A Story to Kill

Publisher's Summary

Former English professor Cat Latimer is back in Colorado, hosting writers' retreats in the big blue Victorian she's inherited, much to her surprise, from none other than her carousing ex-husband. Now it's an authors' getaway, but Cat won't let anyone get away with murder.

The bed-and-breakfast is open for business, and best-selling author Tom Cook is among its first guests. Cat doesn't know why he came all the way from New York, but she's glad to have him among the quirkier - and far less famous - attendees.

Cat's high school sweetheart, Seth, who's fixing up the weathered home, brings on mixed emotions for Cat, some of them a little overpowering. But it's her uncle, the local police chief, whom she'll call for help when there's a surprise ending for Tom Cook in his cozy guest room. Will a killer have the last word on the new life Cat has barely begun?

©2016 Lynn Cahoon (P)2016 Tantor

Disapointing

I enjoyed the author's previous series and found this poor by comparison. The narrator's voice is grating, the main character is unlikable and I found the dialogue hard to listen to. I wish the author would bring back her Coffee, Books and More setting and characters.

M

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable Story - Great Mystery

If you could sum up A Story to Kill in three words, what would they be?

Great new series

What did you like best about this story?

I like the characters and the idea that it is a writer's retreat run by a writer is great. It will be interesting to see how this story develops.

How could the performance have been better?

I'm not quite sure, but I think she would be better suited narrating non-fiction works. Her enunciation is too clipped, her diction too precise, and her inflection in the dialogue ruins the story. I will be reading this one. Susan Boyce does a great job on Ms. Cahoon's other series. I really wish that she could read this one, too. (Or at least, someone with Ms. Boyce's understanding of dialogue.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Because of the narration.

Any additional comments?

Please confine C S E Cooney to nonfiction. I'm sure that is better suited to her talents.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Thank God that’s over.

Flat characters, awkward prose, poor grammar, and lack of imagery. This book reads like a first draft by a student. On top of that, the reader was awful.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not my cup of tea

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I know that when I change audio books I need to get used to the narrator and the style of writing of the author. I made it to Chapter 3 and honestly can not go any further or spend any more of my time on this. I don't know if the story line/writing is bad or just the narrator making it seem so dry, tedious and boring.

Would you ever listen to anything by Lynn Cahoon again?

Ever is a long time. I will not be quick to try another book by Lynn Cahoon and will look at who is the narrator and would not listen to anything else by this same person.

How could the performance have been better?

Different narrator, someone who reads with some enthusiasm and some inflection to voice not just pitch changes for different characters.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I'm sorry but nothing

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I need a trophy for finishing this book

I finished it! The narrator killed it for me. While it has a teaser cliffhanger, I will not accept the tease. The story was laborious, and every character became annoying. I increased the speed to get through this thing. I should have just stopped listening.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

So Disappointed

Any additional comments?

I love the Tourist Trap series by the same author and I listen to them while I commute to work everyday. I was relieved when I realized this series spins off of that series. I thought I would start this series to buy some time until the next Tourist Trap book is published. Boy was I wrong. The narration was way too dramatic for my taste. Sounded unnatural. The story had too many elements and characters going on to focus on "who dunnit". I found it hard to stay engaged with the story. I'm hopeful the next one will improve. If not, I'm done with this series. If you haven't listened to Tourist Trap...go there first.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

An interesting start

I really enjoy the Tourist Trap mysteries by this same author, so if you're new to Lynn Cahoon, you might want to start there.

A Story to Kill is an interesting start to a new series, with a lot of great mystery elements. The main character, Cat, is renovating an enormous old house, complete with its own secrets and surprises) to turn it into a bed and breakfast style writer's retreat. The small-town atmosphere keeps the character connections tight: Cat's ex-husband left her the house. Cat's old flame is doing the renovation. The police chief is a relative of Cat's, easing the way for her investigations. But despite some good bones, the plot jumps around a lot and the relationships, particularly the one with Cat's old flame, seem forced. I'm hoping this series catches its stride in the next book. I have confidence in the author, and I'm looking forward to what comes next.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Narrator lost me

This could be a decent read, but the narrator’s voice was grating, her tone and expression just off, and as a result I didn’t like any of the characters. I really tried - I finished it. I am slightly intrigued by the ending although solving this mystery happened before I was even halfway through the book. I love cozies and generally do not let the narration bother me - but wow - The storyline couldn’t overcome the narrator and now I don’t have any desire to listen to any more of this series.

Intriguing story

I liked the story a lot. The near raider has an irritating habit of overenunciating that makes some of the book feel stilted.

Good story

First time listener....story was good but there were some lag parts. Lost me a couple times . Believe this author is worth another listen.