Amber Beach

By: Elizabeth Lowell

Narrated by: Robin Rowan

Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Deadly secrets are buried on Amber Beach...

Donovan International is a power to be reckoned with in the dazzling and cutthroat worldwide gem trade -- and is therefore a target for the murderous greed of unscrupulous competitors. Though a shrewd businesswoman, Honor Donovan has been effectively shut out of the dangerous family enterprise by the Donovan males -- until her favorite brother, Kyle, mysteriously vanishes along with a fortune in stolen amber. Now, linking up with "fishing guide" Jake Mallory -- whose previous association with the Donovans has bred mistrust and suspicion -- Honor sets out for the Pacific Northwest in search of answers. But old wars and new politics have lured ruthless, high-stakes players from around the globe into a deadly game. And suddenly, elusive trust can be the only salvation -- and death the penalty for deceit -- if Honor and Jake hope to survive the perilous intrigues surrounding a breathtaking lost Czarist treasure known as the Amber Room ...

©1997 Two of a Kind, Inc. (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Amber Beach

Really enjoyed this book, would recommend to a friend. Looking forward to listening to Jade Island.

not really a mystery

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would not classify this as a mystery. It is more romance than mystery. Yes, there is plot line that involves some mystery, but the story doesn't twist and build suspense. There is never a question as to how it will end. The loved one will be found, and will be innocent. The couple will marry and live happily ever after. It is trite and predictable. A mystery should keep me guessing and this novel deosnt do that at all.

Has Amber Beach turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. Though I may not buy and more books from Elizabeth Lowell. I got this book on a sale of first books in a series and picked it up.

Which scene was your favorite?

I cannot name a favorite scene. However, I did enjoy learning a bit about amber. That part of the story was a success.

nattated by robin rowan

this book was good by the narrator was BAD BAD BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mess up the whole series!!!!!!!

I managed 7 minutes into the story

There needs to be a section for trite romance disguised as thriller. Narrator sounded like she was introducing the Fall Fashion line.

Boring book with terrible narration.

Story could have been good but it was like listening to a textbook for what seemed like hours. Wait, it was hours. The story could have been interesting, but I did not want to learn to drive a boat, catch a fish or test lots of amber. Nor did I need a long lecture, or 2 or 3, on the geopolitics of the ex-Soviet Union. I kept listening and then yelling at my iPod as I drove. With about 3 hours to go and one more lecture, I pulled over and found another book to listen to. I will be returning this one.

As for the narrator, she was awful. In the beginning, she made a bit of an effort to differentiate at least the H and the h, but then everyone sounds the same, except for a few poorly done accents. Mostly she talked like she was in the library, then something goosed her up and she acted over the top for a minute or so. Then back to the library. I really hate it when all the men sound just like the women.

The story itself, while somewhat improbable, could still have been entertaining if about 3 hours of instructions had been cut out of it. My daughter has a copy of the book so I will skim it for the ending.

Oh PALLEEEZZZZZZZZ

This book is one of the most annoying books I've attempted to listen to in the past ten years. Supposedly we have a situation that involves the Russian mafia, the CIA, a former CIA agent, jewel dealers and a question about whether a missing man is a good man or a world-class jewel thief, and yet the male (former CIA agent?) and female protagonist (jewelry designer) act like horney tweeners....every other thought/sentence/line is about sex and their hormones raging for each other. It seems the author couldn't decide whether she wanted to write a bodice-ripper or an international jewel-theft thriller. It is just too ridiculous to continue!

Even I can write better than this

I guess I have been spoiled by reading works by Kathy Reichs, Nora Roberts and James Patterson. This author keeps switching viewpoints among characters in a way I find confusing. The quality of the dialogue is inferior.

Good Story BUT...

In part 2 of the story, there is a bit of a mixup. The story jumps ahead about 15 minutes and the story continues. After about 15 minutes it jumps back to the original spot and when 15 minutes are up...it goes back to the end of the first jump.

That is the only complaint about this book. The story itself is very enjoyable.

Perfectly awful!

Even though this is a romance novel, the constant sexual titillation from the beginning is gratuitous. Even if you enjoy that, nothing makes up for bad writing. The author has minimal command of the English language, saying such thing says “he/she said ironically“ no fewer than four times where there was no irony involved at all. The story is silly. The narrator doesn’t help the presentation by repeatedly mispronouncing “gunwhale“. Garbage.

Disappointing

What was most disappointing about Elizabeth Lowell’s story?

The book was disappointing, shallow and predictable, with very weak & unconvincing dialogue and plot