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Thursday, September 6, 2018

AUDIOBOOK TOUR: Gone to Ground by Rachel Amphlett

Author: Rachel Amphlett

Narrator: Alison Campbell

Series: Detective Kay Hunter, Book 6

Publisher: Saxon Publishing

Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural

Released: July 4, 2018

While attending a crime scene on the outskirts of Maidstone, DI Kay Hunter makes a shocking discovery.

The victim has been brutally cut to pieces, his identity unknown.

When more body parts start turning up in the Kentish countryside, Kay realises the disturbing truth – a serial killer is at large and must be stopped at all costs.

With no motive for the murders and a killer who has gone undetected until now, Kay and her team of detectives must work fast to calm a terrified local population and a scornful media.

When a third victim is found, her investigation grows even more complicated.

As she begins to expose a dark underbelly to the county town, Kay and her team are pulled into a web of jealousy and intrigue that, if left unchecked, will soon claim another life.

Buy on RachelAmphlett.com

Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.

She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel cites her writing influences as Michael Connelly, Lee Child, and Robert Ludlum. She’s also a huge fan of Peter James, Val McDermid, Robert Crais, Stuart MacBride, and many more.

She’s a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag.

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For some reason there was a really long pause between chapters. I think I checked every single time that it had paused or to see if there was a problem with the audio. There never was, obviously, but the pause was a bit too long for my liking. It had me questioning my sanity over and over again! Otherwise, I love this narrator. Alison Campbell has a fantastic accent, to this American anyway. I have a thing for British narrators.

As for the story itself, it’s just what I’ve come to expect from Rachel Amphlett. I enjoyed seeing everyone starting a new kind of normal. It’s hard to adapt to changes and they seem to be doing it well. Kay Hunter is a solid cop so I was surprised that she’s doing perfectly well in her new position of Detective Inspector. Gone to the Ground isn’t as packed with action and thrilling suspense as a few of the previous books have been. However, this is a step-by-step puzzle and I was fascinated watching them put it all together.

I really think the only thing I can complain about is I do love the side stories with her partner, Adam, and the amusing animals he brings home to heal. Can’t you just imagine him as a boy? All the pets his parents had to turn away! I would love to see them finally get that family they so badly wanted. We didn’t hear any of that talk at all this book. Granted, this is definitely a book that is focused on the crime procedural story than that of their private lives. I just like the entertaining that I get from them. Either way, this is a fabulous series and I can’t wait to see where DI Kay Hunter leads us next!

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

Sep. 4th:

Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews

Hall Ways Blog

The Book Junkie Reads . . .

In Pattis Imagination

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What Is That Book About

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Sep. 10th:

The Book Addict's Reviews

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Tuesday, May 29, 2018

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Call to Arms by Rachel Amphlett

Author: Rachel Amphlett

Narrator: Alison Campbell

Series: Detective Kay Hunter, Book 5

Publisher: Saxon Publishing

Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural

Released: March 5, 2018

Loyalty has a price.

Kay Hunter has survived a vicious attack at the hands of one of the country's most evil serial killers.

Returning to work after an enforced absence to recover, she discovers she wasn't the only victim of that investigation.

DI Devon Sharp remains suspended from duties, and the team is in turmoil.

Determined to prove herself once more and clear his name, Kay undertakes to solve a cold case that links Sharp to his accuser.

But, as she gets closer to the truth, she realises her enquiries could do more harm than good.

Torn between protecting her mentor and finding out the truth, the consequences of Kay's enquiries will reach far beyond her new role…

Buy on RachelAmphlett.com

She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel cites her writing influences as Michael Connelly, Lee Child, and Robert Ludlum. She’s also a huge fan of Peter James, Val McDermid, Robert Crais, Stuart MacBride, and many more.

She’s a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag.

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Reasons why I chose my narrator

I wanted to reach more audiobook listeners with the Detective Kay Hunter series as more and more opportunities are becoming available to authors to do so, and so I opted to pay outright for the audiobooks to be produced so I could then distribute them through an aggregator that offered a worldwide reach.

Of course, the hardest part was finding a narrator who could convey the resilience of my lead protagonist, Kay Hunter as well as the supporting cast of characters who fill the stories.

