Death by Didgeridoo

A Jamie Quinn Mystery

By: Barbara Venkataraman

Narrated by: Carrie Lee Martz

Length: 2 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, still reeling from the death of her mother, is pulled into a game of deception, jealousy, and vengeance when her cousin, Adam, is wrongfully accused of murder. It's up to Jamie to find the real murderer before it's too late. It doesn't help that the victim is a former rock star with more enemies than friends, or that Adam confessed to a murder he didn't commit.

©2013 Barbara Venkataraman (P)2014 Barbara Venkataraman

Ideal Road Trip Mystery

Death by Didgeridoo: A Jamie Quinn Mystery
Written by: Barbara Venkataraman
Narrated by: Carrie Lee Martz
Length: 2 hrs and 12 mins
Series: Jamie Quinn, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
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3.80 (18 ratings)

Publishers' Summary

Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, still reeling from the death of her mother, is pulled into a game of deception, jealousy, and vengeance when her cousin, Adam, is wrongfully accused of murder. It's up to Jamie to find the real murderer before it's too late. It doesn't help that the victim is a former rock star with more enemies than friends, or that Adam confessed to a murder he didn't commit.

My Review

This was a really short listen, but packed a lot of story in to a couple of hours.
A bit slow to hook my interest, it did gain some momentum especially once we had learned a little more about Jamie.
Jamie and her aunt were both grieving the loss of a much loved mother and sister, this grief, rather than uniting them more strongly, had somehow caused them to lose their closeness.
When Adam, Jamies much loved cousin, is accused of murder, his overwrought mother turns to her niece, Jamie, to help them through this terrible ordeal. It is all so much more difficult for Adam to cope with as he is autistic, but his mother and cousin understand him well, and they help him by using all the coping strategies they know.
As far as the mystery goes, well, we do get a few clues, but are they red herrings? You must listen and find out!

Narration

Unfortunately, I just could not adjust to the narration, I found Carrie Lee Martz' voice to be too hard and a tad nasal, to me, she sounded like one of the Kardashian girls, sort of tight throated or something, (I apologise for my lack of correct terminology). I really didn't care much for her portrayal of a person with autism nor did I enjoy listening to her interpretation of a drunk. I felt that some of the characters were overdone, overacted.
You know, this is just a personal preference, so don't be put off by my observations, be sure to listen to the sample and make up your own mind. I believe Carrie has received some very good reviews for her work.

This audiobook was gifted to me in return for this, my honest opinion.

Excellent first installment of a new series

Would you consider the audio edition of Death by Didgeridoo to be better than the print version?

Not necessarily, but the narrator was excellent.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot was interesting and unusual and the author was very successful at making it intriguing.

Which character – as performed by Carrie Lee Martz – was your favorite?

The protagonist, Jamie Quinn. Quinn is at a personal crossroads when the murder occurs, and so the book combines a classic "fish out of water" story (a family practice lawyer having to learn criminal law) and a tale of self-discovery with the traditional cozy elements of small town life, friends, and family. That adds depth and works well as both motivation and characterization for the protagonist.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not necessarily.

Any additional comments?

I think "charming" is the best word to describe this first installment in a new cozy mystery series. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest.

Great first in a series!

What did you love best about Death by Didgeridoo?

I liked the fact that it took just over two hours to listen to, and that it was tame enough that I could listen to it in the car with my preteen son.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes! We felt really bad for poor Adam, and knew that he COULDNT have committed murder! The suspect list was so long, though. It was hard to tell until the killer was revealed near the end of the story. Not what we expected !

What does Carrie Lee Martz bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Carrie Lee Marx is a MASTER storyteller! I realize that she didn't create it, but she adds such interest to the characters. I will be reading book 3 in ebook format, and I will definitely hear HER voice in my head as I read .

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Guns don't kill people.....Didgeridoos do!

A fun, witty, cozy mystery!

