Widows & Orphans

By: Susan Meissner

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

When attorney Rachael Flynn learns her bighearted younger brother has been arrested, she at first takes it in stride; Joshua has been in trouble before when his zeal for helping the downtrodden and disadvantaged pitted him against the law. But this time, the charge is murder and he's confessed to the crime. Certain that he's innocent, Rachael begs Joshua to let her represent him, but her brother refuses her offer of counsel.

As Rachael works on the case on her own, she begins to suspect that Josh knows who the real killer is, but she's unable to get him to cooperate with his defense. When Rachael asks her husband, Trace, and his fellow artist friends to sketch the scene of the crime as they see it, a new piece of the puzzle becomes apparent...a piece that ultimately leads to a much bigger truth.

©2016 eChristian (P)2016 eChristian

Critic reviews

"A powerful story of family and faith, wrapped in a mystery that touches the deep corners of the heart. Susan Meissner writes with a sure hand, and this book will make her many new fans." (James Scott Bell, best-selling author of Presumed Guilty)

Not too slow

When I read some reviews that said this story moved slowly, I decided to buy the third in the series, only, because it was rated higher. I liked the third one so much that I decided to purchase the first two, despite the reviews. I am so glad I did!

Murder mysteries in books do not move along in an hour, like television murder mysteries. They unfold over time with small details surfacing at regular intervals so that the reader can try to put together the story without solving the mystery too soon.

Susan’s mysteries are not just situations to be solved, but important lessons to learn along the way.

Her characters are colorful, unique, and meaningful.

Tavia Gilbert is such a good narrator! She portrays emotion so well and her acting is very good. Tavia has a pleasing tone and good characters' voices. Sometimes I think her male characters sound too much alike, but not too much in this story.

Very glad I listened to this story! Eager to go on book 2.

Light, Heavy and Funny

I read the reviews of this book; and from those reviews, I admit I only began with it because it was the first in a series. However; I was pleasantly surprised. The only negative for me was the overly dramatized voice of the mother. The story was really good. I laughed out loud several times at the antics of one of the characters. I’m looking forward to the other two books in this series. And….the narrator is very good. That is always a must for me and this narrator did a great job. Like I said before, the only thing I would have changed was the voice of the mother….Perhaps her voice could have been toned down a bit or done in a voice of sorrow instead of hysteria. I highly recommend this listen.

Another Engaging Book by Susan Meissner!

I have yet to listen to a book by Susan Meissner that I HAVEN’T enjoyed; however, this one was not quite as engaging as most of her others. It was still a good story, just a bit slower. I actually read the Rachael Flynn Mysteries out of order (this is Book 1 — I somehow managed to read it last). I couldn’t listen to Books 2 and 3 fast enough (I listened to both of them twice). So if you are reading this one first, as you are MEANT to, please DO continue on to Books 2 and 3. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

One thing I feel compelled to mention: Rachael’s brother Joshua is quite religious, so if Christianity is a problem for you, this book probably isn’t the right one for you. Personally, it is not a problem. I enjoyed it quite a lot.

Book 1 was a great introduction to the characters we come to know much more in depth in Books 2 and 3.

The narrator, Tavia Gilbert, is one of my all time favorite narrators. I find her to be very talented and versatile, her voice soothing. I think she IS the character of Rachael and makes the entire book come alive for me just as she has every other book (not necessarily Susan Meissner books) I’ve ever listened to. I can’t say enough good things about her work.

Please don’t skip Books 2 and 3 in this series. There are a FEW religious references in the form of quick prayers muttered by Rachael when she finds herself in scary or dangerous circumstances, but nothing religious to the extent like there were in Book 1, which may be off-putting to some.

I wish there were more in the Rachael Flynn Mysteries series than just three books…

Intriguing and clean

This book was a good read. It had mystery, family love, and it had thoughtful insights regarding God and His relationship with His children.

disappointing

had just finished the nature of fragile things by this author, which was beautifully narrated and an intriguing story. tried widows and orphans and found it very unsatisfying. the voice of rachel had such a whiney quality, and the story was trite. absolutely turned off by the whole god thing. will not be reading any more of this series.

rather boring

i have really liked all of susan meissner’s other books but throughout listening i keep thinking it either would get better, or i was going to return

Very slow

This book was rather boring I have loved all of Susan Meissner books and have loved them all but this one one I really did not care for