The point of these quick takes posts is to catch up on my “To Write About” stack—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness. Except for the two books that I want to do full posts on, this wraps up August. I’m in danger of catching up. (insert the obligatory “Narrator: He will not” joke here)
The Alchemist and an Amaretto
by Annette Marie, Cris Dukehart (Narrator)
DETAILS:
Series: The Guild Codex: Spellbound Series, #5
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: January 27, 2020
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 6 hrs., 55 min.
Read Date: August 24-25, 2022
(the official blurb)
This series is the trunk that the others branch out from, it’s the anchor for the whole thing—and I’m just about at an end with it. It feels like Marie’s discovered a template and is just following it.
That said…I’m not leaving this because I want to see how the others unfold, I really like Tori, I want to see how things turn out with her brother, and the books are entertaining enough, while still being exasperating (to illustrate, Cobra Kai Season 5 is just on the other side of that line). But man…I’m tired of the non-romance romantic story and I’m fed up with the Ezra storyline (that I think is what the whole series is going to be ultimately about, so I’d better get used to it).
Putting my gripes aside—the alchemy stuff here is great, and I really liked the way all of it developed. This approach to werewolves is great and I’d really like to see more (but am pretty sure we won’t because of the whole template thing…but maybe in the Warped series?)
Also, I’m really hoping that at one point the protagonists from these series will figure out they should be allies and friends for one final, climactic battle before living a life of relative peace and routine.
Her Last Breath
by Linda Castillo, Kathleen McInerney (Narrator)
DETAILS: Series: Kate Burkholder, #5 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Publication Date: June 17, 2013 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 9 hr., 46 min. Read Date: August 25-26, 2022
(the official blurb)
I truly had a hard time with this one because so much of the book is about this police chief that we’re supposed to be rooting for going around and manipulating a case, lying to other law enforcement officers, and pressuring her siblings into lying to cover up what will be a clear case of self-defense so that she can keep her job.
The other storyline about the hit and run that turns out to be vehicular homicide? That was pretty good—a touch predictable, sure. But only because Castillo did everything but name the killer McMurderer, because this one needed to be about Kate figuring it out and the reader seeing what that put her through.
If we can put the self-defense cover-up story behind us now, I can keep going. Otherwise, this series becomes Dexter with a really low body count, and I’m just not going with that.
The Heron
by Don Winslow, Ed Harris (Narrator)
DETAILS: Publisher: Audible OriginalsT Publication Date: July 28, 2022 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 1 hr., 6 min. Read Date: August 12, 2022
(the official blurb)
This is only an hour long, so it’s really difficult to talk about. But that’s a shame because I want to go paragraph by paragraph and talk about it—a live-blog running commentary seems to be the best way to talk about it, but who has the time for that?
I’m going to start with Ed Harris rocking this one—the dude is perfect and I want nothing else out of life than a new Winslow story every month or so read by Harris. That’s hyperbole to make a point, but it feels like one of the most honest sentences I’ve uttered recently.
This is short fiction at its best—a great premise, some good twists, a great conclusion, and a perfect ending. It just made me happy. I was about to say that there’s a great villain, but I’m not sure which character I’d attribute that to. There are a good number of great criminal characters running around committing crimes against each other—it’s just a matter of who comes out on top and how they do so. Grab some popcorn and enjoy.
Also, as I look back at what I noted when I listened—only 4 stars? I remember it better than that. Maybe it was the length? I’m going to trust my initial reaction, but as I write this, 4 seems like I’m underselling it.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
Read Irresponsibly, but please Comment Responsibly