Only the Quiet

By: Amanda M. Lee

Narrated by: Sarah Grace Wright, GraceWright Productions

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

Izzy Sage is settling into her new life despite the pall hanging over her past.

While the memories of the catastrophe that took her parents when she was a child remain elusive, she finds she’s comfortable in her new environment...even though she happens to have taken up the same position her father held when he was killed.

She’s the new death gate operator, which means she’s in control when souls are ferried to the other side. She literally controls death...and it’s not a comfortable spot to be in. Her only problem is a man...and it’s not something she thought she would be facing because romance was supposed to be off the table.

Braden Grimlock isn’t exactly known for being mature and grounded, but there’s something about Izzy that calls to him. He can’t stay away. The feeling only grows stronger when a group of deaf students tour the aquarium located on top of the death gate...and the teacher drops dead in the middle of a blackout.

Right away, Izzy senses something is wrong...other than the obvious, that is. She simply can’t figure out what sort of opponent she’s facing.

The past is about to meet the present as a long-hidden secret grabs Izzy by the throat and demands answers. There’s a malevolent spirit on the loose, and he has designs on escape from Belle Isle. The havoc he could wreak if freed is immeasurable.

It’s up to Izzy and Braden, and the rest of the Grimlocks, to figure out what’s happening and stop a horrifically determined ghost from claiming an innocent life. It’s going to take all of them working together...and if a little romance gums up the works, they’re simply going to have to deal with that, too.

Izzy is a powerful Bruja. Even she might not be strong enough to face the horror of what’s to come, though.

©2019 Amanda M. Lee (P)2019 Amanda M. Lee

Ghost and gate magic

Again as a resident of Detroit I enjoy the series location. As a cyclist I have rode endless miles around Belle Isle. I find that Izzy slightly arrogant. How can a young woman who has never had kids nor “mother” younger siblings have so much to say about baby Lily? And the Grimlocks give her advice such weight.

I was horrified that Izzy thought it was ok to read the mind of a 3-week-old baby! When Izzy was holding Lily and pretends to give her to someone that is upset Lily fusses. Of course, she would pickup on the agitation of that person. So 5 adults and a nanny who have been in constant contact with Lily could not have come to that conclusion. That is a no brainier and I was insulted the Grimlocks were made to look so stupid. Now out there in the writer’s ether will be the possibility that Lily will be an empath.

Izzy came on the scene determined to be the best gate keeper. She has been on the job 3 weeks and had no idea there were cameras. Shouldn’t that had be in the closing/opening of the building; check to see that the cameras are working.

She spends and inordinate amount of time with meals at the Grimlocks that she neglects her regular duties. It was 3 weeks ago they lost an employee. Until Cormack put his foot down, Izzy was going to delay hiring a person another month. Wow, how to feel small when your boyfriend’s father, who is your boss told you no dinner/date plans until you select a new hire. More astounding is that Oliver had dwindled the stack of applicants down to 5 people.

I love the Grimlocks and in a few places there were a few chuckles, but my god, Amanda Lee, the author made them sound so whiny and immature and only Izzy could sort them out. It should be sacrilegious to besmirch the Grimlocks reputation. If you follow the Grimlocks, you will enjoy a big drop-dead fight like we have not had in a while between Asling and Angelina.

For most of this story Izzy is traveling back and forth between work and the Grimlocks with an occasional visit to her aunt’s place. Nothing bruja or magical happens until the end. Amanda Lee has not quite got the hang of featuring Izzy’s bruja magic. So when she works magic a skull is superimposed on her face. I have also read the Mystic Carvan Series and Poet, who is of Romania descent, can accomplish similar feats. Give me something bruja specific.

Think of Jerry when I say this but, Hellooo. Corman Grimlock walks around with a business card for a therapist in his pocket ready to hand out to the crazy Angelina. Really?

I love the Grimlocks. It seems I must become a fan of Izzy’s to vicariously get my Grimlock fix. I will read the next gate grim reaper. We do have a wedding coming up and I hope that will be featured in the next book.

1 person found this helpful

Izzy is not the main character of her own book...

This book is supposed to be about the Gatekeeper, Izzy. However 75% of it is about the Reaper clan and their family drama. I didnt read that series and I wont based on how they all act in this book. I cant even imagine reading a book that's exactly dedicated to them if it's anything like this one. They're characters are childish and whiny. It's not cute or endearing in any way.

Izzy (with her limited page time) comes off as immature and a bit of a jerk. For example, the first chapter of the book consist of her trying to force her employee to talk about personal relationships while in the work place. She actually tells him that he "has to tell her". Well actually Boo, he doesnt. Did she get any type of management training? Apparently not.

