The Hidden Son

The Cayman Islands Trilogy, Volume 1

By: Dianna T. Benson

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

When US DEA Special Agent Lelisa Desmond refuses to follow an order to bury evidence in a high profile case, her superior hires a hit man to forever silence her deep in the ocean off Grand Cayman Island. Lelisa survives the first attempt on her life, but someone close to her is mistakenly murdered in her place.

With no one to trust, Lelisa enlists Inspector Alec Dyer for assistance but soon learn she's his number one suspect in the homicide. She sets off on a daring mission to bring down the man who ordered her execution - a man in a high position, with powerful friends; a man who will stop at nothing to keep his son hidden.

©2016 Dianna T. Benson (P)2017 Dianna T. Benson

Frustratingly good story

Although there are several twists that require the reader to suspend belief for a few moments and, some other twists that were quite predictable, I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t stop listening. I did get frustrated several times with the main character....to the point I skipped 30 seconds here and there...but, I still couldn’t quit listening. I will definitely pick up the next in the series. Joe Hempel is one of my favorite narrators and, as always, his performance is outstanding. I received a review copy at my request and voluntarily reviewed.

Murder in Paradise. Almost perfect

The Hidden Son is quite a mixed bag. Murder, medical emergencies, races across countries, car chases, its got it all. Our two main characters Lelisa Desmond and Alec Dayer in a game of cat and mouse with an assassin and his boss, Lelisa's superior. Overall its a good novel. When it's going it goes very well. However there are times where it stalls for exposition and it lasts for a while. My recommendation is to emphasise that the audience wants to hear things from the character, There were a lot of opportunities to hear from the characters that we are told in long texts of exposition that could have been really interesting instead of dragging on. And to warn you our heroine sits in silence... A lot. And her ongoing paranoia does drag on a little long.

Despite my criticism I still found this novel very enjoyable to listen to. The characters were good and their interactions were fun to watch. Following them makes you want to see them succeed and find out what happens next when things go sideways. I would give it 3.5 stars story wise but lean it to 4 just because it does go smooth once it finds its way after a shaky start.

The narrator Joe Hempel did a great job with this novel. The pacing was good, and the characters' voices fit very well to their personality.

As a part 1 want to see where the author takes things from here and would recommend this book.

*This audiobook was provided to me at no cost in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Conspiracy or crazy?

Any additional comments?

That is the premise along with the possibility the main character and DEA agent is a murderer. We venture along with the local Detective Inspector as he tries to sort it all out. Good world building and premise. Holds the attention well. As the revelations keep coming a bit of romance builds as well. There is mystery on multiple levels and good resolution in the end. A good story and narrator.

Well kept suspense and great characters

Any additional comments?

I have received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.

U.S. DEA Special Agent Lelisa Desmond is invited by her boyfriend as per her boss request, to take some days off at the Cayman Islands in order to let off some steam after a complicated case. Lelisa and Rick are experienced divers, and had spent some vacations on the Islands doing some diving. This time is not different, but during the dive Rick dies in strange circumstances, and Lelisa will try to find out how it happened, just to discovered that Rick was in fact murdered, and that she was the target, not him. Everything seems related to her last case, in which her boss commanded her to bury some evidence against her will. Inspector Alec Dyer is in charge of the investigation of Rick's death, and will need to see whether Lelisa is innocent or guilty of murder.

I have to confess that I took this book due to its narrator, since Hempel is able to bring to life any story he narrates, but I was pleasantly surprised with the book. I only enjoy thrillers if the characters are well depicted, and this is the case. Both Alec and Lelisa have a solid background story which justifies their actions. In some cases I did not completely agree with how they reacted but their story justified it 100%. This is what I like in a book: well developed, imperfect and realistic characters; and Alec and Lelisa are all this.

The premises were interesting and it was very well executed, with several twists and a side story in which Alec was the main character. It all gave depth to the main story and the characters. I have to say that the book held my attention from the start and kept it until the end. If books two and three are at the same level I will be a happy reader.

I usually dislike unjustified romance in a book, but in this case it did not feel forced and I almost enjoyed it. What I do not completely agree is with the traditionalism and the focus on God as a way to improve one's life. It could be something personal, since I don't do well with religion in book and life in general. It is what happens when you are an atheist. If I overlooked those two things, this could be an almost five star book.

The narration was beautifully done, as always, by Joe Hempel. I repeat that I have read this book because it was narrated by him, since he has a unique talent to interpret characters, transmit emotions and make you forget that you are listening to a book. With Joe Hempel you just cannot go wrong.

Despite the two points mentioned above I enjoyed this book a lot. Benson knew how to keep the intrigue and create charismatic characters. I would say that this book would be more appreciated by a feminine public but it is not exclusively targeted towards it.

