The Secret of Red Gate Farm. Carolyn Keene, Narrator: Laura Linney

The Secret of Red Gate Farm
Carolyn Keene
Narrator: Laura Linney
Listening LibraryAudio Book

2 hrs. 58 mins.

The Secret of Red Gate Farm
Carolyn Keene

Narrator Review: Laura Linney

Laura Linney Narrator

I enjoyed listening to Laura Linney narrate The Secret of Red Gate Farm. Ms. Linney's lovely voice brings the entire book to thrilling life, creating a robust and intense visualization throughout. Ms. Linney is very sensitive to developing the personalities of each individual. Where other narrators fail Ms. Linney excels in every category.

Audio Book Review: The Secret of Red Gate Farm, Nancy Drew

Nancy and her bff's Bess and George had a day of shopping and Bess bought a bottle of Blue Jade Perfume. At twenty dollars an ounce it was very expensive. Twenty dollars in 1931 is according to the Department of Labor Statistics is now equal to about three hundred and five dollars. So that bottle of Blue Jade bought today would cost around $300.

This bottle of Blue Jade is the central figure which the story revolves around. First the girls chide Bess for spending so much on it, a sudden jolt of the train causes the bottle to drop to the floor but not before splashing half of it on Nancy. Nancy has a sinister looking man mistakes her identity because she smells strongly of Blue Jade. Lastly they all wonder why the salesgirl did not want to sell it to them at all and priced it high to discourage them.

On the train ride home they meet Joan and become friends with her. Joan is going to town to answer an ad for office help. Her grandmother is facing foreclosure and Joan thinks if she finds a job it will help them pay the back payments and save the farm. Nancy and her friends try to help her and end up spending some time at the farm, and solve the mystery of the Black Snake Cult that rents a back portion of Red Gate.

This is no less an intriguing story than all of Nancy Drew books. With such skillful writing that is tight and not a wasted word anywhere it is amazing that it's only two hours and fifty-eight minutes long. Listening or reading Nancy Drew should not be dismissed as old fashioned, or dated. The stories are good to excellent, and they give a peek into another era. Whether you're a history buff or a mystery buff or both, Nancy will keep you bewitched.

Other Nancy Drew Books:

• The Secret of the Old Clock
• The Hidden Staircase
• The Bungalow Mystery 
• The Mystery at Lilac Inn 
• The Secret of Shadow Ranch 
• The Clue in the Diary 
• Nancy's Mysterious Letter 
• The Sign of the Twisted Candles 
• 
  

The Secret of Shadow Ranch Nancy Drew Book 5. Carolyn Keene Narrator: Laura Linney

The Secret of Shadow Ranch
Nancy Drew Book 5.
Carolyn Keene
Narrator: Laura Linney

Audio Book 3 hrs 5 mins
Penguin Random House Audio

The Secret of Shadow Ranch By Carolyn Keene

Narrator Review of Laura Linney

Once again Laura Linney excels in bringing Nancy Drew to life. I felt she expressed more emotion in reading the Secret of Shadow Ranch. The pace is excellent without the speed reading we heard in the Mystery at Lilac Inn. There's more cadence and modulation in the tones. I believe this is the very best narration so far. I just admire the way Ms. Linney puts so much development into each character and with the addition of the bits of background music are icing on the cake.

Narrator Laura Linney

Audiobook Review: The Secret of Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew is invited to spend the summer with her best friends Bess and George at Shadow Ranch in Arizona. Bess and George are downcast because their Uncle Ed, feels to many strange things are happening on the ranch and it might be dangerous for the girls to be there. He wants them to leave the next day. Mysterious and strange happenings are exactly what Nancy Drew thrives on. The girls tried to persuade Uncle Ed that Nancy was a fantastic detective and no doubt could solve the mystery.

After Nancy is picked up at the airport the girls stop to have a bite to eat, when a man sits at a table near them and seems to be eavesdropping and watching them. Nancy notices his unwarranted interest in them. They see him again at their "Ranch Wagon". (Apparently a "Ranch Wagon" is what we now call a Station Wagon.) Nancy's reputation for solving things has preceded her to Shadow Ranch, as the man left a note on their "Ranch Wagon" warning her to stay away from Shadow Ranch.

As Nancy finds out more and more about Shadow Ranch's history she is convinced that all that is going on has to be related to the hidden treasure that a notorious outlaw, Dirk Valentine, hid somewhere on the ranch. He was in love with Frances Humber, daughter of the local Sheriff, and owner of Shadow Ranch. One night when we was going to visit her,the sheriff shot and killed him.



His dying words were to put a curse on Humber property "vowing his horse would haunt Shadow Ranch". George told Nancy about seeing the phantom horse the night before and how it did lead to misfortune the next day when Uncle Ed found his windmill knocked over. Nancy thought someone was trying to scare the Rawley's off their ranch.

We know only too well that the "girl detective" will put all the clues together and everything ends well. That's the charm of Nancy Drew books, there are secret passages, hidden treasures, scary tunnels, and mysteries to be solved. Even when Nancy goes to far and does some risky things, the kind you shout at them to "don't go down to the basement", Nancy, always has an out, or someone comes to her rescue, so all the while we are scared for her we know she will prevail and all her friends marvel at her ability to solve the crime or mystery.

