The Djinn by Kent Holloway Narrated by Wayne Farrell

The Djinn
Author: Kent J. Holloway
Narrator: Wayne Farrell
7 hours 59 minutes
Producer: Seven Realms Publishing
Whispersync for Voice- ready

The Djinn by Kent Holloway

Author Kent Holloway

Narrator Wayne Farrell

Wayne Farrell certainly is one of the most exuberant and expressive narrators around. Such passion, energy and feeling he puts into reading The Djinn. He pulls you into the story so well that you can see the story unfold in your minds eye, as if you are watching a movie. His voice is marvelous, just the right tone, strong, and clear. His pace is excellent, not to fast, not to slow. Farrell, captures exactly what the author intends, every mood, mystery or feeling. Such a pleasure listening to audio books he narrates. I have no hesitation saying that you will thoroughly enjoy listening to him and as narrator of The Djinn, he is tops. Lending it just the right amount of romance, mystery and suspense.

I made the mistake of starting to listen to The Djinn, too close to bedtime. It didn't seem the kind of story I generally enjoy, a bit like Indiana Jones. So as my head hit the pillow and I pulled the blanket up to settle down for a good nights sleep with Wayne Farrell's wonderful voice lulling me to dreamland. I was wrong, it turned out to be the most exciting book I've listened to in a long time, and I couldn't stop listening. Kent Holloway has written the most fast moving and exciting book of the twenty first century. I do hope it becomes a movie.

I loved the introduction music, so exotic, made me want to grab my zills and join in and sway and shimmy. The Djinn is extremely mysterious, is he a person, a demon, a superior being. He's here, he's there, he's everywhere. He strikes fear in the heart of evil doers and is loved in his follower. He is agile, and lurks in the dark and shadows. Gregory thinks he is a fable, a mythic creature of his troops superstitious imaginations. He disregards the stories he hears of the fantastic feats he performs, preferring to use them to manipulate his troops.

Gregory, is a resentful, hate filled, greedy and selfish man, determined to find the two things that will give him unlimited power.The Ring of Solomon that will unlock the Golum, the twelve mud creatures made by King Solomon's wife, Rakeesha. These Golum have been sealed away for generations. and Gregory, is sure that if he finds King Solomon's ring he can unlock the power of these Golum and put them to his own use to control the world. He fails to understand or believe they are uncontrollable, and their resurrection can destroy the world. Gregory spent years seeking King Solomon's ring, leaving no stone un-turned in his quest and sacrificing anyone that stands in his way.

The only person that is of any importance to him is his daughter Isabella. Gregory longs to finish his work in Jerusalem and return to France with his daughter, that she might live a more civilized life, but, Isabella is happy in Jerusalem and content to live out her life there. Unbeknownst to her father, Isabella knows the Djinn quite well and knows the Djinn may someday be forced to kill him. The Djinn is determined to prevent Gregory from resurrecting the Golum, he is fully aware of their unstoppable powers. It is a powerful battle between Gregory and the Djinn, between good and evil and neither will stop at anything to prevent the other from winning.

When Gregory is finally convinced and has infallible proof that the Djinn is a reality and not a superstitious
figment of peoples imagination  he sets out to find and destroy him. His troops are terrified of the Djinn, as the Djinn surprises them with one sneak attack after another. Gregory sets out a plan to ensnare him in the most intricate and conniving plan. But will it backfire on him, or will he unleash the Golum on an unsuspecting world. This is truly a wonderful book, full of mystery and intrigue, love and romance, greed and not a swear word in it. If there was I certainly don't remember hearing it. Big applause to Kent Holloway for writing a stunning novel and Wayne Farrell for bringing it to life in a spectacular narration.

Cries and Whiskers by Clea Simon, Narrator: Tavia Gilbert

Cries and Whiskers
Clea Simon
Tavia Gilbert                                        
Blackstone Audiobooks
4 hours 54 minutes

Cries & Whiskers by Clea Simon

Narrator Tavia Gilbert

Another great narration by the lovely Tavia Gilbert. I just enjoy listening to her so much. Her voice is young, fresh, and upbeat, providing a fascinating and embracing listen. Ms. Gilbert, just gets it, she puts so much feeling into what she's reading you are completely absorbed into the story.
Excellent renditions of each character and her cat meows are a riot. They are sure to put a smile on your face if not a full out laugh, wow. Definitely a professional reader of the highest calibar. She makes Cries and Whiskers so much more interesting. You don't have to wonder or check when you see her name as narrator, you can rest assured it is going to be a good listen. Ms. Gilbert is a fluid and articulate narrator and her voice is so lovely, so sit back and enjoy.

Author Clea Simon

I have listened to some other books by Clea Simon and they were all excellent, so I was a little disappointed with Cries and Whiskers. I loved the Dulcie Schwartz Mystery Series, and also Dogs Don't Lie from the The Pru Marlowe Pet Noir Series.

 I should have read the reviews more carefully because I kept waiting for her to talk to her cat Musetta, or I should say waiting for the communication between her and any cats. Without that perk the book was a bit of a let down. Tavia Gilbert does make it a lot more palatable with her awesome narrating skills, but the story is just a bit bland. I know it may sound like an interesting story but, but,...  Perhaps my disappointment stems from the lack of kitty chatter on the psychic level. That is so fun. No cat, or ghost cat, mouse or chipmunk to help Theda solve the murder. A big bust for me.

Theda Krakow, an avid music fan is drawn into participating with a group of animal rights activist, when an activist is killed by a hit and run driver. Theda's boyfriend is a police detective, who discerns quickly that it was not an accident but a murder. Honestly, the detective boyfriend is over used today as is the policeman boyfriend or the F.B.I. boyfriend. It is clearly very stale. The cutest part of the book are the scenes with Musetta, Theda's kitty. I am a big animal lover, so the animal rescue parts of course are more interesting.

The club scene and music were less interesting to me. It seemed to jump from participating in saving feral cats, to finding time to write her articles on music and go to music gigs at night, and placating  between Musetta and the boyfriend, who is laid up with an injured knee. I vote for the cat since said boyfriend is enthralled with the sports channel and the clicker. I felt Theda was more interested in her cat than the boyfriend. But then, he didn't seem all that charming and she needs a new love interest that will love her cat as much as she does.

I will say that Clea Simon is an excellent writer, she fills out her characters very well, her sentence structure is well done and expressive, giving a fast moving flow so easily followed. she covers all the bases of smell, taste, sound and so forth. So although I wasn't wild about the overall story, it was not a total blow out.

She finesses the unlikely connection between Theda's journalist activities in the music industry with the animal rights activities and even throws in some real estate. Granted the book was written in 2007, and the third in the Theda Krakow Mysteries. Thus, some of the earliest works from Ms. Simon. She finds her niche with the Dulcie Schwartz Series, and The Pru Marlowe Pet Noir Series.

If your interested in music, especially non mainstream music you may find this interesting, if you are a cat lover you will enjoy the feral cat bits and Musetta, if you like murder mysteries you'll enjoy that part although it's not up to par with many other murder mysteries. Perhaps Ms. Simon tried to cover too many topics in one book. I also bought Probable Claws. Sigh.. the saving grace will be the talented and fabulous narrator, Tavia Gilbert. Clea Simon is an outstanding writer, I highly recommend listening to her Dulcie Schwartz Series, also narrated by Tavia Gilbert and her Pru Marlowe Series, which are also a fabulous listen. I don't recommend starting with this series, just go right on to her many other excellent  books that are brilliant, and amusing.