Scarlet Oaks and the Serial Caller

Scarlet Oaks Mystery Series, Book 1

By: Michaela James

Narrated by: Kimberly M. Wetherell

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Is it possible Scarlet Oaks, the reluctant new host of a men’s call-in show, inspired the first serial killer San Francisco’s seen in some 40 years?

Struggling to pay the rent after her boyfriend’s sudden departure, continue her role as mediator in an unconventional family, and feed a micro pig who appears less micro by the day, Scarlet’s life is far from perfect. But when an eerie sounding caller is identified as the bay area’s latest serial killer, it appears her life will never be same.

With the killer continually calling into Scarlet’s show, while managing to stay one step ahead of the San Francisco police, Scarlet begins to fear she’s his next victim. Enlisting best friends Niles and Tom and their often-hilarious help, Scarlet sets out to find the elusive Serial Caller...before he finds her.

Root for Scarlet during this heart-pounding and alternately humorous mystery thriller. Fall in love with unforgettable characters, recognize familiar family members, and hold on tight for an adrenaline-filled ride.

If you’re a Stephanie Plum fan, make room for Scarlet Oaks!

This is the first book in the Scarlet Oaks series.

©2017 LW Media Group Ltd (P)2019 LW Media Group Ltd

A promising start to a new cozy series............

Scarlet Oaks and the Serial Caller is the start of what promises to be a fun cozy mystery series. As with all cozies, the story is definitely character driven, and much more of the story focuses on Scarlet, her friends and her family than the mystery portion. The author does a fantastic job of describing the various characters, and I loved the diversity of these characters' personalities. She has her two male best friends, divorcing parents with all their drama, a spunky grandmother, and her fellow radio station employees. Scarlet herself is always positive and optimistic despite several extremely embarrassing situations as she tries to find her mister right, and several dangerous situations as she attempts to unmask the identity of a serial killer calling her radio show. I recommend this book to all fans of the cozy mystery genre.

Kimberly M Wetherell's narration is excellent. She has a light, almost bouncy voice that is perfect for Scarlet's bubbly personality. She differentiates subtly but well between characters, and her delivery was flawless. I am looking forward to hearing future collaborations between this author and narrator soon.

I received a copy of this audiobook at my request in exchange for this honest review.

characters you want to get to know more of

Book 1 in this series that revolves around Scarlet Oaks who is just an absolute brilliant character. Always positive in every situation but it doesn't come off as fake. The characters that surround her - friends and family are just as fun and lovable as Scarlet is and her pet pig - OMG! A fun mystery that will have you guessing if you really know who may be the murderer and why and what he really wants with our dear sweet heroine Scarlet. Well written with fabulous characters that you just want to get to know more about. Narration was spot on and well done! Great storyline that flowed well through out the entire read / listen!

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Uneventful

I didn't really care for this book. It seemed to go on and on and there really wasn't anything to suck me in. The mysterious caller was annoying, his threat was not terribly suspenseful and catching him was boring. I liked the characters, their different personalities and their interactions but they weren't very memorable. The whole story could have ended way before it did but it felt to me like there was a whole lot added to the end that was unneeded. The narration was very good and I wouldn't hesitate to listen to something else from her. I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

Really liked this one

I really liked this one! Great story and character’s. Can’t wait to see where the characters go!

I received a free copy and left my honest review

Scarlet Oaks

Michaela James has succeeded in pulling me in with Scarlet Oaks and the Serial Caller. I loved the quirky characters and the clean romance with mystery in this book. Kimberly M. Wetherell brought the characters to life.

Non-Gruesome Serial Killer Story

Kind of refreshing. I was actually scared in a couple of parts, like when the lights go out......

If you know San Francisco, the setting, she creates detailed images of many parts of that area.

Love it! Need more !

I just really like these stories. Scarlett is great but truly its the other characters that make it perfect! Narrator is also excellent.

Entertaining

I felt this was slightly long winded for the type of book it is. Overall the story was enjoyable, the narration is well paced and the voice differentiations are good. Several twists you don’t see coming but again I felt like it was maybe an hour longer than necessary. No crazy bad language or F bombs and no rated R content—solid PG/PG-13 if this were a film.


—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

On balance, I enjoyed the story.

Great premise and setting, but it feels more like a draft than a finished book. It needs to be edited for content to make the story tighter and more concise. That said, I did just buy the second book to listen to.
She has some great bones here and there were some gripping scenes. I just feel that she could have this edited for content and it would be so much better.

