Art Grrrl

Ridiculous ending

Reviewed: 04-29-23

Who published this? The author. Who edited this? No one? The author. The resolution of the story? The solution to the crime? Ridiculous. I couldn't return this because I didn't buy it with a credit.

If you want a believable solution to the crime, this book is not for you. JD Kirk is a great story teller. But his books have endings that don't work.

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Clever does not equal Humor.

Reviewed: 12-11-19

This is a legal drama with a clever ending. I bought this because I needed something light, something humorous. Like Carl Hiaasen or maybe a smarter Agatha Raisin. Ya know? Humor.

Two hours in to my listen, because this is first person narration, I'm going through some seriously harrowing (stuff). I kept waiting . . . okay, when does the Humor start?? Well, not until hour 13 an intricate, clever ending is revealed. Maybe if you're a lawyer or part of the justice system, 13 hours of heavy duty drama can be discounted, and a clever ending can get the book labelled as Humor.

If you're looking for humor, don't look here. Honestly it's a well written book. I'm a critical listener, and I only had a couple of complaints. I gave it a harsher rating than it truly deserved to call attention to the incorrect classification.

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1 person found this helpful

Some of it's good, some of it's out of date

Reviewed: 08-15-18

The JP Morgan and Rothchilds stuff is history. The discussion about the "current" situation, well, it's not current. The book was written in 1997. Some of the observations, in light of the 2008 financial meltdown, miss the mark. I'd skip this one.

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A twist on the Narrator

Reviewed: 08-06-18

Anthony Horowitz is the Watson to his fictional "Sherlock". And as Watson, Anthony Horowitz is the narrator.

It was a really good story, but what added a little more fun were the "facts" that Horowitz "revealed" about himself. Fact or fiction! Ah. The game is afoot!

Definitely worth the credit and the time.

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Best lover EVER? AND Sick Sex Crimes??

Reviewed: 07-09-18

Narrator (Simon Vance) is of course fabulous.

The brutality against women is twisted & excessive. But every female character (just about) has to have sex with our Hero (writer's fantasy self).

It's kinda icky.

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Porn for Adolescent Boys

Reviewed: 10-22-17

I thought this was supposed to be a classic. Yikes.

Erect nipples, creamy thighs . . . and the author dedicated this to his daughters.

Yikes.

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9 people found this helpful

Incorrectly Categorized - Not a "Mystery/Thriller"

Reviewed: 08-16-17

I feel like Debbie from "Addams Family Values" . . . I wanted Ballerina Barbie, NOT Malibu Barbie.

The 1st 4 hours (yes 4 hours) I kept thinking, yeah I got the point. You can't leave, Can't phone home. Okay ET I get it.

And the next 3 hours were very exciting, which sorta redeemed the belabored 1st four.

But the ending?? Really? This is NOT Twin Peaks or any thriller involving a government agent. Not Jason Bourne.

If you want a weird, quirky government agent story with an appropriate ending, this ain't it.

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Welliver IS Bosch

Reviewed: 11-19-15

Dick Hill was a Superlative narrator. He did the voices. All the voices: white, black, Hispanic, male, female. He was fearless. A couple of the Bosch narrators have been actually cringe worthy. And after Hill, that really hurt.

But Titus Welliver sounds like I imagine Bosch would sound. Low key, almost monotone, flat and hurried. No drama in his voice because Bosch wouldn't speak dramatically. And when Welliver reads the other characters, with little to no variation, it works. Because that's how Bosch would read them. He's all Bosch all the time.

Hill was gifted with an ability to do all the of the different characters. Welliver has given us the gift of Harry Bosch. I absolutely love him!

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This is Not Grantchester.

Reviewed: 02-24-15

Sidney Chambers in Grantchester is so masculine. So world weary. So strong. So very heartbreaking.

This Sidney Chambers is Very Moral. A little sanctimonious . Very Disappointing.

When you hear "cozy 1950s detective stories with a country vicar as the sleuth", that's exactly what you get in Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death is. It's so very Very Prissy.

And the narrator . . . yikes. Most of the characters in the story are in their 20s. This narrator has the voice of an Old Cozy Country Vicar. And just as much acting ability. Sidney Chambers sounds like Miss Marple from St. Mary Meade.

This is not Grantchester. Buy this if you're curious to see how a brilliant writer (Daisy Coulam) turned these typical stories into something really special. If you want more James Norton as Sidney Chambers, I am so very sorry to tell you, he is not here. Buy the DVDs.

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7 people found this helpful

Narrator has to force gravitas

Reviewed: 07-17-14

Would you try another book from Seth Grahame-Smith and/or Scott Holst?

No, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was not nearly as good as Dawn of the Dreadfuls and Dreadfully Ever After. And Holst sounded too young, his voice was too light. It sounded like he was just trying too hard. I don't know if it was the writing or the narrating, but I just wanted to keep rolling my eyes. His lack of maturity was contagious.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Just icky.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Scott Holst?

Someone older, with a deeper voice. Not someone who should be narrating YA novels

Did Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter inspire you to do anything?

Investigate anything else Holst may have narrated or Grahame-Smith may have written, to avoid it.

Any additional comments?

Yes, I prefer to write reviews in a free format. This question/answer format is insulting. Shame on you Audible. How brainless you must think your listeners are.

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