Audio Review: The Strangers by Jacqueline West

Title: The Strangers (The Books of Elsewhere Vol 4)
Author: Jacqueline West
Narrator: Lexy Fridell
Publication: July 16, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Source: Audiobook Jukebox
Genre: Children
Length: 7 Hours 14 minutes
Format: Unabridged Audio
Rating: 5 of 5

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Synopsis: 
Olive thought she'd uncovered all the house's secrets. She was wrong.

It's Halloween night when strangers come to Linden Street...and something dear to Olive goes missing. To what lengths will she go to get it back? Can she trust the strangers? Will she turn to a new and dangerous magic within the paintings of Elsewhere? Or will she put her faith in her own worst enemies to save the people and home she loves?

The stakes grow higher, the secrets more dangerous, and mystery and magic abound as Olive, the boys, and the cats uncover the true nature of the house on Linden Street. A must-read fantasy series for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch, Coraline, and Septimus Heap. 

My Thoughts: Jacqueline West continues Olives adventures with this newest installment of the Books of Elsewhere series. With each book West takes you deeper in the the world of witches. Olive sees Halloween as an excellent opportunity to get the cats and Morton out of this house. A frightening thing happens during their little excursion and when Olive returns home her most prized possessions are gone. Olive will do whatever is necessary to get her possession back. In the process more secrets are revealed. 

Lexy Fridell is an excellent narrator and Jacqueline West has given her a magnificent platform to display her skills. This is a single voiced  unabridged production. The differentiation between each character is distinct and makes it simple to recognize each character. Each character is brought to life threw Fridell's narration. I continue to be impressed with Fridell and her prowess as a narrator. I love that Penguin Audio has continued to keep the same narrator throughout the series. 

Audio Review: The Second Spy by Jacqueline West

Title: The Second Spy (The Books of Elsewhere Vol 3)
Author: Jacqueline West
Narrator: Lexy Fridell
Publication: July 16, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Source: Audiobook Jukebox
Genre: Children
Length: 6 Hours 40 minutes
Format: Unabridged Audio
Rating: 5 of 5

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Synopsis: In Olive's third adventure, what lurks below the house could be as dangerous as what's hidden inside . . .

Some terrifying things have happened to Olive in the old stone house, but none as scary as starting junior high. Or so she thinks. When she plummets through a hole in her backyard, though, she realizes two things that may change her mind: First, the wicked Annabelle McMartin is back. Second, there's a secret underground that unlocks not one but two of Elsewhere's biggest, most powerful, most dangerous forces yet. But with the house's guardian cats acting suspicious, her best friend threatening to move away, and her ally Morton starting to rebel, Olive isn't sure where to turn. Will she figure it out in time? Or will she be lured into Elsewhere, and trapped there for good?

My Thoughts: Olive has had a busy and terrifying summer just as things begin to settle down she starts school; and on the wrong foot. To top it all off not only are strange things happening at the house they seem to be following her to school as well. Suddenly Olive begins to get messages from Annabelle at school, of all places. Olive makes a promise to Morton that she is determined to keep. In the process Olive manages to fall right into one of the traps the house and Annabelle has set for her. This is a quick entertaining read. There is never a dull moment when Olive is around. Friendship is tested several times during this third installment. 

Lexy Fridell is an excellent narrator and Jacqueline West has given her a magnificent platform to display her skills. This is a single voiced  unabridged production. The differentiation between each character is distinct and makes it simple to recognize each character. Each character is brought to life threw Fridell's narration. I continue to be impressed with Fridell and her prowess as a narrator. I love that Penguin Audio has continued to keep the same narrator throughout the series. 

Audio Review: Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Title: Walking Disaster

Author: Jamie McGuire
Narrator: Dan Bittner

Publication: April 2, 2013

Publisher: Simon & Suhuster 
Format: Unabridged
Length: 11 hours and 26 minutes

Source: Publisher/Author

Genre: Romance

Audience: 17+

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Synopsis: Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster. 

Can you love someone too much?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this story as Travis is my favorite character from Beautiful Disaster. Seeing his point of view and getting a better understanding of his past really explained a lot for me. Travis is a strong character and the beginning of the story shows you why. At 3 years old Travis makes a promise to his dying mother. Travis is one to keep his promises at all cost. When Travis meets Abby its time to make good on that promise. 

I don't feel that it is necessary to read Beautiful Disaster before you read this as Walking Disaster is the same story but from Travis' point of view. Although, there are a few things that you didn't get to experience in the first book this is the better book. The epilogue is to die for. I would love to the story to continue where the epilogue left off. 

This is an unabridged single-voiced audio. The original work is appropriate for audio adaption. The narrator did a great job with the narration. It was easy to feel each emotion that Travis went through. Each character was differentiated by tone and inflection. Travis was made more interesting through Bittner's narration. Pacing was well maintained throughout the production and the plot flows without interruption.  

Audio Review: Strangeletts by Michelle Gagnon

Title: Strangelets

Author: Michelle Gagnon

Narrator: Rebecca Gible

Publisher: AudioGO

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 8 hrs: 46 mins

Publication: April 9, 2013

Source: Publisher

Genre: Science Fiction, YA, Suspense

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Synopsis:
17-year-old Sophie lies on her deathbed in California, awaiting the inevitable loss of her battle with cancer…

17-year-old Declan stares down two armed thugs in a back alley in Galway, Ireland…

17-year-old Anat attempts to traverse a booby-trapped tunnel between Israel and Egypt…

 All three strangers should have died at the exact same moment, thousands of miles apart. Instead, they awaken together in an abandoned hospital—only to discover that they’re not alone. Three other teens from different places on the globe are trapped with them. Somebody or something seems to be pulling the strings. With their individual clocks ticking, they must band together if they’re to have any hope of surviving. 

Soon they discover that they've been trapped in a future that isn't of their making: a deadly, desolate world at once entirely familiar and utterly strange. Each teen harbors a secret, but only one holds the key that could get them home. As the truth comes to light Sophie, Declan, Anat, and the rest must decide what to do with a second chance at life—if they can survive to claim it.

My Thoughts: 

Strangelet is a hypothetical particle consisting of a bound state of roughly equal numbers of up, down, and strange quarks. Its size would be a minimum of a few femtometers across (with the mass of a light nucleus). Once the size becomes macroscopic (on the order of metres across), such an object is usually called a quark star or "strange star" rather than a strangelet. *Wikipedia*.

This is a very interesting story.  Sophie is prepared to die. Declan is working to buy a nice gift for his girlfriend. Anat is escaping to be with the one she loves. None of them end up where they planned and embark on a mission to be reunited with there loved ones. 

I was immediately drawn to all six characters. It's not often that that happens. I was a little leery of one of the characters due to her lack of information sharing. The world they have been drawn into is very strange. It looks familiar but when bears are running in terror for their lives you know something is wrong. 

This story is very fast paced. Behind every turn is an obstacle more suspenseful than the last. I enjoyed this story and was very glad that there was a proglogue. I would have been up set if it had just ended and I didn't know what became of each character. 

This an unabridged single voiced audio. The original work is very appropriate for audio adaptation. Rebecca Gible did an excellent job with the narration. She accents sound authentic and it was easy to identify each character.  Pacing was maintained throughout the production and the plot flows without interruption. I didn't have any concerns with the sound quality. 

Audio Review: Hostile Witness by Rebecca Forster

Title: Hostile Witness

Author: Rebecca Forster

Narrator: Tara Platt

Publisher: Silent C Press

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 9 hrs: 21 mins

Publication: May 9, 2012

Source: Publisher/Author via Audible.com

Genre:  Suspense/Mystery/Legal Thriller

Rating: 5 of 5

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Synopsis: Some secrets aren't uncovered. They are unleashed...

The national bestselling author is back with a gripping legal thriller of a brilliant lawyer caught between her client, a powerful family's hidden legacy, and the truth...

Josie Baylor-Bates returns to the practice of criminal defense when her friend's sixteen-year-old daughter, Hannah, is arrested for the brutal slaying of her step-grandfather - a California Supreme Court justice. Although all evidence points to Hannah's guilt, her family's disturbing relations may play a more significant role than anyone could guess. As Josie unravels a circle of secrets, she discovers a shocking truth that could save her client-or destroy them all...

My Thoughts: Josie Baylor-Bates is so haunted by the actions of a client she was able to exonerate that she is no longer practicing as a criminal lawyer. That all changes when she meets Hannah. Hannah's strange behavior and attitude toward the victim all point to Hannah's guilt. 

This is a fast paced audio. I felt as if the audio had just began and then it was over. Rebecca Foster has created an incredible story. I never saw any of the twists and turns until I was right smack in the middle of it. I have much empathy for both Josie and Hannah. Neither of them asked to be put in the situations they are in but they are both strong and even stronger together. This is a great thriller. I will be enjoying more Rebecca Foster in the future. 

This is a single-voiced unabridged production. Hostile Witness presents well in audio format. Each character is clearly differentiated by tone and inflection. Tara Platt does a wonderful job of managing variations in gender and accents. I listened to this audio on my kindle with headphones so I had no difficulties with sound quality. Tara's pace was maintained and appropriate throughout the production. I would listen to more audios narrated by Tara Platt. 

Audio Review: Colony by Scott Reeves

Title: Colony

Author: Scott Reeves

Narrator: Martin Scott

Publisher: Scott Reeves

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 4 hrs: 12 mins

Publication: September 28, 2012

Source: Publisher

Genre: Science Fiction

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Synopsis: In the 13th century, Earth is dangerously overcrowded. To reduce the population, people are chosen by lottery and shipped off to the stars to colonize other solar systems. Shiploads of colonists are dropped off on unexplored worlds and left to their own devices.

Jorge Leever and Meesha Androva are the only survivors of one such failed attempt to colonize a distant planet. For 20 years, they've been alone, unable to communicate with Earth. Now, another cargo ship arrives and discharges a new group of would-be colonists.

Jorge and Meesha intend to guide the development of the new colony, since they've accumulated 20 years' worth of knowledge about the planet.

Bannock, a brutal, criminal slumlord back on Earth, has other plans. He intends to reestablish his crime syndicate on this fledgling colony world and eventually return to Earth as a conqueror. But Jorge and Meesha stand in his way.

My Thoughts: Jorge and Meesha were selected to populate a new planet, along with 48 others. 20 years have passed since they arrived and as the only survivors they are tasked with guiding the new influx of colonist. Jorge and Meesha have high hopes for their new home. They have envisioned it as a New Earth without all the pitfalls of Earth. As with all good books this will be no easy task for Jorge and Meesha.

All of the characters are well developed and easy to relate to.  Jorge is a bright, strong, and loyal character. He has a strong desire for the colony to succeed. Jorge interest lay in what is best for the colony. His experiences on earth have allowed him to be a good judge of character.

I truly enjoyed this intriguing story.  It is easy to see myself living in this future environment. The government of Scott Reeves future did not surprise me. There is adventure, mystery, and budding romances. My favorite part was finding out the true nature and power of the avian’s. I can easily envision this as a series there is so much more that can be explored.  The plot was a little rushed at the end; this did not take away from the story. 

This story is suited for an audio adaptation.  This is a single-voiced production. Martin Scott did an excellent job of distinguishing between the characters. The animation in Martin Scott voice during the production kept me engaged. Appropriate pace was maintained throughout. There are no interruptions in the plot.