Death in the Headlights

Kyle Callahan Mystery

By: Mark McNease

Narrated by: Daniela Acitelli

Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

It's been six months since the Pride Gallery murders in Manhattan. Kyle Callahan and his partner Danny Durban head to rural New Jersey for a relaxing week with their dear friend, Detective Linda Sikorsky, recently retired and newly in love.

Driving back from dinner with Linda and her fiancée Kirsten, they discover the body of Abigail Creek, run off the road on a bicycle wearing only her nightgown and slippers. Kyle and Linda quickly find themselves learning more than they want to know about the Creek family and the home they call CrossCreek Farm. In the words of Clara Presley's grandmother, "Whatever grows there, grows in the shadows."

Come along as Linda and Kyle make their way into the shadows and enter the spider's web, determined to find out who in this family of spiders is the deadliest one.

©2014 Mark McNease (P)2016 Mark McNease

Clint Eastwood is not Dirty Kyle Callahan lol

Where does Death in the Headlights rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It was a straight forward mystery, a fun read for its characters. It isn't Chinatown, but an entertaining listen. It isn't meant to be deep.

What other book might you compare Death in the Headlights to and why?

Any in McNease's Pride series. The central core of characters run through his books. This one retired Detective Linda Sikorski is more prominent. The tale is centered in rural "ish" New Jersey.

Which scene was your favorite?

Not sure if its simply a scene but as family secrets are revealed and pieces fall into place is appealing.

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

Clooney, Damon, DiCaprio, and Helen Mirin, stayed in their seats and didnt get up for popcorn while enjoying this movie. Rofl.

Any additional comments?

Kidding aside, I enjoy this series. Thank you for the opportunity to listen to and review this audio book.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review

Death in the Headlights: Kyle Callahan Mystery

“This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.”


It seems I have been listening out of order, to this series by Mark McNease. Newly retired homicide detective moves to the country where she inherited a house from here aunt, Friends visit, a body is found and now the investigation begins. The family of the victim are all suspects, as well as others. Twists, turns and lots of suspense to reach the conclusion.




The narration was well done.The characters were well portrayed. Daniela Acitelli gives a nice performance.

okay

I feel this could have been such a better book with a little bit of care and gloss. The mystery was pretty good - interesting and almost fast-paced. The supporting characters were more interesting than the main characters. Perhaps the author was trying to convey the normalcy a gay marriage has but it fell flat. The drama was exactly that and I didn't particularly care for the main characters or care if they got married or not. Perhaps this is the fault in that this is the first book I've listened to in this series. Maybe if I had listened to them in order I could have identified better. As it is, the overall is just okay.
The narrator sometimes lapsed into that "I'm reading to little kids" cadence that drives me crazy but it wasn't too often. I was able to stay focused so it couldn't have been too bad.
I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.

Not bad, just not to my taste.

What did you like best about Death in the Headlights? What did you like least?

I like mysteries that keep me guessing and provide twists and turns, so thought the storyline was one I would enjoy. Unfortunately, I had the whodunit part figured out less than half-way through. I wish more had been put into the mystery than the couples' dilemmas over their love lives.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Honestly, I didn't care too much for any of them. None of them endeared themselves to me, except possibly the old lady who appeared briefly, the one who sold jams at the market. She seemed the most real of them all.

What aspect of Daniela Acitelli’s performance would you have changed?

Many times it was overly dramatic for the situation, yet still somehow lacking in emotion. The tone of voice and reactions didn't seem consistent with the way a hard-bitten, experienced retired detective would be. It definitely felt like she was reading the book aloud, rather than telling the story.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

It would depend greatly on who was in it. I think the storyline has potential, and maybe with engaging actors it would work.

Any additional comments?

"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom."

Death in the Headlights

Any additional comments?

Short, quick, enjoyable and entertaining light murder mystery.
People are just a devious and greedy in the country as they are in the city. Every family has their secrets.

Linda a retired police officer who has recently moved to the country takes it upon herself to solve a murder mystery that has happened in her new neighborhood.

Daniela Acitelli does the narration for this story. While I have listened to several books she has narrated before her narration just does not flow smoothly this time. She does have a pleasant voice and speaks clearly. Her character voice for Linda was really good. But it sounds like she has not pre-read the material of is not familiar with it. There are pauses in awkward places and there is to much emphasis put on too many words. While this may not be her best work, she is better than many narrators I have heard.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom

Excellent

While the four of them wanting to spend time relaxing for a week, instead they get caught up with a murder case. A bicycle, person only wearing a nightgown and slippers.Secrets within this Creek family is more than Detective Linda and Kristen ever wanted to know. Good series and thought the audio enhanced the characters and was enjoyable. Given audio for my voluntary review

Narration Stymied Listening Experience

I really like the underexposed settings, unique characters, and their interesting yet simple relationships in this installment of the Kyle Callahan series. . Death in the Headlights is my third exploration in his collections (check out “Stop The Car” for a good sample of his non-series, short story work). McNease’s narratives present a fresh take on solidly established genres, and this is what’s consistent: While thoroughly enjoying the experience of “story” McNease so well delivers, I find myself wanting more out of his writing, which admittedly veers to the lighter, upbeat side of mystery and murder (sounds weird when put in writing, but these things exist). Even in this less serious light though, a richer engagement is lurking on fringes, in full, inaccessible view. You can practically taste it, which can make for a frustrating read. The potential is clearly there, however, so I will probably keep following this author, provided he finds the better narrators.

The narrator speaks well with, concise articulation and good flow. The issue is she reads this adult book as if it's intended audience is elementary school aged children. I get the impression she is a consummate professional who either inadvertently selected a tone that is completely unsuited this genre or whose forte is locked solid in children’s story book. Either way, in this performance, she did not rise to the task of mastering delicate combination of mature levity and the seriousness matter of murder.

Great!

amateur-sleuth, murder-investigation, no-gratuitous-erotica, relationships, friendship
Read on October 02, 2016

The publisher's blurb is pretty lousy, but the novel is really good. One one hand, it's kind of a romance of a newly engaged retired police detective with issues, and it also tells of growing friendships within a group. The murder and it's convoluted investigation, the dysfunctional family dynamics of the suspects, and the surprising twists comprise the real intent, and is very well done. As a history geek, I was delighted by the brief historical bits inserted as appropriate to several locations.
Daniela Acitelli does very well with the audio performance by clearly differentiating characters and moods.

Fast Paced & Engaging

If you could sum up Death in the Headlights in three words, what would they be?

Enjoyable, Interesting & Suspenseful

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

I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout the book trying to figure out "whodunit". Mark McNease is amazing at weaving intrigue and suspense throughout his storylines.

What about Daniela Acitelli’s performance did you like?

Daniela is very engaging as a narrator. Her character portrayals were on point and manages to bring the story to life for you.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com

Greed and murder

Where does Death in the Headlights rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top. Listened to it in one sitting!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Linda is a strong, persistent woman who loved being a cop and solving cases.

Which character – as performed by Daniela Acitelli – was your favorite?

Linda. Daniela knew her character well. Her diction and cadence was very good.

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

I did!

Any additional comments?

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."