The Body Reader

By: Anne Frasier

Narrated by: Emily Sutton-Smith

Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

Thriller Award winner, Best Paperback Original, 2017.

For three years, Detective Jude Fontaine was kept from the outside world. Held in an underground cell, her only contact was with her sadistic captor, and reading his face was her entire existence. Learning his every line, every movement, and every flicker of thought is what kept her alive. 

After her experience with isolation and torture, she is left with a fierce desire for justice - and a heightened ability to interpret the body language of both the living and the dead. Despite colleagues' doubts about her mental state, she resumes her role at Homicide. Her new partner, Detective Uriah Ashby, doesn't trust her sanity, and he has a story of his own he'd rather keep hidden. But a killer is on the loose, murdering young women, so the detectives have no choice: they must work together to catch the madman before he strikes again. And no one knows madmen like Jude Fontaine. 

©2016 Theresa Weir (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Go Jude!

STORY (mystery suspense) - Jude Fontaine is a broken woman, having spent the past three years of her life as a hostage in a tiny basement. The story begins as she is in her final days of captivity and as she makes her break to freedom. But Jude is never free. She carries her years of torture at the hands of her captor with her as she tries to return to her previous life as a Minneapolis detective. She had become tough as nails in order to endure her captivity, and she gained a heightened sense of awareness of her surroundings and those around her. Smells, body language, facial nuances...all now in her bag of tricks as she and her new partner, Uriah, begin investigating the murders of several young girls. The cover art and name of the book seem to impart almost a paranormal quality to The Body Reader, but that is not the case. The book is actually just your normal police procedural with a sprinkling of Jude's newfound ability to notice details.

I enjoyed the book a lot. Jude is an interesting main character, and you will root for her as she tries to fight her personal demons and do her investigations. You will hear about her ordeal in the basement -- and it's horrible -- but thankfully it is treated quickly in the beginning of the book and then is just brief flashbacks later on. I found the book to be fast-paced and interesting, with a satisfactory ending.

PERFORMANCE - Good job, nothing particularly remarkable however.

OVERALL - This book has no actual sex acts, but there is mention of past rape and the F-word occurs a couple times. There are multiple murders, one including mutilation, and the above-mentioned description of Jude's torture. I would recommend The Body Reader equally for men and women. I tend to be overly sensitive and don't like a lot of violence in my stories, but this book remained within my personal comfort zone.

88 of 91 people found this review helpful

Good story, good narration. but ...

I usually gobble up stories where the hero/heroine overcomes great odds and catches the bad guys. The premise that the Detective developed this great skill set of being able to read hidden facts in others minute expressions, and minuscule clues on dead bodies was a real draw. So, why didn't I love this story?
Hmmm, hard to pin it down, but I think I became TOO identified with main character. I was constantly stressed, frightened and upset. Plus I knew who the ultimate bad guy was from early on. I have zero interest in rereading this story. Should there be a sequle or a series I might be tempted as the bad stuff would be being investigated, not relived by the protagonist for the entire work.
Not a restful or happy read.

22 of 23 people found this review helpful

Well, that was weird!

The Body Reader is a very, very dark story. Audible classifies it as a police procedural, and in a way it is. It also has strong elements of a psychological thriller. It is...interesting if not especially enjoyable. The novel certainly kept me interested until the end. Emily Sutton-Smith does a nice job of narrating a difficult story.

65 of 73 people found this review helpful

Excellent Author

I was unfamiliar with this author, but will be on the lookout for her in the future. Superior use of words to create a textured, detailed story that is both gripping and darkly horrifying. The narrator's voice was a perfect compliment to the story and her delivery was smooth and nuanced. I rarely find a book to rave about, so this was an unexpected pleasure.

26 of 29 people found this review helpful

What a Great Book!!!

Where does The Body Reader rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The top 10. I knew right away that I was going to like this book. It had a way of drawing me in.

What other book might you compare The Body Reader to and why?

I don't know, to be honest, I hate this question!!!

Which scene was your favorite?

The first time she confronts her ### Spoiler Alert

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

It made me think about all of the people out there who have never been found...

Any additional comments?

I am usually a fan of sick, twisted, horror thrillers. This is not that kind of book. While it is a psychological thriller, it does not scare you. It is an excellent study of what can happen when someone has been abducted for 3 years, and how they come to terms with it. There are excellent side characters, especially her partner in crime. Enjoyed this book from beginning to end!

26 of 30 people found this review helpful

excellent!

