Carnal Innocence

By: Nora Roberts

Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte

Length: 17 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling novelist Nora Roberts captivates millions of fans with her provocative blend of scorching passion and chilling suspense. With Carnal Innocence, she creates a gripping tale of murder, infatuation, and true love in a small southern town. After beautiful concert violinist Caroline Waverly breaks up with her conductor and lover Luis, she escapes to her late grandmother’s home in Innocence, Mississippi. Instead of peace and tranquility, however, she finds the town torn with suspicion over two brutal murders. When she discovers a third victim in the murky waters behind her house, she turns to her dangerously handsome neighbor, Tucker Longstreet, for protection. But Tucker has a reputation for breaking hearts - even worse, the police count him their number one suspect.

You’ll want to lean back in your easy chair and let Nora Robert’s steamy prose and Tom Stechschulte’s stirring interpretation transport you to Innocence where the nights are filled with promise and secrets are hard to keep.

©1991 Nora Roberts (P)1999 Recorded Books, LLC

Carnell Innocence by Nora Robert's

I enjoyed this book right up until the last 2 chapters. I had been trying to figure who did all the murders and when finally told, well let's just say that the book was ruined for me. The sister who did the murdering was a minor character to the point where I didn't even know who they were talking about. She was so immature and childlike that I was surprised she could figure out how to murder so many people and get away with it. Unbelievable! And the pathetic reunion of Kathleen and Matty was equally as lame. The last chapter ruined the book.

10 Stars, one of the best

There is something about southern charm that I find very enjoyable. the way they speak and the kinship small towns have. This book was very funny at times, and at others very disturbing. I truly enjoyed this book and the ending was a surprise, did not see that coming.
The narration was incredible, Tom Stechschulte is truly a master of his craft. He made the book come alive and his portrayal of the different characters was fantastic.
I hope you enjoy it as well.

Excellent

Love it ...story great surprising ending as always. Great read. Typical, Nora Read. Excellent try it

5 Stars Yes!

Where does Carnal Innocence rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 5! I had just listened to The Witness and thought no way can I find another as good. Totally different books with totally different narrators and both excellent audibles. I was so thrilled with Tom Stechschulte's performance.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I adored all of the characters. Tucker has to be my favorite with his smooth, deep voice going on the way he did. They all did and even the old towns people. Just a joy to hear each of them.

What does Tom Stechschulte bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Tom Stechschulte brought this audible to life with every character that I felt I was right there. What fun it would have been to mingle with all those people aside from the murders. I had to stop, turn off my headphones and scream then jump up and down before I could finish the ending. I thought I had it figured out a few times but I sure did not!

If you could take any character from Carnal Innocence out to dinner, who would it be and why?

It would be a long table with so many sitting there and I know I would laugh all night long just hearing their stories.

Any additional comments?

Thanks so much this one has me in search for more!

Long

This book had so many characters that I had trouble keeping track of who was who. I think this book could have been better abridged. There was so many scenes and so much information that it watered down the suspense. I never really got caught up in the story. I was just passing time.

Outsanding Southern Romance and Suspense

Where does Carnal Innocence rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a top 10 book. I have listened two it three times already, and enjoyed it so much I began reading every Nora Roberts romantic/suspense I could find. The characters drip with the essence of southern bayou culture not only in dialog, but in mannerisms, in interior monologue and in setting. The character development ranks as some of the best I've ever read not just in Romance, but in overall fiction categories. You can hear the mosquitos and feel the humidity in the conversations, and you can hear envision the scenes as the plot unfolds. The thread of suspense really keeps the reader guessing; the twists and turns are superb. I really didn't know until the very end who the killer was. I appreciate that as Nora Roberts fed us the clues, she did so in such a way as to keep us from seeing them as clues -- most mysteries are not able to succeed at this. Even folks who don't like romance will enjoy this book, if they can appreciate southern suspense.

What other book might you compare Carnal Innocence to and why?

The Tone and character development reminded me a lot of Jayne Anne Krentz' River Road. I've since read Nora Robert's Midnight Bayou and thought the tone was also similar.

Have you listened to any of Tom Stechschulte’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I had not listened to performances prior, but intentionally purchased other books after as I was so impressed with his performance. I think this is the best performance I've listened, too, however because the characters require diverse accents and he does an excellent job delivering voices that match the character's personalities and socio-economic backgrounds. I noticed that he managed to alter the pacing of the narration based on the characters as well. A tour de force performance, for sure!!!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I felt a great deal of anxiety throughout, and I really hated one particular character and felt my chest tighten at the description of a plot-dependant event; I did shed a tear at the end; I hated that the situation while resolved caused so much pain.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this book to just about anyone, but particularly for those who enjoy southern literature.

Best Narrator Ever

I love Nora Roberts, I’ve read almost all of her work. Tom Stechschulte brought her words to life. I can’t wait to listen to more of his work!!!

A Little Better Just Entertaining

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it takes you in your mind to the south, pulls you in and makes you feel you are there.

What other book might you compare Carnal Innocence to and why?

Hmmm. Its what you would expect from Nora Roberts.

What does Tom Stechschulte bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Not necessarily. It was my first experience with Stechschulte, more on him as I hear more from him.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

No comments come to mind.

Any additional comments?

I would not have named the town 'Innocence.'

Outstanding narrator

One of Nora’s best books, brought alive with the talented narration of Tom Stechschulte! Worth every bit of the credit and even better on .9 speed.

Nora’s worst book

I love Nora Roberts, always have, but this book, horrible. I think it would have had a good story line if it had been written as a normal book. I’m from Mississippi and thank God nobody talks like that here. I couldn’t understand the lingo and the accents used was a mix between Tom Sawyer and Andy Griffins. I literally could not finish this book. It was making my ears bleed.