A perfect cosy mystery with an original premise

As a fan of cosy mysteries, I had an inkling that I was going to enjoy this audiobook. I was right ;)

Firstly, what a great title - perfect for a cosy. It was off to a great start. Secondly, Scarlet is a DJ, now that's original. Even more so when she's taken off her successful Top 40 show and given a new slot hosting  "Mending Men", a late-night show for men. Most have sporting stories and gripes to share, but occasionally a caller is looking for advice. Scarlet is well out of her comfort zone, and the building is an eerie place at midnight when she finishes her shift.  Thirdly, and here's where the mystery kicks in - a caller with the slowest of slow drawl has a problem with his wife. He likes Scarlet's suggestion, and calls back a few days later to thank her and let her now he is much happier now. Yeah! Read into that what you will; don't dismiss him too easily. The narrator is fabulous, especially with this caller.

Outside of her job, Scarlet has a dysfunctional family whom she adores, but who bring a plethora of drama to her life. Her best friends are a marvellous gay couple who care a lot about her, and enjoy entertaining. But the absolute star of Scarlet's household cavalry is Prudence her not-so-micro micro pig.

Back at work, Scarlet finds flowers on her car windscreen. The same flowers found at the scene of a murder. Are they connected? Is Scarlet in danger? When Stu, the slow drawl caller, rings again, his messages seems more threatening and infinitely personal. But as she hasn't seen him, only ever heard his voice, she has nothing to go on in terms of tracking him down.

Until ...it's apparent that he has been watching her, and together with her friends she builds a picture of him. But the police can't find him, and the man's wife has been murdered. See! Don't say I didn't warn you!

As New Year's Eve approaches, Scarlet's friends decide to hold a masquerade ball ... Uh oh - you can see where this is going, right? Well, now might be the time to get the book and see if your hunches are correct ;)

This is a hugely entertaining story. The narrator, as I said previously, is wonderful. She injects great personality into the characters, and it's very easy to follow ...and get totally drawn in.
As the end approaches, there are some tense moments, but the resolution of the mystery falls a little flat in its delivery. Overall, though, a great story with highly likeable characters and plenty of scope for more mayhem. I'm ready for more from Scarlet Oaks. Bring it on!

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Michaela James. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

LOVED THIS AS MUCH AS I LOVE MINI PIGS!!!

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

When Scarlet's dumped from her musical radio show onto a talk show trying to give advice to men about relationships using sports terms. When some of her advice ends up in a creepy caller slaying a woman and leaving flowers at the scene just like the ones that start showing up for her... Scarlet has to wonder if she's the one who inspired the first serial killer to stalk San Francisco in years. Worried she's going to be next, Scarlet and her mini pig take on the case to bring the bad guy to justice.

From spy shops, gay besties and new love interests on the horizon... its all cosy murder mystery and intrigue.

Don't be put off by the bubble gum cutesy cover for the audiobook. Narration and the story itself is fantastic.

This is book 1.... and I am definitely tuning into books 2&3.

Stalker or caller

This is the first book by this author I have read or listened to but I have already download book two, mainly because this is a fun cozy mystery with good quirky characters. I especially liked the pig as a pet but that wasn't the only unusual aspect to the book, it made a nice change that the main character works as a D.J. The mystery was good but it is more focused on Scarlet's dysfunctional family life which adds humour to the book.
Scarlet is bumped from her regular job as a top forty D.J to replace a drunk D.J talking to men about relationships using sports terms. Scarlet is the last person who should be giving advice, as her boyfriend just dumped her. Leaving her with big bills and the only hope that she can keep food on the table for her and her pig is by joining a dating site and getting the men take her out for meals and maybe find love at the same. Despite being broke Scarlet's biggest fear is that she knows nothing about sport , that is until someone kills a women on her miss spoken advice. Then ever caller seems threatening, late at night when the rest of the studio is empty. Especially as the police can't find him, the only clue they have is the flowers he leaves at the crime scenes. The same ones Scarlet is receiving. Is she the next victim? Or is he looking to her for approval? Is the killer a caller on her show or is it someone she dated? With good friends, a loving dad and a feisty grandma Scarlet might just live long enough to hit her new job out of the park.
I liked the narrator, she is bubbly enough that each character gets there own voice.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.