Other Audio Books by Carolyn Keene

The Secret of the Old Clock
Nancy Drew Mystery Series, Book 1

The Hidden Staircase

Nancy Drew Mystery Series, Book 2

The Bungalow Mystery

Nancy Drew Mystery Series, Book 3

The Mystery at Lilac Inn

Nancy Drew Mystery Series, Book 4

The Secret of Shadow Ranch

Nancy Drew Mystery Series, Book 5

The Clue in the Diary

Nancy Drew Mystery Series, Book 7

Nancy's Mysterious Letter  Book 8

The Sign of the Twisted Candles 

The Mystery at Lilac Inn, A Nancy Drew Mystery By Carolyn Keene Narrator: Laura Linney

The Mystery at Lilac Inn
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories 4
By Carolyn Keene
Narrator: Laura Linney
Audio Book Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins

Narrator Review: Laura Linney

As much as I enjoy and appreciate Laura Linney's, Nancy Drew narrations, it pains me to say that much of the Mystery of Lilac Inn, was read so fast my ears were spinning. Even with the speed reading, it's still better and more enjoyable than some others who narrate later Nancy Drew's. There were some chapters and sections Ms. Linney did read at a closer to normal pace. I certainly would not let this prevent me from purchasing the book. Aside from this Laura Linney is still a fine narrator with a lovely voice that suits Nancy Drew.

Laura Linney

Audio Book Review: The Mystery of Lilac Inn a Nancy Drew Mystery by Carolyn Keene

I really love the supporting music that Listening Libraries has added to the Nancy Drew books that they produce. Sounds like old time radio. It leads to a lot of excitement and enriches the story.

Nancy and her friend Helen Corning are paddling their canoe up the river to the Lilac Inn, they're staying with Emily Willoughby and her Aunt Hazel, and are to be bridesmaids at Emily and Dick's wedding. Suddenly the girls are dumped out of their canoe and into the water but find nothing to explain their sudden drenching. Sopping wet and bedraggled they rescue the canoe and continue their journey as best they can. 

Emily tells them about the strange things that have been happening at Lilac Inn. Mysterious goings on is all that's needed to get Nancy's interest. Emily and Dick are expanding the Inn and plan to run it full time, but Emily feels like someone is trying to "jinx them" and just is at a loss to know who would be behind it.

We have suspects like Maud Potter, hired by her aunt as a recreation coordinator for the summer but says mean and hurtful things to everyone. There's John McBride who's staying at the Inn to help out while Dick his best friend is in New York on business, and then there's the help, waitresses, cooks, gardeners. Nancy takes a hard look at all of them.

While Nancy is using all her detective skills on Lilac Inn she gets a call from a frantic Hannah telling her someone broke into the house. Nancy rushes home and finds her room has been ransacked when there's yet another call this time from Burk's Department Store telling her about an error made on her earlier purchase. She finds that her charge card is missing, and hurries down to Burk's to sort things out with them.

So now Nancy is a victim of identity theft, to an extreme degree that the person looks like Nancy, sounds like Nancy and signs her name the same as Nancy. Even dresses like Nancy. Nancy knows the woman stole the dress out of her closet along with a photo of her. This is scary stuff, because people are telling her they talked to her in places she's not been.

Meantime, Aunt Hazel has taken a pouch of diamonds 'worth a fortune' out of the bank vault to give Emily on her twenty first birthday. They plan a special private birthday party for her and of course once she has the diamonds laid out too admire the lights go off. When they go on again the diamonds are gone. Now Nancy has to find the diamond thief (we get a secret passage) she has to find her impostor and solve the mystery of who is doing malicious deeds at The Lilac Inn. 

1. The Secret of the Old Clock 

2. The Hidden Staircase 

3. The Bungalow Mystery

5. The Secret of Shadow Ranch 

6. The Secret of Red Gate Farm

7.The Clue in the Diary 

9. The Sign of the Twisted Candles

10. The Password to Larkspur Lane 

The Clue in the Diary, A Carolyn Keene Nancy Drew Book 7. Narrator: Laura Linney

The Clue in the Diary
Nancy Drew Book 7
Carolyn Keene
Narrator: Laura Linney

Penguin Random House Audio

Narrator Audio Book Review:
Laura Linney

Laura Linney with her sweet and silken voice generates energy and gives credibility to Nancy Drew and her best friends George and Bess. There's always a good balance between Nancy's thoughts and her dialog with the other characters in the books. With the addition of old time radio music inserts through out the story, Laura Linney matches it's intent with perfection.  Laura Linney has a long list of awards and acting credits all which contribute to her skillful narrations. You can find Laura Linney on facebook under Laura Linney - The Actress.   

Narrator Laura Linney

Audio Book Review: Nancy Drew, The Clue in the Diary 

By Carolyn Keene

There are no images for Carolyn Keene because Ghost writers have always written the books for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. There are many websites detailing the changes over the years. When I was very young and first found out that there was no Carolyn Keene, I felt the same as when I learned there was no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny. Like those icons of childhood I soon got over it.

