Enjoy!
The Darkest Thread by Jen Blood, Narrated by Elise Arsenault
#1 Flint K-9 Search and Rescue
Mystery
Publisher: Tantor
Audio
Published: 10.24.17
ASIN: B076B3Z19M
Time: 9 hours 31
minutes
Rating: 4
Format: Audio
Source: Tantor Audio
ADD TO: GOODREADS
GoodReads Blurb:
When teenage sisters go missing in the mysterious
“Bennington Triangle” of Vermont, an area renowned for its disappearances and
strange occurrences over the past hundred years, FBI agent Jack Juarez brings
K-9 handler Jamie Flint and her dog Phantom in to assist with the search. When
Jack realizes the case shares haunting similarities with the murders of the
missing girls’ aunts ten years before, it becomes clear that he and Jamie are
dealing with much more than two girls who simply wandered off the beaten path.
SOPHIA ROSE'S REVIEW:
Review:
A spooky read that was just right with its references to the
disappearances in the Bennington Triangle, chilling ties to an old horrific
pair of murders, the dark whispers from the forest, and fresh terror for all
those involved.
The Darkest Thread begins a new series, but word of caution,
it’s a spin-off for the author's previous Erin Solomon series. In fact, the heroine and others are tied-in
with that series so the connection is mentioned a few times. This is its own story as far as the mystery,
but the reader gets the feeling that the character side is part of an ongoing
story.
This author, Jen Blood, knows how to put you right in the
story and feel the atmosphere of her story.
It was a murder mystery that delivered the thrills and tingles without
getting too far over the line into horror or thriller.
I enjoyed that a search and rescue animal handler is the
primary detective in this story and she has her own vulnerabilities and
troubles from the past. Jamie is a tough
gal and she likes going her own way, but she is working with a whole host of
others to find the missing girls in time.
Jamie is surrounded by a strong cast of characters including Jack Juarez
and let's not forget the dogs who stole the show a few times. I was iffy on Jamie a few times because she
sometimes was pretty narrow with her focus and her feelings (though who could
blame her a few times when things happened particularly with Bear), but
overall, I enjoyed her as a lead character.
Jamie's son Bear also gets to narrate and we get the story
from his younger point of view and see how his psychic gift weighs heavily on
him. I liked the juxtaposition of mother
and teenage son which was different.
They have the usual tension of family dynamics, but also that of the
darker gifts they share that can be more like a curse in their line of work.
There are some romantic inclinations, but this is at the
forefront a paranormal mystery.
The case is a good one with twists that had me pointing the
finger falsely a few times.
The narrator, Elise Arsenault, was great. I hadn't listened to her narration work
before, but I thought she was a good match for the story and the
characters. She had a lot of characters
to do and had to get the tone of the story right which she really did.
All in all, this first outing with author and narrator was a
success and I want more of these dark, twisting murder mysteries. If you like a few thrills and chills without
it getting too scary, this mystery series is probably a good match for you.
My thanks to Tantor Audio for the opportunity to listen to
this book in exchange for an honest review.
Author’s Bio:
Jen Blood is a professional editor and publishing
consultant, and author of the bestselling Erin Solomon Mysteries. She holds an
MFA in Creative Writing/Popular Fiction, with writing influences ranging from
Emily Bronte to Dennis Lehane, and any number of genres and authors in between.
Her work has earned accolades and awards including the AIA Seal of Quality and
the B.R.A.G. Medallion for ALL THE BLUE-EYED ANGELS, and honorable mention for
Best in Fiction from the New England Book Festival for her second novel, SINS
OF THE FATHER. All four of her novels have reached the Amazon Bestseller list
in Mystery, Suspense, and Women Sleuths.
Born and raised among the smaller fishing villages of midcoast Maine, Jen's writing is rich with the details and tone of that isolated, occasionally harsh landscape. Today, after spending several years traveling the country, Jen is once again living in midcoast Maine, busily working on the next installment in the Erin Solomon series.
Born and raised among the smaller fishing villages of midcoast Maine, Jen's writing is rich with the details and tone of that isolated, occasionally harsh landscape. Today, after spending several years traveling the country, Jen is once again living in midcoast Maine, busily working on the next installment in the Erin Solomon series.
Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking,
book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man
and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region
of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
Sophia’s Social Media Links:
I always point at the wrong guy, lol
ReplyDeleteme too Blodeuedd all the time :)
DeleteYeah! I was totally off for most of the book. ;)
DeleteI love when you can't figure out who done it. This sounds like a really great book. I'm wondering if I should start with the original series before trying this one.
ReplyDeleteMelanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads
I did alright with this one and it was fine plot wise, but I confess to great curiosity about the mentions to the earlier Erin Solomon series. I think the first book in that one might be a Kindle freebie.
DeleteI do love when a mystery can puzzle you and this sounds like it was a good one. Glad it kept you on your toes!
ReplyDeleteYes! I agree that the best ones are the ones that I can't puzzle out.
DeleteoO I'd not herd of the narrator. I'll look out for her in 2018 :D
ReplyDeleteOr heard, even. LOL Darn not having an edit button.
Deletefor you my dear it was an understandable typo ;-)
DeleteLOL, 'herd'. Debbie's right. It's a slip not a typo. haha!
DeleteOh, but yes, this was a neat one. Just enough chills without putting me completely into freakout land.