Deception Pass

Spider Green Mystery Thriller Series, Book 3

By: Norm Harris

Narrated by: Maria McCann

Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

She should have followed the rules. "Rule 2: Always double-tap." Now a girl must travel back in time to that never-never land of spies and samovars. To the land of bears, bombs, babushkas, and borscht to finish the job. To the land where anything can happen and often does.

On course in the Pacific, an American ship experiences an event unlike anything that any ship has ever undergone.

Faydra "Spider" Green has had a storied career as a navy lawyer, juggling being the daughter of a former US president. She has successfully navigated complex diplomatic situations, pulse-pounding legal investigations, and dangerous military missions, managing each time to save the day. But now, a man who had nearly cost Fay her life has seemingly returned from the dead. Now, hell-bent on revenge, he poses a threat to Fay and national security. Fay will have to go to extraordinary lengths to stop him, even tampering with the bounds of time and space.

©2022 Norm Harris (P)2022 Norm Harris

Great story, great narration

Overall: 4.5 out of 5, rounded to 5
Narration: 5 out of 5
Story: 4 out of 5

Overall: McCann did an excellent job of bringing the story to life, and adding a whole new level of depth to an already interesting story.

Narration: It was easy to get lost in this book while listening, and McCann made it easy to differentiate between characters. The pacing was perfect, I thought, and I didn’t need to adjust it while listening. She helps build the story tension with her voice, and makes the story even better than just reading it. I’d love to listen to more audiobooks narrated by her in the future!

Story: Fay returns in another great thriller. This round, someone from her past, thought dead, is out for revenge, and it might take a trip through time to save the day. Fay is just as strong and determined as she was in the earlier books, and it's easy for readers to fall in love with her (although I highly recommend starting the series from book one, you can easily jump in here). The action will absolutely get your heart racing, and the twists will have you wondering just what Harris has in store next. A great thriller with a light sci-fi twist!

Enjoyed Maria McCann's narration of this story

This was an interesting tale. I loved how Fay Green worked with NCIS and her team to solve and defend the case. The premise was quite intriguing as well as to the cause of the murders. It was a bit heavy on the JAG information and such, but I did learn some things. The secondary characters added to the story, and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Through Goddess Fish Promotions, I had the chance to listen to the audiobook. Maria McCann did a wonderful job bringing this story to life. The emotions were well defined, and as I listened, I felt that I got the more intimate connections between characters.

A spy thriller not to be missed!

Summary –

An enemy, long thought dead, rises from the oblivion with his sights set on Fay and her only recourse is to travel back in time. Navy lawyer Fay “Spider” Green may be the daughter of a previous US president but that only spurned her ambitions and drive. She’s not only helped solve many cases but works as a spy for the US government. Three women murdered keep her busy, but her latest assignment has her on board a ship named after her father and one she swore she would never set foot upon again. A man from her past resurfaces and this time he means to wreak revenge on her head. Fay must outsmart him and stay one step ahead of him if she wants to stay alive. She’ll do whatever it takes to bring him down, even if she has to transport through time. Will she succeed in bringing him down or will she become his next victim?


Narrator’s overall voice –

Maria McCann has, in my opinion, the perfect voice to narrate this book. She uses inflections to differentiate between the characters. I found myself getting caught up in the story and it’s all thanks to the narrator.


Does the narrator fit the characters?

Yes, Maria embodies the characters in every way.


Narrator’s reading style –

Maria McCann’s reading style makes for an entertaining listening experience. I enjoyed her interpretation of the story.


Narrator’s impact on reading experience –

Maria McCann is a talented narrator, and her voice is the perfect pairing with the story. She brings the story to life.


Narrator’s pacing –

Maria McCann’s pacing is even and moves from slow to fast, depending on what’s going on in the story.


Audiobook flow –

It flows so well, after a while, I forgot I was listening to an audiobook. I transported into the story and let Maria McCann be my guide.


What makes this audiobook unique –

If you’re a thriller/suspense reader, you’re going to love this high-octane listen. From the action to the mystery to the danger to time running out, this audiobook will leave you breathless.


Would I recommend this audiobook –

YES! Thousand times over, yes!


My Rating: 5 stars

An exciting military adventure story!

"Deception Pass" is the third book in Norm Harris’s exciting and action-filled military adventure series featuring Fay ‘Spider’ Green. It is the first in the series to appear in audiobook format, and narrator Maria McCann does a fantastic job giving voice to this strong female protagonist. She completely captures Fay’s personality, and her voice will forever be Fay’s to me. The story includes many other main or supporting characters, and McCann’s presentation skillfully makes each sound natural and unique. I never had trouble discerning which character was talking during an exchange of dialogue.

The story takes Fay and her crew from Washington state to Moscow, in both the present and the past, as both the hunter and the hunted. I found the plot fresh, interesting, and absorbing, and it kept me reading well past the time when I needed to call it a night. It was that good! There were many moments I loved but in particular I enjoyed Fay’s interactions with her Russian counterparts and her performance in the courtroom. I also liked the reappearance of characters from previous books. And don’t be worried about having to read through a recap of all that has gone on before; there is just enough backstory to lend understanding to the current action.

Speaking of which, although the third in the series, the story can be enjoyed as a standalone, but the pleasure would be enhanced by having read the previous books. However, using "Deception Pass" as your jumping-off point in the series will be dangerous; you will want to acquire those first two print edition books “quick, fast, and in a hurry.” I was glad to see the next book in Fay’s story is already available as an audiobook, and I couldn’t help but snag it the minute this one concluded.

I recommend DECEPTION PASS for readers who enjoy military-based action-adventure thrillers with a side of sci-fi and time travel.

A Quirky, Fun Adventure

Deception Pass is a great adventure story. With just the right amount of science fiction, it is believable. While part of a series, it stands on its own. The narrator is crisp and clean, just like the story.

Teleportation can be a real thing of the future

Teleportation can be used for good or evil. We always hope it’s in the right hands.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.