Fantastic audio. The narrator did an excellent job and the story line was one of the best I've listened to. It was creepy and the mystery was surprising. I loved Jude and uriah! I'm not into "series" books, but I must say I hope there is more to come from this duo!!

16 of 19 people found this review helpful

Anne Frasier DoesIt Again - Only Beter

What made the experience of listening to The Body Reader the most enjoyable?

The story had me hooked from the very beginning. Don't start this at night. Just five more minutes turns into hours.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Body Reader?

The entire story is memorable. Any one moment would spoil the outcome.

Have you listened to any of Emily Sutton-Smith’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to Emily Sutton-Smith before, but I have listened to all of Anne's previous books. Emily is the best reader so far.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Psychological thriller. I picture someone like Jennifer Lawrence playing Jude.

Any additional comments?

My favorite Anne Frasier book (so far). Hopefully, this will be a series.

13 of 16 people found this review helpful

A Psychological Thriller

This is a good suspense/ psychological thriller of women being abducted from all over the region. I was on the edge of my seat waiting, wanting to hear more of the protagonist police woman's "body reading" abilities. ... her ability to read and put into words what other characters are thinking and feeling....

This story's focus is about the escape of a police woman from an abduction and her work on other abduction cases. How she was abducted was not delved into very deeply because, I assume, there would be too much to explain such as where was she and where was her gun when the abduction happen and where were her police skills during the abduction... an explanation was briefly given near the end by a statement that another police officer "arranged" the abduction. The love-hate relationship with her family members is also a central part of the story.

I read/listen to lots of novels and across a few genres. I like this type of "light" read to take a break from my usual. It's easy to follow and understand, but there are a few (2 or 3) places in the story that had my eyes rolling or me asking what?, huh?

Superb narration by Emily Sutton-Smith which made listening easy-peasy.....

23 of 29 people found this review helpful

OMG you must listen to this Mind Blowing

Any additional comments?

5 Mind Blowing Stars

Take a chance on a new author if you haven’t read any of Ms. Frasier work this would be a great one to pick but hold your breath it is going to be a bumpy ride. Ms. Frasier will blow you away with another read you won’t be able to put down. Just when I thought I had a handle on the outcome the author sent me on another spin that let me saying WOW. I was hooked from the first page to the last this was not an easy book to lay down. This is one author that has fast become one of my all time favorites that I can’t wait until another book is published. If this isn’t on your TRB list it should be. If you love mystery, thrills and suspense you do not want to miss reading this. I promise you don’t know what you are missing as the author hooks you from start to finish. I have read and listened to the audio I am really having a hard time picking which I like the best. Both have good points but both are outstanding.

Emily Sutton-Smith does an outstanding job of narration. She pulls you in giving you wonderful character voices with outstanding emotions never leaving you guessing how each characters feels. Her tones are right on the money for each emotion that each characters has. She gives you a very rich and clear audio that you get lost in and do not want to put down. Her character voice for Jude is flat like it should be with all this poor women has gone through is there any wonder she shows very little emotion. Emily hits it right on the money. Her male voices are just a wonderful as her female ones giving you an even tone clear listen you get lost in. There are no background noises or any places where the volume is higher or lower that the other. There are no repeats of words, if a break was taken you cannot tell it. This is the first I have listen to this narrator but it will not be the last. She really brought this audio to life for me.

As the story opens you have a lady who is and has been kept in a basement nude, alone with only one person who feeds her and abuses her over and over again. As you turn the pages to start this story your mind will hold a picture of each scene once you close your eyes your mind will replay it over and over again. You will become Jude and feel her pain, you understand her as she takes on a life of hunted to being the hunter looking for her prey at every turn. She can tell what you are thinking by your body language. There are those that think she is crazy but we know her and me that she is most likely the sanest of all. Three years of living this nightmare over and over again each day and night you would think she would have gone crazy but you are very much wrong. When you have nothing but time on your hands for years you watch, look and read before long you know what people are thinking just by the way they hold their head, turn their body or let out a breath. She pulls her inner strength knowing one day somehow some way she will make it out of this alive and when she does someone is going to die. It is kill or be killed so she sets, waits, listen, waiting for the right time to make her move to set herself free. That day is today when the lights go out she makes her move running for her life she is out she is free but for how long and what waits for her on the other side.

