The Lady Said No

An Augustus Grant Mystery, Book 1

By: Jacquie Biggar

Narrated by: Daniel F Purcell

Length: 2 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

A mind of steel hidden behind a bumbling exterior - that's the perfect description of Detective Gus. N.N. Light.

The race is on to find a killer in the heart of Kentucky horse country. Detective Augustus Grant is faced with his most baffling case to date. Well-respected race horse breeder John Jorgenson, is murdered in his den, days before the Kentucky Derby, and the list of suspects is growing. Complicating matters, Gus' ex-girlfriend is the last person to have seen the victim alive.

Rebecca Hayes owes the Jorgenson family her loyalty. They gave her a new life after a disastrous affair that leaves her alone and pregnant. With all the evidence pointing in Becky's direction, will Gus do his duty? Or follow his heart? Listeners who enjoy cozy mysteries, contemporary romance, inspirational romance, or romantic suspense, will love this second chance romance story.

©2017 Jacquie Biggar (P)2017 Jacquie Biggar

Captivating!

The Lady Said No by Jacquie Biggar pulled me in from the beginning. Was the suicide really murder? Who did it? I found myself wanting to know more. Like the game Clue, I had my suspicions and was proved incorrect. I love it when I cannot predict a book. This is a short and fast listen. The author did a great job developing the characters and plot, plus had vivid imagery. Daniel F Purcell did a great job performing the book. He gave distinguishable voices to the characters, and added to my enjoyment. I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review. I will definitely listen to more books by this author and narrator.

Missing: The Lady Said No

Would you listen to Missing: The Lady Said No again? Why?

Absolutely! Not only was the story enjoyable, the narrator was excellent!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gus, of course! He was so lovable. A brilliant detective, handsome and yet a bit bumbling and accident prone.

What does Daniel F Purcell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Oh my gosh, he makes the characters come alive. I've read the book and now listened to the audio. His voice and accents were so easy and fun to listen to. He was never boring or slow. He is so good, that you could even distinguish ages of those speaking. I am still smiling after listening to this audio book. I loved it!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A modern day Columbo detective story. (Gus could be Columbo's son)

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this story. Jacquie Biggar created a whodunnit suspense that had a few twists and surprises, along with a touch of romance and humor.

I loved the description of the fancy house, the carnival, the barn and the horse racing theme. So well written that I could imagine being right there.

Secondary characters were well developed , and they were just as important as Gus and Rebecca . Jocelyn and Emmett are so sweet and little Sara will steal your heart too.

This quick story kept me interested to the end. This book contained everything that I look for in a good story.

Good Mystery

Normally I figure out the story before the detective but this one kept me suspecting and guessing. The narration is quite good!

Good mystery

I enjoyed the descriptive story. the performance added greatly to the value of the story.

Entertaining Romantic Mystery

When Detective Gus Grant is called in to investigate a murder, the last person that he expects to see is his ex-girlfriend Rebecca. She was the last person to see the victim alive but is she a murderer?

Although Missing was a short listen, there was enough character development to make the story work. Gus was a very likeable character with his bumbling ways and was my favorite. The story combined mystery and suspense, with a little romance thrown in for good measure. The plot twists definitely had me guessing right up until the climax. The narration of Daniel F. Purcell was the icing on the cake, bringing the characters to life with wonderful accents and a smooth voice that I loved listening to. Overall, a very satisfying and enjoyable listen. I would recommend Missing: The Lady Said No: An Augustus Grant Mystery, Book 1.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This review is my honest opinion.

a sweet who done it

a short and sweet, who done it mystery listen. detective gus is on the hunt for the murderer of Kentucky derby breeder only to find he has a family he didn't even know he wanted or needed, but all is found out in splendid time for a hea ending.

Horses, humor and one sly detective!

I really love Gus, the seemingly clumsy and bumbling detective in Missing. But Gus is actually as sly as a fox under his rumpled appearance, and it all helps him get closer to the truth with folks who underestimate his talents and don't take him seriously. In Missing, the high-stakes world of horse racing and Southern fortunes lead to murder, blackmail. gambling and danger. The plot is well-crafted to create suspense and mystery. There is also humor and romance thrown into the mix, as Gus, unlucky in love, navigates the dangerous waters of ex-wife and ex-girlfriend that lead to lots of secrets and surprises. The narrator has a good voice to portray Gus, who is such a likeable character with his flaws and his humble approach. The book is full of many good characters who are believable and suspicious in their own right. Sometimes the Southern accidents don't quite come off right, but overall the narration was good. The book is short and well-paced and it will have you guessing until the end: Whodunnit?

Nothing special

I was not impressed with this story nor the narration. If you need something to listen to and not worried about the story, this would be one in that instance.