Mrs. Zant and the Ghost by Wilkie Collins

Victorian Ghost Short Story

I listened to the a short story titled Mrs. Zant and the Ghost by Wilkie Collins and narrated by actress, Gillian Anderson.

Listening time for Mrs. Zant and the Ghost by Wilkie Collins is 1 hour, 38 minutes.

I was able to download Mrs. Zant and the Ghost by Wilkie Collins to my Kindle for FREE from Audible.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Mrs. Zant and the Ghost by Wilkie Collins.

Aside from being FREE, one of the reasons I chose to listen to Mrs. Zant and the Ghost by Wilkie Collins is because actress Gillian Anderson narrates this short story. I'm not a huge Gillian Anderson fan, but figured that as an established actress, Ms. Anderson would do a really good job of narrating Mrs. Zant and the Ghost by Wilkie Collins. Let's just say I wasn't all that impressed with Ms. Anderson's performance and leave it at that.

As far as the story/plot go for Mrs. Zant and the Ghost by Wilkie Collins, I thought this classic short story was okay. It was kind of suspenseful as to what was going on, but nothing to write home about as this short story was a bit on the slow side for me.

The following is a plot summary for Mrs. Zant and the Ghost by Wilkie Collins from Audible:

Mrs Zant has recently lost her beloved husband, and while walking in the Kensington Gardens, the spot where she and her deceased husband declared their love for each other, she feels his presence trying to warn her of some coming danger.

Mr Rayburn witnesses it all, and he'll have to fight his own incredulity regarding the supernatural and his gut feeling that the disturbed young woman is telling the truth.

Brought to life by Golden Globe Award-winning actress Gillian Anderson (The X-Files), Mrs Zant is the perfect Victorian ghost story.

I am giving Mrs. Zant and the Ghost by Wilkie Collins a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Read by the Cast of the Stage Play by Pierre-Ambroise Choderlos de Laclos

I listened to the Audible edition of Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Read by the Cast of the Stage Play by Pierre-Ambroise Choderlos de Laclos, which is narrated by the cast of the stage play.

Listening time for Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Read by the Cast of the Stage Play by Pierre-Ambroise Choderlos de Laclos is 2 hours, 10 minutes.

I was able to download Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Read by the Cast of the Stage Play by Pierre-Ambroise Choderlos de Laclos for FREE to my Kindle from Audible.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Read by the Cast of the Stage Play by Pierre-Ambroise Choderlos de Laclos.

The best part of this audio edition was the narration performed by the cast of the stage play!! I also enjoyed the premise of Les Liaisons Dangereuses and how it was executed in a series of letters. The toughest part initially was trying to keep the names of the various characters straight! Overall, though I liked Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Read by the Cast of the Stage Play by Pierre-Ambroise Choderlos de Laclos, but didn't love it.

The following is a plot summary for Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Read by the Cast of the Stage Play by Pierre-Ambroise Choderlos de Laclos from Audible:

From the sumptuous private drawing rooms of 18th-century Paris to the decadent estates and chateaus of the French countryside, La Marquise de Merteuil and Le Vicomte de Valmont hatch a long-distance plan of vengeance and seduction.

Valmont is determined to conquer the famously pious Madame de Tourvel, whose husband is abroad on business. However, Merteuil has other plans. She enlists his involvement in the seduction of a young convent girl, Cécile Volanges, the wife-to-be of the Marquise's former lover. But as they race toward the culmination of their plans, events start to spiral out of control, and they realise that they might not be as in control of their hearts as once they thought.

Starring:

Madame de Volanges: Adjoa Andoh
La Présidente de Tourvel: Elaine Cassidy
Cécile Volanges: Morfydd Clark
Le Chevalier Danceny: Edward HolcroftMarquise de Merteuil: Janet McTeer
Vicomte de Valmont: Dominic West
Madame de Rosemond: Una Stubbs.