I chose to work with a production company in the UK as my series is based there. Audio Factory have an established reputation having worked with the likes of the BBC and a number of publishers, and what I really liked about their website was that they have samples from each of their narrators so you can have a listen and narrow down who is the best fit for your story.

What was very important to me was to work with a narrator for this whole series, not just one book so I approached that listening phase with my ears open for a narrator that didn’t just suit the first book, Scared to Death, but who I felt would carry the range of emotions and scenes through all the books in the series.

There were three books out by the time I was doing this – Scared to Death, Will to Live, and One to Watch, and I was busy writing Hell to Pay, so I had a pretty good idea of Kay’s voice in my head and what I was listening for.

One thing became clear to me straight away – the narrators I was listening to were reading from literary transcripts, not crime fiction for the samples, and I needed to know if those voices would carry the Kay Hunter series.

I emailed Audio Factory and explained my predicament, telling them about my plans for the series, and asked if they could help.

In a day or so, I heard back and not only were Audio Factory able to suggest some narrators who had slipped my attention, they also provided links to SoundCloud with more comprehensive samples – perfect!

Within a couple more days, I’d listened to all the samples several times but kept coming back to one narrator who sounded like the best match.

And that is how I came to be working with Alison Campbell.

Alison’s the consummate professional: from performing in theatre, film, web series and corporate role-play, she's also an integral member of the award-winning Natural Theatre Company and works with a number of publishers across a wide range of genres.

I love how she’s taken the character of Detective Kay Hunter and made it her own, and now I can’t imagine anyone else playing the role!

You can read more about the audiobook production process on my blog here (https://www.rachelamphlett.com/behind-the-scenes/how-do-i-make-an-audiobook/) where I interview Alison and Arran from Audio Factory and take you through the whole process in more depth – it really is an eye (ear?) opening read!

This might have been my favorite Kay Hunter book yet! I loved how Detective Hunter and her department. They all work so well together and as a group they compliment and flow so well. I really enjoyed that we got to have a case with Detective Hunter fully exonerated, unfortunately, all was not well since Detective Inspector Sharp was suspended.

I found the look through the cold case file completely fascinating. This was a much shorter book than the other or it at least felt that way since I was finished within a day. I was tickled to see the relationship between Detective Hunter and DCI Larch change and evolve in this book.Larch certainly seems like a real person in this book. It was a nice change of pace for him! DCI Harrison, man, he was a great character to loathe!

I was so thrilled with this ending! It did make me wonder, is this the end of the Detective Kay Hunter series? Everything seems to have settle into a pleasing ending, for myself anyway. I’d love to hear more about Det. Hunter. She’s a great character that’s easy to like, and one to root for!

Alison Campbell continues to be Detective Kay Hunter for me! There isn’t another narrator that would fit her books now in my opinion. She has just the right amount of feeling. Her voice sounds like what I’d expect from a woman Detective, strong, yet still feminine. The inflection and tone is just right! I’ve enjoyed every single Detective Kay Hunter book the Ms. Campbell has narrated! I’d love for more but only time will tell.

May 27th:

Jorie Loves A Story

Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews

May 28th:

May 29th:

May 30th:

Mystery Thriller Week

May 31st:

Jun. 1st:

Jun. 2nd:

The Book Addict's Reviews

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Sunday, April 15, 2018

AUDIO BOOK REVIEW: One to Watch by Rachel Amphlett

ONE TO WATCH

Author: Rachel Amphlett

Narrator: Alison Campbell

Length: 7 hours 27 minutes

Series: Detective Kay Hunter, Book 3

Publisher: Saxon Publishing

Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural

Sophie Whittaker shared a terrifying secret. Hours later, she was dead.

Detective Kay Hunter and her colleagues are shocked by the vicious murder of a teenage girl at a private party in the Kentish countryside.

A tangled web of dark secrets is exposed as twisted motives point to a history of greed and corruption within the tight-knit community.

Confronted by a growing number of suspects and her own enemies who are waging a vendetta against her, Kay makes a shocking discovery that will make her question her trust in everyone she knows.

One to Watch is a gripping murder mystery thriller, and the third in the Detective Kay Hunter series. A whodunit for fans of Jeffery Deaver, Peter James, David Baldacci, and James Patterson.

