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Randi Robinson

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A look into the future, and the past

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

Reviewed: 12-21-23

This look into the future where all aspects of life are controlled by one single large company is scary and maybe prophetic. The connection to COVID is also scary. This Audible Original full cast original was extremely well done. The sound effects made it seem like I was there.

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It blew me away!

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

Reviewed: 08-07-23

This book is not your typical Stephen King. There are no killer clowns anywhere nor any other monsters except the real ones. The only thing supernatural about it is the time travel aspect. It deals with real times and real events I remember like they were yesterday so perhaps that contributed to its effect on me. It is long, written with King’s wordy style and great detail. Jake tells us his story in conversational and emotional tone that makes the reader become invested in Jake as a friend. It is I think the best narration I have ever heard. I would give Craig Watson 10 stars if i could. The characters are all well developed and realistic. The story examines the fifties and sixties, the “ago”, as viewed by a person from the “ahead”. Imagine living in the past but knowing what will happen. It also exams the effects of changing the past. Is each visit really a redo? As King points out in the afterward and is evident throughout the book, it was extensively researched and not written as originally intended in the emotional aftermath of the assassination but with some perspective of time. It wasn’t full of suspense-after all we know some of what happened-but I became so involved I couldn’t stop listening. Some of it may have been unbelievable but then time travel is to most people unbelievable. Some of King’s liberal leanings show through but I did not find them distracting. I highly recommend this book both as entertaining fiction and a look at the past.

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Missing child case with a twist

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

Reviewed: 07-07-23

I had forgotten just how much I enjoyed the Lacey James series but it all came back in a rush with this new installment. Lacey is a very real character with all her faults and troubles. Her husband Caleb has a new girlfriend and has moved out. She is juggling her job and her kids, and she is tired, always rushing around, always late, something all mothers can relate to. In a hurry to drop the kids off to Caleb, she nearly hits a little girl in the middle of the road. No parents come forward right away so Lacey takes the girl to her cousin Amber to watch. Amber is another strong female character and Lacey's best friend. She plays a big part in this story. Surprising twists make this more than just a missing child case. There is good police work and lots of emotion in this one. I received a copy of the audiobook from Story Origin. Cassandra Medcalf does an excellent job as Lacey, who tells most of the story. Her voice is pleasant, easy to understand, and well paced. Nathan Agin adds to the story in several places where a male voice is a necessity. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series.

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Not your usual zombie story

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

Reviewed: 04-11-23

I got a copy of this book from Story Origins. When I started it I thought to myself "Why on earth did I pick this book? I don't read zombie stories. I won't be finishing this one to review it." Well, there is a first time for everything. This is so much more than a zombie story. This is a pandemic story, a near future post apocalyptic story, a medical story and a human nature story. It has the feeling of today with government control and protestors outside. It is set in Chicago years after the infection started. As the illness progresses, the person becomes a Smiler. It is required that they notify the government when they are infected, and in the beginning they were immediately put to death. Now they have a Hospice where the dead go to die. Before the transformation to Bone Eater is complete the patient is humanely euthanized. Emily is a nurse in this facility. We see the patients for what they are-sick people. There is blood and gore but there is also humanity. The ending is definitely not what you expect for a zombie story. Warning-it's a tear jerker.

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A unique look at time travel

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

Reviewed: 01-31-23

I really enjoy this time travel series. In most time travel the traveler is not supposed to change the past, but in this series the traveler is sent back by an organization for a purpose in order to change time. This makes these stories unique. In the first book Joseph sent himself back. In this one, he touches objects in his antique shop that form a connection to him. So far he hasn't gone too far back and it is interesting to see the view of history I have lived through. I listened to the audiobook. Ray Porter did an excellent job bringing the characters, especially Joseph, to life. I look forward to listening to more books in this series.

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Good ghost story

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

Reviewed: 01-30-23

I enjoyed this book and thought it was good but not great. It is a classic ghost story with realistic characters. Emmy lost her job in LA and returns home to the house where she grew up in Minnesota. When she was a child she was haunted by the ghost of a young girl found hanging in the backyard and unfortunately the Hanging Girl is still there. The characters were wonderful. Emmy struggles with her "gift". Finn searches for evidence of the paranormal. Sarah, an old friend from high school, is a believer. John totally doubts the existence of the paranormal and tries to explain it away. This is a realistic look at the way people accept things they can't understand. The descriptions of what the ghost did are chilling. There are several twists that add to the story. I listened to the audiobook and I only had one problem. Emmy sounded like a teenager, younger than I assumed her to be. Otherwise the narration was well done.

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A different kind of time travel.

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

Reviewed: 01-22-23

I got so caught up in this story that I listened to it in one sitting. The story was unique among time travel. A scientific explanation with no strange portal differentiates it from others I have read. The narration was well done.

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Personal look at Mrs Kennedy.

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

Reviewed: 12-21-22

Wonderfully personal look back at an amazing woman by the Secret Service agent assigned to protect her

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Would have been a better read

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

Reviewed: 11-21-22

I enjoy medical mysteries and the story was interesting. A woman staggers out of a hospital and walks into traffic. Good beginning. The mystery kept me guessing. The narrator was a little distracting She sounded too young for the main character and didn’t do the other characters vey well. The detective boyfriend sounded like he was reading a report some of the time. I think I would have enjoyed the story more and followed the characters better if I had read the book instead.

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The end makes the book worth it

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

Reviewed: 10-22-22

In listening to this book I was as confused as Lucy James was. What job exactly was she interviewing for? Her interactions with her “clients” left me wondering what their purpose was, and my best guess was not anywhere near right. The story was interesting if perhaps a bit long. The characters developed well throughout the story. The narration was excellent. All in all, I enjoyed the book.

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