She then goes on to spit out phrases such as, "You're annoying too. In fact, I think you're more annoying than I am"... 😒Seriously?

She visits the Grim Respers clan house and says, "It still looks the same"... Duh!🙄 You just saw it twoweek ago! Why would a house change in two weeks?

There is this scene where the dad has to explain that women did not have the same rights as men 60 years ago. Obviously this is basic American history... did these people not go to High School???

Then immediately after the sexism conversation, they start a sexist conversation about the men going to spa days like it's only for women 🤦🏽‍♀️... immature.

Izzy also has these temper tantrum for at least the first quarter of the book. When she is talking to people, she constantly responds with "I became immediately irritated" or "I had to hold in my annoyance". Chick you are new to this, shut up and learn something!

Other annoying stuff from this book includes how many times characters mention that the Dad loves his 5 kids... OK! THATS WHAT DADS DO!... and how many times characters say, "I dont understand"... over and over and over. And this was a complaint I had with book 1... so apparently they still ain't learned NOTHING!

And last but not least, how can you have these immature characters using these randomly "big" words that dont actually fir into the type of vocabulary they use on z regular basis... these kids aren't "Flabbergasted"... A-NNOY-ING!!!

I feel bad because the premise of this story is intriguing, but it doesnt fit well in this YA format. I still don't even know the purpose of Gatekeepers. They're function seems irrelevant. If this was written with real adult characters, grown up dialogue, possibly Urban Fantasy it had a chance to be great for me. In this middle school format, I'm just done with this series.

I haven't even mentioned how things from book one were different in book two. How Izzy doesnt know how to hire a new employee. How Izzy doesnt know that there are cameras in her work place. That Izzy (with no kids) has to teach these people about their own baby and how to soothe her. How she comes up with these magically abilities out of the blue... so convenient and unrealistic.

One nice thing: The Cover art is beautiful!
Second nice thing: The narrator was good

But that's it for me... I'm glad others enjoyed but it was not my cup of tea.

1 STAR - 🌟 Either this was Not Interesting or Bad Story tmTelling. Usually a book I had to force myself to finish.

3 people found this helpful

Terrific paranormal romance & thriller

Only the Quiet
A Death Gate Grim Reapers Thriller, Book 2
By: Amanda M. Lee
Narrated by: Sarah Grace Wright
Great follow-up book with more info on the co-workers, the Grimlock family, and a dead soul that is inhabiting a boy! There are ghosts, merpeople, and thrills in here along with witty dialogue, a fun family, and budding romance. A very enjoyable read! I hope this series is 20 books long!!!
The narration is excellent!

enjoyed story, just not narration

given that many of the characters come from the prior Aisling Grimlock series, the dramatic shift in how the characters are read is annoying. the narrator didn't seem to put any effort into trying to keep them consistent

I only the Quiet

I love this new series ! I grew up in the burbs of Detroit 💟

Amanda's Awesome!

You can bet that Amanda M Lee is a writer that is always worth your time and credits. Every story keeps you entertained to the end.
I still enjoyed this audio and could not turn it off even when I felt the narrator's voices made the most of the charaters sound like whiney children. I know hard work is put into these audios and I try to bring the good points to light, I regretfully can not with this narrator. That's why I know MS. Lee's writing is in the High Awesome Range. I still can't wait for next release regardless.

Great story awful narration of Grimlock characters

I love the story and the narration of new characters is great however I hate the way she narrates the Grimlock characters. Braedon sounds like a teenager. Aiden sounds depressed. I don’t even know how to explain how jerry sounds.

Loved It!

Love this book so much. I love Izzy and am especially happy that we also get to keep up with the Grimlocks

I don’t know how she does it!

Perfection! I absolutely love all of Amanda M. Lee’s novels. They’re all paranormal but so different from one another. They have wonderful characters, interesting employment and most of all true love. Not just lovers type love but family love. Parent to child, child to parent, siblings, friends, all unconditionally loved. To top it all off, respect and fun! Thank you for another wonderful story.

Enjoyed the story!

I love the Grimlocks so much. The story is intriguing but I especially enjoy the family itself. The narrator has to do a couple of dozen voices. I admire that a lot. She did a good job.

A spin-off of the Grimlock series falls flat

This is a spin-off of the Aisling Grimlock series, which I loved.

The book is good but as there is a lot of crossover to the other series, which is 9 books, I just couldn’t get in to the new narrators interpretation of the old characters.