Title: Last BreathAuthor: Robert BryndzaSeries: Detective Erika Foster, #4Narrator: Jan CramerPublished: April 2017, BookoutureLength: 9 hours 5 minutesSource: Personal copy via Audible
He’s your perfect date. You’re his next victim.
When the tortured body of a young woman is found in a dumpster, her eyes swollen shut and her clothes soaked with blood, Detective Erika Foster is one of the first at the crime scene. The trouble is, this time, it’s not her case.
While she fights to secure her place on the investigation team, Erika can’t help but get involved and quickly finds a link to the unsolved murder of a woman four months earlier. Dumped in a similar location, both women have identical wounds – a fatal incision to their femoral artery.
Stalking his victims online, the killer is preying on young pretty women using a fake identity. How will Erika catch a murderer who doesn’t seem to exist?
Then another girl is abducted while waiting for a date. Erika and her team must get to her before she becomes another dead victim, and, come face to face with a terrifyingly sadistic individual.
Gripping, tense and impossible to put down, Last Breath will have you on the edge of your seat, racing to the final dramatic page.
My thoughts: This is the 4th book in Robert Bryndza's Detective Erika Foster series and I absolutely love this series...it's dark and twisted and each book keeps me on my toes the entire time! Each book leaves me breathless and desperately wanting to get my hands on the next one.One of my favorite parts of this series is the character development we get throughout, which is why I think it is so important to read this series in order! You really get to know not only Erika, but her team as well. I think Robert really shines in this area - he has gone to great lengths to build up these characters and continues to do so with each book.
In this latest book, Erika who has been removed from the Murder Investigation Team, manages to finagle things so that she is Senior Investigating Officer on the latest murder case and is able to hand-pick her team...and obviously picks Moss, Peterson, Crane and McGorry - the usual gang! I love this - this is such an Erika move!!!
Early on in the book, we find out who the killer is, so most of the book is actually spent watching Erika and her crazy tactics in trying to catch said killer. She is sometimes upstoppable - willing to go to any means necessary at times for results. By knowing who the killer is, we the reader are able to get inside his head - which is quite frightening.
This book is nonstop full of action and will leave you breathless so many times, especially the last quarter of the book! There are quite a few twists and turns and the tension is high throughout. It's one of my favorite series and now I am counting the days til the next book comes out...
Audio thoughts: Jan Cramer is just brilliant with this narration - she does such a great job with these voices, making these characters come alive. I love listening to her and love listening to this series! Please, please, please continue to narrate this series for as long as it goes on - to me, you are Erika Foster and the rest of the gang!!!
Books in this series: - The Girl in the Ice
- The Night Stalker
- Dark Water
- Last Breath
- ???
Title: The DollhouseAuthor: Fiona DavisNarrator: Tavia GilbertPublished: August 2016, Penguin AudioLength: 9 hours 53 minutesSource: LibraryFiona Davis's stunning debut novel pulls readers into the lush world of New York City's glamorous Barbizon Hotel for Women, where a generation of aspiring models, secretaries, and editors lived side-by-side while attempting to claw their way to fairy-tale success in the 1950s, and where a present-day journalist becomes consumed with uncovering a dark secret buried deep within the Barbizon's glitzy past.
When she arrives at the famed Barbizon Hotel in 1952, secretarial school enrollment in hand, Darby McLaughlin is everything her modeling agency hall mates aren't: plain, self-conscious, homesick, and utterly convinced she doesn't belong—a notion the models do nothing to disabuse. Yet when Darby befriends Esme, a Barbizon maid, she's introduced to an entirely new side of New York City: seedy downtown jazz clubs where the music is as addictive as the heroin that's used there, the startling sounds of bebop, and even the possibility of romance.
Over half a century later, the Barbizon's gone condo and most of its long-ago guests are forgotten. But rumors of Darby's involvement in a deadly skirmish with a hotel maid back in 1952 haunt the halls of the building as surely as the melancholy music that floats from the elderly woman's rent-controlled apartment. It's a combination too intoxicating for journalist Rose Lewin, Darby's upstairs neighbor, to resist—not to mention the perfect distraction from her own imploding personal life. Yet as Rose's obsession deepens, the ethics of her investigation become increasingly murky, and neither woman will remain unchanged when the shocking truth is finally revealed.
My thoughts: This is Fiona Davis's debut novel and I just adored it. I absolutely love stories about living in NYC, especially ones that have to do with its rich history and this one hit on that and a whole lot more!
I love dual narratives and felt that this one was done so well. Having the story move back and forth between the present and the 1950's was so seemlessly done - it never once felt jilted or choppy. I loved how Fiona gives life to the famous Barbizon Hotel and wraps her fictional story around it. I fully admit to not knowing much about this hotel, so I was totally captivated by this story.
