Back on Murder

A Roland March Mystery, Book 1

By: J. Mark Bertrand

Narrated by: Mel Foster

Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Houston homicide detective Roland March was once one of the best. Now he's disillusioned, cynical, and on his way out. His superiors farm him out on a variety of punishment details until an unexpected break gives March one last chance to save his career. And his humanity. All he has to do? Find the missing teenage daughter of a Houston evangelist that every cop in town is already looking for. But March has an inside track: a multiple murder nobody else thinks is connected. Battling a new partner, an old nemesis, and the demons of his past, getting to the truth could cost March everything. Even his life.

©2012 J. Mark Bertrand (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Kinda waste a time

Should have been a good read but reader did not really communicate the reality of the story. We just finished to be done. Do not recommend.

Kept me listening

I liked that there were some different crimes being followed. I also liked the real-ness of Roland Anna Charlotte's relationship. They had struggles but that didn't equal a demise.

Wrong narrator for the book

I liked the book. I am not normally a fan of Christian Fiction (I almost never read it). But several of my friends have recommended this to me and it has gotten good reviews. And I picked up the kindle version for free and used promotional credit for the audiobook. So I didn't have anything to lose.

The narrator was wrong. His accents were stereotypical and schlocky and overall detracted from the book. The book needed a darker narrator. Someone with more age and gravel in his voice. James Marsters (of Dresden Files book) would have been fine.

The narration wasn't horrible, I listened to most of the book. But I finished up the book on kindle and think that reading the book is a better choice.

The second book in the series is available on Audible, but I will read instead of listen to it.

Great book

Loved everything about this book. It was a very engaging story. Really enjoyed listening to it.

I was Hooked - At Hour 3

The book had a fantastic start. Things were looking very good, then it slowed down to the point where at hour 2, I was considering whether I wanted to continue. It was exactly at hour 3 that I realized "this is a fantastic story, and Roland March is a great character". For someone who loves to listen to mystery and police procedurals, it was refreshing to have a normal person as the detective, not brilliant, not violent, average guy. Roland March makes mistakes which makes him feel so human. The back-story was a very slow build, but in the end, I liked Roland's wife, whom I started off disliking, and I admired Roland, whom I thought at first was somewhat "oafish".

There seem to be lots of complaints about the narrator. I thought that Mel Foster had the perfect voice for Roland and some of the other men, but he does a terrible women's voice. I understand the annoyance, but the story kept me moving forward. I got to where the voices were fine with me.

Glad to see Book 2 in the series is waiting for my next credit. I hope Audible will put Book 3 on an audiobook.

Great main character... leaves you wanting more!

Excellent narrator! He performs all the characters so well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A crime novel, with just the right amount of humor, and emotion. I totally enjoyed this book!

Well written Story

I have listened to this book at least 4 times. I enjoy the way the author leads you down one path and then things are not what they seem. The narrator is excellent with his change of voices. He keeps you drawn in to the story. I love this series.

Feels like a Dragnet movie

Overall the book was pretty good. It was writen in first person and the narration made me feel like I was listening to Dragnet with Joe Friday. The author did an excellent job with character development. I'm looking forward to reading book 2 in the series.

Modern day Columbo

What made the experience of listening to Back on Murder the most enjoyable?

No profanity, at least from what I remember. I did zone out a couple of times, but it mostly kept my attention. I really liked this novel and would highly recommend it.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not quite the edge, but engaging. The who-dun-it was a total surprise and how it got there.

Which character – as performed by Mel Foster – was your favorite?

The protagonist.

Any additional comments?

I think in our society today, we have become so calloused towards violence, profanity, nudity, perversion and gore in that, it's become our norm. If a book or movie does not contain one or more of these, they are considered boring. I applaud writers who are able to produce a great work that is able to gain and keep the attention of its reader/viewer without subjecting them to the above issues. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with subjecting an audience to a dose of spiritual feeding. If we objectively look at the results of the absence of spiritual food, we'd have to admit to the ever-growing grim results. If you don't want to hear of anything with spiritual subject matter, there's plenty of dark writers and material out there to last a few lifetimes. Let's support the art of writing. Thank you J. Mark Bertrand. Keep up the good work.

Great murder mystery, but why all the preaching?

Any additional comments?

This central murder mystery of this book is unexpectedly complex. We follow the plot down one logic path, just to have one or two suddenly spring up. But it all connects well, making sense in the overall story. I did feel the resolution was kind of rushed, because,all of a sudden, the murder is resolved. Then the author launches into lessons about how to be a good christian like suppressing ambition, turning away from revenge, forgiving the worst violations against you, and going to church to get over life's worst tragedies. The main character even kicks out a very personable and helpful liberally minded guy from the rental apartment they own in favor of a christian couple and all is portrayed as being better that way.

Bottom line: I REALLY enjoyed the murder mystery. But after being preached to so heavily at the close of the story, I wanted to throw my iPad across the shop I was working in.

By the way, the narration is typical Mel Foster. I like his reading style. So I enjoyed that aspect.