Dark Crimes

DCI Sophie Allen, Book 1

By: Michael Hambling

Narrated by: Cat Gould

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

A young woman's body is discovered on a deserted footpath.

It seems like a simple crime for DCI Sophie Allen and her team to solve. But not when the victim's mother is found strangled the next morning. The case grows more complex as DCI Sophie Allen discovers that the victims had secret histories involving violence and intimidation. There's an obvious suspect, but Detective Allen isn't convinced. Could someone else be lurking in the shadows, someone savagely violent, looking for warped revenge?

Dark Crimes is the first in a series of detective thrillers featuring DCI Sophie Allen, head of the newly formed Violent Crime Unit in Dorset. She is pushed to the limit in her first major case as the team's head.

©2016 Michael Hambling (P)2016 Tantor

Good story but strange narration

This is well written and moves fast. The police office and its cast of characters engage the listener. The crimes are horrible. There is a real twist at the end. I just don't know what is wrong with the narrator. I've listened to other books she performed and enjoyed them - not the greatest, but solid. This time, though, her timing and tone drag and drone.

Story line was good

Didn’t care for the narrator
Almost didn’t finish but the story was good
Probably won’t listen to another by that author unless a different narrator
Shame

I should have read the reviews for the second book

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The story was good and the plot kept me interested but the narration was awful. I should have read the reviews for the second book since the narrator was judged to do a poor job

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sophie

Would you be willing to try another one of Cat Gould’s performances?

I tried another book that she narrated and I couldn't listen to it. I guess I thought it would get better but I found that my ability to put up with the narration but after ten minutes I gave up and returned the book..

Do you think Dark Crimes needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Probably with a different narrator

Any additional comments?

No

Love the strong female lead. And the excellent na

Normally I listen to my audiobooks while driving. This one captivated me enough that I even had it on at home.I already have book two downloaded & ready to go.

Narrator Spoiled Story

The book should have been edited more stringently. The story is okay,but I don’t think the characters are really believable. The narrator is terrible;regardless of the author, I will stay away from anything she narrates!!

May have been better as a print book

This was a very good story. I did not care for the audiobook's narration at all and it detracted from the book's enjoyment. I also couldn't tell if the poorly written dialogue also contributed to the bad narration. Very possibly.

Like I said, the story itself was interesting. I feel bad when a poor narrator ruins an author's work.

I don't know if I'll read more of this series.

Very predictable

The first chapter gave the game away. It was made clear to the reader whodunnit. The rest of the book saw the detective - smart, tough, beautiful, sexy, happily married, lovely children, admired by colleagues and intimidating to her superiors - painstakingly looking for clues. If only she read the spoiler info in the first chapter. However I’m still giving this three stars because if your expectations are not too high, it would do to pass a rainy afternoon.

Good for a first outing.

I love to read a good mystery so that I can puzzle out whodunit. In this case the mystery isn't whodunit, it's how to catch him. A good police procedural, but I was hoping for more of a puzzle.

Okay story but the narrators accent annoying

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The story is okay. Unfortunately the female detective is portrayed as perfect which as most people know is practically impossible. As a British expat, the New Zealand accent of the narrator trying to do British accents spoiled the story.

What didn’t you like about Cat Gould’s performance?

Her native accent made the British accents comical.

Story & characters pulled you in!

Outstanding first read for ME in this series! Cant wait to read more about this tough & determined DCI Sophie!! I love a tough woman detective with brains & a smidge of femininity without all the intimate stuff weaved in! Not one s** scene, HALLELUJAH!! I enjoyed every minute of this installment even the parts where the narrator kept switching between her (probably) native Australian & British. Totally weird but the story was sooo good I overlooked it!