There is such attention to detail in this book - from the social mores of the time in the 1950s to the clothing and all the accessories - this is what made the book for me. I loved learning what was socially acceptable for young girls at this time and what was not. That is starkly contrasted with what is acceptable in the present - for Rose who has no restrictions placed on her. I cannot imagine living somewhat on my own and having so many rules put upon me - no young men allowed in the building after a certain time, must wear a hat and gloves, etc. This was such a great story - from the characters and the mystery and the setting - I loved it! Such a great book for a debut novel and I have no doubt that her next book, which comes out later this summer, will be equally as delightful!
Audio thoughts: This was a great book to listen to and Tavia Gilbert really did a great job with the narration. She made the characters come to life, giving each woman unique voices so as to make them distinguishable, as well as giving everyone else their own voice, too. Her accents were good and so was her pacing and tone. I've listened to her before and know that I am in for a listening treat when I see her name on the audio book.
Title: The DrowningAuthor: Camilla LackbergSeries: Patrik Hedstrom/Fjallbacka, #5Narrator: Simon VancePublished: September 2015, Blackstone AudioLength: 13 hours 13 hoursSource: Personal copy via Audible Christian Thydell’s dream has come true: his debut novel, The Mermaid, is published to rave reviews. So why is he as distant and unhappy as ever?
When crime writer Erica Falck, who discovered Christian’s talents, learns he has been receiving anonymous threats, she investigates not just the messages but also the author’s mysterious past…
Meanwhile, one of Christian’s closest friends is missing. Erica’s husband, Detective Patrik Hedström, has his worst suspicions confirmed as the mind-games aimed at Christian and those around him become a disturbing reality.
But, with the victims themselves concealing evidence, the investigation is going nowhere. Is their silence driven by fear or guilt? And what is the secret they would rather die to protect than live to see revealed?
International bestseller Camilla Läckberg delivers a chilling and suspenseful mystery that will grip the reader right until its staggering final twist…
***Short & Sweet Reviews are short, quick reviews. These will mainly be used for series books where I have already done full reviews on some of the earlier books or for books that I feel will suffice with a quick review. These will not be used for review requests or blog tours.
My thoughts: This is the 6th book in Camilla Lackberg's Fjallbacka/Patrik Hedstrom series and I just have to say - I really love this series! It seems to get better and better with each book. This one was so intricately plotted and I loved the clever way this one was told. I in no way saw the way things were tied up...and let's just talk about that cliffhanger of an ending! I cannot wait to pick up the next book...One thing I found to be interesting is that this book had a little bit of a different feel in that it starts off a little slow - really setting the scene, and then it takes off. I loved how the chapters are interspersed with snippets of the past to really give us the full picture - though you don't really know at the time how it is connected. And of course, I loved how despite being heavily pregnant with twins, Erica let nothing stop her from doing her own investigating. In fact, I believe without her, this case might not have gotten as far as it did...she truly is a force to be reckoned with and a good balance for Patrik!
Audio thoughts: So, Simon Vance is starting to win me over with his narration of this series. Though I still prefer David Thorn (nothing again Simon Vance - just got attached to David Thorn) I am adjusting and finding that Simon Vance is consistent with his voices from book to book - which I find refreshing. He sticks with the voices he gives - each character having their own unique one, and his tone and pacing is good. I just hope there will not be another narrator change in this series - one is enough!
Books in this series:
- The Ice Princess
- The Preacher
- The Stonecutter
- The Stranger
- The Hidden Child
- The Drowning
- The Lost Boy
- Buried Angels
- The Ice Child
Title: Blood Always TellsAuthor: Hilary DavidsonNarrator: Kirsten PotterPublished: April 2014, Dreamscape Media, LLC / Forge BooksLength: 9 hours 6 minutes / 320 pagesSource: Library / Publisher Dominique Monaghan just wanted to get even with her two-timing, married boyfriend, a washed-up boxer stuck in a toxic marriage to a dangerously spoiled socialite. However, an elaborate blackmail scheme soon lands her in the middle of an unexpected kidnapping... and attempted murder. But who is actually out to kill whom?
Desmond Edgars, Dominique’s big brother, has looked out for his wayward sister ever since their mother was convicted of murdering many years ago, so when he receives a frantic phone call from Dominique in the middle of the night, he drops everything to rush to the rescue. But to find out what has really happened to his sister, the stoic ex-military man must navigate a tangled web of murder and deception, involving a family fortune, a couple of shifty lawyers, and a missing child, while wrestling with his own bloody secrets...
