Frostbite

By: E.J. Stevens

Narrated by: Melanie A. Mason

Length: 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

This prequel short story is the perfect introduction to the award-winning Ivy Granger Psychic Detective urban fantasy series. 

When a client claims her house is being haunted, Ivy tries to keep her mind open and her weapons handy. If her psychic gifts and recent cases have taught her anything, it's that you're better off arming yourself for the unexpected.  

Will our favorite psychic detective face down murderous ghosts? Anything is possible in Harborsmouth.  

The Ivy Granger Psychic Detective series is known for heart-pounding action, quirky characters, and supernatural horrors. Take a trip to Harborsmouth, where you'll encounter bloodsucking vampires, psychotic faeries, sarcastic gargoyles, temperamental witches, and our favorite snarky, occult detective.  

Frostbite is now available as a single short story. Previously published in Tales from Harborsmouth and included in the Ivy Granger Psychic Detective Box Set.  

Award-winning series: The Ivy Granger series has won numerous awards, including the BTS Red Carpet Award for Best Novel, the Raven Award for Best Urban Fantasy, and the PRG Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Paranormal Fantasy Novel and Best Urban Fantasy Novel.

©2017 E.J. Stevens (P)2018 E.J. Stevens

A haunting release

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

Melanie has been a voice of Ivy Grangers for several books and slips right back into character for this short story. It flows with a pacing that fits the story and the few events that happen. It's clear in listening.

Oh. It took me a moment to connect the title to the short story. I get it.

This story is quick. I didn't even realize it was 28 minutes (listening wise) when it was over. It's a case that takes a matter of moments when Ivy arrives at the residence. It gives us the details of the case then the history connecting it all along with how Ivy solves it.

This story is a quick one to read to introduce yourself to Ivy Granger and her world. You get hints of what is present in the world and city of Harbersmouth along with what Ivy can do. There is nothing here to give away the series secrets. Also, you wouldn't be hindered in not reading this before the series. It's a complete stand-alone short story.

It would work well for Halloween, I think. ;)

As always, it's a pleasure to get to visit Ivy Granger on cases in her neck of the woods, or harbor.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent introduction to a new world

There is another world living besides ours and most of us remain happily unaware.

Ivy Granger is a psychic detective helping people deal with the unnatural. As seems to be the norm for detectives, particularly those dealing with the supernatural, she is a bit of an outcast and has constant money problems. But she is good at what she does and she wants to help people.

This is a short story, so there is a lot more to this world than you get to see/hear at this time, but the glimpse you get is fun, creepy and definitely tantalizing. I definitely would like to explore further.

The presentation in this audio version was quite good, clear and easy to understand, and the voice seemed to fit the character quite nicely.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of the audio book for review purposes.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Frostbite

"Frostbite" introduces the reader to Psychic Detective Ivy Granger. Her visions and second sight make her uniquely qualified to investigate things that go bump in the night! Her friend and partner, Jinx, was a fun addition to the story.

This was an enjoyable short story, with just enough creepiness to keep the reader interested. The characters are likeable and I hope that the series continues for a long time. This quick read was a great introduction to what I think will be a great series!

The narrator did a great job in adding to my enjoyment of this story.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Short, but fun story. Must listen for Ivy fans

So, this is a very short story (28 minute audiobook, 31 pages). It is set in the world of Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective. It takes place before the start of the series, so Jinx is the only character other we have, but she is a fun one.

So, Ivy and Jinx have their detective business. A woman comes in and tell them her house is haunted, but everyone knows there’s no such thing as ghosts. But, Ivy goes to investigate.

I can’t give more details, or I would spoil the story. Like I said, it is very short, but is a lot of fun. I think current fans of Ivy Granger will really love this story. I think it would also be a great introduction to new fans as well.

If you like Urban Fantasy with some interesting characters, humor and action, this is a series you need to try.

Narration
Melanie A. Mason has been narrating this series for a while now. She normally has a partner who narrates the male parts of the story, but that was no needed here. She pulled me back into Ivy Granger with ease. I always look forward to hearing her tell me the story.

**I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

LOVED IT, CAN'T WAIT TO READ MORE!

This is the first "Ivy" book I've read/listened to, and I can't wait for more! It was awesome! This is exactly the type of book/character/story I like, and I'm craving more! I see there are lots more Ivy books, and I'm looking forward to reading/listening to more. This was only a quick glimpse, but really enjoyed it. Great writing, great narration, can't wait!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Amazing Prequel!

I have read and listened to other prequels and this one, well, this one topped all of the others! It was amazing - I listened with rapt attention to Ivy and Jinx solving the case featured in the prequel! Truth be told that at the end of the prequel I was already so immersed in the world of Ivy and Jinx that I immediately started listening to the next Ivy Granger adventure, book 1, 'Shadow Sight'. Highly recommnended!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

great

A brilliantly written, fast paced, terribly imaginative, horrifically vivid tale which captures a readers attention from beginning to end.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

This is only the beginning...

I absolutely loved this book! It was a quick read (listen) and very entertaining. The narration was perfect, giving each character its own personality. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Perfect Introduction

Frostbite is the perfect introduction into the world of ivy Granger Psychic Detective. It is a short story but gives the listener enough information to know if they will want to continue the series. The narrator brought the characters and story to life brilliantly. I was hooked from the beginning and am excited to read/listen to more in this series and from this author.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great way to get you into a new series

This was such a fun quick read. It’s a great way to get into the series if you haven’t started it yet. Ivy Granger is a supernatural detective along with her partner Jinx. They get called on for all sorts of wild cases. This one in particular was pretty interesting. I don’t want to give anything away but the end result was definitely not what I was expecting. The narrator definitely fit Ivy’s character and worked well for the book. Overall I really enjoyed this short story. I can’t wait to get into this series!

I would like to thank the author/narrator/publisher for generously providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great little slice of the series

I’ve enjoyed all the Ivy Granger audiobooks so far and it was nice to jump way back to the beginning of the series with this prequel short story. Ivy and Jinx run a private detective business. Ivy has the paranormal abilities and Jinx gets along with the public. It’s obvious these two ladies have been friends for some time and work well together.

This short story gives you just a peek into Ivy’s world. There’s ghosts, danger, fairy dust, a mystery to solve, and more. It’s a great way to check out the series to see if it’s right for you.

I wouldn’t call this a cozy mystery urban fantasy as the tale has some grit to it. A little kid needs help and Ivy is hard pressed to find a way to do so. I like the darker side to this series even as a bit of humor and snark is mixed in. Being a fan of the series, my one little complaint is that it is indeed a short story. Looking forward to the next installment in the series! 5/5 stars.

The Narration: Melanie A. Mason does a great job with Ivy’s voice and Jinx’s practicalness. I liked her spooky little kid voices and Big Baddie voice as well. Mason gives a great performance with unique voices for all the characters. The pacing is perfect and there are no technical issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.

Bitesize chunk of pyschic detective action

This short story manages to tell a complete little episode and introduce the reader nicely to the character of Ivy Granger, no mean feat when most opt for a full-size novel to accomplish the same thing.

The narrator provided suitably distinctive tones for all the main characters in this story and helped to enhance the overall impression of the book and I hope she is the regular narrator for this series since she did a very good job.

Overall, a quick and enjoyable intro to the character that serves to encourage my interest in the series.

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

loved it!

Great characters in an interesting world. can't wait to read more about them and their adventures!

Frostbite

Good book with great narration by Melanie A. Mason.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

Ivy rocks

I love this character and her adventures with everything paranormal. Being able to listen to amazing stories is such a wonderful thing. And all the ivy granger books are fantastic, refreshingly funny and sassy with a few scares along the way.

Brilliant

I loved this short story and would love to listen to more in this series. I highly recommend this book.

Awesome story and excellent narrator - but not for the squeamish!

This is a short prequel novella to the Ivy Granger Psychic Detective series, and I listened to it as an audiobook. I hadn't read the book - or even the blurb on Audible - before listening, so I wasn't sure what to expect... and certainly got a surprise! I'm not going to go into details about the story (spoilers, the world's biggest crime!), but I'll just say that if you're squeamish, don't read or listen to this book!! However, the story is well-written and the characters are great fun, even in a weird situation. And if you have a chance to listen to the audiobook, I'd definitely recommend it - Melanie A. Mason does a fantastic job as the narrator, really bringing the story to life in all its glory! You really feel like you're in the house with Ivy and Jinx... Anyway, if you have half an hour, pop on the audiobook while you're commuting, cleaning or just chilling out, and you won't be disappointed. I'm definitely looking forward to more of the series after this book!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions

There are always people dying for a place to stay.

Ivy Granger is blessed - cursed? - with a psychic ability to see what most people don't even know is there. But she'd never seen a ghost. So when an elderly lady walks into her detective agency wanting to employ her to clear her haunted house, Ivy is sceptical: is the woman a crazy? But a fee is a (much needed) fee, so she and her assistant Jinx agree to call there that afternoon to have a look.

This is a short, very easy to read prequel to a series of which this reader was previously unaware. It balances a fine combination of humour and horror and acts as an excellent introduction to Ivy, her agency and the series which follows. The reading by Melanie Mason is clearly articulated, well paced at a conversational speed and follows the feeling of the text precisely.

For such a short book, there is a wealth of content in Frostbite. My only reservation is that the case unfortunately echos a similar story that I have have read at some time previously, but then with a lone male protagonist. However, the author definitely makes it their own with the involvement of Ivy and her partner.
My thanks to the rights holder from whom I requested, and was freely given, a complimentary copy of Frostbite. It was an enjoyable prequel to a series that I will definitely explore further.

Amazing !!!

Not even close to my favorite genre!
The shortest audiobook I’ve ever listened to !

And yet E. J. Stevens have done the impossible !

28 minutes, that all it took to beautifully write a complete story, really beautifully executed.

If you would have asked me before I’ve listened to it if I could like it a 28 minutes book and I would have said it’s impossible, And i would have been wrong.

Using Melanie A. Mason to narrate this one was a perfect choice.

I still don’t understand how it was done and how the author got me to like this short but still excellent writing complete story.

Yes I do recommend it to all.


I believe that my review was honest even so that I got the book for free.

Psychic detective prequel

Really enjoyable entry to the world of Ivy Granger. Even if it just an half an hour listen still it enough time to get know main heroine and town she lives in. Supernatural creatures described here attracts my attention. Narration was well done.