I am giving Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Read by the Cast of the Stage Play by Pierre-Ambroise Choderlos de Laclos a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Gadwall Incident by Ridley Pearson

Short Story

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Gadwall Incident by Ridley Pearson and narrated by Nicola Barber.

Listening time for The Gadwall Incident by Ridley Pearson is 1 hour, 53 minutes.

I was able to download The Gadwall Incident by Ridley Pearson to my Kindle for FREE from Audible.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of The Gadwall Incident by Ridley Pearson.

I enjoyed listening to this well narrated story. The Gadwall Incident by Ridley Pearson is fun and engaging. I thought the writing was good... I also thought the story and characters were well developed. My only complaint is the cliffhanger ending!

The following is a plot summary for The Gadwall Incident by Ridley Pearson from Audible:

The New York Times best-selling author of the Peter and the Starcatcher and Kingdom Keepers series, Ridley Pearson, brings us the stirring digital prequel to the Lock and Key series, which reimagines the origins of the rivalry between Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty.

In The Gadwall Incident, listeners get a glimpse into James' life a mere 24 hours before the tipping point - before life as he knows it changes irrevocably and his childhood slips into the shadows. Listeners will come to know the dangers that surround the Moriartys before James and Moria are sent off to the hallowed halls of Baskerville Academy, where they first meet the insufferable, inexhaustible Sherlock Holmes. It's a tale full of intrigue and false starts and daring getaways, one that will leave listeners desperate to know what's next.

I am giving The Gadwall Incident by Ridley Pearson a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Little Donkey by Jodi Taylor

Holiday Themed Short Story

Little Donkey by Jodi Taylor is a holiday themed short story I was able to download to my Kindle for FREE from Audible.

Listening time for Little Donkey by Jodi Taylor is 1 hour, 5 minutes.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Little Donkey by Jodi Taylor.

I like Christmas holiday themed reads, so was delighted to listen to the unabridged audio version of Little Donkey by Jodi Taylor and narrated by Lucy Price-Lewis. I enjoyed the story, characters, and plot for Little Donkey by Jodi Taylor. Lucy Price-Lewis was a good narrator for this short story.

Below is the plot summary for Little Donkey by Jodi Taylor from Audible:

It’s Christmas, and Jenny Checkland is beset with problems. The vicar, who really should know better, has asked to borrow Marilyn the donkey for the nativity play, thereby unleashing chaos on the already chaos-laden Frogmorton Farm. 

Will Marilyn survive her bath? Will anyone survive Marilyn’s bath?

Robbed of her role as the Virgin Mary, what revenge is the angel Gabriel plotting? Why is that sheep so fat? 

Will Charlie ever get to say his one line? Can Marilyn be prevented from eating the baby Jesus? Where is Thomas, who promised he would be there? And worst of all - will Russell, lost on the moor in a blizzard, make it back in time for the birth of his first child? Or even at all?

Another chance to meet the characters from the best-selling novel The Nothing Girl as they navigate the complexities of the local nativity play in their own unique fashion.

I am giving Little Donkey by Jodi Taylor a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Mid August Update

I usually only make quarterly updates on my reading stats... But this month, I decided to do something different and make a mid-month update!

I have been binge listening to a lot of audio listens this month... In fact, I've finished listening to a combination of 16 books, short stories, and podcasts this month. Most of what I have listened to this month have been entertaining and most of them have been free downloads from Audible.

The thing of it is this, I am now really behind on writing reviews of what I've listened to this month. I have a total of 11 reviews to write... But instead of wanting to write reviews, I just want to listen to more audiobooks or read books!!

How is your month in reading going for you?

Bout of Books 20 Sign Up Post

I am once again thrilled to be participating the Bout of Books Read-A-Thon!! I can't remember how many Bout of Books Read-A-Thons I've participated in to date. All I know is that I simply enjoy participating in this fun, low pressure read-a-thon. 