While Nancy Drew and her friends George and Bess are admiring a pretty house, it suddenly blows up before their startled eyes. They rush too the now blazing building in case anyone needs help, but they can't do much, the fire is too hot and the smoke is terrible. Nancy with smoke blinded eyes finds herself at the back of the house where she gets a brief glimpse of a shadowy figure running from the fire

She sees a small diary on the path and slips it in her pocket, wondering if it belonged to the man she just saw. Later when Nancy gets home and examines the little diary, it's all written in Swedish. A frustrated "girl detective" ponders whom she can find that can interpret it.



Nancy and her friends learn that Felix Raybolt and his wife own the house that exploded and neither of the Raybolt's are liked. Raybolt has a reputation of promising aspiring inventors that he will file their patents for them when he actually files them in his name and steals their inventions. There are many that have reason to harm Foxy Felix. Everyone, including the authorities suspect that it was revenge, or maybe Felix did it himself to collect the insurance.

Nancy is on the fast track to find the the author of the little diary but is she going to find an innocent man or a man who in anger blew up the Raybolt's house. Nancy as we expect will ingeniously and in her remarkable ways put together all the clues and solve the mystery of the Clue in the Diary, leaving the readers as anxious as Nancy for a new mystery to solve.

Other Nancy Drew Books:

The Secret of the Old Clock
Book 1, Nancy Drew series
Carolyn Keene

The Secret of the Old Clock 
Book 1 Nancy Drew Series
Carolyn Keene

The Secret of the Hidden Staircase
Book 2. Nancy Drew Series
Carolyn Keene

The Bungalow Mystery
Book 3. Nancy Drew, 
Carolyn Keene

The Mystery at Lilac Inn 
Book 4 Nancy Drew Series
Carolyn Keene

The Secret of Shadow Ranch 
Book 5 Nancy Drew Series
Carolyn Keene

Nancy's Mysterious Letter
Book 8  Nancy Drew Series
Carolyn Keene

The Sign of the Twisted Candles 

Book 9 Nancy Drew Series
Carolyn Keene

The Bungalow Mystery, Book 3. A Nancy Drew Mystery by Carolyn Keene, Narrator Laura Linney

The Bungalow Mystery
Nancy Drew, Book 3
By Carolyn Keene
Narrated By Laura Linney
Listening Library
Audio Book: 2 hrs and 59 mins

Narrator Review: Laura Linney

There is something appealing about Laura Linney's performance of Nancy Drew and her companions. Every person is well presented and her youthful voice suits Nancy perfectly. It is fantastic to listen to a perfectly flawless narration. I can listen over and over to any of the Carolyn Keene, Nancy Drew stories that Laura Linney narrates.

Laura Linney Narrator

Audio Book Review: The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene

In The Bungalow Mystery  Nancy Drew and her friend Helen Corning, are racing along in a motor boat to return to the Pinecrest motel they are staying at. A fierce storm develops and suddenly the weather is no longer balmy. Strong winds turn gail force and lighting and thunder surround them. Nancy bravely fights to keep the boat headed towards shore when a huge wave overwhelms them and both girls are thrown out of the boat into the water and the boat sinks.

Nancy looks for her friend and calls out her name but she doesn't see her. When suddenly a hand appears out of the water and Nancy swims towards it to rescue Helen. Their cries for help are feeble against the howling winds and turbulent waters. Yet, someone does hear them, a sixteen year old girl manages to row out to them and with tremendous effort they get into the small boat. Once safely ashore the girl takes them to a nearby bungalow that she'd seen earlier before the storm hit.

Once in the bungalow and wrapped in warm blankets their young rescuer Laura tells them she is waiting for her guardians to come get her. That her mother had died a month before and her father had died a few years ago when his boat capsized and there was no one to rescue him. This compelled her to try and help the young detective and her friend.



Laura is worried about her guardians as Marion and Jacob Aborn, seemed unfriendly and Marion was downright mean to her. Once the storm passes they all are able to find their way back to their lodgings and vow to keep in touch with Laura. After all she did save their lives and they feel a genuine gratitude to her.

It is not long before Laura arrives at Nancy's house to seek safety and shelter from the Aborn's who are trying to get her mothers jewelry collection away from her and even locked her in her room. Of course Nancy tells her she must stay with her and she will do all she can to protect her. Nancy is happy to have a new mystery to solve and soon she is in deep and her own life is threatened. Clever Nancy 'girl detective' prevails no matter how scary or threatening a situation is.

Other Nancy Drew's narrated by Laura Linney

Book 1. The Secret of the Old Clock

Book 2. The Hidden Staircase

Nancy Drew, The Hidden Staircase, Carolyn Keene, Narrated by Laura Linney

The Hidden Staircase
Nancy Drew Book 2.
Carolyn Keene
Narrator: Laura Linney
Listening Library
Audio book   3 hrs 13 mins

A standing applause for our narrator Laura Linney for performing another Nancy Drew mystery with her wonderful way of making it such an exciting listen. Beyond the fabulous way she brings out every nuance of emotion she has a lovely feminine voice that is such a pleasure to listen too. It is also fun to read along with her while she narrates.
Narrator Review: Laura Linney

Narrator Laura Linney

Audio Book Review: Carolyn Keene's Nancy Drew, book 2 The Hidden Staircase

Nothing like a good haunted house mystery and Nancy Drew does not disappoint with The Hidden Staircase. Her friend Helen calls and ask her to help her Aunt Rosemary. Who lives with her mother flora, at Twin Elms, their family home. According to Helen strange things have been happening at Twin Elms. They are sure the house is haunted.

