Elisabeth Epps

Rare gem. Nearly perfect.

Reviewed: 08-18-24

Can’t recall giving 5 stars in all categories before, but this novel deserves it.

There are a few plot elements that defy credulity (like a main character not immediately recognizing something from her own life), but other than suspending disbelief for that, this was near flawless. I thought I had the plot twists all figured out before the halfway mark—I didn’t guess completely right, but I was close. The actual ending managed to be a surprise yet totally plausible and supported by all that had preceded it.

Suspenseful but realistic, for the most part. Lots of abuse, but a rare good ending that if not happy, isn’t as sad as most books in this genre.

Narration was excellent. Narrator managed characters of different ages and genders all equally well.

Loved it all.

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Starts strong, loses steam, description all wrong.

Reviewed: 08-14-24

I reread this twice, for a total of 3 listens, so convinced that surely I must be missing something - both in terms of being underwhelmed at how the book just kinda peters out. The story is at first quite gripping, and requires attention to track the timelines and narrators. I enjoyed that challenge, but unfortunately the payoff for the reader’s investment is an underwhelming anti-climactic denouement. Mysteries resolve but predictably, unsatisfyingly.

Also, maddeningly, Audible’s description of the book on the Title & Details page is just plain wrong. It’s not a plot point, not a spoiler to say this: it’s just factually inaccurate - not the tease I imagined it must be. I wondered if it was my own misunderstanding that ruined the book, but it wasn’t. The fiddler is not a woman named “Clemency Thompson”; she doesn’t get a text from a woman named Lucy as the description days. In the book, Lucy sets a calendar alert, gets a notification on her phone. Disappointing that such little care was put into the description.

The narrators were strong readers tho, and do a good job portraying people of different ages, genders, nationalities with relative ease.

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Disappointing.

Reviewed: 09-08-22

I purchased The Last White Man based on a review on NPR which made it sound intriguing and thoughtful. This book was neither. Interesting premise that is wholly unexplored. For a book whose entire plot hinges on changes in a person’s appearance, the author tells us remarkably little about those changes. Skin gets darker, ok—but does hair texture change? eye color? other phenotypical markers of race? As a Black woman, I listened to this book and imagined a world of former white people now cos-playing as unwilling minstrels in unfortunate black face. I don’t mind a story that requires us to suspend disbelief, but this short book doesn’t give enough to make us understand why we would be emotionally invested in the plight of the protagonist.

The narrator was excellent tho, warm hypnotic voice that made the best of dull material. Everything isn’t for everyone, and this just wasn’t for me.

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3 people found this helpful

Excellent, challenging, timely yet timeless.

Reviewed: 10-28-21

Brilliant book that was surprisingly manageable conceptually, given the density of the topics explored. Narrator has several curious mispronunciations that suggest a less than full familiarity with the subject matter, but while noticeable, this wasn’t distracting.

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Disappointing. Hard to believe Grisham penned it.

Reviewed: 07-22-17

Have you listened to any of January LaVoy’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

January LaVoy was quite good. Rich voice, distinct characters without overacting. Look forward to hearing her narrate a better story.

Any additional comments?

I was skeptical of reviews I'd read calling Camino Island a disappointment; I was wrong to be skeptical, those reviews were right. It starts off swiftly with characteristic intrigue, but then devolves into meandering content focused on a young woman's angst in love and as a writer. No courtroom action, no legal action, which aren't to me problematic- but not even a good story underlies the book. Unsatisfying. Weird. I still adore Grisham but this one was not worth a read.

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