Excellent continuity with a healthy dose of uncertainty makes this sequel about the life and times of Gallagher a must read for anyone who has read Fatal Gamble. Keep the books coming, JP O’Donnell. The plot flows well with just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. I thought I had the story line figured out early but was happily surprised I was incorrect. A great fun listen just what you need to distract you from the drive home.

Now for the audio quality: very poor, because you can hear very easy stuff to cut out like turning pages and others. There are a few parts where it is like he tapping a pencil on the table. 

Deadly Codes by JP O'Donnell

Deadly Codes: A Gallagher Novel is the award-winning sequel to Fatal Gamble. Daniel Cormac Gallagher, Jr., a Boston private eye, is hired to investigate the death of Jennifer Clark, tragically killed in a car bombing in her own driveway.

Gallagher has been commissioned by Jeanne Campbell, Jennifer’s twin sister, to find a mysterious woman–Jennifer’s secret lesbian lover who vanished immediately after the bombing. While the authorities continue to pursue their suspicions that the terrorist act may have been intended for Jennifer’s husband, Bill, who holds a top-secret position in the counter-intelligence division of the National Security Agency, Jeanne reveals intricate details to Gallagher that intrigue him enough to take on the case. While Gallagher begins searching for the missing woman, he has no idea that a bounty has been placed on his own head. Two hired gunmen are plotting to kill him. Gallagher’s search takes him to Washington D.C. where he discovers that the car bombing is only a backdrop to a complex, treasonous scheme to sell code-breaking formulas to a hostile enemy nation.

As the violent mystery unravels, Gallagher finds himself under deadly attack from two shocking but powerful forces — one he knows and another he never expects.

Just finished your book Fatal Gamble. It was very good! The development of your characters was very well done, and your plot development was well executed. I found myself really liking the good guys, really hating the bad guys. I even felt anxious during the *SPOILER ALERT* car crash scene. You have a great understanding of what it takes to make a character believable and interesting.

From an audio perspective I think the narration could be a bit louder and flow a bit more smoothly. The pace of the narration was a bit slow at points. Generally the audio and narration was OK, it isn’t likely to win production awards but it can be listened to easily enough.

I’m eagerly awaiting your next book (I get through books so fast that I have to wait until they’re done or I’ll die of anticipation waiting for the next episode). Keep up the great work, and I hope to see you on the best seller’s list someday.

Fatal Gamble by JP O'Donnell

Twenty years ago, a group of doctors formed a partnership to build a medical office plaza in Massachusetts. While it wasn’t the most above-board deal ever made, the doctors have found continued profit and success–until now.

Someone wants the doctors dead, and he or she has already succeeded in murdering two of them. The identity of the killer remains unknown. Is it a madman with a vendetta against the medical profession, a small-time bookie seeking revenge for a shady real estate deal, or a disgruntled former construction manager who was unjustly fired?

The widow of one of the slain doctors has a clue–but she’s too afraid to tell the police. She hires Boston private investigator Daniel Gallagher to help track down the murderer. But as Gallagher begins to unravel the mystery, he finds himself entangled in a web of danger and political intrigue.

With the stakes growing higher, Gallagher faces a growing threat to keep him quiet before he reveals the damaging truth. But when push comes to shove, has Gallagher made a Fatal Gamble?

The Secret Society of Seven Sorcerers by J.A. Areces

The Secret Society of Seven Sorcerers begins where Interview for a Wizard ends. Nicholas Fidgewidge returns to claim Lord Bane’s crystal ball causing Jesse to seek the wizard Ch-U-Ch’s aid. Meanwhile, the remaining sorcerer’s are being scared to death, and with Raven Claw out of jail the chase begins. However, things quickly become very complicated when the wizard’s two teenage boys get involved. On Halloween night, Lord Alex will become the next Dark Sorcerer even if it means destroying everyone who knows of his initiation. Follow the wizard Ch-U-Ch, his cousin Ana and Jesse into the dark world of the Society as they try to prevent Lord Alex from joining the Circle of Seven and achieving a greater goal, to obtain the secret’s of Lord Bane’s crystal ball. On Halloween night, everything must remain a secret at any price.

This is one of the most entertaining stories I have listen to in a long time. It is exciting, the characters are likeable and the series promises to deliver much more in the future. Repeating the name of the store got a little irritating at times. There is lots of activity in the story to keep it going very smoothly. I will definitely recommend the book to friends of mine, it’s very fun and once you get used to some of the more distracting elements it really has a good rhythm to it that is hard not to be caught up in. I am looking forward to starting the sequel.

Interview for a Wizard by J.A. Areces

On Halloween night, the greatest vacation spot in the world is about to be scared to death. A dangerous and mad wizard has escaped from jail, and there is no one who can identify him. With only seven days left before Halloween, Jesse and wizard special agent Ch-U-Ch race to solve the mystery, but time is quickly running out.

