Narrated by Natalie Ross
I’ve been a fan of Lisa Jackson’s novels of romantic suspense for a number of years, so I was thrilled to see Never Die Alone, book seven in her popular New Orleans series, up for review. Having Natalie Ross as the narrator was a bonus, and I waited eagerly for the audiobook to be released.
Brianna Hayward is a woman with a mission. Her cousin is behind bars for a series of murders she is convinced he didn’t commit, but how can she convince the police of his innocence? If she is unable to do this, how many more people will die at the hands of a monster who is allowed to walk the streets a free man?
Jase Bridges is a reporter looking for a story that will give his career a much-needed boost. When twin sisters go missing on the eve of their twenty-first birthday, Jase is pretty sure he’s gotten his story. He and Brianna join forces to catch the killer, but each is hiding something from the other. Will they be able to put a sadistic killer behind bars and claim the HEA they long for?
When I began listening, I found the story a bit slow. I’m not exactly sure what made it drag for me. The story was compelling, and I really wanted to know who the killer was. However, for about the first third of the book, I felt strangely detached. I listened to it, liked it, and was invested in finishing the book, but something was missing. About four hours in, things picked up, and I finally got lost in the story. This is not my normal reaction to Lisa Jackson’s writing, and I’m glad it eventually changed for the better.
Natalie Ross is quite an accomplished narrator. Her voice is melodious and extremely pleasant to listen to. She speaks with a slight drawl that worked wonderfully here, really making me feel like I was in New Orleans. Her character differentiation is spot-on. Everyone sounds distinct and believable. There were one or two places where her pitch seemed too low when she was portraying a male character, but this was a very minor flaw that was corrected quickly.
The one thing I wish Ms. Ross would change is her need to actually cough, laugh, or clear her throat when the text indicates that a character is doing one of these things. I find this incredibly jarring. It pulls me out of the story every time.
If you’re a fan of the New Orleans series, Never Die Alone is a pretty strong story that you won’t want to miss. You’ll see characters from previous books, something I definitely enjoy. Ms. Jackson has managed to keep me interested in characters she first created over ten years ago, and this is something not just any author can do.
Shannon
Narration: B
Book Content: B-
Steam Factor: Glad I had my earbuds in
Violence: Graphic
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Never Die Alone was provided to AudioGals by Brilliance Audio for a review.
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