Lost Town

A Riveting Kidnapping Mystery Series, Book 45

By: Marie Wilkens

Narrated by: Jess Trepanier

Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Allison Flynn loves her son Danny and her job as a nurse in the small town of Bitter, North Dakota. But when Danny is kidnapped, Allison races against time to find him.

With the help of the police and government, she follows leads and uncovers a web of lies involving her son's biological mother, a drug addict named Caroline Saunders. Caroline, now using a false identity, had been plotting to take Danny back, killing anyone who got in her way. Allison's desperate search leads to a final showdown at a waterfall, where she fights to protect her son and end the nightmare.

©2023 DBS Publishing LLC (P)2023 DBS Publishing LLC

Okay story but very poor writing.

This is off to a heart-wrenching start, then tends to be just action and drama for the bulk of the rest of it. There’s some police-procedural mixed with an ex Airforce operative gone rogue to find her kid.
There were a few instances were I questioned continuity and/ plausibility and I think this author might value convenience over these things at times but still, for the most part, this was a fun listen.

Also a lot of space was taken up by repeating things—this author would do well to sharpen their writing skills or at least use a stronger editor. This book was made longer due to almost every single thought, statement, etc. being repeated … multiple times. It’s very poor writing.

Overall, 3 stars.
(Would’ve easily been 4 if it had solid continuity & better writing..)

While I mostly enjoyed this book, the poor writing is a concern—I’m not sure I’d read anything else by this author.

Audio—
This narrator was good, though not one that performs instead of just reading robotically. But more pleasant to listen to than AI so, no complaints.
The production was smooth throughout, except for once or twice when a line was repeated.
3.5 stars on this front.