The Secret Chord (The Conor McBride Series - Mystery Suspense Thriller Book 2)

By: Kathryn Guare

Narrated by: Wayne Farrell

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Listeners who love romantic suspense and thrillers with heart have found their new literary crush.

An Irishman on the run. He's left a lot of things behind him...but they're not far enough back.

Conor McBride has lost everything, and if he can't find a way to disappear in a hurry, the next thing he loses could be his life. Running from enemies he's never met and haunted by his own destructive actions, Conor needs a refuge secure enough to hold his secrets. A farmhouse inn tucked amidst the green mountains of Vermont seems ideal, but when his past catches up with him, Conor discovers the beautiful young innkeeper has secrets of her own, and hers are more likely to get them both killed.

©2014 Kathryn Guare (P)2023 Kathryn Guare

Excellent Spy Thriller

I was given the Secret Chord in return for an honest and unbiased review. I thought I should start with the first book.The first book in the series was OK for me but this book I really enjoyed.

The Secret Chord is an enchanting ride with the Irish violinist/farmer/spy Conor McBride who turns up in Vermont and meets his match in artist/innkeeper Kate Fitzpatrick. I was immersed in the action from the start of the novel; Ms. Guare keeps you guessing where the plot will lead. Some characters met in Deceptive Cadence return and interesting new ones are introduced. Ms. Guare has a wonderful ear for dialogue and description and I would be remiss if I didn't mention her fine use of her native "green mountain" state as this novel's main setting. Beware, though—events will lead across the globe to culminate in some hair-raising plot twists!

Wayne Farrell was once again outstanding with the delivery of the story.

action adventure music romance intrigue

Let me get this out in the open. You will be lost and confused if you just jump right in to this read without having any background with the characters or the series. I highly suggest you go back to book one of this series and pick all the bits and pieces that lead up to this point. At the same time if you are good at keeping track of multiple tangled webs of lies, deceit, secrets, double crossing, mystery, suspicions, and more of the like. You may just be able to get away with jumping right in. I on the other hand was not so fortunate. I had to go back to book one and I will say that I am very happy that I did. I was able to get lost in this world and it was a good thing. I found a fantastic tale that lead down this road only to change at the corner and turn down a different direction. It was not just the main character(s) that pushed more onward. It was the chase, the thrill, the mystery, the suspense, and yes of course the fact that our main character was a fabulous musician. The core of characters allow you to see deeper than the skin and it takes you on an adventure all on its own.

Characters, landscapes, relationships, friendships, dangers, music, beauty, combined with a plot steeped with suspense, action, intrigue, and more. I was drawn in on this one and look forward to find out more of what these characters find themselves in next.

Narrator Wayne Farrell allowed me to feel transported to the time and place. I enjoyed the cadence of his voice the lulls and highs and even the lilt of Irish. I felt almost like home and an adventure all wrapped up in one. I would very much listen to more of his narrations. This audio and this narrator would be the perfect way to gain additional followers for this series.

wow w! o ! w!!!

now God damn this book is what I call Perfection this book has everything thrilling moments interesting story you couldn't put it down it was just amazing I can't describe how amazing it was I love it so very much it's freaking amazing and again I will say the word amazing I love it I couldn't stop listen to it I enjoyed the thrill very munch the book itself is genius
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Better than Book 1, which is good!

I didn’t know what to expect from book 2 of the Conor McBride series. Book 1 ended well and didn’t require a follow up. However, Kathryn Guare outdid any expectation I had. It is not necessary to listen to the first book to enjoy and understand The Secret Chord; but I recommend it. You have a backstory that you wouldn’t have without it.

I loved the interaction between Conor and Kate. I typically cringe at love scenes and detest predictable quotes. Ms Guare created a spunky but tender relationship in this couple that I enjoyed to the very end. The action and intrigue just kept me excited to listen, especially for the last third of the audiobook.

Thank you for bringing back an incredible narrator! Wayne Farrell IS the voice of Conor and does a fantastic job of switching from character to character.

Well done!

I was given a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my unbiased review.

So excited this is finally out on audiobook!

I couldn't wait for this to come out on audiobook, and Connor McBride didn't disappoint. I enjoy this narrator and love the characters... Kathryn Guere hit it out of the park once again.

Very descriptive vocabulary!

Kathryn Guare paints pictures in you head with her vast, beautiful words!

Suspenseful with "I didn't see that coming" plot.