Surprise ending!

I enjoyed this book and was surprised by the ending. I like when I can't see it coming.

Hidden Son

Which character – as performed by Joe Hempel – was your favorite?

Surprisingly, it was the protag, Lelisa. A lot of male narrators aren't very good at doing female voices. They go too high or too breathy or too inconsistent and it can really ruin the whole book. That didn't happen here. Instead, the chosen voice was a much more subtle shift from Hempel's own, easily distinguishable from the other characters and as a female, but nothing over the top.

Any additional comments?

Like any good thriller, this book contained a number of twists and turns, but they're not the most surprising reveals I've ever read. While the action starts from moment one and I was initially intrigued by the story, it wasn't overly hard to figure out what was going on. The story wasn't terrible, but it was a bit predictable and, at times, cliche.

Also, having to hear 'Lelisa' over and over and over again was grating. That name isn't great to start and it gets worse with time.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Corruption, murder and intrigue

This is an entertaining audiobook that has lots of surprising twists. It is full of corruption, mystery, intrigue and has some romance mixed in there as well. Set in the beautiful Caymen Islands, DEA agent Lelisa Desmond becomes the hunted instead of the hunter. Caught in a web of deceit and framed by her boss, she meets Inspector Alex Dyer when her boyfriend dies under suspicious circumstances when diving with her. Dyer, still grieving over the disappearance of his teenage daughter two years ago, becomes embroiled in the treachery and both their lives are put on the line. Mental and physical survival for both is dependant on unraveling the lies and revealing the truth. Joe Hempel did a good job of the narration, he made Lelisa's boss, Delford, seem truly selfish and malicious. This is a suspenseful story with characters you quickly become attached to and a plot full of twists and turns. I really enjoyed the story but I did find the ending just a little too perfect for me. Having said that, I will definitely listen to the other books in the series when they come out.

Great Author ever better Narrator great team

I was gifted this audio ARC for a honest and unbiased review from the author/narrator
Dianna T. Benson has the ability of telling a story that has so many twists and turns coming at you you are always looking to the next chapter to see what will be happening. The Hidden Son , to me, was like being in the middle of an action movie on the TV,
Joe Hempel's narration is clear and concise, he is top notch and wow such a genius.
I can recommend this audio book to anyone who wants to listen.

Thrilling exciting listen

Any additional comments?

Since I listened to this and did not read it I didn’t have the issues some posted about. The author may have fixed the issues they talked about. For me it was a very enjoyable audio filled with mystery, excitement and danger. Believable hum I am not sure some parts yes and others maybe not but it does give you a page turner full of excitement. I do not think I have ever seen a hitman with such bad luck lol.

I thought Mr. Hempel’s narration was very good, his voice holds the emotion as the characters go through their day to day lives from fear to excitement. I had no trouble hearing Lelisa’s fear of the unknown not knowing who to trust, where to go or what to do next. His male and female voices where very enjoyable. I do believe there was one place where the volume changed but there are no repeats of wording and no background noises. I thought he carried off each character and their demeanors very well. He really adds and brings a lot to the story delivering a very clean and clean audio. I really enjoyed listening to Mr. Hempel’s work and look forward to listening to more of it in the future.

I thought the author did a really good job in laying out the plot with excitement, danger, thrills and a few chilling scenes. When those you trust turn against you it is hard to put your trust in anyone. Finding out your friends, co workers want you dead is very shocking. Finding the man you have been dating, one that you trust for a long time died in your place is devastating as it goes on you wonder if he is in on bring you down. My mind is blowin away when you know you must get home to clear your name with a hit man hot on your kneels wanting you dead and a cop who wants answers and wants to know what you are hiding what is a girl to do but run for her life. At some point Lelisa going to have to trust someone but who? The cop from the islands is hiding something he isn’t being up front, could he be out to killer her too? This was a fun and exciting read from the danger to the romance. Alec is one hot cop who has been to hell and back and will most likely revisit it before this story is over. The author gives you a story inside a story that really pulls you in with its mystery as well. The answer comes to you about the same time it does to Lelisa leaving you in shock wondering how anyone could be so cruel. The ending is wonderful maybe not so believable. It does leave you shocked and smiling at the same time. There are twists after twists in a dangerous game of hide and seek. Some will end up dead others will wish they were. All in all this was a very exciting read that holds your attention giving you a page turner you can’t put down.

Oh my!!! So many unexpected twists

This book was so good!!! I loved the unexpected twists in this book. I was totally surprised with the ending and never saw it coming. I hate giving away spoilers in reviews and will not in this review other than this book ended so well. I will definitely listen to more books by this author and narrator. I was voluntarily provided with this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator. My review is not a synopsis of the book, but rather my opinion of.