The Shark

Forgotten Files, Book 1

By: Mary Burton

Narrated by: Christina Traister

Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

At the grisly murder scene of a teen prostitute, Virginia state trooper Riley Tatum's past roars back to haunt her. When she was a teenage runaway, she was kidnapped, drugged, and left unconscious on the streets. She has no memories of what happened, only strange recurring dreams of two men playing cards.

Former FBI agent Clay Bowman, Riley's old flame, is Shield Security's newest member. He's plagued by the unsolved case of a serial killer nicknamed the Shark who murdered girls as part of a sadistic poker game. Only one girl survived. With the Shark now bent on evening that score, Clay has a chilling suspicion: Riley is the girl who escaped the Shark's deadly amusement - and she is his next prey.

As the Shark gets ready to play his hand, can Riley and Clay stop him - or will this killer finally claim the one who got away?

©2016 Mary Burton (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Extremely disappointing

I struggled to finish this book. I found the characters somewhat boring and annoying, and the romance between the two main characters literally was nonexistant to the point that seemed more a sad excuse for a mediocre mystery and left me asking: "What romance? what mystery?" The ending was anticlimactic to me. i figured out the ending halfway through the book due to how the one character was responding. The narrator's voice annoyed me so much, I almost couldn't finish the book, and all things considered, I would give this less than one star if I could.

very good story!

I definitely enjoyed this audiobook... especially after not being able to finish the last 3 I chose put of boredom. I didn't have that problem with this one though.. exciting for sure, and had likeable characters. I did feel it was a bit predictable in places but overall I would recommend.

Torture to listen

Narration was horrible!!! Very hard to finish listening. Story was just OK but not great.

Okay

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, I wouldn't recommend this book to a friend. The story and character development was slow, and both the suspense and romance was lacking. Nothing exciting happened until the penultimate chapter. Very disappointed.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

"That's it?"

Would you be willing to try another one of Christina Traister’s performances?

Not likely. I had a hard time listening to her do dialogue.

Did The Shark inspire you to do anything?

No.

worst performance ever

soso story but the voices of the performer were inaudible and annoying. way over the top.

Play for blood? That's just my game!

Mary Burton does suspense as well as anyone. The Shark features great characters, a unique and believable premise and great storytelling.

Christina Traister narrated this novel brilliantly. Her southern accents are dead on, particularly the upper crust, old south drawl of the main character.

No spoiler here, but the quote above is from the film Tombstone, when Doc Holiday confronts Johnny Ringo. It fits in nicely with this particular story.

This is fast, fun ride with plenty of tense moments.

Shockingly Bad

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

I don't mind suspending disbelief for a fun story, but this book was both unbelievable and predictable.

What was most disappointing about Mary Burton’s story?

I have listened to several of her other books and found them entertaining and well written. This book seemed to have been slapped together in about two weeks.

Would you be willing to try another one of Christina Traister’s performances?

Yes. Perhaps another genre would suit her reading style.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Shark?

All of the cliches, which would have left very little of the book.

Any additional comments?

Good book but

The book was good. However being a Virginia State Trooper the aurthor missed the mark on how a trooper spends their days and how we operate on things needs to do more research forsure.

Hope for a sequel BUT....

I liked the story and the characters became quite likable as well. I hope there is a sequel!
HOWEVER.....
I like the narrator's voice very much, until she reads dialogue. There were times when Riley almost sounded drunk. And Bowman....the "mentally challenged giant" passed thru my head a number of times. I imagine the author didn't intend for the Shark to sound like an elderly woman either. It took a few hours of listening for me to get past these things.

Amazing book under $8.00

Trooper Riley Tatum was once a teenage runaway who was lucky enough to have survived the streets. Twelve years later, she's the first responder at a crime scene where she discovers the body of a young prostitute who looks much like herself at that age. As another connection between herself and the victim comes to light, she realizes there's a madman out there who gets his thrills by betting on the lives of runaway teens... Clay Bowman is a former FBI agent who once worked the case in New Orleans. He now works for a prestigious private security firm and is assigned to assist Riley in the investigation, as well as provide her protection. However, Riley and Bowman have a short history and she wants nothing to do with him. But as 'The Shark' sets up for a rematch with no intention of losing, Clay may be her only chance of walking out of the the poker game with her life.

This was another well written and suspenseful story by Ms. Burton that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was fast paced, flowed well, and held my undivided attention the entire time I spent reading it. I liked Riley and Bowman who were both unique and complex characters. Their personal relationship wasn't developed enough in my opinion though, since Bowman seemed to truly love and never quite get over the death of his wife. As a romance it left much to be desired, but as a mystery it was a highly intriguing and compelling read. There were plenty of twists along the way and although The Shark wasn't who I was expecting, his opponent didn't come as a huge surprise. Still, I found this to be a gripping story and am very much looking forward to Agent Sharp's book next. I also really hope to learn more about Shield Security and what motivates its mysterious and powerful owner.

Christina Traister was outstanding with the delivery of the story

tedious and predictable

ploughed on through as i bought the 3 books in the series - a mistake

Light reading.

A good read. Easy light entertainment. Well narrated. Plot good but I was able to predict the outcome very easily.

Enjoyable

Very enjoyable book. Not too much bad language, but enough to spoil the narrative. Good storyline, even though somewhat predictable.

Another great story.

This was a well constructed novel with plenty of intriguing moments. I found it less captivating than Rattle. but still enjoyed it. The narration was really good, the male voices performed by Christina were just as entertaining. Loving your work Mary, keep it coming.

Deadly Game

State Trooper Riley Tatum never thought that she would meet old lover former FBI agent Clay Bowman, now a member of Shield Security again. Certainly not in the middle of a murder investigation that hits too close to home. A case that has similarities to an incident in her past.

Could it really be true that she survived a serial killer playing a deadly game of life or death poker. And has the man, 'The Shark' returned to kill the one who got away. And who was the gambler who staked her life on a hand of cards?

The answers to these questions will rock her life and send her on a date with destiny. And beside her as she faces her demons will be the one man she can't forget. The man who wants a second chance at a future that he threw away. If she is prepared to risk her heart and life on the turn of a card.

Mary Burton delivers a cracking thriller which I listened to for free with Kindle Unlimited. I thoroughly recommend this book to readers who love hot edge of the seat romantic suspense with a psychological twist.