I hope you'll join me in participating Bout of Books 20! Below, you'll learn more about this fun and exciting read-a-thon:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 21st and runs through Sunday, August 27th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 20 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Until my next post, happy reading! 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

The Window Man by Louise Millar

Unabridged Short Story from Audible

I listened to The Window Man by Louise Millar and narrated by Clare Corbett. 

Listening time for The Window Man by Louise Millar is 25 minutes.

I was able to download The Window Man by Louise Millar to my Kindle for FREE from Audible. Below is my honest, unbiased review for The Window Man by Louise Millar.

The Window Man by Louise Millar is a relatively well-written short story that falls into the suspense/thriller genre. I liked the storyline, plot, and main character a lot. I just wish this short story was a bit longer and a bit more flushed out... If it had been flushed out a bit longer, perhaps I would have liked it that much more.

I thought Clare Corbett did a wonderful job narrating this short story.

The following is more about The Window Man by Louise Millar from Audible:

The Window Man is the first story in the Killer Women: Crime Club Anthology #1 collection. Enjoy it for free, exclusively in audio!

Blade-sharp and pared to the bone, these original stories by best-selling, award-winning female crime writers will lure you to the dark side. Fifteen perfectly twisted tales with a measure of evil, a dash of horror, and a dose of humour. Expect the unexpected....

I am giving The Window Man by Louise Millar a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!

The 7th Month by Lisa Gardner

Unabridged Short Story

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The 7th Month by Lisa Gardner and narrated by Kirsten Potter.

Listening time for The 7th Month by Lisa Gardner is 1 hour, 47 minutes.

This the first time I've read or listened to anything by Lisa Gardner that I can recall. I really enjoyed listening to The 7th Month as it is really well narrated by Kirsten Potter. The writing by Lisa Gardner is tight and well done. The 7th Month is filled with a good story line and plot twists that keeps a reader interested in this short story from beginning to end. I look forward to reading more books by Lisa Gardner in the future.

The following is a plot summary for The 7th Month by Lisa Gardner from Audible:

In Lisa Gardner’s first-ever short story following 13 best-selling novels, "The 7th Month" takes listeners between the books and into a day in the life of Boston Detective D. D. Warren.

In her seventh month of pregnancy, D.D. should be taking it easy. Instead, she accepts a small consulting role on the set of a serial-killer film shooting in Boston. D.D. figures she’ll be useful to someone for at least one night, serving as a police expert and making a little extra money in the bargain. It seems like a simple task—until the previous film consultant, a former Boston cop, is found beaten to death. Suddenly D.D.’s date with Hollywood gets serious.

Extremely pregnant, on the trail of a killer, and surrounded by a hundred and four murder suspects in the middle of a graveyard, D.D. must quickly unravel a tangled web of lies. As another cast member is attacked, D.D. realizes that like it or not, her priorities have changed—and her last desperate hope is that she can catch a killer before she and her unborn baby face mortal danger.

Packed with the suspenseful storytelling that has turned Gardner’s novels into New York Times best sellers, "The 7th Month" reveals new insights into a beloved series heroine.

I am giving The 7th Month by Lisa Gardner a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

A Rare Book of Cunning Device by Ben Aaronovitch

Audible Audio Short Story

I listened to A Rare Book of Cunning Device by Ben Aaronovitch and narrated by
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, which is a short story I was able to download for FREE to my Kindle from Audible!

Listening time for A Rare Book of Cunning Device by Ben Aaronovitch is 29 minutes.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of A Rare Book of Cunning Device by Ben Aaronovitch.

This wasn't one of my favorite recent listens. The narrator, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, is decent enough. But the storyline for this short story wasn't that engaging for me. I think this short story could have been so much better if it has been longer and filled with more details.

The following is a plot summary for A Rare Book of Cunning Device by Ben Aaronovitch from Audible:

Somewhere amongst the shadowy stacks and the many basements of the British library, something is very much amiss - and we're not talking late returns here. Is it a ghost, or something much worse? PC Peter Grant really isn't looking forward to finding out....

I am giving A Rare Book of Cunning Device by Ben Aaronovitch a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post happy reading!