• Tell Me

  • Pierce Reed/Nikki Gillette, Book 3
  • By: Lisa Jackson
  • Narrated by: Julia Whelan
  • Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (549 ratings)

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Tell Me  By  cover art

Tell Me

By: Lisa Jackson
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
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Publisher's summary

#1 New York Times best-selling author Lisa Jackson creates her most electrifying thriller to date, as a mother’s unspeakable crime sparks a new killing spree....

The most hated woman in Savannah, Georgia, is about to be set free. Twenty years ago, Blondell O’Henry was convicted of murdering her eldest daughter and wounding her two other children. The prosecution argued that beautiful, selfish Blondell wanted to be rid of them to be with her lover. Now Blondell’s son, Niall, has recanted his testimony and demolished the case in the process. Reporter Nikki Gillette is determined to get the true story, and not just for professional reasons. Blondell’s murdered daughter, Amity, was Nikki’s childhood friend. The night she died, Amity begged Nikki to meet with her, insisting she had a secret to tell, but Nikki didn’t go. Her guilt is compounded by other complications - Nikki’s favorite uncle, Alexander, was the attorney who helped save Blondell from execution. And rumors swirl that he was one of her many lovers.

Nikki’s fiancé, Detective Pierce Reed, is concerned she may be compromising the case. As she digs for answers during one of the most sweltering summers in Savannah’s history, he also worries for her safety. Everyone involved seems to have secrets, from Blondell’s old boyfriend and his fundamentalist, snake- handling in-laws to the cop who led the original investigation. And somehow, the events of that tragic night connect to Nikki’s own fractured family. But now the killing has begun again. Is Amity’s murderer still at large, or is this a new, darker danger? Soon Nikki will discover what really happened twenty years ago, but the answers may come too late to save her life....

©2013 Lisa Jackson (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Tell Me

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Tell me, or perhaps don't.

Surprisingly, I was disappointed with Lisa Jackson's latest book, as I've mostly enjoyed them in the past. Another reviewer said it felt like a 'first try' and I agree. The plot lacked substance and the characters were flimsy. The writing style was formulaic and there were no surprises unless you call the climax one. I didn't, but not because I had guessed the 'perp' but because it was a continuance of just pulling something out of the hat, in this case a character, to be the badie. It really didn't make a lot of sense. Unless you like fairy floss, don't bother.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Great Mystery and Romance!

Wow! This was my first book by Lisa Jackson --will definitely be reading more from this talented author. I look forward to reading the other prior books (Savannah 1 & 2) in the series, as Tell Me was #3; however, it can be read as a standalone.

I purchased the audio version from audible.com and the narrator (Julia Whelan) was outstanding –capturing the essence of each character perfectly with the southern charm. I was listening to the book while hiking in the Carolinas in the woods, so the ideal setting. I also liked the reference to the Dahlonega, GA (Lumpkin County) cabin -- a very quaint little town north of Lake Lanier (I previously dated a guy who lived on the lake in the area, and is rather remote) so can envision the hideaway for the snakes. Savannah, GA is so historic and was fitting area for Nikki, the author in the book and the central character with some mystery.

I could not put down my iPod as listened to the wee hours of the morning, as you do not want to miss a thing. The books goes back and forth from the original murder to today, twenty years later when the mother (Blondell) imprisoned for a murder of her daughter Amity who was pregnant and damage to her other children. Her sentence is being overturned, due to the testimony of her son, since he was only 8 during the original trial.

Nikki is close to the situation as Amity was her best friend, the murder took place in her uncle’s cabin (and the lawyer for Blondell, who is now in a rest home), snakes, and an array of characters and men connected to this blond bombshell femme fatale. There are many other connections and secrets from the past leading up to the murder and Nikki is bringing a lot of these to the surface while she battles her own past (which I will learn more about from her previous book).
During this time, Nikki is assigned to write a story, and her fiancé Reid is a police detective, assigned to the case. Lots of romance and sex with this dynamic duo (similar to Castle except Nikki is the crime writer and Reid is the PD).

