They Told Me I Was Everything

The First Quarto, Book 1

De: Gregory Ashe

Narrado por: J.F. Harding

Auggie is starting his first year at Wroxall College. It’s a punishment, and he’s determined to make his way through the year, prove himself, and earn the right to go back home.

Theo is a grad student recovering from a terrible car accident. He’s lost his husband and their daughter, and he’s trying to figure out how to keep going.

When both are tangled up in a murder, though, they have to set their personal problems aside and work together — first to clear their names, and then, when the killer turns his attention on them, to survive.

But what might really kill them is finishing a seminar together on King Lear.

©2020 Gregory Ashe (P)2020 Gregory Ashe

Back in Wahredua

Before I made it through the first 30 minutes of this audio, I knew Gregory Ashe was going to do it to me again, in the "why the hell do I keep doing this to myself?" kind of way. I guess because I'm addicted to fantastically plotted, well written, brutal crime fiction with complicated, broken men who frustates me equally much as they make me love them? 🤷‍♀️ *considers* Nope, not my fault, I'm still blaming Ashe.

Theo is a grad student who is suffering the loss of his husband and daughter in an accident that left him with painful injuries, and not just the physical kind. He spends a lot of his time in an insulated fog of prescription drugs or *and sometimes both* alcohol, and lives with deliberate carelessness. His only saving grace is teaching in his grad program, which he actually enjoys, and gives him his one bright spot of normalcy.

Auggie is an eighteen year old internet personality and has a presence on all the major social media platforms. He has a business plan to grow his brand and make money hand over fist, and he's well on his way to that. His whole life consists of Instagram moments and YouTube videos, at least the ones he scripts and performs. A terrible incident off-script and a bad breakup derails his plans for a while so Auggie decides college at Wroxall in Wahredua, MO will get his image back on track. Nobody, literally nobody, knows the real Auggie, only the image he lets them see. And the real Auggie is really kind of lonely. He gets so tired of the character he's forced to play that the pressure builds up until it pops. And bad things happen.

Auggie ends up in Theo's class and neither is impressed with the other, particularly since they meet before that in less than ideal circumstances. Since this is Wahredua, which we already know is populated with more than its fair share of shady people, those not-ideal circumstances end up pulling them both into a murder investigation. Worse, it makes both of them the focus of really dangerous people who think Auggie and Theo have something they want.

Theo and Auggie have to work together, much against Theo's will. There's an attraction there, but Auggie is an eighteen year old and Theo is not going to go there, even if his head and his heart were in the place to do it. But things get tangled up, and that includes their kind-of friendship. Not gonna lie, sometimes Theo is a real jerk, and both he and Auggie make some of the worst decisions ever. But under all the issues, they're good guys and they need each other, I think. By the time the case is resolved, and both of them come close to not making it out, Auggie and Theo have a bond between them. Not the one Auggie wants, but they care about each other, and friends is what they'll have.

Do I need to suspend belief a little bit? Well yeah. Did I care? Not at all. Auggie's very young and Theo is a twenty-eight year old grad student, neither are detectives. But they are smart *and motivated* and that's part of GA's magic pen, that he makes you believe it. I honestly want to run right to the next one but I already know what Ashe is going to do to me for however many books. *looks sourly at GA* So I need a break.

And can I say how much I enjoyed seeing pre-Hazard Detective John-Henry Somerset? 🥰 Even though his part was small, he's still Somers. *sigh*

On the side of the audiobook, no lie, I actually squeed when I saw the narrator was J.F. Harding, and he did not disappoint! ❤ His performance was part of the reason I loved Theo and Auggie so much and he had the personalities and uncertainties down for both perfectly. I'm crossing my fingers we get him for the whole series. I don't know if I'll be able to wait for the audio on Yet a Stranger *coughI already own the kindlecough* but you best believe that I'll be listening to it whether it's a first read or reread, either way!

Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

In which Gregory takes us to College.

Not just any college, you understand. This school just happens to be Wroxall College in (Pre-Hazard-and-Somerset) Doyle County, Missouri.

As can be expected from anything written by GA, our sojourn into the academic world is fraught with tragedy. Theo Dalton, a PhD candidate working in the English Department has just returned to work after a car crashed ravaged his body, killed his husband Ian, and left their daughter Lana with severe head injuries.

Auggie Lopez, is a freshman to struggles to balance his genuine desire to learn with keeping up the façade he presents to his Internet audience, who thinks he is straight.

Do either of these poor guys have the time or energy to solve a murder? Not a chance! Do they have a choice? Nope.

As with all of GA's characters, they climb into your heart and take up residence, and you want to smack them and hug them all at the same time. And when you read the last page, you sigh and get on Gregory's FB page and ask when he will tell you more about them.

J.F. Harding is one of my favorite narrators, and does an outstanding job presenting this story in audio form.

Well done on this new series, Mr. Ashe!

exceptional

What an absolute perfect narrator for this story. In my head, when I read the book, I didn't have a gruff voice for Theo, but it fits, and honestly gives the story more oomph. A new favorite of mine for sure.

Fabulous storytelling and five star narration

I don’t know what the heck took me so long to dive into Gregory Ash. But holy cow, I’m glad I’m here for it now. The writing is so tight and expressive. I loved everything about this book. Augie and Theo I can see will become one of my favorite couples. What great dynamics between the two of them and the dialogue is everything. An excellent mystery that had my heart pumping. Can’t wait to dive into the next one. Adding to this is one of my absolute favorite narrators, JF Harding. This man really brings it as he does with all of his audiobooks. What a fabulous combination, can’t wait to dive into the next one.

Wow I’m now a Fan

This is the first Gregory Ashe novel I’ve listened to, and after this book I can definitely say I’m now a fan. The story was gripping and intriguing from the start, and I really liked both of the main characters. On top of that, the narrator was amazing, first time listening to him—I’ll definitely be looking out for his name in the future. Also Gregory Ashe’s prose was lyrically descriptive in all the right places to set the scene and mood. I’m on to book 2 in the series now!