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Mary Aalgaard

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Cash Blackbear is a character to root for

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

Reviewed: 06-16-25

I listened to this fourth book in Marcie Rendon’s Cash Blackbear series in just a few days. Cash is working a field in the Red River Valley when she notices something happening in the farmyard nearby. She goes to check things out and finds the farmer who hired her dead in the kitchen and a little girl hiding under a bed upstairs, her parents nowhere in sight. Cash calls in Sheriff Wheaton and assists him in finding the little girl’s parents and solving the murder. Cash has an added motivation for helping the girl and trying to keep her out of the foster care system. Cash has flashbacks to her own terrible experiences in the system as a child. I grew up in the Red River Valley of the North in MN, and I can picture all the places that Rendon describes. I enjoy reading about my home area from another perspective, and Rendon creates compelling stories with well drawn characters. Isabella Star LaBlanc is the perfect choice as narrator for these stories.

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Haunting and Riveting novel

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

Reviewed: 06-09-25

Sinister Graves is Rendon's third book in her Cash Blackbear mystery series. Cash is a young Native woman who attends classes at Moorhead State University, works in the fields for local farmers in the Red River Valley, and lives independently in Fargo, ND. She drinks, smokes cigarettes, shoots pool, and assisted the Norman County Sheriff Wheaton in solving mysterious crimes. In this book, she helps Wheaton discover the identity of a young woman found floating in the flood waters of the Red River in the Spring in the early 1970's. Evil lurks in and around the church graveyard, both in human form and as a dark looming presence. Cash risks her own safety to uncover what is really happening to the missing and murdered indigenous women in her area. I am from the farm country of the Red River Valley. Rendon's books bring me back to my home and my roots while providing another perspective of the place and what happens there. I quickly downloaded the next book in the series. Books #3 and #4 are expertly read by Isabella Star LaBlanc, an actor that I'm familiar with from watching and reviewing theater shows in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN.

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Intriguing Fantasy-Paranormal Romance

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

Reviewed: 05-25-25

Diana is a reluctant witch. She wants to live a fairly normal life among humans, but her craft is calling her. When she discovers a magic book at the Oxford library, she sends off a signal to other creatures. She’s invested now, even though she doesn’t fully understand what’s happening. The creature who is observing her most intently is Matthew Clairmont, a vampire. Their relationship is forbidden, different fantastical creatures don’t mix. In fact, historically, witches and vampires hate each other and usually harm each other. As Matthew and Diana get closer, the danger rises. They need to find the book and discover its secrets. A Discovery of Witches is the first in a multi-book series. We’re left with a cliffhanger at the end of book one, where the journey begins, leaving you to wonder just where, and when, the couple will end up.

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Cleverly constructed story

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

Reviewed: 04-23-25

I loved listening to this book. All four readers fit their distinct parts of the book perfectly. One of our book club members chose this book, and I’m so glad that she did. It will lend itself to great discussion. It really makes you think about how a story changes depending on who is telling it, from what perspective and motivation. It also appealed to my philosophical sense, the what ifs and meaning of actions, relationships, and money. I listened to the audio, but I’d also like to get my hands on the paper copy so I can reread passages, underline the good ones, and write in the margins.

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Long, but worth the time

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

Reviewed: 04-10-25

We all know that Verghese is an exceptional writer. His attention to detail is exquisite. Yes, some of the gory details of surgery and the body can be a bit much for us non-medical folks, but you can skim them, if needed. It’s an enormous undertaking to write an epic novel like this, multigenerational, multifaceted, full of both family and regional history, not to mention medical advancements and fears. It’s ultimately about people, and that’s what drives the listener/reader on. You do care about these characters and what happens to them, and why. It also drives home the flaws in human society, the ones led by fear and prejudice that break my heart. So much heartache could be avoided if people were kinder, more understanding, less fearful of what they don’t understand, and less governed by societal rules. I don’t want to spoil anything in this review. You have to experience this story for yourself. Allow time to let it sink in. You don’t have to rush through everything. Consider this one a long road trip novel, sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey. Also, the author reads his own work, and he’s wonderful.

