Snared

By: Jennifer Estep

Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang

Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

The 16th book in the New York Times best-selling Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series that RT Book Reviews calls "an extraordinary series...[containing] one of the most intriguing heroines in the genre".

If you don't know Gin "the Spider" Blanco, you don't know dangerous female heroines.

Irony 101 - the Spider herself snared in someone else's web...

Another week, another few clues trickling in about the Circle, the mysterious group that supposedly runs the city's underworld. Gathering intel on my hidden enemies is a painstaking process, but a more immediate mystery has popped up on my radar: a missing girl.

My search for the girl begins on the mean streets of Ashland, but with all the killers and crooks in this city, I'm not holding out much hope that she's still alive.

A series of clues leads me down an increasingly dark, dangerous path, and I realize that the missing girl is really just the first thread in this web of evil. As an assassin, I'm used to facing down the worst of the worst, but nothing prepares me for this new, terrifying enemy - one who strikes from the shadows and is determined to make me the next victim.

©2017 Jennifer Estep (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Gin is off her game this time but still fun

As always, Gin's never-ending battle against evil in Ashland completely dominated everything.

Usually, I can overlook some of her mistakes as just the luck of the draw, but the initial scene at the den window played like slapstick instead of a skilled assassin lurking for information. And when she later stepped on a creaking board in a hall she had been down before while trying to catch an intruder, all I could do was roll my eyes. At this point, it was obvious that the author was manipulating the action to fit her needs. Now, I realize that this is something all authors must do, but Estes is generally more skilled and less obvious at the ploy.

I also figured out a number of the mysteries fairly early in the story and kept waiting for Gin to catch up and prove me right. For once, I was exactly right. The clues were a bit too obvious this time.

Still, I enjoyed the story and it did a good job of advancing the overarching plotline as well as bringing Gin some new and valuable allies. I will continue to purchase and read this series. And if the author continues to drop references to her Bigtime series, I may even break down and read one of those.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I love this series!

Jennifer Estep is an amazing writer! She creates stories that hold your attention all the way through!

This series continues to amaze me

There aren’t many series that can be sixteen books in and still be interesting and exciting. I tend to get bored with series easily lately, but Jennifer Estep has kept me on intrigued with this series from book one and it has never faltered.

In this book, Gin has one of the underworld bosses, Jade Jamison, calling in a favor when Jade’s sister comes up missing. Gin and the gang quickly uncover that there’s a serial killer in Ashland. There’s always been a lot of killings, but those were more like gang killings, this is the first serial killer that we’ve seen. I will say it was a nice touch.

Gin also hasn’t forgotten about the Circle. She is determined to find all the members. She learns that mother had a larger roll in the Circle than originally thought. She remembers a lot through dreams, which has become a theme throughout the series. Every book, Gin dreams and remembers the exact thing she needs from her past. While this is a bit repetitive, I like learning more about young Gin.

This is a really fun series that I have loved since book one. I love how Gin is a very strong female character. I love seeing how she’s grown over the series. I love her group of friends. She was an orphan (after her family is brutally murdered in front of her) to creating a family of her own making. She may be a criminal underworld leader, but she also has morals and wants to take care of her own and people who need her help (if only real underworld bosses were more like her). If you haven’t tried this series, it is one of my favorite, going strong at #16.

Narration
What to say about Lauren Fortgang’s narration that I haven’t already said. She does an amazing job. I love all of her voices, both male and female. I love how she sets the scene’s pace and tone. Fortgang is a favorite narrator of mine. I’ve listened to a few things with her and I’ve always enjoyed her narration.

**I like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This one made me tear up a bit

Listened for Fun (Audible)
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.50

Audio Rating: 5.00 (not part of the overall rating)

Quick Thoughts: I am becoming a huge fan of Jade (I bet you thought I would start with the standard Gin crew). She is such a complex character and this story really brought her to the forefront. Gin was on her A-Game this book including driving Silvio crazy! I liked how this moved forward the Circle storyline while also having a strong stand-alone case. This one made me tear up a bit (all for good reasons) and after so many books I am really glad this series is still going strong!

Audio Thoughts:

Narrated By Lauren Fortgang / Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins


I don't think there is a single thing I haven't said about Lauren's narration of this series. She is a perfect match for these characters. This time I will add: I waited for this to come out on audio even though I had the book early. I think that probably speaks volumes about how much I love this series on Audio!

Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews

Good book

As always a good book. And a wonderful series. As always can't wait till the next book

You CANNOT GO WRONG WITH THIS SERIES!!

This series is my absolute favorite!!
Gotta love a strong but sensitive female lead!!
Gin Blanco Kicks ASS!!
Really love the little twist in this book.

Not going to spoil anything, but this one was a little different, and I loved it!!

There is still plenty of the Super Strong and fearless Spider in this, just a little different problem to face!!

Awesome as always!!

Missing the Madeline days.

Still a great performance still a wonderful narrator. Still an amazing series.... but missing some of Gins darker combats. Still amazing.

A little predictible

Any additional comments?

I love Gin,
I respect Gin,
Gin is normally much smarter than me... BUT ...
this time the clues were just too darn obvious. I found her mistakes were something Gin would not normally do, and how come she could not put it together about who killed the girls when she told me the damage inflicted was due to a Dwarf or a Giant's blow? I know there is a a bigger story, that Estep is building, but hey Gin should not lose her touch just because she is retired.

Great book

I always love this series! Can't wait for the next! More of Gin helping everyone and finding out about the Circle.

Spider takes on the Lipstick killer

This installment was one of my favorites in the series. It continues this new mystery of Gin's mother Eira Snow and her involvement with the Circle. I love this series and I love the characters. Each book holds my interest because they are action-packed and the mystery Gin Blanco has to solve always keeps me thoroughly entertained.

The narrator Lauren Fortgang slays again. She just makes this audiobook feel like watching a movie. I don't think I can read the book without hearing her voice as snarky Gin. In addition, I love the way the author Jennifer Estep weaves a story using the past simultaneously with the present. I feel as though Fletcher is alive because he is so instrumental in all of Gin's escapades. Either that or Fletcher was one hell of a sage because he was light years ahead of his time when it came to predicting what his protege would need in the future. Finn seemed to be much better emotionally than the last couple of books after the betrayal by his mother Deidra Shaw. He was back to trading witty repartee with Gin. I found myself chuckling a lot in this book. The snarky delivery by the Spider makes her one of my favorite heroines. She's sassy and smart-alecky but she always gets the job done.

This book was definitely top 3 best installments in this series. If you love the past books, this one is the same but continuing this slow revelation about the Circle. I'm hoping the leader of the The Circle is as fierce as the legendary fire elemental, Mab Monroe, because no other villain has measures up. I'm looking for a crime lord who will make the Ashland quake in their boots.

1 of 3 people found this review helpful

Having disliked the previous book

Thought the previous book was terrible , too repetitive. Thought to give the series one more chance and glad I did. This was more original by bringing a serial killer (not a spoiler as revealed quickly and the crux of the story) but keeping with the previous stories.

Good twists and hope that 15 was just a blip.

Brilliant as always

Love love love Gin... plot was a little predictable this time however characters are so engaging that I will forgive this small oversight. Looking forward to the next book.

Glued to my headphones!

Love this series. Love the stories and the brilliant voice of Lauren Fortgane I was once again attached to my headphones for the entire story. Wondering what twists would happen when. I was not disappointed

1 of 3 people found this review helpful