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Lisa

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A plan with an agenda

Overall
1 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
1 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-10-23

This isn’t a book about Sharon Tate. The author barely scratches the surface of what makes her an icon. Instead there’s a feeling of him using Sharon Tate as a tool to push a conservative, entitled, Beaver Cleaver agenda.

The author espouses censorship (he calls the Hays Code ‘timeless’) and seems to think Sharon’s image needs ‘rehabilitation’. Anyone who’s read anything about Sharon Tate knows this is rubbish. Her memory needs to be unshackled from what her sister Debra calls ‘the M word’. To censor some of the key moments of her life (her marriage, her roles, her choices) is not the way to go about it.

Quite honestly, I don’t believe this author cares about Sharon Tate, her image or celebrating her life. She’s just a means to an end for him and that doesn’t honor her.

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Good story but one drawback….

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-03-23

Therese Plummer is one my favorite narrators but the last 2 hours was so overwrought I nearly gave up. Will continue the series and hope for a more even performance in the next books. *crosses fingers*

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I tried... I really did.

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-21-21

This is a rambling story. Lisbeth seems more caricature than the complex character Larsen created. Even Mikael seems over it. Glad I stuck it out but I’m hoping there’s no more to this series since it’s not doing any of the characters justice.

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1 person found this helpful

Suspension of disbelief a must.

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 12-12-17

I enjoyed this book & found it engrossing enough to overlook how hokey the plot was. The writing is probably what saved it from being snort-worthy.

I probably won’t read another from this author but it was a good way to pass the time during a spring clean. And it was on sale. 😊

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2 people found this helpful

Grim, moving, empowering

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-28-17

Parts of this book were hard to stomach. The author is unflinching in the depiction of the horrors of child abuse & trafficking.

Livia is a strong, likable, relatable anti-hero and I found my self doing mental fist pumps when she dealt to her abusers. Some people simply don’t deserve to live.

The writing is tight & jumping between then/now never confused the story. The narration was excellent.

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1 person found this helpful

Couldn't finish. :-(

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
1 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-21-16

I love the 2011 3-part Zen TV series so I thought I'd give the books a go. This could be a great story/series but I won't be finding out from the audio versions.

Ninety minutes in, I gave up after realizing I'd not taken in any of the story because of the awful narration. His voice is nice enough but his choppy/biting manner of (over)acting rather than narrating is very irritating. If I don't like a narrator, I can usually put push through to the end but I was beaten by this one.

I'll stick to the printed version on this series.

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1 person found this helpful

A gentle mystery.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-19-16

I was having a bad week. I listened to this book and, as corny as it sounds, it lifted my spirits. This book is not what I'd consider 'high art' or a classic but it's wonderfully evocative and a good escape. If I had to pick one word it would be 'soothing' and I'll be listening to it again.

This is a slow building story with the first 2/3 of the book fleshing out the characters, their backstories and the villa itself. The main characters are very likable, even the often irritating Marjorie, and you really get a sense of their burdens and how the villa and its inhabitants help them 'come alive' again. The visitors are mostly unlikable and come off as shallow and selfish, which is a nice contrast to the main players. However, on getting to know them a little better as the story unfolds they're actually OK (Theo & Felicity)... except Richie; he's a jerk. The last 1/3 has the reveals coming thick and fast (but it's not hard to guess them). Relationships are revealed, mended, ended and cemented and everything is wrapped up nicely. I came away from this book feeling a lighter and happier.

Excellent narration. With so many characters, it would be easy for the listener to become confused but Nicolette McKenzie has given them each a unique voice. I think I'll try one of the other Elizabeth Edmondson books she's narrated, maybe Villa on the Riviera.

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81 people found this helpful

Read this book!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-09-16

I downloaded this book the day it was released but before listening, I went back and listened to the previous 2 books (definitely recommend it). I finished 'A Time of Torment' yesterday and it's really been playing on my mind, which is a good thing.

I loved this and didn't want it to end. This is not a fast paced book; the story unwinds slowly and in great detail and no scene is wasted. The writing is very descriptive; The Cut gave me the heebie jeebies in the same way that Caleb Kyle in 'Dark Hollow' did (Parker certainly knows how to find isolated, corrupt communities and/or weirdos) and Paige's story gave me a lump in my throat. Parker's deadliness has been nicely built up in the previous books but until now, it's been more subtle. In this book, it's on full display; even the mention of his name is enough to send folks running for cover. Parker's relationship with The Collector just keeps getting better. Angel & Louis... I know they kill people and all but I just love them. And Sam... she's scarier than all of the characters put together.

This book has reminded me why I loved this series in the first place. I think I'm going to have to go back and listen to some of the earlier books to keep me busy until the next in the series comes out.

Excellent narration by Jeff Harding.

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6 people found this helpful

Charlie Parker reboot.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-07-16

I really like this series but (to me) Parker seemed to have been drifting in many of the previous books. 'Parker on a mission' is one of the more interesting aspects of the series and he seemed to have lost that for a while. The events in 'Wolf in Winter' and this book have given him his edge back and, although still recovering, he's much more driven & lethal than before.

The supernatural element is still there but seems more focused (I can't think of a better word). Parker's relationship with his daughters is both touching & ominous. The scenes with Angel & Louis are still great and I'm looking forward to seeing how Parker's connection to The Collector plays out in the next book, which I've just downloaded.

Excellent narration; Jeff Harding is always great though.

Overall, these last 2 books have really renewed my interest in the series and I'm excited for the next one.

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6 people found this helpful

Sweet and well written

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-28-16

Romance books usually aren't my thing but I really enjoyed this one and it's become one of my 'comfort' books that I've listened to multiple times.

Roberts has created some well-rounded, intelligent and funny characters (although there are some stereotypes in this story as well) and Julia Whelan makes the story very easy to get lost in.

It was nice 'watching' Abigail blossom from rigid, frosty and guarded to more open and humorous. I loved her self-sufficiency and non-traditional views on relationships and her social awkwardness was endearing. Brooks' laid-back nature, tenacity and in-your-face family was a perfect match for her. The Gleason family's acceptance of Abigail was moving, given her non-relationship with her own mother. Even Bert (the Italian, French & Farsi understanding dog) was a great character; I would've liked to have 'seen' him in action.

Ms. Whelan did a great job with voices and accents. She easily goes from Abigail's straighforward logic to Sylbie to Sunny to a drunken Tybal. There's no confusing any of the characters.

I've found Nora Roberts books to be hit-and-miss but this one hit the mark with me.

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2 people found this helpful

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