The Halo Effect

By: M. J. Rose

Narrated by: Phil Gigante, Natalie Ross

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

Dr. Morgan Snow is a well-known sex therapist who is treating Cleo Thane, a beautiful business owner...and prostitute. Cleo caters to the wealthy and powerful and after delivering a tell-all manuscript to Dr. Snow, she disappears. A serial killer is murdering street hookers and using the book, Morgan desperately searches for clues to stop the killer before Cleo becomes his next victim.

©2005 M.J. Rose (P)2011 Writers House (M.J. Rose)

Critic Reviews

"[Dr. Morgan Snow] is an engaging guide to the world of dysfunction that Rose painstakingly constructs." ( Publishers Weekly)

Wonderful thriller, even better narrators!

What did you love best about The Halo Effect?

It truly did keep me guessing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Morgan, she was flawed, but still extremely likable.

What does Phil Gigante and Natalie Ross bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Both narrators made the characters come to life. Both could do voices of other characters and you knew who they were with out the author naming them. I do enjoy having male and female narrators, make them more believable.

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

Parts did make me laugh out loud.

Any additional comments?

I enjoy almost anything that Phil Gigante does, and he and Natalie Ross truly make a great team. Its fun to have Phil depart from romance, but I hope he doesn't leave it for good!! It would break my Highland lovin heart!

Enthralling story with an excellent performance

A great story, with characters who draw you right into their story: a sex psychologist who has a complicated personal life; a high-class prostitute who is her patient and goes missing; a detective on the case and trying to stop a serial killer in his tracks; and many side characters who add to the story. I listened to it as an audiobook and could not stop listening as this thriller unraveled. The voice actors were phenomenal as well; some of the best I've heard. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, though I may take a little break, as it is a little intense, haha.

Gripping

This is the first book I have listened to by M J Rose, I found the story really interesting as well as the characters. The narration was wonderful so real, they did a fantastic job loved it.

I really wanted to like this book.

I was so disappointed in this book. Thought it sounded like a great new series. The main character, the Dr., needed therapy. She was whiney with so much anxiety regarding her daughter it was beyond believable and ruined the story for me. The basic storyline was interesting but need a new therapist!

"Meh" at best; good narration tho

Phil Gigante give his usual excellent reading, but he's not enough to really save this one. And truth to tell, I can't remember what Ms Ross's reading was like, tho it hasn't been that long since I listened; must not have been too memorable, neither too awful nor wonderful.

Which sorta describes the book: It's not egregiously bad, but isn't all that good, either. It's billed as an erotic thriller, but I didn't find it particularly erotic or very thrilling (neither in a sensual sense nor an 'edge of your seat' sense). It's sort of....silly. The characters aren't completely cardboard, nor do they feel straight out of a can ("tough detective, white, youngish middle-aged, one"). On the other hand, they're not particularly rich or believable. The dialogue sort of sounds like actual people are talking, most of the time.

I find I am completely incapable of coming up with any extreme descriptions or adjectives; it's just kind of...aggressively average. Not a bad time-user for commutes or such, if bought at a discount, but I think paying full price rather chafes a bit.

Not a great start for a series.

What would have made The Halo Effect better?

I didn't notice that listening first to the Delilah Complex there was a series and that there was a first book. As I rather enjoyed the Delilah Complex, I have to admit that I'm glad I didn't listen to the Halo Effect as book 1.
As a first book in a series, the author (regarding the story) and the performers need to find their voice. Which for the Delilah Complex they had. I didn't like the whining tone for Dr. Morgan Snow character in the Halo Effect.
A somehow good main plot and a very mediocre side plot, not very well knitted together don't become a good book nor a good listen.

Would you recommend The Halo Effect to your friends? Why or why not?

I did recommend the second book in the series, as I enjoyed that one, now I'm waiting for my friends reaction do the Halo Effect. But I do believe they are not going to be rocked from their socks.

Did Phil Gigante and Natalie Ross do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

They did a good job with the differentiating, yes. I really enjoyed the parts where Phil Gigante speaks the "woman" parts.
Natalie Ross was a bit too whiny sometimes and possibly also because the story let to the whining ...

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I liked the jazz evening with Noah Jordain ... who wouldn't ?

Any additional comments?

Too many lost girls ...

Loved this book!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Halo Effect to be better than the print version?

I loved the audio version because of the excellent actors that read the book.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, I couldn't wait to return to listen. The author did a great job keeping the story advancing and the pace was perfect.

Have you listened to any of Phil Gigante and Natalie Ross ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I believe this is a first time for me.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The whole book moved me

Any additional comments?

I have read "The Book of Lost Fragrance" and "Seduction". I can't wait to listen to her new book, which I just purchased.

Not for me

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Must be patient and don't mind waiting for something to happen...I actually gave up with just over three hours left on this audiobook.

Would you ever listen to anything by M. J. Rose again?

No

What about Phil Gigante and Natalie Ross ’s performance did you like?

Performance was very good by each of the narrators

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

A complete waste of time.