RachelAmphlett.com

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While all of Rachel Amphlett’s books can be read or listened to on their own, I highly recommend that you read them in order. You get to know the characters and the situations… it all builds on each other. I love the way Amphlett writes her short, rapid chapters and how much it adds to the fast pacing of the book. One to Watch starts off strong and never lets up, there are no moments of boredom and the pace never lags, right on through to the end where the twists and turns just keep coming, it’s fantastic.

I found One to Watch very intriguing! It really focused on the death of Sophie Whittaker, 16, during a party celebrating her ‘purity pledge’ and her engagement to Josh. For those unfamiliar with the ‘purity pledge’, it is a pledge that young girls only… you know, us women need to be ok with our men not being pure. Typical! Usually taken between the ages of 12 and 16, it is a part of a Christian movement. What I really liked was that this book isn’t a highly religious book; it was more of a backdrop to a murder investigation. Anyway, Kay is still working her side case. It gets deeper and deeper!

I really enjoy Allison Campbell’s narration. She is Kay Hunter to me. Campbell speaks so clearly and concisely. It’s so easy to understand her. Plus the tone of her voice is soothing and I just like listening to her.

Rachel Amphlett's Favourite First-In-Series Crime Fiction

We’re getting ready to move house in the new year, which means at some point I’m going to have to box up all eight bookshelves of crime and thriller books that are currently lining the walls of one of the rooms downstairs.

After sorting out which books would have to go to the charity shop - unless scientists work out a way to clone me in the next fifty years, there’s a very good chance I’ll never get to these a second time around - I was left with some of the crime series that have stayed with me for years, and that I’ll be hanging onto for a long time yet.

This got me thinking: what is it about these first in series novels that still capture my imagination after all this time? And what is it about these books that influence my own writing?

Michael Connelly - The Black Echo (Harry Bosch #1)

Connelly captures so much about his famous detective Harry Bosch in this first novel in the series, but does so without making you feel bombarded by information.

Once a “tunnel rat” in the Vietnam jungle, and now a police detective with the LAPD, Harry Bosch isn’t what I’d call a dynamic character, but he is compelling. It’s his careful consideration of each case that crosses his desk, and the way in which he cares about every single victim no matter their background.

Equally as compelling as Harry Bosch is Connelly’s descriptions of the cityscape within which the stories are based; each location is described in such a way that, for example, by the time you read about Harry heading home of an evening in the latest book in the series, you almost know which CD track he’s going to put on to listen to.

What have I learned from reading the Harry Bosch books? Setting is as important as character.

Peter James – Dead Simple (Roy Grace #1)

Maybe not a book to give to your fiancée before his stag night…

The first chapter of this book has to be one of the most memorable introductions to a detective series I’ve ever come across, and I won’t spoil it here by telling if you if you haven’t yet read it.

At the end of the first chapter, you’re left in total shock and dying to know what happens next. Told from several points of view, the whole story is turned on its head about two-thirds of the way through and then it’s a fast-paced page-turning read to the end.

What have I learned from reading the Roy Grace books? The books may be named after Roy Grace, but there’s a great ensemble cast, and this is something that felt natural to me as I wrote the first in the Kay Hunter series. I wanted those co-stars to be considered just as important as Kay. After all, no police detective works alone, and there are myriad experts on hand to help solve the case.

Angela Marsons – Silent Scream (Kim Stone #1)

Angela’s Kim Stone books are modern twisty thrillers that bring the genre bang up to date into the twenty-first century and I’ve no doubt this series will endure for a long time yet.

I remember when the first in the series, Silent Scream, was published – everyone was utterly blown away by the story and I recall seeing the book cover everywhere online. In Silent Scream we meet Kim Stone for the first time and quickly realise that if she is to stop a sadistic killer, she’s going to have to confront some very dark memories of her own. Kim Stone is ruthless in her quest for justice for the victims in these novels, and her investigations lead her into dangerous physical and emotional places.

What have I learned from reading the Kim Stone series? The modern detective story has evolved for the twenty-first century, and so have female protagonists.

Lee Child - Killing Floor (Jack Reacher #1)

I remember picking up a second hand copy of Kililng Floor about three years after it was first published, and it really was the first time I’d ever heard of this strange lone wolf character by the name of Jack Reacher.

What have I learned from reading the Jack Reacher books? Use short sentences to keep the action moving along. You don’t often see long sweeping sentences in Lee Child’s novels - they’re punchy, to the point, and don’t waste time.

A bit like Jack Reacher, you might say…