had to listen to some of this book under duress it really is pretty good. You know except for the steamy romantic sections. Still have my man card intact (I think, you guys bought those excuses right?)! *Cough* Oh look a flying elephant!

Tavia Gilbert does a great job with this book. Really makes it come to life, or is that half living if the book is about a half vampire? Anyway, good book, great narrator, give it a listen!

The Rangora have finally decided to take the human species seriously. One slight problem. There are now two fully functioning battlestations not just one, and a third one on the way. Ok fully functioning might not be the correct term. Fully staffed. Still haven't got the functioning part down yet. The real question is whether they ever will in time to be ready for the biggest fight of their lives. It's a race against time and politics to see if the human species will survive. Of course trillionaire Tyler Vernon is in the middle of it and trying to keep the humans from doing the Rangora's job for them. The real question isn't if the humans will survive, it's whether they will even put up a fight?

Mark Boyett continues his stellar work on this fantastic series. His vocal abilities really get a work out on this outing, but he rises to the challenge and delivers.

Dresden lives, and as usual someone is already trying to rectify that problem. Only this time it's his new boss. In her attempt to get Harry back on his feet, Mab decides that his rehab should be murder attempts. If that's not enough he's no sooner back on his feet and near fighting shape when she gives him his first assignement. Kill Mav!!! And just when he thinks his plate is full to overflowing he finds out someone is trying to blow up Demonreach, and his Warden title is more than it appears. Oh and did I mention it's Halloween and the Earl King is back on the hunt, and is there really a way to kill an immortal?

James Marsters is back, and better than ever. Marsters is Harry Dresden, and returns to the series with a bang. Cold Days is Butcher's best work and Marsters' best performance.