Narrated by Carrington MacDuffie
I looked back at my Goodreads site to confirm what I thought: I originally read Bodyguard in 2008, which was the first year I made the switch from reading mainly mysteries and suspense to reading romance. Therefore Bodyguard had to be one of the first romantic suspense titles I read, which is probably why it has such a special spot in my heart. It combined the suspense I loved and the romance I craved, opening up an entirely new world to explore that I’d never experienced – the world of romantic suspense. With its release in audio format, I was excited to rediscover this wonderful book. I admit a little trepidation at the thought that my early favorite romantic suspense might not live up to my memories, but overall I’d say this audio experience was successful and Bodyguard can keep its place in my collection of good books.
One thing I particularly like about Bodyguard is Alessandra. While being in some ways the shallow trophy wife of a rich husband, she is also a well-fleshed out character, with motivations and complexities that put her in a completely different category. Alessandra is more sheltered than shallow, with a quick mind and a growing desire to learn. Brockmann does a particularly good job with this character.
Harry is also a wonderful protagonist as a ragged, emotionally damaged FBI agent bent on avenging the death of his son and ex-wife. He is reckless, with a laser-like focus on bringing down mob boss Michael Trotta, the man behind the accident that killed his oldest son. Harry is emotionally distant from his two surviving children, partly to protect them from the fallout of his job but also from the guilt he feels for what happened.
Alessandra (later dubbed Allie) is unaware of her husband’s business dealings, and when Trotta has him killed for stealing money, she doesn’t understand exactly what is happening or why. She is suddenly caught up in a maelstrom of violence and fear. Her boring but comfortable life literally explodes around her and she eventually finds herself on the run from Trotta with Harry as her unofficial bodyguard.
Carrington MacDuffie does just about everything well except for Alessandra’s voice. Allie sounds like an airhead bimbo start to finish. Since we establish early on that Allie is, in fact, a pretty smart cookie, the way she sounds in the audiobook never matches my expectation for the character.
A secondary storyline involves Harry’s partner George, George’s ex-wife (and boss) Nicole, and George’s sort-of girlfriend Kim – an exotic dancer. This plotline has the most surprises and twists, and is a definite plus for the book. MacDuffie’s breathy, bimbo voice fits Kim quite well, and thankfully Nicole gets a down-to-earth sound that fits her ambitious character.
Another storyline involving Harry’s children isn’t quite as interesting, but provides a perspective on Harry that proves important as the story progresses. Here MacDuffie’s characterizations are a mixed bag. She does Harry’s adolescent son quite well, but misses the mark with the four-year-old girl. Since making children sound real is monumentally difficult, I can dismiss this.
Bodyguard is indeed an early Brockmann and doesn’t have the polish or complexity of her later Troubleshooters series. However, it shows Brockmann’s talent and, in some ways, I prefer it to some of the melodrama of her later work. Bodyguard will continue to be one of those books with a special meaning for me in part because it marks a pivotal time in my life as a reader. But it’s also a very enjoyable, fast moving book with a satisfying finish. Carrington MacDuffie makes one or two choices in her narration that don’t fit my conception of the characters, but otherwise she does a fine job and I would be willing to give her another try as a narrator.
Carrie
Narration: B-
Book Content: B
Steam Factor: Glad I had my earbuds in
Violence: Escalated fighting
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: BBC Audio