When a burly impolite man, Nathan Gomber, comes to the Drew's door and tells Nancy that he is warning her that Carson Drew, Nancy's father was in great danger. Apparently a case Mr. Drew was working on with the railroad has some unhappy people that feel cheated on the amount of money they got when they sold their property to the railroad and are threatening bodily harm to Mr. Drew. What's Nancy to do? Stay by her father's side or go to Twin Elms and solve the mystery there.

Nancy goes to Twin Elms and looks over the house and can't discover a way in. She is sure it is a person getting in an not a ghost. She and Helen have examined every inch of the huge brick mansion and did not find a single way anyone could get in or out without being seen. She decides that there has to be a secret passage somewhere in the old house and she sets out with Helen to find it.



Things escalate rapidly when Mr. Drew does not show up at Twin Elms as he promised Nancy he would do when he returned from Chicago. Nancy is scared that he's been kidnapped, that all Nathan Gomer had said was true. What is she to do, she knows she must find her father and now she's really scared. Nancy may be scared but she is resourceful.

After Nancy solves the case she is looking forward to a new adventure and mystery to solve. I confess I have to chuckle at the dialogue Nancy has with people and the ease with which they confess all to the "young sleuth".

Also Read By Laura Linney:

Other Nancy Drew Books

The Secret of the Old Clock

The Bungalow Mystery

The Mystery at Lilac Inn 

The Secret of Shadow Ranch 

The Clue in the Diary

Nancy's Mysterious Letter 

The Sign of the Twisted Candles

The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene. Audiobook Narrator: Laura Linney

The Secret of the Old Clock
Book 1, Nancy Drew series
Carolyn Keene
Narrator: Laura Linney
Audio book: 3 hrs. 14 mins.
Listening Library

Narrator: Laura Linney

Narrator Review: Laura Linney

Laura Linney, does an excellent narration of the Nancy Drew books. Her rendition of older
people is excellent without out making them sound feeble. I like that Ms. Linney sounds youthful and can sound girlish, suiting Nancy Drew's young adult age. Her young children, are good and can be easily heard as a child. Her strength is in rendering the exact emotions and thoughts of the characters. I liked the special bit of emphasis she gives to words as when she says " They were arrogant and unreasonable" and " Ada and Isabel had been unpopular in high school. " Such delicious venom in the tone of voice, yet modified by Nancy's upbringing to not speak ill of people or to gossip. Ms. Linny makes the story flow naturally and soon you are pulled in and visualizing with ease.

Audio Book Review: The Secret of the Old Clock, By Carolyn Keene

What would a Nancy Drew book be without the fierce, violent storm, while driving, or a good blizzard? Yes, the books in many ways are dated, a young person may have to ask, what's a phone booth that you step into and close the door, or what's a drive in or a drive Inn. Maybe they have updated them and taken out what was relevant to past years. I suggest finding the original books and reading them, it could be an excellent history lesson.

Nancy Drew is no less popular today than she was in the 1930's. The stories though written by a formula, are fun, have mystery, are well written, and hold one's attention. Nancy Drew, is young, attractive, spunky, and fearless. Above all Nancy has scruples, and a good sense of fair play. She's been raised well, taught not to gossip, or spread rumors. Nancy over the years has acquired talents like playing tennis, scuba diving and even knows some Swedish. The first book The Secret of the Old Clock came out in 1930, Nancy is just as good today and held the test of time for eighty years.

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about Nancy Drew, with a cell phone, the internet and our twenty first century life style. Although I do prefer my adult mystery books and cozies to be up to date, but Nancy? Nancy Drew is an icon, a memory of delicious hours pouring over each book. I am happy to say I enjoy some of the new Nancy Drew Diaries, and will be listening or reading the other series. What fun to find Nancy Drew again. It doesn't matter to millions of people that the books are rated for 7 to 12 year old. Nancy is the reigning Queen of sleuths, the inspiration to many who started their own female super sleuth books, or careers in law enforcement. 

Nancy is heading home, after delivering some legal papers for her father when a little girl runs out in the road in front of a Moving Van. Nancy is relieved that she makes it across without getting hit but to her horror she looses her balance and falls over the bridge. Nancy stops and rescues the girl and carries her to the house across the street.

Two older women tell Nancy they are Judy's aunts and have been raising her since the parents died. Nancy stays long enough with them to find out that a relative, Josiah Crowley, use to visit and stay with them from time to time and often told them he would leave something for them in his will. Having recently died, Crowley left everything to the Topham family. Mary Turner believed there was a later will but has no idea where it is.

