Never Look Back

By: Mary Burton

Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's Summary

Expect the unexpected in this gritty, tense mystery from New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton.

After multiple women go missing, Agent Melina Shepard of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation makes the impulsive decision to go undercover as a prostitute. While working the street, she narrowly avoids becoming a serial killer’s latest victim; as much as it pains her to admit, she needs backup. 

Enter lone wolf FBI agent Jerrod Ramsey. Stonewalled by a lack of leads, he and Melina investigate a scene where a little girl has been found abandoned in a crashed vehicle. They open the trunk to reveal a horror show and quickly realize they’re dealing with two serial killers with very different MOs. The whole situation brings back memories for Melina - why does this particular case feel so connected to her painful past?

Before time runs out, Melina must catch not one but two serial killers, both ready to claim another victim - and both with their sights set on her.

©2020 Mary Burton (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Hmmm

I love Mary Burton and the story was great, but the narrator just didn't work for me.

RUINED BY A TERRIBLE NARRATOR

Hard to focus on the story past an absolutely terrible narrator. From the random pauses to the terrible and almost offensive attempt at the male voices...OUCH. I typically really like Mary Burton, but come on- redo the story with a good narrator, PLEASE!!!!

Excellent but complicated murder mystery with two unrelated serial killers. Contrived and unnecessary romance subplot.

I enjoyed this stand-alone serial killer mystery, but the associated police procedural is only middling. I listened to part of this book via Audible, but the narrator is terrible, especially when she voice-acts male characters. I preferred my Kindle.

I rated this 4 stars mostly for the storyline and subplots, which author Mary Burton heroically juggled throughout the book. I liked both protagonists, but in many ways, the MCs are stereotypes: 1) a lone-wolf white male FBI agent, married to his job; 2) a strong, intelligent but TSTL female TBI agent, who happens to fit an obsessed killer’s vision of his ideal woman, making her a target; and 3) a serial killer who drives a windowless white van, kitted-out for torture/murder. OTOH, the second killer, who takes grisly trophies, is more interesting—as is his sociopathic mom, who still attaches herself to her son.

Here’s something I’d druther-not-read about again: 1) Another female cop whose house has easy-pick door locks and zero security systems; and 2) author trying to force a contrived romance and sex between characters, who lack chemistry—especially when it’s not organic to the storyline.

The narrator makes it not worth it

I love Mary Burtons books but I could not stand this narrator. She has no clue about tone and
Pitch with voices. Please get good narrator 's they make all the difference.

Narrator made it difficult

The story was great but this narrator made it so hard to finish. The random pauses and some if the male voices she gave were just terrible. A trick for anyone who wants to listen to this is to turn up the speed to 1.2x and it should make it easier for yourself.

Narrator is THE Worst!

The narrator is terrible. The pauses, fits, starts and voices are grating. Mary Burton should never have her narrate another book. I wanted to enjoy the story and finish, but I just could Not!

poor production

recording issues, many long breaks obviously not intended. also changes speed. very poor production.... yes my connection is fine.
story is decent, but follows a format this author uses.

Never look back

I enjoyed the story but I have listened to the narrator perform all the October Daye books and I associated each male voice to one of the fantasy characters. For me another narrator would have been less distracting.

Woody woodpecker narration

I generally like Mary Burton books but the narration was so awful that I couldn’t continue. The poor male characters sounded like cartoon characters and the main character sounded as though she were either falling asleep or asking a question. Ridiculous and I could never figure out whether the book was bad or if it was diminished y the terrible reader.

I kept waiting for the Woody Woodpecker laugh as it was so comedic. Save your credit or$$.

difficult to listen to

this story was pretty good, it was the voice reading it that was horrendous. she paused for too long between sentences and sometimes between words in the same sentence and always annoyingly! this book actually irritated me but I persevered through it's entirety, although it took me 5 tries to finally be able to pay attention to the story rather than the boredom produced by the monotone voice. the storyline got a bit confusing at times but I believe it was the narrator who caused me to lose interest. I will read more from the Author, but I will certainly avoid the narrator in the future.

The worst narration I have ever heard

Spoiled the whole book for me, but you got to finish haven’t you.
Just this narrator, her voice and unexplained pauses drove me crackers!!

awful narration

I enjoyed the story and read a lot of Mary Burton books but stay clear of the audio version and just read the book. the narrator kills all the male parts, painful, I didnt even get to chapter 3

Enjoyed the story. The narration, not so much.

In hindsight some of the storyline was a little far fetched but enjoyable nonetheless. Characters were relatable and I even found myself emphasising somewhat with Sonny. Unfortunately the narration was really odd. Big pauses where they were not warranted made it a little stilted and off putting. I'd recommend reading it rather than listening to audio version.

NARRATER :

The story of this book is good but the Narrater lets it down by trying to sound like different mens voices and they are absolutley awful I have never ever heard any man speak as she is depicting them. This is making a comedy out of this otherwise good book. Why can't the Narrater's just speak in their own voices, I have noticed this a lot in Audible books.

awful narration

story spoilt by narrator hard to listen to don't know why the men's voices had to shout

he said, she said doesn't=t poor listening

poor throughout. narrator hesitations, unbelievable voices...won't try this author again. sorry to say but there it is