Audio ARC Review: The Prisoner by B.A. Paris
The Prisoner
Author: B.A. Paris
Narrator: Georgia Maguire
To Be Published: November 1, 2022
Audiobook
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: September 12-16, 2022
Jessica’s Rating: 2.5 stars
Book Description:
Amelie has always been a survivor, from losing her parents as a child in Paris to making it on her own in London. As she builds a life for herself, she is swept up into a glamorous lifestyle where she married the handsome billionaire Ned Hawthorne.
But then, Amelie wakes up in a pitch-black room, not knowing where she is. Why has she been taken? Who are her mysterious captors? And why does she soon feel safer here, imprisoned, than she had begun to feel with her husband Ned?
Jessica’s Review:
I have enjoyed most of B.A. Paris’ novels, but last year’s The Therapist didn’t work for me and now The Prisoner failed me. And she started so strong with her debut of Behind Closed Doors.
We have Amelie who is our narrator for both past and present. And we get to know her and what has happened in her past to make her who she is today. The premise was intriguing for me: Amelie locked in a dark room alone, what’s she to do? Why is she being held there? Just what is going on?
The novel just became a muddled mess and I thought it was going in one direction, but it wasn’t. As it progressed and we started figuring things out at the end I found myself just not caring anymore. I felt this is a novel that had a lot of potential that just wasn’t for me. I did like that it shows how knowing some basic math and doing some quick figures can be important! I also liked how the chapters were short and that made the novel go by quicker. If the chapters had been longer, I don’t know if I would have completed it.
I listened to the audiobook and Georgia Maguire is the narrator. She is a new narrator for me and she portrayed Amelie very well. I felt the tension and fear that Amelie had when she was first in that room. I would be interested in listening to more from her.
Many thanks to the publisher Macmillian Audio for granting me an audio arc to listen to and review. I just wish my review had been favorable.
Audible Original: One Little Mistake by Lucinda Berry
One Little Mistake
Author: Lucinda Berry
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Published: September 9, 2021
Audiobook: 2 hours 23 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Listened To: August 24, 2022
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Novella Description:
From the best-selling author of The Secrets of Us and The Best of Friends comes a novella of deceit, desperation, and how one little mistake can unravel a life.
When overwhelmed stay-at-home mom Alexis finds herself at odds with her husband after she’s charged with a DUI, she is given one chance to get her family back: complete AA and admit her faults. The problem is, she’s never had a drinking problem and has no idea what caused the blackout that led to her arrest. Still, she’s committed to working through the program, if that’s what it takes to be reunited with her two young children. But when she connects with a new friend, Farrah – a confident, successful powerhouse of a woman Alexis can’t help but idolize – she’s empowered to take a closer look at her husband’s role in her downfall. What she finds shocks her to her core, quickly spiraling into something more sinister than she ever imagined.
Jessica’s Review:
What started as a mother dealing with a DUI turns into so much more than I expected! This is my first by Lucinda Berry and it won’t be the last. I do have mixed opinions on this novella as the mother Alexis was not likable and also an unreliable narrator. Which if you have followed my reviews then you know my opinions on these types of narrators. Was Alexis’ situation a DUI or not since she has zero memory of what happened that afternoon/evening.
The ending of this novella took an unexpected and different turn which saved it for me. I was surprised as I liked the ending and wish it was a full-length novel. I want more to this story and see what happens next!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Audible Original: Sleeping Dogs Lie by Samantha Downing
Sleeping Dogs Lie
Author: Samantha Downing
Narrators:
Melanie Nicholls-King
Lindsey Dorcus
Published: April 1, 2021
Audiobook: 2 hours 8 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Listened: August 25, 2022
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Novella Description:
From the internationally best-selling author of My Lovely Wife and He Started It comes a twisted, entertaining novella about a dog walker swept into a criminal investigation when her client winds up dead.
Shelby works as a dog walker in Northern California, and she’s just finished up her biweekly trip to the park with a husky named Pluto. When she brings him back to his house, she finds his owner—Todd Burke, a well-known local businessman and founder of an organic supplements company—dead on the bathroom floor. As a detective interviews Shelby, a medical examiner inspects the body, and more cops search Todd’s home, it becomes clear that the victim’s life was less picture-perfect than his clean-cut persona might lead you to believe.
Jessica’s Review:
I loved this novella!! Downing is seemingly becoming a new favorite author for me! This clever novella has all kinds of twists and turns and I was fully engrossed in what was going to happen! I wasn’t expecting to be fully involved in the story of a dog walker.
We have two POVs: The dog walker Shelby who is seemingly caught up in a death case, and the second is the police Detective Grady. What is at first just a death becomes so much more with so many potential guilty parties. I didn’t have any idea on who the guilty party was and was stunned at the conclusion! This fast-paced novella will definitely surprise the listener and also keep them entertained.
The ending was shocking but I also loved it as it was totally unexpected! I had a smile on my face when this audiobook was over!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK