Prime Time Audiobook By Hank Phillippi Ryan cover art

Prime Time

A Charlotte McNally Mystery, Book 1

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Prime Time

By: Hank Phillippi Ryan
Narrated by: Margaret Daly
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In the cutthroat world of television journalism, seasoned reporter Charlotte McNally knows that she'd better pull out all the stops or kiss her job goodbye. But it's her life that might be on the line when she learns that an innocent-looking email offer resulted in murder, mayhem and a multimillion-dollar fraud ring.

All too soon her investigation leads her straight to Josh Gelston, who is a little too helpful and a lot too handsome. Charlie might have a nose for news, but men are a whole other matter. Now she has to decide whether she can trust Josh...before she ends up as the next lead story.

©2009 Hank Phillippi Ryan (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Detective Fiction Mystery Romance Romantic Suspense Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction
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Margaret Daly was well matched to portray Charlie. Her vocal intonation made the character come to life.

Great intrigue

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I chose this series because I really like this author and another series that she has written is quite good. I've already downloaded the second book to listen to in this series so I will eventually give it a shot, but I sure hope the main character improves a lot. I really liked the other characters in the book, even the villains were well developed and believable, but the main character is a middle aged, insecure, whiney, conclusion jumping crazed chic who is supposed to also be soft hearted, eager, intelligent and quick thinking....it doesn't fly. The plot was quite good and as I said the supporting cast of characters were quite excellent. I will definitely give the second book a go as I do like this author a lot, but fingers crossed the main character is much improved. Hopefully the insertion of the love interest from this book will settle her the down and ground her more in future books.

An aging tv journalist chasing a story

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Would you consider the audio edition of Prime Time to be better than the print version?

I never read mysteries. I like to listen to them on a plane or at the gym.

Which character – as performed by Margaret Daly – was your favorite?

Charlie

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I did...all eight hours!

Any additional comments?

I thought Margaret Daly brought the story to life and I plan to find other books she has read on Audible.

Nice story great reader

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This is the first in the Charlie McMally series. Charlotte, (Charlie) is a 46-year-old investigative reporter on fictional Channel 3, Boston. She’s seeing signs from others that they may think she’s getting too old for this spot on t.v., even though she still does good enough reporting to win the station an Emmy each year. But this might be the year that doesn’t happen as she has very few weeks or days to find the story that will win them the prize this year. The first in the Charlie McMally series. Charlie is sent, because no other reporters are available, on the “vulture patrol” to get a comment from the widow of someone who just died in an accident. But the innocent-looking widow is interested in whether or not Charlie had gotten, or replied to, an e-mail from her husband about whistle-blowing for his company. Charlie becomes involved in a plot of possible insider trading and other dangerous pursuits that almost gets her killed and finds her a romantic interest after all these years as well. A more light-hearted cozy than I usually read, but it was entertaining and constructive regarding women in television reporting.

The first book in the intriguing Charlie McMally s

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With very little change, this could have been a very compelling young adult book. I really, really wanted to like it which is probably why I listened to it for so long, stopping within an hour of the ending. I didn't want to waste any more time on it. I listened to 7 and a half hours and just couldn't listen to any more.

The story was convoluted, The narrator would have been a great narrator for a much younger protagonist. The protagonist, an Emmy award winning journalist wasn't believable. She was too flighty, too man hungry, too self absorbed and yet she doubted herself at every turn.

As this was the first book in this series, I want to try another of Ms. Ryan's books...maybe not this series though.

Should have been a YA novel

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This was a waste of time and an audible credit. The lead character is not very bright and goes on endless wild goose chases that will have you pulling your hair and grinding your teeth. I couldn't finish it. If you want to read a story about a good investigative reporter read Julie Kramer's Missing Mark. It is superb. Don't waste your time or audible credit on this book.

A disapointment at best!!

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What would have made Prime Time better?

I figured out the end pretty early. I wish there had been a little more mystery to the book.

Would you ever listen to anything by Hank Phillippi Ryan again?

Probably not, it was a just too contrived.

What didn’t you like about Margaret Daly’s performance?

Well, Charlie McNally is supposed to be a 46 year old woman. Her voice was a little young and immature.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Not much of anything really.

It's Just Okay

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