Tales from Port Starbird

The Storm Ketchum Tales

By: Garrett Dennis

Narrated by: Cheryl May

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

More slices of island life on the Outer Banks, from the author who took you to Port Starbird!

The Storm Ketchum Tales are short stories that are set in the world of the Storm Ketchum Adventures series of island mystery novels. The tales can be heard along with, or independently of, the Adventures. This volume contains all six previously published short tales, plus a previously unpublished tale titled "Route 101".

Contents:
"An Olde Christmas Carol"
"The Sad Blue Boat"
"Cora's Tree"
"Dixie Island"
"The Wayward Mariner"
"Pharaoh's Treasure"
"Route 101"

Join amateur sleuth Storm "Ketch" Ketchum and his Kinnakeet Boatyard friends for mystery, history, and adventure on the picturesque Outer Banks of North Carolina, where intrigue always seems to be just around the next corner!

©2018 Garrett Dennis (P)2023 Garrett Dennis

Very cool stories!

These are small stories that can be read independent form the main books. The author is great at providing us with the timetable and context to follow everything, so you have a bit of spoilers regarding the evolution of the relationship among the main character (Storm Ketchum) and the second ones. Nothing too bad, in my opinion.
The first story was the least interesting for me because of the famous christmas tale (Scruge) inspiration. Even so, I have to say that it surprised me when the paranormal twist is left a bit in doubt. There were another story with that kind of flare, so I loved it.
That was just one of the small things that got me hooked. I loved the fact Storm Ketchum is a retired kind of old guy, and that his speech and though process reflects that. Just like our wise grandfathers/grandmothers. He starts a bit like a loner but his relations in the island grow with the stories. We can tell that many things are inspired in real locations and traditions, and that gives a lot of richness to the tales. The mystery, present in every story, is just the icing in the cake.
The narrator is also very good, so an excellent book overall.

Love the setting!

This was a nice bunch of stories. I just love the setting of them. They all take place in the outerbanks of North Carolina. One of my favorite places in the world. I’m from the most opposite side of the state in the mountains so I love visiting the other side. There’s something so peaceful and serene about the place. And the people there are so nice, I always feel so welcome and at home like I’m around family. It’s such a beautiful place in more ways than one. So it was such a delight to find some stories set there. The stories, while short, were very good. It was so relaxing listening to them. Such a cozy feeling. When winter comes, I’m going to listen to them again.

The narrator was ok. I wasn’t crazy about her voice for the most part. It felt more like she was reading to children. But it wasn’t bad enough to that I didn’t enjoy the stories.

Short Stores Explaining other Stories in the Serie

These are short stories that give insights into the other books in the Storm Ketchum series. I like stories about different parts of the country and getting to know the people through books and audiobooks.

Clean, quirky collection of island short stories and mysteries

Tales from Port Starboard is a collection of clean, quirky island stories and mysteries featuring a amateur sleuth of sorts. The setting is as important a character as the people in the books, and it was fun to get a taste of island life.

These stories are written to compliment the authors other books. This book also includes chronology synopses in between the stories so readers can place the stories with the authors other books. Unfortunately the explanations in between stories are distracting in audio format.

The narrator has a pleasant, easy going style that compliments the books.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Great compilation

An Olde Christmas Carol: A Storm Ketchum Tale (Storm Ketchum Tales Book 1) is my first read from author Garrett Dennis.
The Sad Blue Boat: A Storm Ketchum Tale (Storm Ketchum Tales Book 2) is my second read from author Garrett Dennis.
Cora's Tree: A Storm Ketchum Tale (Storm Ketchum Tales Book 3) is my third read from author Garrett Dennis.
Dixie Island: A Storm Ketchum Tale (Storm Ketchum Tales Book 4) is my sixth read from author Garrett Dennis.
The Wayward Mariner: A Storm Ketchum Tale (Storm Ketchum Tales Book 5) is my seventh read from author Garrett Dennis.
Pharaoh’s Treasure: A Storm Ketchum Tale (Storm Ketchum Tales Book 6) is my eighth read from author Garrett Dennis.
Route 101: A Storm Ketchum Tale (Storm Ketchum Tales) is my ninth read from author Garrett Dennis.
The great thing about this compilation is that they're tied together by narration placing the stories in the proper sequence of all the Storm Ketchum tales. Up next is Port Fee. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).