I loved Lisa Jackson’s writing style, as she gives you enough to keep the tension mounting yet not as gruesome as some mystery and crime writers. I highly recommend – a 5 star and look forward to reading her previous work as well as new ones to come! PS I figured out the killer before the ending; however, had to keep reading to confirm. Full of crime, mystery, suspense and romance!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Ugh. Just... ugh.

Any additional comments?

I love Lisa Jackson but I don't know what happened here. This book was one tedious interview after another with vast numbers of characters who overall contributed little. The main character is spoiled and unlikeable. She disregards laws when it's convenient for her and relies on her cop fiancee to bail her out of her own stupidity time after time. There were loose ends all over the place. I finished it because I had used a credit on it, but it took me a month and I got a headache from rolling my eyes so much.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Painfully long and a tad annoying

I really did not care for this book. I think the premise was good - a woman in prison for 20 years for murdering her daughter. But did she do it?

Also, the narrator was very good. Good accents, good differentiation of characters.

But - the good stuff ends there. At least for me. The quality of the writing is borderline romance novel. Which in itself wouldn't be bad - but, the story and the bad writing and weak characters just dragged on and on and on. Even that could have been ok if there had even been any point in the continual dragging out of the story, but there really wasn't. It was just blah-blah-blah.

Seriously - this book could have been (should have been!) six hours, not twelve. I listened to the first five hours, got fed up and quit. Then I decided I did want to know how (or if) the mystery was solved, but without having to put up with the boring characters and bad writing. So - I skipped ahead to track 12 in part 2 of the book. Listened for 30 minutes, then skipped ahead to the last hour. And - I really just needed to listen to about 40 minutes to have the whole story summed up, and I feel like I didn't miss anything at all.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

not for me

Would you try another book from Lisa Jackson and/or Julia Whelan?

I actually usually like Lisa Jackson books, so I will probably try one again.

What do you think your next listen will be?

No idea.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

She did not have an accent when narrating the book, only when doing the dialogue. I found that distracting.

What character would you cut from Tell Me?

None

Any additional comments?

I just really didn't like the main character. She made stupid selfish decisions. I'd probably slap her if I knew her in real life.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Tight and tense

Where does Tell Me rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Right at the top. Lisa Jackson is one of my favorite authors and the narrator brought the story to life perfectly.

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

I loved the addition of the prison interviews. The reader had the chance to see inside the mind of the woman behind bars. What was going on in her head while being interviewed.

Which scene was your favorite?

The climactic ending! I was driving home and noticed my speed was increasing with each sentence. Next time I listen to another Lisa Jackson bestseller, I will do so while walking around the block.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

A few of the less than stellar characters made me angry enough that, if they were real and close to me, I would enjoy giving them a punch in the throat.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Just O.K.

The Story was good, not one of the best, but it did keep me in suspense, although I knew blondell didn't do it, I just couldn't figure out who, and it got sort of confusing mid way thru, I think I couldn't keep up with all the character's, but the ending was a big surprise, I would suggest this book to anyone who like's suspense,

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not the best of Lisa Jackson

What would have made Tell Me better?

The story kept repeating the description of the murder. The narrator cannot do male voices. It was predictable and started to lag towards the end.

How could the performance have been better?

The performer was unable to do male voices. Reed sounded snobby and bored. Some of her southern dialect is ok but for the most part, she almost made the book unbearable.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating!

What made the experience of listening to Tell Me the most enjoyable?

The story itself was the best part of the experience.

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

Yes, definitely!

What about Julia Whelan’s performance did you like?

Loved it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I chose it to go to sleep listening to, but had to stay awake for as long as I could because the story was so good.

Any additional comments?

Well worth the credit.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story!

Had a confusing beginning, but the story definitely fleshed out fully. Kept me interested the entire time. Would read more from this author.

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1 person found this helpful