The Summer That Melted Everything

By: Tiffany McDaniel

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Fielding Bliss has never forgotten the long, crazy summer of 1984, when a heat wave scorched Breathed, Ohio. It was the year he became friends with the devil.

Sal seems to appear out of nowhere - a bruised and tattered 13-year-old boy claiming to be the devil himself answering an invitation. Fielding Bliss, the son of a local prosecutor, brings him home, where he's welcomed into the Bliss family, who assume he's a runaway from a nearby farm town.

When word spreads that the devil has come to Breathed, not everyone is happy to welcome this self-proclaimed fallen angel. Murmurs follow him, and tensions rise along with the temperatures as an unbearable heat wave rolls into town right along with him. As strange accidents start to occur, some in the town, riled by the feverish heat, start to believe that Sal is exactly who he claims to be.

While the Bliss family wrestles with their own personal demons, a fanatic drives the town to the brink of a catastrophe that will change this sleepy Ohio backwater forever.

©2016 Tiffany McDaniel (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

The Story that Changed Everything

This is a beautifully written story and the narration is perfect. It's like poetry and add in the fact that it's not predictable and it truly is an unforgettable story. It will sit with you for awhile.

AMAZING

I can't say enough good things about this book. The deep subject matter and lyrical prose left me shocked to discover the author's age. Thankful she will hopefully have many years ahead to create more masterful work. Were it not for the fact I feel they rarely make it to the hands of the recipient I would have written Ms McDaniel my first fan letter. I hope she's reading this. It took me longer to listen to this book than others hours longer as I kept going back to listen to passages over and over. There is a chapter with a 15 minute passage so beautiful and perfectly written that even on the 9th (yep 9th) time listening it still brought a tear to my eye. Could not have picked a better reader. Mark Bramhall conveyed every sex and age with just the right amount of emotion for every word.

A Tale of Heat and the Human Heart

Blazing poetry, as beautiful as it is brutal. Best enjoyed with a glass of water next to you in bed....

.....with the perfect narrator to bring life and light to this story.

Beautifully written.

This book took me by surprise in the best and worst way. It is a much darker tale than expected but I was along for the ride 100%. The story flashes forward in the narrators life so you always have an idea of how that summer went, but you just don't know how far it goes until you are in the middle of the many events that transpired.

Incredible

So inspired. Every sentence laced with gorgeous and painful depth. Delivered precisely right. I could listen to the last few paragraphs again and again and again. Beautiful work.

The slowest heartache

A heavy drag of a book that ends up being mostly worth it at the end. It took me awhile (like up until the last 3 hours) to get fully invested, but it feels almost planned that way like a long summer day. Subject matter is very depressing, which I typically go for and enjoy, but this almost made me tear up a few times. Ending was just shy of a 9/10. Enjoy.

Tiffany McDaniel is a miracle!

This recording is outstanding in both the content of the material and in the excellence of the narrator. The voice and speaking cadence is spot-on perfect for the material and greatly contributed to my enjoyment of the book. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Her book Betty is just as good. Listen to/read them both!

Started strong but went off the rails at the end

I initially was all in with this book. I was particularly interested in the views of the prosecutor and his approach to his job.

The introduction of the “devil” started well
Enough but by the end there were so many storylines going so many directions that it just became exhausting and contrived. The prosecutor changing sides just can’t happen to retain any reality.

Eloquent and thought provoking

I really enjoyed this book. The story is well written, heartbreaking and raw. A tale that dares to define and identify the devil.

Better than I thought

When I first started listening I thought “what have I just wasted money on” but the further I got the better it got. There is racism, lgbqt, crime and anything else going on in the world today. It is very graphic in parts so be aware. The narrator’s voice is excellent in sounding the parts of each character.