After Nancy leaves them, the idea of another will weighs heavily on her mind and when she gets home she talks to her father about the Turner's and if there is anything they can do to find out if there is a will hidden somewhere. With some help from her father, Nancy begins her quest to unravel the mystery of the will, that she is sure is hidden somewhere. Always up for a mystery, Nancy 'girl sleuth' gets into some intense and dangerous positions. We know the ever brave and resourceful girl detective will prevail.

Other Nancy Drew Audio Books:

The Hidden Staircase

The Bungalow Mystery

The Mystery at Lilac Inn

The Secret of Shadow Ranch 

The Clue in the Diary

Nancy's Mysterious Letter

The Sign of the Twisted Candles 

Bryant & May The Bleeding Heart, A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery By Christopher Fowler Narrated By Tim Goodman

Bryant and May, the Bleeding Heart:
Book 11, A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery
By Christopher Fowler
Narrated By Tim Goodman
Audio Book

Recorded books

11 hrs and 14 mins

Bryant & May and the Bleeding Heart

The elusive Tim Goodman, is certainly the best choice for Christopher Fowler's, Peculiar Crimes Unit Series. He does a top notch performance of cranky older men and I love his nasally high pitched voice for the head of the unit. His voice drips with annoyance and dislike for Bryant and May. Tim Goodman does a wonderful dramatization of each of the characters and merges the story text into a smooth flowing presentation that is superb.

Audio Book Review: Bryant & May The Bleeding Heart 

Christopher Fowler

Christopher Fowler

Romain Curtis, talks his date Sharron into going in the graveyard for a little star gazing and whatever else he can persuade her to do. Reluctantly she goes with him and although he does know the constellations, a passion of his, another passion has him kissing her. Just when things look like they are heating up, they hear noises and see what looks like a dead person rising out of a grave.

They have to go past the zombie to reach the gate. This of course scares the bejeezus out of them and they have to run too make their escape. Once out of the graveyard they report it to the police. Goes without saying that the police think they are high on drugs and find a little pot on Romain. Saying that the zombie talked to him convinced the police that it was a drug induced fantasy and they arrest him for the pot they find on him.

No bodies have been buried for at least three hundred years in this small graveyard Yet, on further investigation, the police find a body that has not been dead very long, face down in the grave. The hunt is on now to identify this man and find the reason why he was buried there and why was someone trying to dig him up. All very strange indeed. Right up Bryant and Mays alley. Definitely one for the Peculiar Crimes Unit.

The Peculiar Crimes Unit was created towards the end of WW2, to keep the public safe and investigate anything that is a bit off. Bryant and May were the original detectives for the unit and both use unorthodox methods of unraveling a crime. No computers for them, just the good old fashioned ways of detecting and they get the job done efficiently. Over the years (you have to read all the books) one department or another is trying to get the unit shut down but it doesn't happen. Underpaid, underfunded, with a falling down building and a cat as a mascot, the unit goes on. 

Such a wonderful cozy mystery with lots of laughs and raised eyebrows on the logical or maybe it's illogical thinking processes of these two brilliant detectives. Each book in the series reveals a little more each time about the personal background of Bryant and May. Tim Goodman makes the series even more spectacular.

The Egg and I, By Betty MacDonald Narrated By Heather Henderson

The Egg and I 

By Betty MacDonald

Narrated By Heather Henderson

Post Hypnotic Press Inc.
Audio Book Length: 9 hrs

Heather Henderson Narrator

What a magnificent performance Heather Anne Henderson does reading the Egg and I. Her voice and tone are so beautiful and mellow. She brings out the sweetness of Betty MacDonald and her family and their quirks as well. It is a pleasure listening to her give substance to each event and person. I felt she truly gave the self centered and inconsiderate Bob his full measure because Betty tries to tamper his meanness with humor. Without Betty he would not have been able to fulfill his own dream of raising chickens. Heather Anne Henderson manages to emphasize with her very skillful tones the underlying dissatisfaction that is soon brewing in Betty's heart.

Audio Book Review: The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald

Betty MacDonald Author

The Egg and I is a charming and hilarious story, told by Betty MacDonald, about her life as a bride, is whisked away to the outer limits of Washington to the Olympic Peninsula to start her new life as a chicken Farmer with Bob, a man that has his heart set on raising chickens for a living. Bob an Insurance man did not want to spend his life in an office but dreamed of raising chickens and owning his own place.

Although Betty was raised by what are now seen as old fashioned and restrictive codes of ethics, she gamely sets forth with her new husband to the wilds of the Olympic Peninsula, untamed, rustic, isolated and very primitive.

When Betty first lays eyes on her new abode she's downhearted at the frightful condition of the ramshackle and dilapidated house with it's broken windows, sagging porch and not a single amenity. No electricity, water, or bathroom and a very old wood burning stove, that will prove to become her nemesis. If nothing else Betty is always optimistic and tries to keep a positive attitude, so she focuses on the beauty of the mountains and the towering pine trees.



With a sigh, she examines the house to see what it is going to need to become habitable. To her dismay, her new husband is less interested in the run down shack they will have to live in and more interested in where he will put his chicken coops, pig pen, and other animal homes. After all the animal shelters are finished Betty thinks, now we can start on the house. Not yet, because Bob is moving on to the orchard. and putting in the vegetable garden.


Even though living without electricity, a decent stove, or indoor plumbing Betty manages to see humor in the people and things around her. In spite of the labor and hardships she tries to put Bob in a good light and find humor even in his callousness. Her fortitude and humor led to her success as an author and The Egg and I was made into a movie and the popular Ma and Pa Kettle movies were offshoots

Also narrated by Heather Henderson

The Curve of Time
Narrator Heather Henderson

Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii, By Lee Goldberg, Narrated By Laura Hicks

Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii
Monk Series:, Book 2
By Lee Goldberg

Narrated By Laura Hicks

Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins

Blackstone Audio, Inc

Narrator Review: Laura Hicks

Laura Hicks Narrator 

Laura Hicks reads this Mr. Monk book with great animation. Her reading pace is excellent and she makes you feel as excited at the beauty of Hawaii or as exasperated as Natalie is feeling so often with Mr.Monk and his turning her vacation into work. The heart felt expression she brings through when Natalie thought Mitch her dead husband was communicating with her, was sensitive and touching. She handled all the emotional content in a thoughtful and insightful way. Laura Hicks is an impressive narrator.

Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii by Lee Goldberg

Lee Goldberg Author

When Natalie Teeger's best friend Candace asks her come to Hawaii and be her bridesmaid, and is putting her up in a five star resort-hotel with a round trip flight, no way is Natalie turning that down. Natalie feels she is just about ready for a vacation but, how to tell Mr.Monk, that is the question.

No time seems to be the right time until nearly at the door of Dr.Kroger's building she tells him. With gloating satisfaction Natalie revels in the thoughts of letting Dr.  Kroger deal with the panic attack she knows Monk will have.

Imagine Natalie's own panic when she realizes the Monk is on the plane to Hawaii. Worse yet, Monk is not acting normal, not what's normal for him anyway. The sing along he starts with the other passengers is hilarious but not to Natalie. Not to be left behind alone or with an agency nurse. Monk takes a mood altering pill Dioxynl, given to him long ago to cope with extreme stress.

It works so well that he is eating in-flight food, drinking water that isn't Summit Creek, gasp! even wearing a Hawaiian shirt. This care free, boisterous Monk is unable to solve a single murder until the pill's worn off.

Nothing, absolutely nothing works out for Natalie on this 'vacation' and she resigns herself to her fate. In one short week Monk is involved in busting a drug smuggling ring, solves a bizarre murder, and exposes a fake psychic medium and solves the mystery of some home burglaries. Monk even takes part in Candace's wedding. Monk is just a crime magnet, solving mysteries nobody else even saw. That's what the Monkster is all about.



Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu

Mr. Monk in Outer Space

Mr.Monk Goes to the Firehouse

Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants

Marcia Muller's The Shape of Dread A Sharon McCone Mystery Narrator: Laura Hicks

The Shape of Dread:
A Sharon McCone Mystery
By Marcia Muller
Narrator: Laura Hicks
Audiobook
Blackstone Audio

9 hours 5 minutes

Laura Hicks Narrator

Narrator Review: Laura Hicks

Laura Hicks is at her prime in reading this exceptionally fast moving McCone mystery. Lots of excellent characterizations and amazing emotional style. Laura Hicks delivers the goods in spades. There is definition for each person, making it easy to identify who is speaking. Wonderful transitions between moods and Sharon McCone and All Saints explodes into life and vitality. The quality of Hick's reading is a five star winner. Great inflection, modulation and expression.

Audio Book Review: The Shape of Dread, by Marcia Muller

Author Marcia Muller

Jack Stewart, All Souls criminal lawyer, asks Sharon McCone to look over a case he is doing an appeal for. Bobby Foster a twenty year old black man is in San Quintin, facing the death penalty for murder. Jack has some reservations and believes Bobby, who swears he did not kill Stacy Kostakos. 

After watching his video confession and reading the briefs Sharon also sees some holes in the case and agrees he may be innocent. Most striking is Stacy Kostakos' body has never been found. 

Kostakos had been a popular stand-up comedian at Club Comedy, Bobby Foster was a parking valet there. As McCone, meets and interviews all the people at Club Comedy, things are not adding up. Stacy turns out to be a very different person than the innocent darling her mother thinks she is.

Her parents are separated and her father a professor, knows very little about the grown up Stacy. The owner of Club Comedy doesn't believe Stacy is dead and neither does her mother, who for two years has continued paying Stacy's half of the rent. All in all, this has worked out well for Amy, Stacy's roommate.

Intrigue, lies, and half truths make it difficult for McCone to help Bobby so she turns to her ex-cop boyfriend.  Near whoops of elation are heard when she finds a violation ticket in the brief her ex provided. The date on it changes the entire game plan. With this turn of events Sharon McCone is on a course that will threaten her own life.

Marcia Muller
There's Nothing to be Afraid of

Mr.Monk Goes to the Firehouse By Lee Goldberg Narrator: Laura Hicks

Mr.Monk Goes to the Firehouse
Book 1.
Lee Goldberg Narrator: Laura Hicks

Audio book
Blackstone Audio, Inc,
7 hours 14 minutes

Audio book narrator
Laura Hicks

Laura Hicks is very expressive and does excellent on giving each person a special voice. I enjoyed listening to her narration very much. Great emotional expression and excellent pacing. She makes the story move along while making you become very engrossed in it. A sure indicator of an outstanding narrator is when you are unaware of them and only hearing the story as they act it out. Awesome...

