Fatal Traditions (A Short Story from the Deadwood Humorous Mystery Series)

Deadwood Shorts, Book 5

By: Ann Charles

Narrated by: Lisa Larsen

Length: 3 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

There’s a real trick to catching a soul-stealing Hungarian devil made of shadow and smoke. Unfortunately, Violet Parker doesn’t know what that trick is, and her aunt’s life depends on her figuring it out. But killing is an old family tradition for her...or rather a fatal tradition.

©2019 Ann Charles (P)2020 Ann Charles

Not crazy about narrator

I have loved listening to all the deadwood books who have been narrated by Caroline Schaffer she changes her voice for each of the character and puts a lot of energy into the reading... unfortunately miss Larson does not have the same talent. I will not buy anymore audible books that she reads... she put me to sleep and made the story line boring.

Frustrated

I’ve enjoyed the prior books so much but this books frustrate me. It was all background from prior generations with literally no action and makes for a slow story line. Then add a different narrator, which was upsetting of course because she’s coming in after so many books and we’re used to another narrator and the great way she vocalized the characters. So, after about five chapters, I took a break and listened to several other books and read a couple other books. Finally, I returned and finished this short story. I know that it’s setting up the next book but would have preferred it to be added to the next book as Part 1. The game itself was entertaining. I enjoyed the interaction between the “players”.
There’s so much new creatures and world building in this chapter in theory at this point, which makes it difficult to retain who’s name is what, and does what. I’d read it and had the book to refer to, this wouldn’t be an issue, but an audiobook doesn’t lend itself to referencing. A pdf file would have been excellent.
Narration by Lisa Larsen was fine in itself. I took a star because it should have continued with the same narrator but that’s not Ms. Larsen’s fault. She would have done a great job for the entire series. The other narrator returns for the final two books.
Overall, I’m still glad that I listened to this short story as I’m sure it will help out with the rest of the storyline. Onward I go with the storyline!
Read for background and to be prepared for what’s coming (I suspect) in the following books!

A Night of Review

Great series involving a quirky cast of characters, a feisty heroine wearing purple boots a a family history of killing monsters.

Narration is EVERYTHING

My second time around, listening to this series. this was the only book I hadn't purchased and I'm disappointed in this reader. telling the difference between characters especially in the beginning, The Narrator in all the other books in this series is phenomenal 👏. I was looking for her to listen to her other works but nothing else came up. Ann you have to know the difference. please use the first narrator for your excellence .

Miss the regular narrator

I’ve listened to the whole series. Ann Charles does a wonderful job writing the story and I absolutely love listening to Caroline Shaffer narrate the story. She does such a great job that it’s just not the same with out her.
I don’t think I would listen to any others that aren’t read by Caroline.

Not quite sure…

The story is great as always however, not sure if I like the narrator. It’s hard to differentiate the characters… I’m sorry but this is just my opinion.

good and bad

Loved the book, hated the reader. She was dry and one note. Hard to tell who was speaking most tumes.

Disappointment

This was very disappointing. It was written as if It was a section of a book with no meaning, except to get you into part of a chapter, and then dropped almost like a segment of a TV show. A story usually has a beginning and an end. This certainly did not. Or a story should least have a reason for being written. I just normally enjoy her book so much I am disappointment tremendously.

Dislike the narrator

After listening to all the books, I went back and listened to the shorts.
Narrator does not do a good job following the main narrator.
Lane is not a little girl. But sounds like one.
And the sentences are choppy. Such.a.shame.

Least favorite of a very entertaining series

If the question is To Buy or Not to Buy...I'd say this one isn't necessary. It's hard to say why without giving anything away so put simply, the whole book is set at Zoe's on New Year's with much of the gang playing a game and discussing the stories in the 'family album' . I was bored but still like this series very much.