I really loved Jude she is so strong yet so cool taking it all in moving around watching reading everyone’s body knowing who is lying and who is hiding things. The author has an outstanding way of making the words flow easy before your eyes taking you in and making you part of the story. Before you know it you are so hooked you can’t put the book down. This is not a story I would want to start at night you really need to start it early so you can give it the time it deserves. As you are drawn in the author will take over and blow your mind again and again. Just when you think you have the answers the author will change it leaving you with your mouth wide open looking back over what your eyes just took in.

The author switches back and forth from today to the past as you learn all that this remarkable lady has went through to become the lovely lady she is today. There is no doubt you will cheer for Jude as you feel the pain she has and must go through to find the answers to so many questions. The ending will blow you out of the water there are so many twist and turns you won’t see coming. Just as you think you have a handle on it Jude takes you down a different road you never saw coming. This is one author who knows how to get control of her readers leaving them handing on asking for more. I so enjoyed the many twist and turns each character adds so much to the read. Some you will like others you will not but by the time you have read the last page you will have relooked at each one over and over again seeing each from a different light.

From the first page you will find you heart beating faster as you turn to the next it is running over time by the time you have finished and turned the last page your find your heart rate is still beating as fast as it was from the start. Leaving your mind in a state of WOW not being able to forget what you just read you play each scene over again and again in your mind as you regroup and close your eyes for the night hoping you never have to life the nightmare this author has given her characters. If you are looking for your next mystery, thriller, suspense read you can stop looking you have found it. This is one book and one author you do not want to miss. I promise this will be your next favorite read!

33 of 43 people found this review helpful

Great book under $8

Detective Jude Fontaine learned the hard way how to read facial expressions and
body language. She was abducted and then held in an underground cell with no
windows, no sound, no interaction with anyone except the monster that kidnapped
her. She’s been beaten and tortured and raped … and she’s learned how to
survive.

She manages to escape, killing her abductor. Despite everyone’s doubts about her
mental state, she eventually returns to her job in Homicide. Her new partner,
Detective Uriah Ashby, doesn’t trust anything she says or does and he has his
own issues that he doesn’t want her dwelling on.

There is a serial killer on the loose. Several young women have gone missing,
with their bodies turning up at a later date. A couple of them are homicides
disguised as suicides. Fontaine and Ashby will have to learn to work together to
prevent another murder.

The story line is a good one, although there were a few places that I felt
a bit disjointed. There could have been more to the body reading element . It was still a good listen, having characters that arouse the listener’s curiosity. The suspense at times is palpable .There are many layers to Jude - dysfunctional relationship with her father (who is a well-known politician) and her brother. There were a couple of surprising twists and turns that had ‘me ’doubting ‘her’ sanity.

All in all, a good listen

Emily Sutton-Smith was excellent with the delivery of the story

20 of 26 people found this review helpful

enthralled

this story kept me thoroughly enthralled from start to finish. the psychology of the characters was deep and interesting

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

VERY clever premise

Any additional comments?

Great idea - I hope this is the start of a series. The ending was a bit weak - there could have been a good surprise and one question was never answered, but it was still very good.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

well worth the credit .a MUST READ.or LISTEN TO<br /><br /><br />

well worth the credit .it's a MUST read or MUST. listen too.had me hooked.to the

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

powerful crime story<br />

enjoyed this book. Its well written, the author knows how to describe a scene, write dialogue and develop characters.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

a good listen, not as expected

this is the first time in a long time that i didn't expect the ending, which to me, makes this book stand out, although it can be a little slow in places it wasn't enough for you to lose interest, i would recommend to anyone that like detective stories.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Body reader

This book truly kept me gripped to it the story was great It really pulled you in just couldn’t put it down for long

very good story

Good story listened to the audio book.
A well put together narrative, very well read.

Enjoyable

I did wonder if this book was going to be any good but I had a nice surprise, I was taken in and before I new it I'd finished the book. I liked the book so much I bought the next one and listened to it and I would definitely buy another from this author.

Unique approach, but brilliant story

There are few variations to how detective stories evolve - this one is certainly something different. A real edge of the seat thriller. I will certainly want to follow this character into her next story.

Well written book!

I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and the Audible Narration for which I paid a few quid extra was good too.

I thought the way the lead character was displayed and how she reacted to her kidnapping and freedom was very well done. Detective novels are prone to formulaic characters (the divorced detective who drinks too much, etc....) but this was quite fresh. And the story line was, while not 100% original, well thought out.

I think if you like Tess Gerritsen (Rizzoli and Isles) you will probably like this book.

I plan on buying Book 2 when I finish this review.