A Thin Dark Line

Broussard and Fourcade, Book 1

By: Tami Hoag

Narrated by: Karen Peakes

Length: 18 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Terror stalks the streets of Bayou Breaux, Louisiana. A suspected murderer is free on a technicality, and the cop accused of planting evidence against him is ordered off the case. But Detective Nick Fourcade refuses to walk away. He’s stepped over the line before. This case threatens to push him over the edge.

He’s not the only one. Deputy Annie Broussard found the woman’s mutilated body. She still hears the phantom echoes of dying screams. She wants justice. But pursuing the investigation will mean forming an alliance with a man she doesn’t trust and making enemies of the men she works with. It will mean being drawn into the confidence of a killer. For Annie Broussard, finding justice will mean risking everything - including her life.

The search for the truth has begun - one that will lead down a twisted trail through the steamy bayous of Louisiana, and deep into the darkest reaches of the human heart.

©2014 Tami Hoag (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. “Could I Be Your Girl” written by Jann Arden Richards © 1997 Polygram Songs, Inc., and Girl On The Moon Music used By Permission. All Rights Reserved

wow...wow great

loved it...nicks voice and passion was so sexy and full of life and badness! yummy

drawn out

Book trys to hard to be crude. lots of plot filler type stuff going on. good twists and turns but book drags out with unnecessary plot information.

Pleasant surprise!

If you could sum up A Thin Dark Line in three words, what would they be?

I haven't read Hoag before. Really enjoyed the story and the haven't been so intrigued by a narrator in quite a while. Will be looking for more by both author and narrator..

What about Karen Peakes’s performance did you like?

I love books that give different voices and personalities to characters. Both author and narrator did a wonderful job on both fronts.

Surprised

I was pleasantly surprised at this book. No expectations but is not type I normal read/listen to. The narrator was excellent. Looking forward to more from this author.

Okay

Setting: Bayou Breaux, Louisiana, contemporary
Genre: Mystery/thriller

Sheriff's Deputy Annie Broussard is very ambitious, with the goal of becoming a detective. She's a very by-the-book and idealistic officer. She is the only female who has patrol duty. Needless to say (but I will), she has to deal with the "boys will be boys" sh*t. She lives in the apartment over the corner store her foster family owns. They fostered her after her mother committed suicide when she was nine. Long story. Anyway, while out on patrol, she finds the mutilated body of a well-known woman from Bayou Breaux.
Sheriff's Detective Nick Fourcade transferred to Bayou Breaux from New Orleans after allegations of planting evidence in a murder investigation. He has a baaaad reputation for his explosive, violent temper. After moving back to the area (he grew up there), he has been trying to get In touch with himself through eastern philosophy (I think a little Xanax added to the routine would have helped). So, he's a cross between centered zen and paranoid maniac.
Everyone at the Sheriff's Office is a mite dissapointed when murderer Marcus Renaude (spelling?) is released on a technicality. A ring found in a drawer during a search was ruled inadmissable. Nick was accused of planting the evidence.
The evening after the ruling, Nick ended up beating the crap out of Renaude. Annie stopped him from committing murder and placed him under arrest. Nick was suspended and Annie became persona non grata with her co-workers. Of course there's an attempt at cover-up, asking Annie to lie, and etc.
Annie has followed the case on her own time, and now she wants to help solve the case (again, on her own time). Unfortunately, Nick has all the notes. Nick wants to solve the case too and they end up working together. Relationships are explored.
I enjoyed the mystery/thriller, but there was a lot of confusion. There was too much time spent on a tangent in the plot and not enough looking at relationship dynamics, and I'm not talking about just Nick and Annie. We learn a lot about Annie's background, but very little about Nick's. I mean, people aren't born angry and violent. The mystery itself keeps you guessing to the end about who committed the murder. Was it Renaude or someone else?
The audio portion is wonderful. It was the author's dialogue, but Karen Peakes hit most of the accents. I've spent extended visits in Lafayette, and most of the people sounded similar to what Peakes delivered.

Entertaining story, talented narrator

What made the experience of listening to A Thin Dark Line the most enjoyable?

This story really had me guessing down to the last possible suspect. I didn't see it coming when the killer was revealed. The narrator did an excellent job with the different characters.

Which character – as performed by Karen Peakes – was your favorite?

Myren.

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

Yes.

Keeps you on the edge of your seat!

This was a very suspenseful book that had many twists and turns. A real page turner!

Suspenseful and has a fabulous heroine

I couldn’t stop listening! The narrator is perfect and brings to life the accents and mannerisms of the novel’s characters. Nick Fourcade haunted me at night. The main character Annie is saucy and gives the chauvinist cops she works with a run for their money. I loved the witty repartee and LOVED LOVED LOVED the dark, handsome Detective Fourcade. There’s a ton of action and suspense and the red herrings are intriguing too. It’s a well constructed whodunit with a perfect dose of romance.

Intriguing

What I like the most is that this story kept me guessing and on the edge. Who did it?

Really good listen

At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book but I ended up really enjoying this listen. The story line had some surprises - in particular the ending - and a couple that were expected. But overall this was great and I would recommend the listen.