Whispers of the Dead

A Zoë Delante Thriller

By: C.L. Roberts-Huth

Narrated by: Kelley Hazen

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Evolved Publishing presents a suspenseful, thrilling glance inside one woman's extraordinary connection to the elements around her, in Whispers of the Dead by C.L. Roberts-Huth, the first of the Zoë Delante Thrillers. [DRM-Free]

[Paranormal, Thriller, Suspense]

Murder was never something Zoe Delante enjoyed, but solving the cases.... She does that rather well, and has the track record to prove it. Yet when she's called in on a new case with the Baltimore PD as their go-to clairvoyant, she's unprepared for the heinous nature of the crimes.

The hunt for the murderer unfolds, dropping Zoe right in the middle of a power struggle between a nightmare of a coven, and a serial killer leaving bodies in ceremonial circles in the rural parts of Baltimore's city limits.

Will she discover the identity of the maniac behind the gruesome beheadings, or will she lose someone close to her first? A race against celestial bodies and the trail of earthbound body parts keeps our intrepid clairvoyant running right until the very end.

©2014 Evolved Publishing LLC (P)2015 Evolved Publishing LLC

GREAT NEW AUTHOR, GREAT NEW STORY

Zoe Delante is a heroine you can really root for. She's dark and sad and proud and fearless. I was fascinated by the insight into Wicca. I couldn't stop listening once I started.

Good Listen

This book was written by an author whom was new to me. I enjoyed listening to this book, but it was a little outside my preferred genre. I typically do not listen to many shifter books featuring witchcraft. I thought the narrator did great with the emotions and various characters. My review is not a synopsis of the book but my opinion of it. I was provided with this review copy Audiobook at my request and voluntarily written this review.

An Awesome Listen

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the narrator and found it very interesting. If you like books about witches and monsters, you'll like this book. Throw in the police and a good mystery and that is what you have here. Well written and unique characters along with a fast paced plot will keep you listening. I'm so very happy that there is a second book.

Murder investigation turns into a battle of magic

When I asked for the book I was expecting a crime thriller with a few elements of the paranormal in the persona of Zoe Delante, a clairvoyant police consultant (maybe of The Mentalist series kind, I thought). What I did not expect was the world full of magic, where were-creatures are a reality, where what you believe in might get you killed, where religion is an excuse for hatred and murder... just like in our world. That's one of the strenghts of the book - the fact that magic seems such a natural part of the reality created by C. L. Roberts-Huth that you forget it's fantasy and you promptly believe all that is happening is possible here and now... What's more, the magical part does not overwhelm the criminal part, that is the hunt for the monster who kills the innocent. There is a lot of suspence there, there are turning points and unexpected twists, all at a pace of a good rollecoaster...:)

I like the main character a lot; she's a strong woman who despite being a witness to the darkest sides of a human heart still believes in love, loyalty and friendship, and for whom the life of every living creature is as valuable as her own. Her friends and colleagues are equally interesting, with their own strengths and weaknesses and personal issues.

Kelly Hazen's narration is something more than just narration; it's rather an acting performance, and a good one at that. She brings the experience of listening to the book to a new level, with the emotions ringing true, with characters really coming out and standing on their own... Normally, I have a problem with male characters' voices when Ms Hazen reads a book but this time I had none:) All the voices sounded very good, good or at least OK, without making me cringe or sigh in protest:) So, this one is the best of her interpretations that I've listened to so far:)

Definitely a book worth listening too, especially if you like both crime stories and paranormal worlds.

DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Enjoyable paranormal-suspense

Whispers of the Dead (Zoë Delante Thrillers, #1), my first read from author C.L. Roberts-Huth and the first book in the Zoë Delante Thriller Trilogy. Enjoyable paranormal-suspense. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Kelley Hazen's narration adds to the book's enjoyment, even more so when sped-up & her voice inflections blend better. I look forward to Whispers of the Serpent: Zoë Delante Thrillers, Book 2, the next book in this series. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

Great Book!

