Expire

Dr. Schwartzman, Book 4

By: Danielle Girard

Narrated by: Shannon McManus

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Alone, held captive, and left in the dark, a woman’s worst fears come true in this gripping thriller by the award-winning author of Expose.

San Francisco medical examiner Annabelle Schwartzman has spent eight years looking over her shoulder. Stalked by her vengeful ex-husband, Spencer, she’s always known they’d meet again. Has her nightmare come true? Abducted, blindfolded, yoked, and tethered, she’s being held prisoner in an isolated cabin in Idaho. But it’s the unknown that terrifies Annabelle now. Because the man’s voice in the dark, though eerily familiar, is not Spencer’s.

Annabelle’s partner and lover, Inspector Hal Harris, knows in his gut that Annabelle’s disappearance is tied to the past. Except Spencer is fifteen hundred miles away. To save Annabelle, Hal is tracking every move Spencer makes. But is it drawing him closer to finding Annabelle? Or is it luring him farther from her desperate cries for help?

As a cruel game of retribution begins, Annabelle must rely on her wits, her will to survive, and a plan of escape. But time is running out. And her captor’s three chilling words make her fear that the worst is yet to come: sweet dreams, Bella.

©2019 by Danielle Girard. (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Best of a great series!

The series novels so far are EXHUME, EXCISE, EXPOSE and EXPIRE. Is EXPIRE the series finale? I suspect so because the major recurring plot focus has now been resolved. Plus, how many appropriate 6 letter verbs beginning with EX are there?

Those listeners who like the mystery/thriller genre really should give Danielle Girard novels a try. This series is very competently narrated by Shannon McManus.

The Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman series must be listened to in order. Purchased through Amazon along with the Kindle version the price of each book is much less than the lowest cost Audible credit. Kindle Unlimited members can borrow and listen for free.

I'm Trying So Hard To Like It...

This is so depressing. I like serial killer and murder and mayhem books as much as any reader of mysteries and thrillers. But can we have some strong and not so silent men? I just tried to finish a book in which the main character is SO weak and silent and damaged, I got tired of it and stopped. Now I have Hal in this book being SO weak of character and whiny, I'm about to shut it down. He's a cop and his girlfriend has been kidnapped. He whines, he doesn't do his job, he cuts his cop partner off and won't talk to her. I wanted to scream
'just go find your girl and stop whining!'.The girl who's been kidnapped isn't whining - she's doing everything she can to keep living and escape. But Hal, he just whines...I just want him to be as strong as his girl, for heaven's sake. It's very tiring to deal with these men.

Shannon McManus as narrator is what's keeping me on with this book. But even she can't take the whining and weakness out of the main male character in the book.

The whole series was great!!

The characters were so real and down to earth! If Anna and Hal were actually people I’m sure we’d be friends!

I know it has to end but…

I absolutely enjoyed listening to this series. I had the pleasure of listening to all four books while recovering from eye surgery and I hate it has to end. Take the time to listen to this series. You will NOT be disappointed

No Decision is a Decision

Having completed this series now, I'm still fairly undecided on how I feel about the main characters. In contemplating this, I realized that not being able to decide if I liked them meant I actually didn't. I wanted to. But I never could warm up to Annabelle, although she got a little more human in this novel. Hal wasn't much better. He was likable, (thank heavens), but he was a little weak for my taste. Sadly, the strongest character in the story is the monster Spencer.

I also had a tough time with the narration. I think I might have actually enjoyed the story better if the narration had been up to my expectations. It wasn't horrible, by any means. It just wasn't great in the areas of the story where there was no dialogue.

I'm sure others will enjoy this more than I did. For me, it OK, but not awesome.

Ahh. An ending I can be pleased with.

totally saw the twins coming. it was foreshadowed. loved this series and the ending. wish there was more but all good things must come to an end.

oh my!

this series was delightfully sinister. I hate that it has to come to an end but it's a property ending.

I've enjoyed reading this series and look Goodreads to more of Danielle Girard's work.

excellent narration and a suspenseful continuation

I have listened to all 4 in the series and although I would like the characters to continue in a 5th book, if they don't, the conclusion to this book was a good one.

Constant suspense! Fabulous performance!

As a huge fan of Danielle Girard books, I am not surprised that I loved this book! It was even better as an audiobook! You can't help but want to keep listening to find out what's gonna happen. The scenes were vivid and descriptive; it was easy to feel as though you were apart of the story! The characters are also easy to connect with and feel like you know them. I listened to it in less than a day because it was that good. She never lets you down with her stories. You won't be sorry.

Could have been a great book.

Disappointed that author did not research time zones for the locations in the book, since emphasis was made to the time of day and time zones throughout the book. Northern Idaho is not in Mountain time but instead is in Pacific Time.