Audio Book Review: Mr.Monk Goes to the Firehouse By Lee Goldberg 

Lee Goldberg Author

A tiny nearly invisible termite hole in Monk's wall leads to his entire apartment building being fumigated. Monk has to find someplace to stay for a few days and no hotel is up to Monk's requirements. No uneven numbers on floor level or room number and even a slight mismatch of wallpaper disqualifies it. Natalie finally lets him stay with her and her twelve year old daughter Julie.

Julie is distraught and crying her eyes out because someone killed Sparky the Firehouse dog. It's inconceivable that anyone would kill a sweet and gentle dog like Sparky. It makes no sense. Monk promises Julie he will find out who killed him, and in the pursuit Natalie meets Hunky Fireman Joe. Sparks fly between them and it's a fire neither of them wants to put out.

Monk needs to have everything match, and also be immaculate. he'll spend four or five hours in the bathroom cleaning it. Causing a lot of stress for both Julie and Natalie when they can't get ready for work or school.  After the bathroom Monk moves on to cleaning everything in the house and throwing away all dishes, glasses and silverware, mismatched anything and Monk tosses it out. Having Monk as a house guest is a challenge even for Natalie.




Monk solves not just Sparky's killer, but solves a couple other murders along the way, all but one committed by the same person. Who would think cats, a few cat hairs and cat allergies would solve the crimes. Monk would, that's for sure but is it enough to prosecute the person.

I can promise seven hours of laugh out loud fun listening to Laura Hicks bring Monk, Natalie, Julie, and all the others into existence.

Leigh Perry's The Skeleton Haunts a House. Narrated by: Katina Kalin

The Skeleton Haunts a House:
Family Skeleton, Book 3
Written by: Leigh Perry
Narrated by: Katina Kalin
Audiobook Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

The Skeleton Haunts a House:Family Skeleton, Book 3
Written by: Leigh Perry
Narrated by: Katina Kalin
Audiobook

Katina Kalin Audiobook Narrator

Another outstanding narration by Katina Kalin. Each book spotlights a new ability and talent and The Skeleton Haunts a House is the latest with her truly amazing depiction of Scooby-Doo and Velma. I loved it, it was perfection. You can hear in Sid's voice his excitement of being out of the house mingling with people
and being part of the Halloween festivities. Conversations are smooth with not a single blip on character changes. Katina Kalin is phenomenal.

Audio Book Review: The Skeleton Haunts a House By Leigh Perry

Leigh Perry Author

I loved how this book was released in Oct, 2015, just in time for Halloween. Sid, the Thackery's resident skeleton rarely gets to leave the house and spends most of his time in the attic. Now that Georgia and her daughter Madison are temporarily living in her parents house while they are away on sabbatical, Sid has more company and gets out occasionally. The occasion is Halloween, one of Sid's favorite holidays. He and Georgia are going to the Haunted House as Scooby-Doo and Velma.

Deborah, Georgia's sister, owns a locksmith and security company and has charge of security at The Haunted House, taking place at McQuade Hall. Madison is working in The Haunted House, very useful when Sid wants to line jump. Inside the house are any manner of ghostly and gruesome scenes, and scary interactive skits.

Sid is loving every minute of it. All great fun until someone starts screaming that there's a dead body, a real one. Deborah jumps into action, locks down the Haunted House, no one in and no one out, Local police are called and.... wait, Sid is still in there so is Madison, but she can give a police report and identify herself, not so with Sid. Sid in his furry Scooby-Doo costume, can't take it off or identify himself.



Georgia is getting worried about Sid but can't do anything to help or find him, but his discarded Scooby-Doo dog costume is of some concern. Georgia and Madison finally go home but it is a restless sleep for Georgia, worrying about Sid. The next day Deborah  arranges for Georgia to pick up Sid under the guise of collecting Madison's belongings. It is a happy Sid, to get home and he's over the moon with delight to find the Thackery's are home again. While the living sleep Sid with his now well honed skills on the internet, spends his time finding out about the murdered girl. What a tangled web of deception he finds, but, he does find some good suspects and motives for Kendal's murder.

A Skeleton in the FamilyBook 1 in the Family Skeleton Series

The Skeleton Takes a BowBook 2. in the Family Skeleton Series

The Skeleton Takes a Bow. Book 2. By Leigh Perry, Narrator- Katina Kalin

The Skeleton Takes a Bow
A Family Skeleton Mystery, Book 2
By Leigh Perry
Narrated By Katina Kalin

7 hours 47 minutes
Audible, Inc.

The Skeleton Takes a Bow
By Leigh Perry

Katina Kalin, is a brilliant narrator, her voice is beautiful, genial and expressive. Every detail of the story is delivered splendidly and smoothly. Her teenage daughters voice is perfection. Sounds exactly like a teen, from the breathy and cajoling tones. to the rolling of the eyes. I especially liked the sheepish voice used when Madison says "was doing the laundry too much of a give away".... Even Sid has a unique quality, giving him life even if he is a skeleton and isn't alive. It takes amazing acting skills to read a book and make it sound like a stage play with a full cast of characters.

Audiobook Narrator Katina Kalin

Audiobook Review: The Skeleton Takes a Bow, Book 2 of A Family Skeleton Mystery
By Leigh Perry

Leigh Perry Author

Georgia and Madison, her teen daughter recently moved back into her parents home while they are on sabbatical. Georgia has a tight schedule as an Adjunct English Professor at McQuade and Madison is just as busy at Pennycross High. After joining The Drama Club, Madison auditioned for Hamlet and got the role of Guildenstern. Sid is beside himself with excitement and wants to play Yorick, the perfect role for him. He and Madison hatch a plan to get Georgia's permission to take Sid to school.

They butter Georgia up by doing the laundry and a few household chores. Georgia knows they are in cahoots about something. Sid, poor sad guy, rarely gets out of the house and spends most his time in the attic, reading, playing on his computer, or eavesdropping. When Georgia hears Sid wants to play Yorick, she's reluctant to let him. She gives in only if Madison promises to bring Sid home everyday after school. All goes well until one day Madison's routine's are thrown off and she does the unforgivable and forgets to bring him home. 

They rush back to the school and bang on the doors but there is no one around to let them in. So Sid, ends up on a shelf backstage all night. Instead of a long boring night ahead, Sid hears two men arguing and in the heat of the moment one of them is killed. He hears the guy call another person from his mobile to come help him. By the time they are done moving the body and cleaning the scene Sid is still quietly listening to it all, unable to do anything about it, not even knowing what he could do.

Byron, Madison's dog, is Sid's nemesis, you know, dog,  and bones, Sid is always on the alert that Byron doesn't make a grab at a fibula or even a phalanx.  Deborah, Georgia's sister, owner of a local locksmith and security company, is a bit stuffy and likes to follow the rules. Not to be left out is the nosy and always sarcastic Adjunct Sarah Wise, that shares office quarters with Georgia. A thoroughly enjoyable bunch of people, great dialog and Sid the sensitive skeleton is the instigator of most the shenanigans and high jinks.

The Skeleton Haunts a HouseBook 3.of A Family Skeleton MysteryBy Leigh Perry

A Skeleton in the FamilyBy Leigh Perry
 Book 1.of A Family Skeleton Mystery

Sprinkled By: Gina LaManna Narrated By: Caitlin Kelly

Sprinkled A Lacey Luzzi Mafia Mystery, Book 1
Author: Gina LaManna
Narrator: Caitlin Kelly

7 hrs and 54 mins
Published By: Gina LaManna

Sprinkled: By Gina LaManna

Narrator Review
Caitlin Kelly, was the perfect voice to narrate Sprinkled. Her voice is pleasing and matches the young age of Lacey Luzzi and of her best friend and partner in crime Meg. Although I really have nothing more than Hollywood movies to base the majority of foreign accents on, I thought her Italian accents were very good. Caitlin Kelly brings a great deal of energy to the story and makes every character pop. Ms Kelly is a professional artist, credited with many impressive voice over assignments. 

Audiobook Narrator Caitlin Kelly

Audiobook ReviewSprinkled by Gina LaManna is the first book in a new series, A Lacey Luzzi Mafia Mystery. For a first in the series, LaManna has crafted an intriguing story, with Lacey Luzzi as the dominant character. At loose ends and with no particular direction in life she falls into becoming a stripper like her deceased mother had been. 

Lacey thought she was alone in the world with no living relatives. Her mother had raised her to believe she had no relatives. Lacey felt bad that there was only going to be a handful of friends at her mom's funeral so she starts searching for any information she can find that might give her some leads.

She finally hits paydirt and locates her grandparents only to discover Grandpa is the Mafia Don, and Grandma is the traditional Italian Grandma. They knew nothing of Lacey but take her into the Family. Grandpa, gives her a low paying job as the front desk clerk at one of his laundromats. In reality she is one of his look outs. She has become bored working at the laundromat and Grandpa offers her a more important and lucrative job to do.

Author Gina LaManna

Eager to make more money, she enthusiastically jumps at the chance. Ah, well, "Fools rush in where angel's fear to tread" so foolish Lacey is way out of her element when she is sent to get back from the Russian Mafia something they stole from her Grandfather. It will be easy he assures her, a piece of cake. Unfortunately nothing Lacey does turns out to be easy.

Mafia Grandma is anxious to get Lacey married to a nice Italian boy. Those cozy Sunday dinners soon turn into dreaded affairs for Lacey with the array of nice Italian boys. Yet, Grandma is her buffer between her and her auster Grandfather. Lacey has other love interests. Let's hope it is not one of those dashing fellows in the Russian Mafia. You will have to listen to the book to get the full story of Lacey and her friend Meg's antics.

I recommend this book to a younger audience that might enjoy the more risque jokes and emphasis on sex and particular body parts. I can't classify this as a true Cozy Mystery as it is a Chic Lit mystery. If you enjoy chic lit and are not offended by naughty words then Sprinkled is a book you will enjoy.