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. The narrator did a wonderful job with this book. She did a great job with the different voices of each character in this book. It was very easy to listen to and I didn’t want to stop listening until the end. If you are looking for a great book with well-developed characters then you need to listen to this book. I am looking forward to listening to the next book by this author and narrator.

Wiccan Thriller

You have to like listening to demonic/magic/shift changer books with thrilling twist and turns and romance. This book’s main character is Zoe Delante who works with the police as a psychic to solve murder cases through sight and touch at the crime scene. She is also Wiccan as several others in the book are. I did enjoy very descriptive scenes in this horrific thriller and the great narration held my interest. I was given this book at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you

Diverting,if occasionally disturbing.

I'll begin by saying I got this book as a 'freebie' - but that hasn't influenced my review (I hope!)

This is a supernatural thriller, and is quite graphic in its blood and gore - so if that sort of thing upsets you, be warned. It also has a couple of near-rape scenes, which could be offensive to some.

The protagonist, Zoe, is a clairvoyant who becomes entangled in the sort of case that only ever comes up in police procedural novels - and while she is generally a likeable, strong, intelligent woman, occasionally the author slips into 'bodice-ripper' mode

When that happens, Zoe becomes a little too 'flighty' for my taste - and the carefully constructed world-view of the novel is sacrificed for drama and pathos.

Let me give you an example (and this is a minor spoiler)

At one stage, Zoe appears to be falling for one character but then spurns him because she believes he has betrayed her. She then shares a passionate kiss with another character - and through the magic of ... well, magic .. they know everything about each other and appear to be falling in love.

But then, in a deus ex machina, the second character says "Oh, I know you are in love with your ex, so go be with him" - without making any reference to that at the time of their tryst.

Both boyfriends play an important role in the final 'battle' scene .. and it felt to me like the author had changed her mind about who was going to be the love interest / hostage, and who was going to be the friend who supports Zoe in her time of need.

It just felt ... jarring.

I mentioned the carefully constructed worldview of the novel. This novel (and, I assume, the subsequent Zoe Delante thrillers) is set in a Baltimore that is a near-analog to our own world - but where Wiccans make up a significant part of the population, and where werewolves and shape-changers are not unusual.

A large part of the novel is based on the interactions of Wiccans with Christians (portrayed mostly as closed-minded bigots and zealots until they are aided by Wiccans)

I don't know much about their religion but I do have some Wiccan friends, and I kept thinking "maybe I should ask them if this portrayal is right"

But then I realized, if this is a slightly different world to ours, then the author can portray Wicca however she likes, and I should just 'suspend disbelief' :-)

I listened to this audiobook over a week, while taking my daily walks, and I enjoyed the narration by Kelley Hazen - who kept the pace going, and brought characters to life, although she does have a tendency to be a little sing-song when not presenting dialogue.

Overall, I've given this novel 4 stars and have already loaded the second volume in this series onto my Audible account.

A taut thriller

Would you listen to Whispers of the Dead again? Why?

I honestly don't know. So many books, so little time. But I think I'd read it on my own next time. I think the character would play better there.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Whispers of the Dead?

The ending. But here there be spoilers.

Have you listened to any of Kelley Hazen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I just about did. With every answer you get at least two more questions. It keeps you coming back for more.

Any additional comments?

Whispers of the Dead is very much plot driven and when paired with Zoe’s outstanding voice this story quickly becomes next to impossible to put down.
Robert-Huth’s descriptions are spellbinding without putting even the smallest damper on the endless action. You’re in for a wild ride. With a riveting narrative and a storyline that just doesn’t quit; this book is a must read for any and all paranormal fiction junkies

Thrilling!!!

What a thrilling story that has magic, mystery, romance and a serial killer to top it all off. Zoe is a strong woman who just keeps getting back up and doesnt stop fighting for what is right for her and her loved ones. Just the type of lead I like strong but flawed. Kelley Hazen does a phenomenal job as narrator. Offering a good paced read while giveing each character its own distinguishable voice.