Baby Grand

By: Dina Santorelli

Narrated by: Robert Thomley

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

*Runner-up, 2016 Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition**

**Honorable Mention, Genre Fiction, 21st Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards*

A compelling, fast-moving contemporary thriller: In Albany, New York, the governor's infant daughter disappears without a trace from her crib at the Executive Mansion. Hours later, newly divorced and down-and-out writer Jamie Carter is abducted from the streets of Manhattan. Jamie is whisked upstate, where she is forced by her captor, Don Bailino, an ex-war hero/successful businessman, to care for the kidnapped child in a plot to delay the execution of mobster Gino Cataldi - the sixth man to be put to death in six years by hardliner Governor Phillip Grand. What prevails is a modern-day thriller about family ties, loyalty, murder, betrayal, and love that's told in deftly interweaving narratives that follow the police investigation of the missing Baby Grand, the bad guys who took her, and the woman who must find the strength to protect her.

©2012 Dina Santorelli (P)2012 Dina Santorelli

Fantastic kidnapping mystery.

What did you love best about Baby Grand?

The surprise ending is fantastic. This is a well-written story. It is a nail biter. It makes you care about the characters which keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This book is full of full orbed characters. From sweet, little Charlotte the kidnapped baby to the kind hearted nanny, to the governor's incredibly ambitious wife, to Jamie (the likable main character). It is hard to pick a favorite.

Which character – as performed by Robert Thomley – was your favorite?

The narrator gives an excellent performance and gives each character a unique voice. From the baby to the mobster to the governor, he does a great job. Good sound quality.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There are a lot of them. Many cannot be told without ruining the story, but a few can. When Jamie is introduced to baby Charlotte, she is naked and cold. That is a touching scene. It is followed shortly by Jamie witnessing a brutal murder of a stripper intended to frighten her. The scene is successful in inducing fear for Jamie in the reader.

Any additional comments?

This book contains a rape scene and scenes of physical and gun violence. It is not overly graphic, but it is not appropriate for minors. I received this book for free from the author, narrator, or publisher in exchange for an honest review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Awesome

Amazing story. Kept me captivated the entire time I was reading it. Highly recommend reading.

AWESOME

I absolutely LOVED this book! I can't wait for the next one! Everything about this book was riveting & the narration was outstanding!

I was provided a free copy of this audiobook by the author or narrator in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

THIS BOOK OOZES WITH PERFECTION!

I LISTENED TO THIS BOOK IN ONE DAY (OFF AND ON EVERY SPARE MOMENT I COULD GET)! I was absolutely entertained from start to finish. This book has it all and some causing it to ooze with perfection. Characters are all believable. Sometimes when a book as too many characters I get a bit overwhelmed and lost but not in this books case. Also, I couldn't help but love the bad guy and want more for him but... (don't want to spoil).
The only thing I hated about the book was the cliff hanger ending... but I'm hoping that means there's going to be more down the road. "I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher."

Suspenseful Thriller

I enjoyed this suspenseful thriller especially the end as hints this may be start of series. Loved the character of Jamie, Sargent Mark and even Don. Recommend if you enjoy murder, rape, survival etc. All starts with kidnapping of infant then a female. Narration was even decent. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher. Thank you

What a great listen!

Any additional comments?

This listen made my heart race from the very first chapter and it remained in acceleration mode until the very end. What. A. Listen.

There were some action packed, edge-of-the-seat moments that were very well written and were deftly handled by the narrator. The narrator kept me in the story (even when I just wanted to fast forward) and made everything real, every emotion felt, every pain raw.

This is one book that I hope has a book two in its arsenal. That closing sentence was a bombshell and much more needs to be said.

This was an incredible listen and totally worth your time - and credit.

narrator was excellent Dina is a great author

great book Jamie was very brave to save baby Charlene. very good story all around
I received this book from the publisher, author and or narrator for a honest review and unbiased opinion via audio book boom dot com

Not for me

What would have made Baby Grand better?

A compelling story, interesting characters, terser plot and pacing, and a better reader/narrator.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Right now I'm listening to "The Ice Princess" by Camilla Lackberg. It's not a great book either - deadly dull and full of stilted dialog - but it's still more listenable than Baby Grand.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator sounds exactly like the guy who does the Smucker's Jam commercials. His voice and cadence just didn't work for a crime thriller. At all.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

All of the above.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful