-
If Walls Could Talk
- Haunted Home Renovation, Book 1
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $25.88
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Dead Bolt
- Haunted Home Renovation Series, Book 2
- By: Juliet Blackwell
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Turner Construction's latest restoration project is a historic Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco. This time, general contractor Mel Turner has to work around the owners, who insist on sticking around-along with some ghosts that insist in their own way that the work stops. The ghosts aren't the only ones standing in the way of the renovations. A crotchety neighbor, Emile Blunt, secretly wants this house and could be behind some of the disturbances. But when Emile is found dead, it's Mel who appears guilty.
-
-
And who will be murdered next?
- By Bonnie on 07-30-14
By: Juliet Blackwell
-
The Ghost of Marlow House
- Haunting Danielle Series, Book 1
- By: Bobbi Holmes, Anna J. McIntyre
- Narrated by: Romy Nordlinger
- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Danielle Boatman inherits Marlow House, she dreams of turning it into a seaside bed and breakfast. Since she's never visited the property, Danielle's not sure what awaits her in Oregon. She certainly doesn't expect to find one of the house's previous owners still in residence. After all, the man has been dead for almost 90 years - shouldn't he have moved on by now? Charming Walt Marlow convinces Danielle the only way he can move on is if she solves the mystery of his death.
-
-
Felt Dumbed Down
- By Maggie May on 04-30-18
By: Bobbi Holmes, and others
-
Murder at Redwood Cove
- Kelly Jackson Mystery Series, Book 1
- By: Janet Finsilver
- Narrated by: Reba Buhr
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If it weren't for the fact that she's replacing a dead man, Kelly Jackson would love her new job managing the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast on the coast of Northern California. But Bob Phillips did plunge off the cliff to his death, and Kelly's starting to think it may not have been an accident. Bob's retired friends - The "Silver Sentinels" - are also on the case, especially when Kelly is attacked...and another body turns up.
-
-
LOVED IT.
- By Very Precious on 06-01-17
By: Janet Finsilver
-
Thale's Folly
- By: Dorothy Gilman
- Narrated by: John McDonough
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Andrew Thale is not exactly thrilled when his overbearing father sends him on an errand to assess the property inherited from an eccentric aunt. Andrew is intrigued though, when he finds the house fully occupied. Its odd and interesting residents have a calming effect on him, especially the beautiful young woman named Tarragon. But his arrival seems to have set a series of mysterious events into motion. Narrator John McDonough’s engaging performance lets you share in the excitement and camaraderie.
-
-
Excellent Story and Narration!
- By Bex on 03-25-14
By: Dorothy Gilman
-
Louisiana Longshot
- A Miss Fortune Mystery, Book 1
- By: Jana DeLeon
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It was a hell of a long shot.... CIA assassin Fortune Redding is about to undertake her most difficult mission ever - in Sinful, Louisiana. With a leak at the CIA and a price placed on her head by one of the world's largest arms dealers, Fortune has to go off-grid, but she never expected to be this far out of her element.
-
-
Disappointed but trying next in series
- By Catherine on 02-09-18
By: Jana DeLeon
-
Secondhand Spirits
- A Witchcraft Mystery, Book 1
- By: Juliet Blackwell
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lily Ivory hopes for a normal life when she opens Aunt Cora's Closet. With her magical knack for vintage fashion - she can sense vibrations of the past from clothing and jewelry - her store becomes a big hit. But when a client is murdered and children start disappearing from the Bay Area, Lily may be the only one who can unravel the crime.
-
-
Witches and fashion - what's not to like!
- By Sher on 07-23-12
By: Juliet Blackwell
-
Dead Bolt
- Haunted Home Renovation Series, Book 2
- By: Juliet Blackwell
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Turner Construction's latest restoration project is a historic Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco. This time, general contractor Mel Turner has to work around the owners, who insist on sticking around-along with some ghosts that insist in their own way that the work stops. The ghosts aren't the only ones standing in the way of the renovations. A crotchety neighbor, Emile Blunt, secretly wants this house and could be behind some of the disturbances. But when Emile is found dead, it's Mel who appears guilty.
-
-
And who will be murdered next?
- By Bonnie on 07-30-14
By: Juliet Blackwell
-
The Ghost of Marlow House
- Haunting Danielle Series, Book 1
- By: Bobbi Holmes, Anna J. McIntyre
- Narrated by: Romy Nordlinger
- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Danielle Boatman inherits Marlow House, she dreams of turning it into a seaside bed and breakfast. Since she's never visited the property, Danielle's not sure what awaits her in Oregon. She certainly doesn't expect to find one of the house's previous owners still in residence. After all, the man has been dead for almost 90 years - shouldn't he have moved on by now? Charming Walt Marlow convinces Danielle the only way he can move on is if she solves the mystery of his death.
-
-
Felt Dumbed Down
- By Maggie May on 04-30-18
By: Bobbi Holmes, and others
-
Murder at Redwood Cove
- Kelly Jackson Mystery Series, Book 1
- By: Janet Finsilver
- Narrated by: Reba Buhr
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If it weren't for the fact that she's replacing a dead man, Kelly Jackson would love her new job managing the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast on the coast of Northern California. But Bob Phillips did plunge off the cliff to his death, and Kelly's starting to think it may not have been an accident. Bob's retired friends - The "Silver Sentinels" - are also on the case, especially when Kelly is attacked...and another body turns up.
-
-
LOVED IT.
- By Very Precious on 06-01-17
By: Janet Finsilver
-
Thale's Folly
- By: Dorothy Gilman
- Narrated by: John McDonough
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Andrew Thale is not exactly thrilled when his overbearing father sends him on an errand to assess the property inherited from an eccentric aunt. Andrew is intrigued though, when he finds the house fully occupied. Its odd and interesting residents have a calming effect on him, especially the beautiful young woman named Tarragon. But his arrival seems to have set a series of mysterious events into motion. Narrator John McDonough’s engaging performance lets you share in the excitement and camaraderie.
-
-
Excellent Story and Narration!
- By Bex on 03-25-14
By: Dorothy Gilman
-
Louisiana Longshot
- A Miss Fortune Mystery, Book 1
- By: Jana DeLeon
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It was a hell of a long shot.... CIA assassin Fortune Redding is about to undertake her most difficult mission ever - in Sinful, Louisiana. With a leak at the CIA and a price placed on her head by one of the world's largest arms dealers, Fortune has to go off-grid, but she never expected to be this far out of her element.
-
-
Disappointed but trying next in series
- By Catherine on 02-09-18
By: Jana DeLeon
-
Secondhand Spirits
- A Witchcraft Mystery, Book 1
- By: Juliet Blackwell
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lily Ivory hopes for a normal life when she opens Aunt Cora's Closet. With her magical knack for vintage fashion - she can sense vibrations of the past from clothing and jewelry - her store becomes a big hit. But when a client is murdered and children start disappearing from the Bay Area, Lily may be the only one who can unravel the crime.
-
-
Witches and fashion - what's not to like!
- By Sher on 07-23-12
By: Juliet Blackwell
-
Feint of Art
- An Annie Kincaid Mystery
- By: Juliet Blackwell, Hailey Lind
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Annie's got bad news for her ex-boyfriend, curator Ernst Pettigrew: the snooty Brock Museum's new 15-million-dollar Caravaggio painting is as fake as a three-dollar bill. And the same night Annie makes her shattering appraisal, the janitor on duty is killed - and Ernst disappears. To top it all off, a well-known art dealer has absconded with multiple Old Master drawings, leaving yet more forgeries in their places. Finding the originals - and pocketing the reward money - will get Annie's new landlord off her back.
-
-
The start of another good mystery series
- By Traveler on 08-06-18
By: Juliet Blackwell, and others
-
Elementary, She Read
- By: Vicki Delany
- Narrated by: Kelly Clare
- Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Gemma finds a rare and potentially valuable magazine hidden in the bookshop, she and her friend Jayne set off to find the owner, only to stumble upon a dead body. The highly perceptive Gemma is the police's first suspect, so she puts her consummate powers of deduction to work to clear her name, investigating a handsome rare books expert, the dead woman's suspiciously unmoved son, and a whole family of greedy characters desperate to cash in on their inheritance.
-
-
A terrific cozy mystery regarding Sherlock Holmes
- By Victoria J. Mejia-Gewe on 09-12-17
By: Vicki Delany
-
Off the Wild Coast of Brittany
- By: Juliet Blackwell
- Narrated by: Hope Newhouse, Xe Sands
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Natalie Morgen made a name for herself with a memoir about overcoming her harsh childhood after finding a new life in Paris. After falling in love with a classically trained chef, they moved together to his ancestral home, a tiny fishing village off the coast of Brittany. But then Francois-Xavier breaks things off with her without warning, leaving her flat broke and in the middle of renovating the guesthouse they planned to open for business.
-
-
Swept away by this wonderful story
- By pam g on 03-29-21
By: Juliet Blackwell
-
Letters from Paris
- By: Juliet Blackwell
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After surviving the accident that took her mother's life, Claire Broussard worked hard to escape her small Louisiana hometown. But these days, she feels something lacking. Abruptly leaving her lucrative job in Chicago, Claire returns home to care for her ailing grandmother. There, she unearths a beautiful sculpture that her great-grandfather sent home from Paris after World War II. At her grandmother's urging, Claire travels to Paris to track down the centuries old mask-making atelier where the sculpture was created.
-
-
love story, a mystery, a historical novel, or all
- By Bonnie on 11-15-16
By: Juliet Blackwell
-
The Lost Carousel of Provence
- By: Juliet Blackwell
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Long, lonely years have passed for the crumbling Château Clement, nestled well beyond the rolling lavender fields and popular tourist attractions of Provence. Once a bustling and dignified ancestral estate, now all that remains is the château's gruff, elderly owner and the softly whispered secrets of generations buried and forgotten. But time has a way of exposing history's dark stains, and when American photographer Cady Drake finds herself drawn to the château and its antique carousel, she longs to explore the relic's shadowy origins.
-
-
Loved It!
- By T Heskett on 09-23-18
By: Juliet Blackwell
-
The Vineyards of Champagne
- By: Juliet Blackwell
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Deep within the labyrinth of caves that lies below the lush, rolling vineyards of the Champagne region, an underground city of women and children hums with life. Forced to take shelter from the unrelenting onslaught of German shellfire above, the bravest and most defiant women venture out to pluck sweet grapes for the harvest. But wine is not the only secret preserved in the cool, dark cellars... In present day, Rosalyn Acosta travels to Champagne to select vintages for her Napa-based employer. Rosalyn doesn't much care for champagne - or France, for that matter.
-
-
Narrator provides look, smell and feel of Champagne!
- By Kindle Customerk888 on 04-12-20
By: Juliet Blackwell
-
The Paris Key
- By: Juliet Blackwell
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a girl, Genevieve Martin spent the happiest summer of her life in Paris, learning the delicate art of locksmithing at her uncle's side. But since then, living back in the States, she has become more private, more subdued. She has been an observer of life rather than an active participant, holding herself back from those around her, including her soon-to-be ex-husband. Paris never really left Genevieve, and, as her marriage crumbles, she finds herself faced with an incredible opportunity.
-
-
Not a cozy murder mystery but a cozy slice of life
- By sams on 10-23-15
By: Juliet Blackwell
-
Murder by the Book
- A Lucy Little Mystery, Book 1
- By: Gina LaManna
- Narrated by: Brenda Scott Wlazlo
- Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There's only one problem with this whole "author career" of mine, and it's that I'm not actually making all that much money from it. I like to say I have a burgeoning career; I am making a living, but it's a pretty dismal living. But that's all about to change. I've got a new game plan, a pen that's mightier than a sword—but not literally because I'm terrified of violence—and a bunch of words to put down on paper.
-
-
Excellent!
- By N. Buckhout on 04-13-22
By: Gina LaManna
-
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Book 1
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
-
-
Narrator is GREAT!
- By Amazon Customer on 10-01-20
By: J.K. Rowling
-
It Takes a Witch
- A Wishcraft Mystery, Book 1
- By: Heather Blake
- Narrated by: Coleen Marlo
- Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Darcy Merriweather and her sister, Harper, hail from a long line of witches who have the power to grant wishes using spells. They've come to Enchanted Village in Salem, Massachusetts, to join the family business, but they soon find themselves knee deep in murder.Until three weeks ago, Darcy and Harper were working dead-end jobs and trying to put their troubles behind them.
-
-
An interesting start to the series
- By K. April Holgate on 11-02-15
By: Heather Blake
-
Witchy Whiskers
- Nine Lives Magic Series, Book 1
- By: Danielle Garrett
- Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi
- Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
My life was going just fine by most standards. I ran a successful business in a tight-knit magical community, and lived just blocks from a beautiful lake and series of hiking trails. Then Selene showed up. According to some magical code I inherit my aunt's ancient familiar; a grumpy 10-pound cat with a broken filter.
-
-
Weak Start, Strong Finish 3.5
- By Wynne on 10-13-21
By: Danielle Garrett
-
A Batter of Life and Death
- By: Ellie Alexander
- Narrated by: Dina Pearlman
- Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It's autumn in Ashland, Oregon, - 'tis the season for a spiced hot apple cider with a serving (or two) of Torte's famous peach cobbler. It's also the perfect time for Jules Capshaw to promote her family's beloved bake shop by competing in The Pastry Channel's reality show, Take the Cake. The prize is $25,000. But as Jules quickly learns, some people would kill for that kind of dough. Literally.
-
-
Not the Strongest Character
- By t on 12-07-21
By: Ellie Alexander
Publisher's Summary
Melanie Turner has made quite a name for herself remodeling historic houses in the San Francisco Bay Area. But now her reputation may be on the line.
At her newest project, a run-down Pacific Heights mansion, Mel is visited by the ghost of a colleague who recently met a bad end with power tools. Mel hopes that by nailing the killer, she can rid herself of the ghostly presence of the murdered man - and not end up a construction casualty herself....
More from the same
What listeners say about If Walls Could Talk
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Carole T.
- 06-15-15
A Nice Change
This is pretty lightweight, but it makes a pleasant diversion for summer listening - good choice for the June 2-for-1 credit offering. It doesn't require a long time commitment.
I don't mean this in a bad way. There's a place in most of our reading lives for the modern "cozy" with a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, a bit of humor, and a little bit of information about historic restoration and history. I won't mention a bit of occult, because the "ghost" plot line in "If Walls Could Talk" is basically just silly. I don't know if Blackwell intends to expand this aspect in future books of the series, but it's not taken at all seriously here.
33 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Marcus
- 04-22-14
Not bad, but doesn't quite take off
I got this book because the synopsis read similar to the "Haunted Guesthouse" novels by EJ Copperman. I'll lay out those similarities first:
-- Both have women who are handy (taught by their dads) and go to renovate an old Victorian.
-- Both women realize they can see and communicate with ghosts while in the home.
-- Both are mystery novels in which the ghosts they find need help solving their murders.
-- Both have narrators with irksome tendencies.
That said, it was an enjoyable listen, though it never quite seemed to take off, and sort of tumbled to its resolution. We meet up with Mel Turner as she heads over to see the aftermath of a DIY demolition party. She arrives, someone dies, and the tale begins.
I won't spoil things, but this book is partly set up to have Mel discover how she gained her abilities. Frustratingly though, the reader is likely to figure it out before her because she seems very uninterested and often changes the subject quickly when someone is spilling the beans on her "condition" and things that relate to it. As more and more pieces fall into place, I found myself not caring since I'd figured it out already. Move onto the mystery!
As for the actual mystery, it's your typical whodunnit with Red Herrings all over the place, which all mostly get resolved in one very odd scene which prompts another very odd scene. Mystery solved, but didn't feel all that fulfilling. I didn't feel like I was part of the "learning" process -- well, scratch that, you are, but the things you "learn" don't really help solve the mystery. In the end, Mel gets "determined", figures it out on her own, and the book ends. Sort of a let down.
As for the narrator, she's sort of the opposite of EJ Copperman's reader (Amanda Ronconi) in that instead of being whiny and annoying, she sounds like she's trying to be seductive and sultry. Listening in the car became hard as her sentences all seemed to be read in one breath. She'd start out loud and end the sentence in a breathy whisper. The voices of all the male characters sounded like guys on their deathbeds. I never quite got used to it.
In the end, the tale was OK, not great. What has lead me to decide to skip the next entries in the series (at least for now), however, is the narration alone. Middling interest in the tale, plus an annoying narrator means no credit spent for me.
If this book sounds interesting to you, I encourage you to check out EJ Copperman's "A Haunted Guesthouse" series. At least that has humor.
30 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- shirley
- 08-22-15
Excellent and refreshing read
I would highly recommend this book to anyone! This is the second series written by this author that I have fallen in love with. The characters are uniquely quirky, the storyline is fantastic and intriguing, yes so far all the books I have read have a five star rating by me.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Felicia The Geeky Blogger
- 09-09-13
Remodeling with a Ghostly Twist!
Read/Listened for Fun (Physical Copy, Kindle, and Audible)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 3.75
Character Rating: 4.25
Audio Rating: 4.50 (Not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: I was actually redoing a room while listening and this just added to the fun factor!
Story Thoughts: Poor Melanie! All she wants to do is disappear to France and go native for a bit. Family responsibilities though prevent that and so she is now running the family's remodeling historic houses business. She also can see ghosts. These two combine to make for quite a fun way of solving a murder, discovering clues, and looking like your crazy! Actually I felt a bit bad for her as those pesky spirits could just pop up when it is inconvenient. Overall, the case is pretty solid and there were a few twists/turns. Not being able to figure out who did it immediately was great! Though you will figure it out before Mel, you will still have fun watching her come to the realization of who was behind it!
Character Thoughts: I really liked Melanie. Her forthright behavior, backbone, and smarts made her a very strong woman. She was just quirky enough to identify with and knew when to stand her ground. She was also loyal to everyone: family, step-children (previous marriage), and friends. She is the kind of person I would want to have as a friend. Graham, I am not sold on yet but their eventual love match wasn't played up to much in this book. So I can take time to get to know him just as Mel will again.
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Xe Sands / Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins
Xe is one of those narrators that truly sounds different in every book they do. She tends to merge with the characters and bring out their quirks, behaviors, and insecurities. She is fantastic at pacing, nuances, and emotions. I loved her as Mel! She just got her really well. I can't wait to get book 2!
Final Thoughts: Great beginning to a fun series. I just wish I had half the remolding gumption as Mel!
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Beatrice
- 09-02-13
I loved it
This was a well written novel with interesting characters. Melanie Turner moves home after her mother's death to take over her father's construction business restoring historic homes. In doing so she finds out that she can communicate with ghosts. This discovery leads her to help solving a murder mystery and self discovery. The book is a bit slow which give Mel a chance to learn about her new ability, but other than that it is very good and enjoyable. The only thing that I did not like is that occassionally the narrator's voice would play out and I could not hear the end of a sentence. Other than that the narrator did an okay job with the voices and makeing the characters come to life. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sandie Herron
- 07-11-17
Demo Party Gone Incredibly Wrong
Melanie Turner has made quite a name for herself remodeling historic houses in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her father was in charge of Turner Construction for many years. The sudden death of Mel's mother knocked him off his feet, so Mel stepped in for him, but it has been two years, and he shows no sign of returning to work. Now her reputation may be on the line.
First she must figure out what unidentified assailants want from the old house that caused them to torture Kenneth, who was living there. A demo party provides good cover to root through walls and ceilings, leaving none untouched by holes and gashes or torn down. By morning's light the party has just disbanded, leaving a mortally wounded Kenneth to be found by Mel Turner on an early morning visit about the house. She cradles Kenneth as he dies.
The police show up but do a poor job collecting evidence from the scene, including missing finding a gun on the dumb waiter. Mel wonders what is up for the SFPD to do such a lousy job. Then she discovers that they have arrested Kenneth's good friend Matt because a nurse overheard Kenneth saying it was all Matt's fault just before he died. Only she had no idea Kenneth was referring to a map, as in treasure map. Motive was becoming clearer.
Was the map what the assailants want, if there even is one? Perhaps treasure has already been found at this unknown field? Was the whole thing a hoax from a bygone era when tricksters seeded mines with gold and gems? Some men want the map quite desperately.
Mel does find a journal written by a woman who ran the household until her husband quarreled with his mentor and one ended up dead. Mel takes the journal to the Historical Society for safekeeping but then their place is ransacked. Everywhere Mel goes ends up the worse for wear. She has to find out what these men are looking for before this historic beauty and Mel's business go to the dump.
This was a very satisfying mystery that went in many directions, zig zagging all over the Bay area and from suspect to suspect. Mel does solve this mystery, but I would never have guessed the solution without her sleuthing. Then again, Mel had a bit of extra help when Kenneth's ghost popped in and out, filling her in on some crucial information. Not a cozy per say but the violence did all take place off stage. I think I would call this either a “hard cozy” or “soft boiled.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook narrated by Xe Sands who has read most if not all of Juliet Blackwell's books expertly with phrases in French and a Latino dialect as no strangers to Xe. She is, without a doubt, one of my favorite narrators. Along with Juliet Blackwell, they make a formidable team!
Sandie Herron
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- gwennieg
- 10-04-13
The best in a long time!
What made the experience of listening to If Walls Could Talk the most enjoyable?
The narrator is wonderful and has a great way with sexy guy-voices. I'm surprised I've never heard her read. It's like listening to Anna Fields; you are able to forget there is a narrator and enjoy the great story.
What was one of the most memorable moments of If Walls Could Talk?
Mel's great love for the grand old homes of the Bay Area, especially of San Francisco. It was a new insight to me to hear of the beautiful old homes and their history, and resulting tidbits of the history of the Bay Area. I was totally engrossed and enjoyed the story line. There is a perfect balance of humor, romance, technical information, GHOSTS, & character development (quite a few lovable characters, well developed). When read by such a great narrator, it is the best series I've read in a long while.
What does Xe Sands bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
See above
Any additional comments?
MORE, MORE, MORE!!!!!!!
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- TVNerd95
- 08-23-18
This one grew on me as I listened
This is one of those books that I wasn’t sure what I thought about it while I was listening to it and then when it was over I started to immediately think about getting the next one. The more I thought I about it the more I realized I actually really liked it. The characters were interesting, the case was interesting and the narrator was good.
Mel has got to be one of the most unique individuals in books that I been introduced to recently. I enjoyed her chemistry with the other characters, her values and her love of historic homes. Which is perfect for the setting of San Francisco as that is a great city for history. The cast of supporting characters are all also compelling except for Graham her love interest – he is a little dry but maybe the author develops him more later on.
The case starts with a bang and has many twists and turns but the author blends all of these well into the finale and you don’t feel cheated by the solution. I look forward to the next book in the series.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- LaurelOlivia
- 02-07-14
Nice surprise
Would you listen to If Walls Could Talk again? Why?
Yes, I would. I found that the second listen was actually better than the first.
What other book might you compare If Walls Could Talk to and why?
It was different, I enjoyed the building side and ghosts.
What about Xe Sands’s performance did you like?
At first I thought her words were non distinct. Shortly after I appreciated her manor and she created since of humor.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ann
- 12-02-13
DIY murder, that spans the here and hereafter....
Would you consider the audio edition of If Walls Could Talk to be better than the print version?
N/A
Which scene was your favorite?
I particularly enjoyed the first time Mel saw Kenneth's ghost.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I loved all of the times Graham showed up and helped Mel.
Any additional comments?
Mel is a thoroughly relatable character, and XE Sand's portrayal of her is spot-on. She channels Mel in every aspect of her delivery, and flawlessly conveys all of Mel's emotions, down to wry humorous moments. XE does an admirable job on the elderly ladies, and the younger men, but I found at times I had difficulty hearing all of the older men's parts, and also Matt's, because the volume dropped off. Her pacing was wonderful, and the pauses were well-placed. This narrator inhabits each of her characters and has a solid grasp on how to differentiate between each of them. I would absolutely look for more from this narrator/author combination.
11 people found this helpful