Death By a Didgeridoo
Jamie Quinn is a practicing lawyer. A detective walks in & asks if she is representing a young man named Adam. Jamie says yes & learns Adam (her cousin) is a murder suspect. Jamie explains it isn't possible because while Adam may be 22 in real life, in reality he is much younger as he suffers from Asperger's Syndrome. The detective explains that Jamie had stated it was all his fault & he was sorry because he did a very bad thing. Jamie sets out to prove her cousin is innocent.
We follow along with Jamie and a private investigator that owes her a favor, as they put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
This is a very fun & witty mystery. The plot was excellent. I was completely trying to figure out who the real murderer was. The author, Barbara Venkataraman, did an awesome hob at entertaining me.The narrator, Carrie Lee Martz was great! Carrie does an awesome drunk voice and a really good voice for Adam too! I think this would be a great family book to listen to during a holiday get together, maybe while a turkey is cooking.

Fun Smart and Engaging Mystery

Would you consider the audio edition of Death by Didgeridoo to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the print version but the audio version was wonderful. I prefer audio books.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the main character because she was intelligent, kind and helpful to others. She wasn't swooning over some man or making foolish decisions, plus she wasn't stuffing her face with baked goods every other page, that gets old fast.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where she agreed to help her autistic nephew when he was the main suspect for murdering his music teacher.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Day the Music Died ... now ... Who Killed It?

Any additional comments?

I loved 'Death by Didgeridoo' by Barbara Venkataramann, the first book in the Jamie Quinn Mystery series. I listened to the audio book version narrated by the delightful Carrie Lee Martz. This book has it all, humor, terrific plot, and wonderful memorable characters. I was so pleased that Jamie Quinn, attorney, was an intelligent and fun to know main character. Jamie Quinn's nephew Adam is accused of murdering his music teacher, a former rock star and a not-nice guy. Adam has Asperger's Syndrome so he's unable to describe what happened or why he was standing over his dead music teacher with blood on his hands. Jamie wants to help, so she calls in a favor owed to her by a former client.This book was a quick read, smart, funny and so enjoyable. I felt connected to Jamie, I liked her and I look forward to reading the next books in the series. I'm always delighted to find a new series that is truly entertaining and engaging.

A Solid Start

A murder adventure for a mourning attorney and the only family she has left. A fresh personality in the mystery world accompanied by an over enunciate narrator will quickly feed your thriller yearnings. It's not a bad way to spend a few hours!

Well Done Carrie and Barbara!

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this audio book, also like writer’s writing style and appreciate short chapters. Story also maintained good humor and exceptional character development. Story actually takes you a ride to murder mystery. The best thing I can relate to the characters and kept me guessing till end. Can’t wait to read Mrs. Venkataraman other works. I highly recommend this novel. I enjoyed Carrie Lee Martz reading technique. Well Done Carrie and Barbara!

A quick mystery to enjoy

In the first book of the Jamie Quinn Mystery series, we meet Jamie, a thirty-something divorce lawyer who has just experienced the loss of her mother and feels broken. But when her cousin is suspected of murdering his music teacher with a Didgeridoo, Jamie is forced to solve the mystery of who killed Spike before the police arrest her cousin and cause him loads of psychological damage since he suffers from Asperger's.

Jamie is a very likable character. She's feisty when needed, caring and gentle toward her cousin, vulnerable when speaking about her mother, and smart in determining the true culprit of this crime. This is definitely a cozy mystery novella. The writing style is good, the story reads quickly and it makes me want to see what other adventures Jamie gets herself into.

Note: I received a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Carrie Lee Martz did a great job with the narration and definitely brought each character to life, especially the lovable and mischievous cynic, Duke.

Introducing Jamie Quinn

Jamie Quinn is such a likable character. I listened to the second book in the series first but was happy to go back and listen to the beginning. Jamie and Duke are such interesting characters. I hope to continue listening to Jamie's evolving life.

Audiobook provided for an honest review.

A cozy little mystery ...

If you could sum up Death by Didgeridoo in three words, what would they be?

entertaining, short and cozy

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed how Jamie, her Aunt, best friend and PI worked together to help out her cousin Adam.

Have you listened to any of Carrie Lee Martz’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first book I have listened to read by Carrie Lee Martz. I thought she did well with the characters, emotions and pacing. I would like to listen to more of her work.

Any additional comments?

Death by Didgeridoo is a quick (less than 3 hour) cozy and well planned mystery. This is perfect for in the car or on a short trip. I liked the character of Jamie and hope to see her in more books. I would recommend this book to my friends who enjoy a good mystery. I would listen to it again.