The Desperate Game

A Guinevere Jones Novel, Book 1

By: Jayne Castle

Narrated by: Kate Rudd

Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Lovely, savvy Guinevere Jones joins forces with rugged private detective Zachariah Justis to uncover a baffling computer crime and find a ruthless high-tech killer.

©2012 Jayne Castle (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Beware of the narration

I'm a long time fan of Jayne Ann Krentz and read and listen to all her books under her various names. This is an older book and when I read it I did enjoy it. However, listening to it was quite painful and I had to fast forward through several sections. The narrator puts significant emphasis on the sarcastic statements to the point I was cringing and found the female character unattractive. Basically thr narration ruined what was otherwise a decent book.

Middling Romance/Mystery

This story and performance were middle of the road, seeming more like a movie of the week than a cute or clever book. The overwrought emotion in Guinevere often reminded me of a Loretta Young B movie rather than a smart and sassy modern business woman. The plot wasn't quite obvious, but the clues telegraphed the conclusion far ahead of the heroine's comprehension of what they meant. I did like it that the professional was actually professional enough to figure it out ahead of her though.

This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't engaging enough to make me want to buy the next in the series--there are way too many better stories out there to invest my credits in.

A cute story

This is early Jayne Ann Krentz. I enjoyed the story but (almost immediately) figured out the mystery. Still I enjoyed it and will probably listen to it again.

a little slow

Kate rubb isn't the right person to read there's books someone else should to slow

The Game results in DEATH~ 4 STAR first Guinevere

PLOT: early GOODIE first in the Guinevere Jones Series~ FUN~ a computer GAMES becomes DEADLY.

very early Krentz /Castle romance mystery. Guinevere Jones has a Agency that supplies people for just about any job~ her lastest has her as a barmaid and man trying to pick her UP.... THE FROG she labels him is 36 year old Zachariah Justice. They both end up on the same case as a computer GAME called Elf Hunt has everyone changing the RULES of the GAME~ the fun is watching them JOIN forces to solve the crime AND Zach start up his Detective Agency. as Zach decides to start his flegling business on a dime~ Guinevere decides she is going to make him broke by her expensive lunches she orders. This reminds me of MOONLIGHTING the TV series.
This is very good audio. Good START to the four Geneviere Jones series of four~ also see THE CHILLING DECEPTION (Geneviere Jones 2) and THIS SERIES CONTINUES WITH series 3 &4 will be released in early AUG 2012. I give this 4 STARS for story, 4 STARS for READER and 4 STARS for over all.

A very good story line

This being the first book in a series, I liked the story line, but the narrator was a never changing voice. That part I was disappointed in.

Leaves you Desperately wanting more....

As a long time reader of the "Jayne Castle" pen name of Ms. Krentz, this particular book has certainly left me wanting more.
When I saw this set of 4 books on the Audible site, I was excited to make their purchase, expecting that a character with the last name Jones, would provide an entertaining read, as all of Ms. Krentz's other novels have.
This story is lackluster, dragging at times, the romance almost non-existent.
The narrator reads well, but can not seem to give her character's voices any depth or emotion.
The only saving grace on the purchase of these books was that I got them on sale.

Painful

I had to stop listening after chapter 4. The high pitched voice of the narrator made my tenth ache. The screeching voice for female and male characters is ridiculous. The novel is dreadfully boring. I had enough time to make coffee and wash my hair and I missed nothing. One positive, the female lead has good taste in food.