The Mystery Box

By: Eva Pohler

Narrated by: Nancy J. Alexander

Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

Soccer mom Yvette Palmer lives an ordinary life in San Antonio, Texas when a box is delivered to her by mistake, and in taking it to its rightful owner - a crotchety neighbor named Mona who shares her back fence - is drawn into a strange and haunting tale.

Mona's ratty robe, mood swings, and secretive behavior all raise red flags, and Yvette is sure someone else is living there despite Mona's claim to live alone, but Yvette is unable to break away as she listens to how Mona transformed from a young college woman about to be married to the odd, reclusive, ghost of a woman she is now.

As Yvette listens to her neighbor's tale, she discovers a shocking connection, but doesn't know whether Mona's come to help or to harm her and her family.

©2012, 2013 Eva Pohler (P)2014 Eva Pohler

A waste of time

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

I can't think of anyone who might enjoy this book.

Would you ever listen to anything by Eva Pohler again?

Not if Nancy Alexander is the narrator. I am sorry to be so critical but maybe with a different narrator, I could have made it through the first chapter. I even went to the written version and read it for a bit but still didn't like the book.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

No reaction beyond telling myself it would be a waste of time to go further.

Any additional comments?

I have always finished every book I start because I feel like a book must have something or why would it be published.In the future, if I want an audible version, I will be closely watching for the name of the narrator and won't get anything narrated by this narrator.
Yvette, the main character, is supposed to be a fairly young wife and mother but the narrator's voice was like an old lady. Totally miscast! I paid for the Audible version and am going to ask for a refund.

Spooky...Scary...NOT!

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

I can't imagine. The concept was intriguing: mystery box delivered to wrong address, creepy neighbor, etc... But the story was so simplistic and convoluted. I wasn't able to believe a word of it, nor was I "lured" into being frightened by the protagonist's repetition of "spooky and scary" or "liar!" after every new "revelation" in this interminable story.

Would you ever listen to anything by Eva Pohler again?

I wouldn't think so.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator's performance was fine. My problem is with the script she was reading. Maybe she was as put out by the storyline as I was...she sighed a lot throughout the reading.

What character would you cut from The Mystery Box?

The protagonist and the "spooky and scary" neighbor "Mona".

Any additional comments?

Addictive

It was a little slow in the beginning, but soon I couldn't stop listening. Loved it.

Good Plot

The plot of this book was very good although there were a few things that were kind of irritating such as repeated phrases throughout the whole book, and I believe that the performance of the audio part of the book that I listened to should've been done by a younger voice. All in all it was a fairly entertaining book

So so

It had multiple repetitive lines the main character would make throughout the entire story. Ok once or twice I can see but it became annoying fast. It got to the point I was cringing.

The Mystery Box

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The book is mostly made up of conversations between two women. About 2/3 the way through bombshells, kept flying from everywhere.

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

You never knew when he...

Which character – as performed by Nancy J. Alexander – was your favorite?

Mona, you couldn't figure her out until the end.

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

When Mona told her about Casey

Any additional comments?

Well written, starts off slow, but give it a chance.

Heart stopping.

I half read and half listened to this awesome story. Read this. Better yet listened to it. My heart is still pounding.

Really good story, but...

This book has a really good story, but the narration leaves a bit to be desired. Some of the voices were ok, but the main characters were an annoying nasal tone, that for me took away from the story. It didn't make me stop listening, the story is that good!!!

Annoying

This audio book's narrator either had gum in her mouth or? It was hard to get past the noise.

Unexpected Good Story

What made the experience of listening to The Mystery Box the most enjoyable?

The story is very worthy of reading, but the narrator is definitely not appropriate.
The events take place in Texas and the narrator did not attempt any Texas accent, but her voice was so very New Jersey/New York. Her narration was always getting in the way of the story interpretation of all the characters involved. I almost stopped the book because of the narration, but I am glad I stuck with it to hear the whole story which took an unexpected direction.

so so.

Good story but I found the narrator's voice/accent quite qrating as she sounded very nasel.