Audiobook Review: 1222 by Anne Holt

Audiobook Review: 1222 by Anne Holt

Title: 1222 (Hanne Wilhelmsen #8) Author: Anne Holt Translated by Marlaine Delargy Read by Kate Reading Category: Mystery Audio published: December 27, 2011 by Blackstone Audio (First published 2007) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository A train on its way to the northern reaches of Norway careens off the track during a massive blizzard, 1,222 meters above sea level. The passengers abandon the train for a nearby centuries-old hotel, which is practically empty, except for the staff. With plenty of food and shelter from the storm, the passengers think they are safe until one of them turns up dead. With no sign of rescue, and the storm continuing to rage, retired police inspector Hanne Wilhelmsen is asked to investigate. Paralyzed by a bullet lodged in her spine, Hanne has no wish to return to police work. Bitter and anti-social, she is slowly coaxed back to her old habits as her curiosity and natural talent for observation compel her to take an interest in the passengers and their secrets. When another...
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Review: Missing Barbados by Willem Pain

Review: Missing Barbados by Willem Pain

Title: Missing Barbados Author: Willem Pain Category: Mystery Published: March 13, 2013 by the author Rating: 2½ out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository A teenage member of the royal family is kidnapped while on holiday in Barbados putting Susan Berg, the shoot-first owner of the Caribbean Detective Corporation, on the case along with her hard charging associate, Dutch Holland.  Together they destroy half of the Monarchy and most of Barbados as they aim their spotlight on the darkest secrets and most notorious of villains on the island.   I don't think Barbados will miss Susan and Dutch when they leave. The mystery is interesting enough, I guess, but all the destruction and shooting and ruining your "friends'" belongings got a little monotonous. Setting: Barbados seem like a perfect vacation destination. Tropical and, to quote the book, "a refined and well-run island. Dressing for dinner, tea time, low crime and very stable." Sandy beaches a warm ocean, good food. Sign me up, but not for any...
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Audiobook Review: Death of the Demon by Anne Holt

Audiobook Review: Death of the Demon by Anne Holt

Title: Death of the Demon (Hanne Wilhelmsen #3) Author: Anne Holt Reader: Kate Reading Category: Mystery- Police Procedural Audio published: June 18, 2013 by Blackstone Audio (First published 1995) Rating: 4½ out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon | IndieBound In an orphanage outside Oslo, a twelve-year-old boy is causing havoc. The institution’s aging director, Agnes Vestavik, sees something chilling in Olav’s eyes: sheer hatred. When Vestavik is found murdered at her desk late at night, stabbed in the neck with a kitchen knife—with Olav nowhere to be found—the case goes to maverick investigator Hanne Wilhelmsen, recently promoted to superintendent in the Oslo police. Hanne suspects that Olav witnessed the murder and fled, and she orders an investigation of the orphanage staff. But Hanne is hopeless at delegating, hopeless at pooling information, hopeless at sharing responsibilities. Only Hanne’s supreme deductive skills keep her on the job, but this, however, is one case where her instincts are leading her astray. Meanwhile, Olav makes his way to his once unfit mother’s apartment in central...
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Book Review: The Rainbow Goblins by Ul de Rico

Book Review: The Rainbow Goblins by Ul de Rico

Title: The Rainbow Goblins Author: Ul de Rico Category: Childrens - Fantasy First Published: 1978 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon After seven goblins try to steal it, the Rainbow is careful never again to touch the earth. There are seven evil goblins, each a different color, who travel the land far and wide and each time they find a rainbow, they lasso it and suck out its colors, filling themselves. Up until this time the Valley of Rainbows, where rainbows are born, had been safe, but the goblins heard of the valley and travelled there. The night before their attack, they go over their plan in a nearby cave during a thunderstorm, but the roots are listening. The next day, thanks to the flowers, the rainbow survived and the goblins drowned. On the one hand, I enjoyed this story of why rainbows never touch the ground and why there are so many beautiful, colorful birds. On the other hand, the goblins were nasty for no real...
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Audiobook Review: Dragons at the Party by Jon Cleary

Title: Dragons at the Party (Scobie Malone #4) Author: Jon Cleary Reader: Shaun Grindell Category: Mystery Audio published: May 1, 2013 by AudioGo (first published 1987) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: AudioGo It is Bicentenary year and Australia is having the party of its lifetime. Detective Inspector Scobie Malone, hero of three previous Cleary books and the most human of cops, would much rather be out on Sydney Harbor with his family, watching the fun. Instead he is on duty, investigating the murder of an aide to President Timori, who has just arrived unwanted in Australia following a coup in the Spice Islands republic of Palucca. With Timori is his glamorous wife, Delvina, a lady as famous for her extravagance as for her lust for power. Clearly the bullet was meant for the President, and Malone has the task of tracking down the hit man before he takes a second shot. Malone identifies the would-be assassin as Miguel Seville, an international terrorist now turned contract man,...
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2012-2013, My Audiobook Year

2012-2013, My Audiobook Year

Today is the first day of We’re Listening: Audiobook Week 2013. Hosted for the fourth year by Jen at Devourer of Books, Audiobook Week runs June 17–21. It’s a fun way to find audiobook reviewers and see what everyone’s listening to. Today's prompt is about our audiobook year. Are you new to audiobooks in the last year? Have you been listening to them forever but discovered something new this year? Favorite titles? New times/places to listen? This is your chance to introduce yourself and your general listening experience. I've been listening to audio books for a few years. They are just the perfect companions for walks, runs, chores around the house. I tend to only listen to mysteries and the occasional romance, but I'm thinking maybe I should branch out since so many people seem to enjoy listening to non-fiction titles. A couple favorites I've listened to in the past year: The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny (review) The Golden Egg by Donna Leon...
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