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Edifying and Entertaining

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

Reviewed: 01-01-25

True Biz is one of the best audio books I’ve listened to. The author, Sara Novic, creates tension from the first chapter. Two students from the Deaf school are missing. Then, we go back a few months and learn about the characters, who they are, where they come from, their families. She quickly establishes connections, and we care about them and what happens to them. I learned more about Deaf culture as I listened to this story. I pictured the words and the story. It made me want to learn more ASL. I think I’ll choose this book for my next book club pick. It will create great discussion and enlighten readers about Deaf culture, ASL, and the importance of communication.

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A Psychological Study with Music

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

Reviewed: 11-26-24

I might not be in the majority, here, but I loved listening to this book. First of all, the narrator Anna Fields is brilliant. I would be happy if she read every audiobook. This book is populated with people from many nations, and Fields gave them all appropriate accents. She also had to do read words in multiple languages, as well as capture the tone and personality of many characters. The POV is 3rd person omniscient, and Patchett does this so well. I was never confused about who was in the scene and from which characters’ POV I was experiencing it. The main characters are Mr. Hosokawa, who is throwing a Birthday party for himself in an unnamed country in South America. His main motivation is to meet the famous Opera singer Roxane Coss. She is there with her protective accompanist. Dignitaries from many countries are also there. Mr. Hosokawa’s translater Gen is a central part to this story. He is fluent in several languages and has a working knowledge of even more. Once the terrorists invade the party and take over the house, he is a busy man. His ability to communicate clears up confusion and smooths the tension. Roxane’s music calms the spirits. Through the months-long hostage situation, relationships are formed and new ways of living develop. It’s almost like a utopia, but with the ever present presence of guns and possible violence. It’s a book I could listen to again, a book that examines the human experience, what people do in impossible situations, and how they still live, love, and cope.

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Great Audio Drama

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

Reviewed: 11-04-24

This is a gripping thriller, a great story with wonderful professional actors playing the parts. Fully dramatized with sound effects and music. Kept my attention the whole time. Could not stop listening!

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Classic Christie in a Dynamic Setting

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

Reviewed: 11-02-24

I really liked the cast of characters in Hickory Dickory Dock, and the setting in a boarding house for young people, some students and some who are already in careers. It makes for a great collection of characters and personality types. Christie brings in people from other parts of the world, An American, a West African, and a couple from the Middle East. She doesn’t get too in depth about race, but it’s mentioned. In this book, Poirot’s secretary, Mrs. Lemon, asks him to help solve a mysterious case of possible kleptomania. Her sister, Mrs. Hubbard, is the house mother, so to speak, of the boarding house, and has asked Poirot to come investigate. He’s feeling bored and curious. Why the random items? How are they connected? And, something definitely feels off about this place. Naturally, after he arrives, a young woman is found dead of apparent suicide, but Poirot knows better. This is murder, and now he’s invested in solving the crime. It might have been easier to keep track of the various characters and missing items if I had read the physical book. However, I would have missed out on Hugh Fraser’s excellent narration and being able to listen as I drove, walked the neighborhood, or drew in my art journal. I loved this story. The only adaptation I could find was a one episode version from a 1995 show. I’d love to see this one as a play.

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Candid Look at Kelly Bishop’s life and career

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

Reviewed: 10-21-24

I loved listening to Kelly Bishop read her memoir. She is candid and conversational as she takes us on the journey of becoming a ballet dancer to the interviews and development for the award-winning “A Chorus Line,” where she won the Tony for her performance as Sheila, and her transition to TV and film. She talks about the relationships she’s had and the deep love for her late husband Lee Leonard, her love for animals, especially rescue animals, and her vast menagerie of pets. She gives us insight into the entertainment business from stage to film, and her experiences working with writer’s Amy and Dan Paladino on Gilmore Girls and other shows. She is an introspective storyteller. On the page, as well as in real life, she isn’t afraid to voice her opinions. Of course, this book is for fans of Gilmore Girls and other work by Kelly Bishop and followers of her life. It’s also a book filled with interesting anecdotes and stories and encouragement to pursue your own dreams that anyone could appreciate. Kelly Bishop is an inspiring person.

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