Anonymous Complaint: A Nurse's Story

By: Robbi Hartford

Narrated by: Allison V Chillingworth, Seven J Williams, Eva McDanial, Susan Wallace, Secole Boothe, Eric Duncan, Rob Hartford

Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

I'm a healer, not a fighter. Yes, I avoid conflict at all costs. But don't mistake my pacifism for weakness. I look death in the eye on a regular basis. I'm an RN in the ER - strong, assertive, and capable, with a potent array of sophisticated equipment and medications at my disposal. 

Exactly one week from the day of my mother's funeral, an investigator from the Florida Department of Health shows up at the ER and informs me that I may be charged with a felony. Someone is making anonymous complaints that I'm practicing medicine beyond my scope of practice. I have no idea who or why! As the circle of suspects widens, I find it harder to tell where my once unfailing intuition ends and growing paranoia takes over. I repeatedly shove my personal struggles aside as I meet the needs of my patients. But I see them differently now and learn useful lessons from unlikely sources. 

My world changes in uncontrollable ways. Is it possible that my estranged boyfriend is the snitch? A trusted friend? The anonymous complaints keep coming. As the attacks become more dangerous, I wonder just how far my covert assailant will go to hurt me and how far I'll go to defend myself when my attacker's life is placed directly in my hands. 

Anonymous Complaint is inspired by actual events. This audio version is performed by a cast of 35 unique voice artists. Some scenes include location background sounds and music.

©2017 RDH Publilshing (P)2017 RDH Publsihing and Haremonics Audio

Preserving Soul While Facing Evolving Suspicions

Robbie shares experiences from her heart that show what it means, as an ED nurse, to give 100% while putting personal issues on a shelf, humanizing the professional. She shares patients' reactions to her bold, straightforward approaches to solving problems at work, but she has a harder time solving her own personal struggles. As an RN, I can relate to the situations and environments as if I'm right there.

The dark cloud extending from the anonymous complaints quietly builds suspense as Robbi's perspective evolves and her trust is shaken. Seeing how quickly her own life unravels, she finds herself less judgmental of others. The various side issues in Robbi's daily life add interest. The Bucket Man was one of my favorite characters, personifying random people who significantly impact our lives.

Having listened to 35 audio books in the last 8 months for audio rehab after cochlear implant surgery, I found the story-line and the variety of distinct voices, sound effects, and snatches of music to be a welcome change. The readers sounded authentic to the parts they played. There were a few minor parts that were hard for me to hear clearly, but, all in all, it was a great listen. I look forward to another book from Robbi Hartford!

A Creative Departure from the Norm

As the author of the book, I readily admit that some listeners may not care for this performance. Unlike the single, polished, professional voice common to the industry, this performance employs thirty-five unique voices to create genuine, sometimes raw, personalities. Some are quirky or carry heavy accents, but each voice articulates the character in a way I found compatible with the events which inspired the book.

The story is told from a first person point of view, and Allison V. Chillingworth shifts nimbly from narrator to actress, telling the story while interacting with the other characters. There are whole chapters which rely solely on vocal performance, but some scenes include background sounds or music. If you don't care for the ER backgrounds used in the free sample or generally find music a distraction, this may not be the book for you.

The written versions of the story have been well reviewed on Amazon and goodreads. Haremonics Audio was courageous enough to try something different with the audio version. If you find the story appealing, and you are open to trying a departure from the norm, you might thoroughly enjoy this creative adventure. I downloaded it through audible and love the way it sounds on my iPhone.