Collapse at Hidden Verse Three Three Two by Brian Holtz

Collapse at Hidden Verse Three Three Two by Brian Holtz
Science Fiction

FAMILY FRIENDLY: Safe for family listening
The Multiverse Generator is failing. Dimensions threaten to collapse and entire populations will cease to exist unless it is reset. One being from each of more than five thousand verses has been acquired, and their DNA verified. Only one remains. His name is Timothy Rayburn and he is a resident of Earth. The Consolidation of Organized Systems has sent a ship to retrieve him.

Timothy is a teenager failing speech class due to a paralyzing fear of public speaking. He soon learns that his problems are quite small compared to the impending collapse of all existence. He must overcome his fear if he is to survive not only the dangers of space travel and multiversal war, but himself

The Dreamer's Thread by Starla Huchton

The Dreamer’s Thread by Starla Huchton
Fantasy
Click the arrow below to listen to the first episode of this free audio book:

Everyone Dreams.

But what would you do if you suddenly found out that you were one of the few who creates dreams for the whole world? Would you use your power to harness the light and weave it into beautiful tapestries of magic and wonder, or would you fall prey to the seductive siren song of darkness and nightmares?

For tattoo artist Aura Mayville, this becomes a reality as she is ripped from her life of art and music and thrust into a realm where good and evil struggle for control over the minds and hearts of men.

With a sarcastic sorcerer, a mercenary, and her Spirit Guide as her only companions, Aura must journey through the dream realm to discover both her power and where her heart truly lies. In a place where anything is possible, can she find the strength to hold on to herself, or will she be lost to the shadows forever?

That said, this author really is a good storyteller characters are vibrant and realistic, the pace is good, and for the most part the story is engaging. I would like to see more from this author as he definitely has a lot of potential. The reading is fast paced the narration is clear and the story is refreshing and had me hooked.

Iron Dragons: Book 1 - The Saramond Quests by Derek Gilbert

Iron Dragons: Book 1 – The Saramond Quests by Derek Gilbert
Science Fiction

Click the arrow below to listen to the first episode of this free audio book:

Dragon pee really stinks.

With that bit of cautionary advice, master dragonslayer Davian begins his tale.

Davian is a Third Level Master of The Order, a group of men who alone have the power to battle the most fearsome creatures on all of Saramond. For thousands of years, the brothers of The Order have protected their world.

Now something has upset the balance of power between man and dragon, and Davian must face what appears to be a dragon that cannot be seen.

But Davian is losing his grip on reality — and the fate of the world rests with a stable hand, an underfed priest, and a gardener from beyond the stars.

But Davian is losing his grip on reality — and the fate of the world rests with a stable hand, an underfed priest, and a gardener from beyond the stars.

Captains Share by Nathan Lowell

A Trader’s Tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper

A shuffling of cabins puts Ishmael Horatio Wang in command of the worst ship in the fleet. He learns that being Captain doesn’t make you infallible and that life in the Captain’s Cabin is filled with new kinds of challenge as he tries to keep the ship moving, the crew out of trouble, and turn a profit to earn his Captain’s Share. In a ship where the officers outnumber the crew, how can he manage to keep everybody happy? Welcome to the SC Agamemnon.

Double Share by Nathan Lowell

When he graduates from the Academy at Port Newmar, Ishmael Horatio Wang reports for duty in his first assignment as an officer. When he gets to his new ship, he finds things are not exactly the way he’d learned in school. The coffee tastes like used engine oil, the ship has no heart, and the nearest decent tailor is two quadrants away. What’s a new Third Mate to do? Will he be able to trust Billy?

Now for the story, Stephens has a great saga going on! He also does a great job with the details without over doing it. It is a killer plot line. He makes good used of the elves, dwarves, men, wizards and werewolves to boot you can’t get that in any cereal box! I will say that I enjoyed it as much as the lord of the rings saga. The only problem with the story is it was to short it left me wanting a lot more from this world. If he could produce the rest of the saga really fast it would be completely appreciated. Because I really enjoyed the story I am willing to forgo the bad for what is the better than good which is a great story. I hope he reworks the audio 1st book because it might or I might even nominate him for a Parsec award.

The White Shadow Saga: The Stolen Moon of Londor by A.P. Stephens

The era of peace among the elves, men, and dwarves comes to an end when one of Londor’s twin moons disappears from the heavens…..Without the moon’s balancing effect, evil forces grow bold, and warfare, sickness, and chaos threaten life itself.

Hearing the prayers of desperation that ride on the violent winds, the ancient wizard Randor Miithra, servant to the elf-gods, takes it upon himself to mend the world he has sworn to protect. The task will not be an easy one, though, for the wizard, too, has begun to feel the effects of the world’s imbalance. As Randor struggles to maintain some semblance of his powers, he meets a secretive band of colorful characters from all walks of life, drawn together by a common goal: to find the stolen moon, whatever the cost. It does not take Randor and his motley company long to see that someone or something does not want the moon returned to the heavens.

The road is perilous….the stakes have never been greater….will they find victory…or will they only find their deaths?