Hilary Davidson's Blood Always Tells is a twisted tale of love, crime, and family gone wrong, by the multiple award–winning author of The Damage Done and Evil in All Its Disguises.
My thoughts: This is the first book I've read by Hilary Davidson and it was quite the twisted tale of murder and revenge! It kept me engaged and hooked from start to finish and I really enjoyed it.
This book really kept me on my toes as to what was going on...it was completely unpredictable and full of action. Told from three points of views, I really found it compelling. It was almost as if the story was told in three parts. I will say, though, I was a bit thrown off at first when the last section started. But, once it got going, I understood the significance of it. This is a multi-layered, dark, twisted story. It pulls you in, is full of complex characters, secrets, and murder. I really liked this book and will definitely be looking into what else this author has written!
Audio thoughts: I've listened to Kirsten Potter narrate before, so I was excited to see she was narrating this audio book. I enjoy listening to her and thought she did a great job with this audio book. She gave each character their own unique voice and her pacing and intonation was good.
Title: Girl Last SeenAuthor: Nina LaurinNarrator: Vanessa JohanssonPublished: June 2017, Hachette AudioLength: 8 hours 11 minutesSource: Publisher Two missing girls. Thirteen years apart.
Olivia Shaw has been missing since last Tuesday. She was last seen outside the entrance of her elementary school in Hunts Point wearing a white spring jacket, blue jeans, and pink boots.
I force myself to look at the face in the photo, into her slightly smudged features, and I can't bring myself to move. Olivia Shaw could be my mirror image, rewound to thirteen years ago.
If you have any knowledge of Olivia Shaw's whereabouts or any relevant information, please contact...
I've spent a long time peering into the faces of girls on missing posters, wondering which one replaced me in that basement. But they were never quite the right age, the right look, the right circumstances. Until Olivia Shaw, missing for one week tomorrow.
Whoever stole me was never found. But since I was taken, there hasn't been another girl.
And now there is.
My thoughts: Sometimes when you read debut novels, you know it - they are good, but you can feel the newness of the author. And then, there are times when you are completely gobsmacked that a book is a debut - that's how I felt when I finished this one. This book is so utterly powerful and addicting from the very first sentence and stays that way throughout.
This book is crazy twisty and I loved it! It's raw and powerful, even uncomfortable at times, and I loved the way it was told, from the perspective of Lainey/Ella's eyes. You feel her vulnerability throughout, yet there are times when you question her reliability. I really feel that this is what makes the book what it is. If it was told by anyone else, it just wouldn't be as powerful or have the same effect.
There were so many times when I was sure I had figured out what was going on. Everytime someone new came on the scene, I thought - Yes, that's who took Olivia...but oh no. Nina Laurin is a master of twists and turns. She does give clues, but I definitely did not put them together in time for the big reveal. I also enjoyed the pacing of this book. I felt there was a good balance of character development with action. At what felt like just the right time, there would be a twist to the story that would jar everything you were thinking. This really keeps you on your toes throughout the story and as secrets come out, you realize this isn't what you expected at all!This is one of the best debut novels I've read/listened to in a long time. I cannot wait to see what comes next from Nina Lauren - she is definitely an author I will be keeping an eye out for!!!
Audio thoughts: This is the first time I've listened to Vanessa Johansson and I thought she did such a great job with this audio. She didn't sugar-coat the voices, and I felt that she did Lane/Ella's voice justice - giving it that raw/vulnerable voice it needed. Her pacing was good as was her intonation. I will definitely be checking out what else she has narrated!
Title: Kiss CarloAuthor: Adriana TrigianiNarrator: Edoardo BalleriniPublished: June 20, 2017, HarperAudio / HarperCollinsLength: 16 hours 2 minutes / 544 pagesSource: Audio - Personal copy via Audio / Hardcopy - Publisher via TLC Book Tours From Adriana Trigiani, the beloved New York Times-bestselling author of The Shoemaker’s Wife, comes an exhilarating epic novel of love, loyalty, and creativity—the story of an Italian-American family on the cusp of change.
It’s 1949 and South Philadelphia bursts with opportunity during the post-war boom. The Palazzini Cab Company & Western Union Telegraph Office, owned and operated by Dominic Palazzini and his three sons, is flourishing: business is good, they’re surrounded by sympathetic wives and daughters-in-law, with grandchildren on the way. But a decades-long feud that split Dominic and his brother Mike and their once-close families sets the stage for a re-match.