Wayne Farrell is an excellent narrator.

A bit of foul language that I wasn't expecting.

I was given a free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Espionage versus Romance

I was really excited to dig into this book because Book 1 was so good. This story had it’s charms as well but I did enjoy the first book more. Our hero, Conor McBride, is in dire need of some serious rest and relaxation. He goes to great pains to walk away from the espionage business that entangled him and his brother in Book 1. A fancy but quiet Vermont Bed & Breakfast needs an experienced dairy farmer and that’s right up Conor’s alley.

At the B&B, he meets Kate (the owner) and Abigail (the motherly demanding chef). Kate is a painter who’s currently suffering from artist’s block. She sits in front of her canvas day in and day out not painting because she lacks that spark. She does have a good sense of humor and can be stubborn and decisive. Sometimes I liked her and sometimes I rolled my eyes at her. She’s initially a little prickly with Conor, assuming that Conor has assumed she’s incompetent at farm work. Kate says she’s good with the tractor but we never see her doing any farm work, so I have my doubts.

Kate is directly tied to my one complaint for this book. I don’t mind a little romance with my espionage thriller, but I do mind characters being idiots and Kate was often an idiot and it usually was because of the romance. She is idiotically jealous over something Conor mumbles in his sleep. In another incident, she feels that Conor needs to ask her forgiveness and I felt she was being high handed, needy, and immature. Finally, there’s this end stage of the spy operation and Kate insists on going along with no spy training. This was such a bad idea but she bullies her way into it, endangering everyone. I really dislike it when stories use this particular ploy to make room for drama later on. So, yeah, I wanted to like Kate but I felt that she was mostly useless and at times detrimental to the other characters.

I loved that Conor played his violin for Kate. They chat about art in general and her artist’s block. Conor makes a comment along the line that Kate is making it all about herself instead of the art – and that sums up Kate perfectly. She’s not a bad person but she is self-centered.

Along this same line, I have to say that the ladies in this book are all comforters or love interests. Kate and Abigail and Yvonne (I think I have her name right) are well written but I wanted more from the women in general. It’s the modern age and lady spies have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years. It would nice to see that reflected here.

Setting that aside, it was great to have Frank Murdoch and Sedgewick back in the game. Conor thought he had been clever, had left his old life behind, but he’s also new to all this spy business. So he’s not too surprised when Murdoch reaches out and has an assignment for him. There’s some unfinished business with Vasily Draganov, the big baddie from Book 1. Conor is still mourning his brother Thomas and his mother Brigid and the loss of the family farm. I could easily see how torn Conor was – go after this man or put it all behind him and try to heal.

At the end of Book 1, I wasn’t sure how much to trust Sedgewick and Murdoch but now there is a true bond among the three men. They each go through this new crisis and come out knowing each other better. Sedgewick is still a bit paranoid and rougher around the edges and Murdoch is still all proper English (doing his best to hide his heritage).

There’s plenty of double crossing and double agents stuff going on. It’s clear by the end of Book 1 that one of the good guys was feeding intel to one of the bad guys. Now in this book, that gets dealt with and wrapped up. Also, there’s a lingering string back to Thomas and to Conor’s farm caretaker (no longer employed since he sold the place) Phillip. I was delightfully surprised with the big reveal on that and also on how it got handled.

All told, 4/5 stars. If the next book comes to audiobook land, I will give it a listen because I think Kate can grow and become useful.

The Narration: Wayne Farrell was great! He has a light Irish accent for Conor that is just perfect. He also does a good job with the female voices. I loved his voice for Sedgewick, especially when Sedgewick was being rude or was in the grip of malaria or alcohol. He also had a good kid voice for the young lad. There were no technical issues with this recording. 5/5 stars.

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Kathryn Guare. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Loved this book!

From the very beginning I found it difficult to do anything except sit with this delightful, wise, touching, frightening tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed it - the story itself and the remarkable narrator.

A true gem!

You Can't Escape The Past

I actually enjoyed this book more than the first. It closes a lot of the questions I had from the first and brings closure. I really enjoyed how much the author brought the reader to the locations in the book. I felt the dampness of the Vermont Farmhouse and Barn and the culture of India. The narration is spot on and adds to the nuance of the story. Highly recommend giving it a listen.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

McBride returns!

I throughly enjoyed book two. The narrator is fantastic, makes the characters come to life. This series has it all- suspense, mystery and romance. I've already purchased book 3!!