The Last Chance Olive Ranch

By: Susan Wittig Albert

Narrated by: Julia Gibson

Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the exciting new mystery from the New York Times best-selling author, China Bayles fears for her husband's life as an escaped convict targets him.

A killer McQuaid put away years ago has busted out of Huntsville Prison and appears to be headed for Pecan Springs. China wants to stay by her husband's side and keep him from harm, but McQuaid insists that she get out of town and go to the Last Chance Olive Ranch, where she's agreed to teach a workshop on herbs.

The owner, Maddie Haskell, has her own troubles. She inherited the ranch and olive oil business from the late matriarch, Eliza Butler, but Eliza's nephew is contesting the will. While China throws herself into helping Maddie, McQuaid's plan to stop the convict backfires. And now McQuaid's life is not the only one at stake - and this time may really be his last chance.

©2017 Susan Wittig Albert (P)2017 Recorded Books

China Bayles - Never Disappoints

This is a great little cozy mystery but it's even better if you have been following the series from the beginning. It is good as a stand alone story but most enjoyable if you have a relationship with the characters. As always, Ms. Albert's writing style just draws you in. You want to know these people and wish they were your neighbors and the mysteries are always intriguing.

Julia Gibson has narrated the series from the beginning and does an exceptional job. Her ability to give such unique personalities that are distinguishable is wonderful. China and all the gang's voices are the same consistently from book to book. Note: although I love Miss Gibson and her performances (she always deserves more than five stars), this book has a second narrator who does the voice of China's husband, McQuade. This narrator is not listed anywhere in the summary or given credit as a narrator. Unknown who he is. Although the gentleman has a pleasant enough voice, it is completely out of character and sounds far too elderly for a man of McQuade's age. The chapters that "McQuade" reads, require the gentleman to do female voices as well and although I don't wish to disrespect him, it is not good. Don't let this minor detail deter you though, this book is worth more than a credit and just as enjoyable as the rest of the series.

Not my favourite of hers

It seemed a bit predictable and tedious, plus a bit more violent that I'd expect. I skipped some parts and didn't miss anything, it seemed. I've read many of her books and liked them as lighthearted fare with old friends and some intrigue, but this one I found disappointing.

Spare. Me. The. Weird. Pauses.

In addition to her inappropriate pauses, Gibson’s inflection and emphasis add up to a miserable listening experience. Why do so many narrators “read” in such abysmally awful ways? Do they speak like this normally?

Moreover, her character voices are absurd. Ruby sounds like a vapid 80-year-old with a fake southern accent.

Note to narrators: It’s better not to do voices or accents at all than to do them so poorly as to be distracting. Read like you talk, not like a 4th grader trying out for the class play.

The story only gets 3 stars because I couldn’t follow it due to the poor “performance “.

Thin China

Transparent and obvious. Definitely not the best in the beloved China Bayles series. Very disappointed.

INTERUPTED

Would you try another book from Susan Wittig Albert and/or Julia Gibson?

YES USUALLY LIKE

What other book might you compare The Last Chance Olive Ranch to and why?

NONE

What three words best describe Julia Gibson’s performance?

TRUE TO CHARACTERS

Do you think The Last Chance Olive Ranch needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

WHY NOT

Any additional comments?

I DID NOT LIKE THE MALE INTERRUPTIONS WITH MACAIDS STORY