Amidst the hoopla, the arrival of an urgent telegram from Italy upends the life of Nicky Castone (Dominic and his wife’s orphaned nephew) who lives and works with his Uncle Dom and his family. Nicky decides, at 30, that he wants more—more than just a job driving Car #4 and more than his longtime fiancée Peachy DePino, a bookkeeper, can offer. When he admits to his fiancée that he’s been secretly moonlighting at the local Shakespeare theater company, Nicky finds himself drawn to the stage, its colorful players and to the determined Calla Borelli, who inherited the enterprise from her father, Nicky must choose between the conventional life his family expects of him or chart a new course and risk losing everything he cherishes.
From the dreamy mountaintop village of Roseto Valfortore in Italy, to the vibrant streets of South Philly, to the close-knit enclave of Roseto, Pennsylvania, to New York City during the birth of the golden age of television, Kiss Carlo is a powerful, inter-generational story that celebrates the ties that bind, while staying true to oneself when all hope seems lost.
Told against the backdrop of some of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies, this novel brims with romance as long buried secrets are revealed, mistaken identities are unmasked, scores are settled, broken hearts are mended and true love reigns. Trigiani’s consummate storytelling skill and her trademark wit, along with a dazzling cast of characters will enthrall readers. Once again, the author has returned to her own family garden to create an unforgettable feast. Kiss Carlo is a jubilee, resplendent with hope, love, and the abiding power of la famiglia.
My thoughts: Adriana Trigiani is one of my all-time favorite authors!!! I've met her numerous times and most recently just bumped into her at BookExpo - she's the most genuine person I've met in a long time and I love seeing her whenever I get the chance. I've read just about all her books and one of my most favorite books of hers is The Shoemaker's Wife...well, this latest one is right up there with that one. Kiss Carlo is fantastic!!! I loved it - from start to finish - and let me tell you, it's a chunkster of a book at 544 pages, and even a long audio book at just over 16 hours. But it's so worth it, let me tell you!
So first off...even though I have 2 copies of this book - I received an advanced reader's copy of the book for being part of the book tour and then picked up a finished copy at BookExpo...I still decided to listen to the audio version. Not because I was daunted by the length of the book - oh no. I love reading Adriana's words - I get lost in her stories and find myself losing track of time. But when I saw who was narrating the audio - Edoardo Ballerini, I could not give up the opportunity to listen to him narrate this book. He is like a tall drink of cool water - I love listening to him. And I just knew he would be perfect for this book. More on him and the audio production down below.
So back to the book itself...I loved this story. I found myself totally swept up in this family saga right from the beginning. The book is set right after WWII in Philly and centers around the Palazzini family. I love the big families that Adriana creates - they are so life-like and relatable - possibly because I have such a big family myself! But where Adriana shines is that with all the characters in this book - and believe me, there are a lot! - it is easy to keep them all separate as they all have their own identity and personality. And each one she introduces us to have a purpose - there really aren't any superfluous characters. The story is mainly set around Nicky - he has been brought up by his Aunt Jo and Uncle Dom and his three cousins and drives a cab for the family's cab company, not only taking on fares but also delivering telegrams. But what no one knows is that he also moonlights in a local theater - a theater that puts on Shakespeare plays. There Nicky helps the actors with their lines. Oh, and he's been engaged to Peachy for seven years - yes, seven years! With so many characters in this book, of course you are going to fall in love with a few. My favorites were Calla Borelli from the Shakespeare theater, Jo Palazzini, who took Nicky in after his mother died, and Hortense Mooney, the telegraph operator. Each of these women had so much spunk and passion - I couldn't get enough of them, especially Hortense.
And, for all you soap-opera fans out there...Gloria Monty has a cameo in this book. How freaking cool is that!!! I loved the way Adriana used the early soaps in this book, called a "teleplay" back then. There is so much packed into this book - so much, but oh so good!
This book has so much going for it, with so many different themes running through it. It's a story about family, love, loss, the search for meaning and self-worth. It's about finding one's purpose in life and realizing it before it's too late and not settling for something just because that's what is expected of you.
I adored this story - every part of it, from the setting to the characters to the dialog to the cover - it's a beautiful, enchanting story and one that I am thrilled to have sitting on my shelf. I know I can do no wrong when I pick up an Adriana Trigiani book!
Audio thoughts: As I mentioned above, I just had to listen to the audio version of this book when I saw that Edoardo Ballerini was narrating it. He is awesome - such a mesmerizing voice - and he did such a fantastic job with this audio book! Between the unique voices for all the characters, males and females, and the little bit of Italian - which was amazing, especially since I speak absolutely no Italian - I was in heaven! I can not recommend this audio more - it was so delightful to listen to - and even though it was long - I found myself so engaged that the time just flew by! His pacing and tone were spot on and I found this a pleasure to listen to. 
