Short Story Sunday: Death Row by Freida McFadden
Death Row
Series: Alibis Collection #1
Author: Freida McFadden
Narrator: Lauryn Allman
Published: June 1, 2025
Audiobook: 1 hour 44 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Listened To: June 16, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 2 stars
Short Story Description:
With all hope of an appeal fading away, the fate of a condemned murderess takes a shocking turn in a breathtaking short story.
Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering her husband. She had an alibi and no known motive, yet Talia’s unwavering protestations of innocence have always been ignored. Then one day in the visiting area, she sees a recognizable stranger she’s certain is her husband. It turns out the man she’s been convicted of killing may not be dead after all. But as the days tick away toward Talia’s execution, what will it take for her to be believed?
Freida McFadden’s Death Row is part of Alibis, a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.
Jessica’s Review:
I’m a Freida McFadden fan, and look forward to reading her backlist and future novels. I have given her novels/short stories ranging from 3-5 stars. Death Row receives two stars. I knew it was a short story; it has been made clear which of her stories she has written are in fact not full-length novels. Whether people notice those signs or not, that is on them: Whether they read the short story description or just hit ‘buy’ because it is a McFadden novel.
The description of this short story intrigued me. I had lots of thoughts while listening to this one. McFadden’s ‘twist’ just didn’t work for me. I wanted more of a ‘crime story’ or a “Is Talia actually innocent or guilty?” versus what actually happened.
There has been confusion with some readers with the short story. On her website she does give her interpretations with the story that she wrote. (That link is here and WILL give spoilers!) My thoughts coincided with what her intentions were. For that, I was glad that I took the story in the way she intended, but again, her ending was just not for me.
I loved that Lauryn Allman was the narrator! She IS the voice of Millie from The Housemaid series for me. And she did a good job as Talia in her narration.
Though not for me, this short story might be for you. If you haven’t read anything from McFadden I would say don’t start with this one.
Purchase Links: (This short story is available on Kindle or Audio)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Audiobook Review: The Lost Girls by J.M. Cannon
The Lost Girls
Author: J.M. Cannon
Narrator: Lauryn Allman
Published: February 27, 2025
Audiobook: 10 hours 31 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: June 6-16, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Three missing girls. Two days to find the truth.
One woman’s race against time . . .
Charleston, South Carolina. Four years ago.
Three girls disappear into the night. One by one they go missing, never to be seen again. No witnesses, no leads, nothing.
The only thing they had in common? An uneasy sense of being watched in the days before they vanished. Noises in the night, and boot prints in the flower beds outside their bedroom windows . . .
Today.
One of the lost girls was Anna Klein’s best friend. With no body, the case went cold. But Anna never stopped looking for Sylvie – or whoever took her.
Now, four years later, Anna finally has a lead when a body turns up in an abandoned mansion. She has to know: Is it Sylvie? But time is running out. As the storm of the century threatens the whole East Coast, the clock is ticking to find the answers before this trail goes cold.
Can Anna find Sylvie and the other girls before they’re lost forever?
** Previously published as The Flash Girls **
Jessica’s Review:
The Lost Girls is my first novel by J.M. Cannon and I enjoyed it! I was approached to read it and the description interested me. Missing girls, a possible ‘serial kidnapper’, one girl left trying to find answers years later, and much more.
I was riveted in the book from the beginning. I liked Anna and was along for the ride with her. So much was going on in the story and we have another villain heading towards Charleston: The seemingly biggest hurricane that may cause ultimate devastation to the area.
There is a sense of urgency with the hurricane coming and this upcoming storm is its own character! Cannon was very descriptive of Charleston and I felt like I could have been there. There was also a scene that dealt with news footage of the colossal waves hitting a ship. This was making me think twice about doing a cruise out in the ocean! (Not that I am going on a cruise anytime soon).
Bodies being found with the upcoming storm was also giving a sense of urgency with the crime scenes. And the crime scenes too! And there is also a scene in a morgue I won’t go into. Let’s just say these scenes helped to keep the ‘thriller lover/serial killer reader’ in me intrigued!
Some of the directions the story went in was a bit out of left field, but I really wanted to see what was going to happen in the end! Was the villain going to be found and was Charleston going to be devastated by the storm?
Lauren Allman was the narrator and she is fast becoming a narrator that I will look out for. She is becoming a ‘must listen to’ narrator for me. She did a great job with her narration. She kept me wanting to keep listening to the story!
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a Spotify audio copy via Pubvendo to listen to and review. I enjoyed it!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Audiobook Review: So Happy Together by Olivia Worley
So Happy Together
Author: Olivia Worley
Narrator: Michelle H. Lee
Published: June 3, 2025
Audiobook: 8 hours 47 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: June 1-5, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Jane and Colin are soulmates. He just doesn’t know it yet.
For twenty-four-year-old Jane, finding love in New York City is even harder than making it as a playwright—especially when all her swiping through the apps leads to one meaningless connection after another.
So when Jane meets Colin, a sweet software engineer, she can’t believe her luck: they’re perfect for each other. Even when Colin breaks off their blooming relationship after six dates, Jane is certain this is just a stumbling block. She’ll get him back. She knows she will.
That is, until Colin starts dating Zoe—perfect, luminous, up-and-coming Brooklyn artist Zoe. Even worse, she’s actually kind of nice. But Zoe doesn’t have what it takes to love Colin. She’d never stay with him through thick and thin. All Jane has to do is prove it, and they’ll be so happy together.
But when Jane sneaks into Colin’s apartment, she makes a shocking discovery—one that will ensnare them all in a dark and complicated web of lies, secrets, and murder.
Jessica’s Review:
The cover of So Happy Together caught my attention and after I read the book description I wanted to read it: We have a female stalker! And I did enjoy it. The novel takes place in New York City. Jane meets Colin through an app (as people do these days) and they have six dates; they sleep together and after that Colin ends it. But Jane knows they are meant to be together, so she starts stalking him! I was all about reading a female stalker! Jane worms her way back into Colin’s life and one day sneaks into his apartment, and discovers something that is shocking to her.
It would help if you know some about Hamlet and Ophelia as Jane is a playwright and written a play about Ophelia. I am not familiar with this play at all. I don’t feel I missed out on anything not knowing a thing about Ophelia or Hamlet.
This story has a lot of twists and goes in several different directions. We have disappearances and murder. I enjoyed listening to this one. The narrator, Michelle H. Lee did a good job with her narration. Her interpretation of Jane was ‘fitting’ for a stalker and her narration kept me involved in the story.
Many thanks to the publisher Macmillan Audio for granting me a copy to listen to and review.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK