Murder With Motive

Sylvia Shipman Murder Mysteries, Book 1

When Sylvia Shipman's uncle plunges to his death on the eve of a catastrophic stock market crash, the verdict is suicide. But Sylvia doubts the official story after seeing a sinister stranger fleeing the scene. She doubts it even more after learning of her uncle's secret criminal connections.

With the help of her family's attractive new chauffeur, the mysteriously capable Miles, Sylvia chases the true killer through the swanky jazz clubs and shadowed alleyways of 1920s New York. But in her quest for answers, is she prepared to face an ultimate revelation more shocking than any she has imagined?

©2022 Blythe Baker (P)2024 Tantor

Fine story but dreadful performance

Halfway through the story and I can’t listen to one more word from the narrator. I’ve listened to computer generated voices with more inflection. Every time she reads “he/she/I said,” it’s as a question (and, unfortunately, it’s said A LOT). “‘I’m going to get a bagel,’ I said?” Ugh! I don’t care how the person died. I don’t care anymore if the person was murdered. I simply can’t listen for one more minute.
Now, about the book. As I said, I could only tolerate listening for half of the story. The book was ok. Unfortunately, at the halfway point, I still didn’t care about any of the characters. There was little personality development. It’s as if you walked in on a conversation between some people who were complete strangers to you, and were locked into one character’s gravitational field and therefore forced to stay with them and see what they did and hear what they said, but you were stuck knowing next to nothing about them. Had the author written, “…and then a crocodile climbed up out of the sewer, ate her and she was never seen again.” I would have thought, “Completely justified.” Halfway through the book and I don’t think her family would even care. But I don’t know because the characters surrounding the main character are as 3 dimensional as pepper dolls.

Loved! Great book, narration & story!

I've always loved Sylvia Shipman and Romy Nordlinger, so the two of them together make these delicious 1920's fun mysteries crackle! Great characters and story. Looking forward to the rest of the series!

Fun, quick listen/read

I enjoyed the story. The narrator did well in changing their voice for different characters. The story was well paced, it didn't have too many characters or get boring. I like the writing style and Sylvia's poise with Miles never far away.