Closer than You Think

A Mags Munroe Story, Book 4

De: Jean Grainger

Narrado por: Jean Grainger

If you think nothing interesting ever happens in a small Irish town, think again.

Ballycarrick is changing rapidly and not everyone is happy. No more a sleepy backwater, where everyone knows everyone else, and their business, the expansion of cities and towns into rural Ireland means opportunity for some undoubtedly, but not for everyone.

Sergeant Mags Munroe finds herself faced with a situation so unlikely it's almost laughable, but as things unfold, what seemed like a joke, is no longer funny, as sinister influences from much further afield take a keen interest in Ballycarrick, but why?

This, combined with millennial new Garda recruits, obstreperous teenagers, octogenarian parents, and a husband with an infuriating new hobby, all contrive to test Mag’s patience like never before.

©2024 Jean Grainger (P)2024 Gold Harp Media Ltd

Like listening to a diary

I think Jean Grainger did a wonderful job reading her own book. Knowing she was the reader almost made me feel like she was Mags and this was her story.

This particular book was not as engaging as some of her others, but I really enjoy Mags, her family and pets and how she deals with people on her job. It is enjoyable to revisit this character and be a fly on the wall in her world.

Thanks Jean!

SO HAPPY TO HAVE ANOTHER JEAN GRAINGER BOOK TO READ❣️

I was SOOOOO excited to find another Jean Grainger book was out — I pounced on it the second it was available!

I have to say I struggled to stick with it through the first two chapters, but things picked up in Chapter 3 and got better from there.

There were a few spots in which I felt the story got bogged down a bit (the meetings regarding Russian spies that might have been in town), but the rest of the book pertaining to other characters in the book ((Rosein, Jerome, Delia, Zoe, Kieran, Sharon and all the rest were really good).

There were many places in which I found myself laughing out loud (my family kept looking at me oddly as I had my ear buds in and they had no idea why I was laughing)…

Knickers the Bearded Dragon Lizard, a pet belonging to one of their girls, learned how to let himself out of his cage. He kept popping out all over the house at both Mags and Kieran, neither of whom were fans of the giant lizard — popping out of cupboards and closets unexpectedly. The reactions of each had me in stitches. There was also Rolo the dog who, for unknown reasons, lived in abject terror of Mags although she had never done anything to the dog. The dog’s reactions to Mags were hilarious.

I love Ms. Grainger’s sense of humor. Sometimes it is quite obvious, but at other times, it is dry and subtle — you have to pay attention if you are going to “get it,” but it’s always well worth the effort.

Jean Grainger did a fine job narrating the book, but I must admit, I was sad that it wasn’t the BRILLIANT Siobhan Waring narrating. Ms. Waring has narrated so many of Ms. Grainger’s books, and together, the two ladies are an unbeatable team. I was looking forward to hearing her voice again, but it was also nice to hear Ms. Grainger reading her own work for her audience.

While I was not as engrossed in this book as I have been in some other of Ms. Grainger’s books, I’m such a big! fan of her work, I’d be happy to just read her grocery list!

I gobbled up this book in one day (I TOLD myself to pace my reading over a few days and make the pleasure last, but I just couldn’t do it). So now that I devoured the whole book like a pig, I’m already clamoring for Ms. Grainger’s next work and hope she is back at her computer hard at work.

If nothing else Ms. Grainger, publish your grocery list and your list of Saturday errands and I’ll buy them!💕

Loved the audio

Having the author narrate added so much to this book. She knew when to emphasize things and when to not. Keep it up!

Great story

As always, an interesting story. Jean has a very pleasant voice, but I thought the recording tech could have cleaned up the breathing and also lip sounds of the person, not Jean, who recorded the last bit. Overall, I love Jean Graingers stories because her characters find a path to reconciliation.

Love this series

Fun, intrigue, a peak in to Irish culture and the joy of an exceptional person in the protagonist Mags Monroe

Mags is amazing .. Love this book

Some times the reader seemed bored reading.. not like the previous books. I wish she was a little more enthusiastic.

Max Malone is a realist, but she will always put her husband and her children first.

Jean Granger is my favorite author and the mag Malone series is the one that I love the most. She makes the character of me so real. I really hope that she has it in her to do make another book in this series.

Another engaging story about Mags and her quirky community of amusing characters!

Jean Grainger does a lovely job of creating people and situations that pull you in. They make you laugh, they make you cry, and they bring out our sentimental side. Her characters always find their way into our hearts, and I hope Ms Grainger has more Mags episodes in her writing repertoire o share with us! That said, I missed the amazing narration of Siobhan Waring. Siobhan is a BRILLIANT narrator who takes on her characters with personality and theatre! I found Ms Graingers narration to have technical issues that sounded a bit “do it yourself”, almost like a recording from the kitchen. Ms Grainger is a wonderful author, and I hope she brings us many more stories and characters to get to know, BUT I do hope she allows the voice professionals like Siobhan to do the narrating of her wonderful stories!

Another Mags Munroe winner

I enjoy this series so much. The characters are mostly nice people, but with enough flaws to make them seem real. I appreciate that the author doesn't have Mags Munroe take stupid chances just for the sake of creating suspense or excitement. It's also nice to see a married couple with a solid, loving relationship.

This particular story is as well crafted and satisfying as its predecessors. Jean Grainger does a reasonably good job as narrator; better than most authors narrating their own books. But it must be said that it doesn't match the high caliber of Siobhan Waring's narration of the first three books. Siobhan Waring just disappears, so that it's as though the book and its characters are speaking directly and I become so engrossed I forget that there is a narrator. Jean Grainger's sometimes slips into caricature.

Disappointed in the narration.

I usually love Jean Granger audiobooks but sad to say I won’t buy another one that she narrates herself.