CaptiveBooks

It was bound to happen

Reviewed: 03-22-25

While I still absolutely love this series, and cannot wait to devour the next book, for the first time I feel compelled to downgrade the story from 5 stars to 4 ... I saw the writing on the wall from previous reviewers but fought for so long against jumping on the band wagon, hoping against hope that a change in course was just around the corner. Alas, I was mistaken. We get it. Edna is the most beautiful, intelligent, charming, brave, intriguing and gosh darn perfect, creature on the planet. Rowland would do/does everything and anything for her, but will never, ever HAVE her. Again, we get it. But at a certain point it is too painful to witness this, especially in conjunction with the introduction of one female character after another who is (at best) handsome, but always dumb as a box of rocks, socially inept, weak, boring and the worst crime of all, not Edna! Stop this already!! But please keep up reminding us of the harrowing history from 1933 Germany, England & Australia, It is relevant, ringing so many warning bells with current events.

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Missing Graeme Malcolm

Reviewed: 03-12-25

I could have saved myself a lot of confusion, had I realized before starting to write this review that I inadvertently skipped reading the last book in the series, Death of a Spy ... The storyline of Death of a Smuggler wasn't terrible, but I just couldn't connect with the Narration by David Monteath. When I looked back to see who the previous narrator was, I was shocked to note his name, but even more flummoxed not to find that book in my library. No clue how this happened, given that I am always on the edge of my seat awaiting the next installment in this MC Beaton series being carried on by R.W. Green. Sadly, that journey also led to the discovery that Graeme Malcolm has passed away. Back to the writing itself - my main bone to pick is with the characterization of Priscilla. While I was starting to suspect that she was damaged by some secret emotional and/or physical trauma yet to be revealed, but rather than that being delved into and exposed, it appears that is not the case. Turns out she's just a plain ole shrew (which even AI backs me up in defining the term as dated and offensive. Maybe I'll feel differently after going back to Death of a Spy (or maybe her (my) redemption is still to come!?))

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Excellent!

Reviewed: 02-16-25

I love this series - was so happy to discover book 1; was thrilled when book 2 was just as good; and ecstatic that book 3 kept it all going! Same loveable characters on another new adventure, this one "in country" in more ways than one ... When you think it is over, it is not. Already devouring book 4 - Thanks!

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1 person found this helpful

Chaos, but not really?

Reviewed: 02-01-25

I have to use one of the same words from my review of the last Kay Scarpetta - excruciating! There is an actual physical drone, but unfortunately its storyline is overpowered by the verbal droning on and on and on about NOT processing a crime scene. It felt like the reverse of when a character in Forrest Gump lists the many ways shrimp can be prepared and served - in this case Kay is imploring everyone in her universe not to jump to conclusions about cause of death while she takes too many chapters to repeat over and over again what it couldn't possibly be ... Her moaning and groaning about her combative, toxic relationship with her sister is beyond exhausting (how is this possible when Kay is so thoughtful about anticipating everyone's needs and manages to personally shop for the most perfect gifts for the world?) And there's also Kay's martyred guilt for somehow not being able to prevent tragedy from touching anyone she encounters, no matter how random and quick the interaction might entail. I'd fail a challenge to describe my husband of 39 years in half as much detail as she was able to conjure up for a complete stranger she encountered for mere minutes in the midst of just one of her incredibly busy days. Time to take another long break before moving on to the next book in the series. Oh how I wished I could abandon somethings once I embark down an unsatisfying path!

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Excruciatingly Exhausting!

Reviewed: 01-10-25

You know the expression "This meeting should have been an email"? W-e-l-l, if all the needless repetition had been deleted from this performance, it could have been a decent short story! It is excruciating to have Kay wonder something in her head and then run it by Marino, then return to her internal thoughts, then discuss it with her lab guys, then think about it to herself some more, then argue the same original questions (no progress!) with Benton - rinse and repeat with Lucy and Janet et al. EXHAUSTING! Something funny that emerged from this exercise though, it reminded me why I abandoned the idea of becoming a lawyer ... spending a whole day in a court room while the prosecutor asked one witness "Was the car blue?" 700 different ways for 8 hours ruined the dream for me. Again, I feel I must state that the coincidences and conflicts of interest are so over the top, there is no way that any one of these characters would keep their jobs/not be prosecuted themselves for any number of crimes. Sigh ... and yet ... on to the next to see where this dysfunctional rollercoaster ends up!

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Excellent Sophomore Outing!

Reviewed: 12-28-24

So happy to find Book #2 in the series as wonderful as I had Book #1 - lots of Australia tidbits still alive and well, but a treat to have a cruise around the world thrown in, along with an incredibly entertaining new cast of characters (and intriguing storylines) to spar with our familiar, lovable crew. Can't wait for my next credit to hit, so I can purchase #3!

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1 person found this helpful

OVER 12 Hours Not Needed!

Reviewed: 12-18-24

What is this obsession with forcing books to be longer than they should be - a sharp machete is needed to weed out all the repetitive rubbish here. It's never good when I'm walking down the street listening to my audiobook convulsing with groans and screams. I never did manage to solve the mystery of adjusting the controls so the narrator didn't sound like an AI generated robot ... the speed was either too slow or too fast - So frustrating! I'm sure I've said it before, but Kay is just insufferable with her self sacrificing, oh no I better do it myself, attitude. I needed a long break after this one, but I'm sure I won't be able to stay away forever.

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Must Everything in the World Revolve around Kay?

Reviewed: 12-18-24

Wow - guess I finished this quite a while ago and had to let it sit ... and sit for a bit more before reviewing. I don't know why I continue to "hate listen" to these Kay Scarpetta Stories - but again that's not true, if nothing I am stubborn and loyal to my own frustration. Once again ALL roads lead to Kay and/or Benton and/or Lucy and/or Pete - oh who am I trying to kid, ALL of them! I get that our worlds, the universes we live our daily lives in, are relatively small, but it's a fact that none of these people would be able to investigate any of this stuff in real life due to the conflicts of interest - and since that continues to be ignored, it really sticks in my craw. That's right, my craw ... yes, I'm old, but not 107 years old, old (no offense intended to 107-year-olds still listening to and reviewing books). The narrator does nail everyone though, so there's that!

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Stumbled Upon this Gem!

Reviewed: 12-18-24

Not sure how this ended up in my queue - I had read The Woman in the Library and while I had liked it, I certainly did not love it ... was so confused when this book started out and was radically different from the other in setting, time period, style and well, every other way?! But it turned out to be a wonderful new (old) adventure! Love all the Australian details, including the NonAmerican/NonBritish insight into the 1930s. Usually not a fan of male narrators - I find they often have a hard time avoiding caricature female voices; however, this hits the mark for me (maybe it's the accent!?). In any event, I'm currently devouring Book 2 - yum, yum!

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1 person found this helpful

Couldn't Love More!

Reviewed: 12-18-24

How rare is it to be on Book #18 and absolutely love it?! I have to admit I was nervous how Georgie would fare being "tied down" to a house and family in the country; however, Bowen knocked it out of the park! Fresh blood and storylines introduced on a grand scale, while still letting us feast on the ole tried and true characters we love. Thank you - and - Keep 'em coming!

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