Black Gold in North Dakota (Cooper Smith) (Volume 2)

By: Joe Field

Narrated by: Ward Paxton

When the granddaughter of a prominent North Dakota state senator goes missing from her hometown of Williston, law enforcement has a couple leads on out-of-state roughneck oil workers – but with the holidays approaching and the trail growing cold, each day that passes decreases the chances that she will ever come home. Reporter Cooper Smith is chasing a story about the Bakken oil industry for Minnesota Public Radio when he learns that the missing woman is his wife’s best friend. Leaving the story behind, he puts his investigative skills to work to help rescue her. His pursuit takes him to the Deep South, where he learns that this may be one story too big for his Northern britches to come back from in one piece.©2017 Paul Bunyan Publishing (P)2017 Paul Bunyan Publishing

Exciting mystery - can stand alone

This is the second book in the Cooper Smith series, and though I have read the first, this book could easily stand alone for those who don't want to start at the beginning. The book started a little slow for my tastes, but it picked up shortly thereafter. It was interesting how the story wove together and spanned different parts of the country. What I really like about this series is that the main characters are good people, and so I don't feel bad for rooting for them (like I do with anti-heroes). I listened to the Audible audio edition of this book narrated by Ward Paxton. At times he came across a little robotic in his reading, but he has a pleasant voice, so it didn't annoy me too much. I was able to get used to his voice pretty easily. Overall, an entertaining mystery. I would continue reading this series.

Meeting Cooper Smith

I saw the title of this audiobook recently and it immediately grabbed my attention. As a life-long resident of South Dakota, I enjoy reading fiction that is set in this area of the country.

This is the second installment in the Cooper Smith series but the first book I've heard. When you start at somewhere other than book one, you run the risk of not getting all of a character's back story or even worse, having the first book spoiled for you. Luckily, I was able to jump in right away and was left wanting to read the first installment as soon as possible.

I was surprised when I started listening and heard a song titled 'Banshee of the Bad Lands' which I have to admit is pretty catchy and fits the story.

The story moves at a brisk pace with not a lot of wasted scenes or moments. Everything had a purpose and I was hooked long before the final car chase.

As for the narration, Ward Paxton has a voice I found oddly familiar. I felt like I had heard it before even though this was the first book I ever heard him narrate. It felt...comfortable. I thought the voices for the different male characters were quite distinct and I could tell which character was speaking without it being pointed out. His female voices could maybe use a little more work but that's okay because I believe that men doing women's voices is quite a difficult skill to master. At least his weren't overly winy like I've heard some other male narrators make the mistake of doing when voicing women.
Other than that, he read at a good ace and did a lot of nice accents.

I will definitely go back to the first book in the series and look forward to hearing more from both author and narrator. The only drawback is now I have a vicious craving for 1919 root beer that is likely to go unsatisfied for the near future.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. The fact that I was gifted this book had no influence over my opinion of it.

great!

Really enjoyed this story and the mystery/suspense aspect. It kept me interested all the way through. Narration was fantastic!


I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. The fact that I was gifted this book had no influence over my opinion of it.

Reporter Smith Gets a Major Story

I very much enjoyed this story about the hellraisers working in the Bakken oil fields of North Dakota where reporter Cooper Smith and his wife are drawn into a kidnapping case. The author does a great job of capturing the feel of small town America hit with disturbing crime. The narrator is excellent, well matched for the story and characters.

Great Mystery

I recommend this mystery to everyone. It kept me interested thru out the story. Narration was great. I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review. The fact that I was gifted this book had no influence over my opinion of it.