Elizabeth

bad narrator, juvenile story

Reviewed: 03-23-25

I immediately didn't like the narrator. Sometimes it takes a few minutes to get used to a new narrator but not this time. She reminded me of high schoolers auditioning for a play. Too falsetto for women, and the men were unbelievable. it was too obviously a woman trying to sound like a man.

I really like Karps other books but this was awful. There was no mystery. No suspense. Not even a domestic thriller. I was really disappointed. I'm stunned it got such positive reviews.

Unfortunately you cant return a book you've directly paid for. Returns are only allowed if you used a credit.

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unbelievable main character

Reviewed: 10-21-24

this seemed to have all the earmarks of a good story but the execution was terrible. In fact, i couldn't finish it. The main character, a disgraced reporter, was annoying, unscrupulous, conniving and manipulative. Throw in a few cliches, unrealistic characters, and slow pacing, it ends up falling seriously flat if not ridiculous. Not a good start for the series.

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No understanding of ADHD

Reviewed: 02-26-24

this author CLEARLY doesn't have or understand ADHD. She thinks we don't put dishes in the dishwasher because we have too many dishes and the dishwasher must be full. ADHDers don't put dishes in the dishwasher because sitting it in the counter takes 1 step; putting them in the dishwasher takes several. she thinks if we put things on the bottom of the steps we'll take them up when we do go because we'll become irritated at seeing them. Nope. I have stuff on those steps for weeks. She's all about efficiency but things it's better to go to the store than buy extras. or even use tissues if you run out of toilet paper until the next planned weekly shopping trip. I could go on.

The narrator was too elementary school teacher reading at circle time. And she had to get through the authors condescension and superiority expressed by the books tone. And the author must have a big house to have empty shelves just in case and have three or four dedicated landing areas. And I can't afford a cleaning lady or gardener, things she also suggests.

I don't think this was meant to be a comedy but the content was laughable.

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Disappointing

Reviewed: 02-13-24

TL:DR - Great original beginning had me hooked; started losing focus in Part 3; last two hours were painful.

Blake Crouch seems to have a thing for how we build and lose memory and how it makes us who we are. Wayward Pines, which I liked, has a bit of a play on memory and how we can pretend things didn't happen to keep the peace. Recursion is memory manipulation on a cosmic level.

What starts as a mysterious illness of false memories becomes a world ending marvel of science. The captivating concept gets you thinking about how our brain impacts our reality. "Well, this is interesting," you think. "How does this work? I want to know more." The first two parts are a duel timeline of figuring things out. Solid 5.

Unfortunately, things start to go downhill with Part 3. We have a good idea of how things work now and what's really going on. Good idea in the right hands = bad idea in the wrong hands. Things have gone off the rails in both the story and in the novel. It's starting to become repetitive and the characters don't hold my attention much any more.

At about 2 hours remaining, the novel gets caught in its own recursion. How many times do I need to listen to failed attempts to save the world? I should have known that as soon as saving the world became a thing the good part was over.

I fast forwarded to the epilogue because I really didn't care how the world was saved. That epilogue did wrap some things up but overall it was a downer.

I did like the detective and Helena. And the two narrators did a great job. it's just that the story got stuck on the merry-go-round and I couldn't wait to be thrown off.

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love this series

Reviewed: 02-05-24

this entire series is unique, fast paced and excellently narrated.

Zachary Quinto narrates with perfect tone and pacing. His characters aren't distinguished so much by voices but there's still something unique about them that makes them easy to distinguish each.

if your new to it, it does help to listen to them in order; at least listen to the first one to get a better idea of what dispatching is.

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uneven with some gems

Reviewed: 01-03-24

listening to these stories is probably the best route. many are written without dialogue,in an almost dreamlike, lyrical, stream of consciousness way that must be read out loud, like a poem. I haven't read anything else by this author but if this style remains the same for longer works, I'm not sure it would keep my attention. I am, however, intrigued enough to give it a try.

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1 person found this helpful

kept me listening

Reviewed: 03-24-23

Despite some other reviews, I found the narrator had the perfect tone for this story. He accurately captured the strained relationship between the two men and delivered the funny bits with humor.

There were one or two places that really creeped me out along with typical haunted house antics. The two men made A LOT of references to old horror movies from Ray Miland in The Uninvited to Stephen King's 1408 as well as throwing in references to 1313 Mockingbird Lane. You don't need to understand the allusions but it does enriche the story.

These seems to be one of those stories you either love or hate. I'm on the former.

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couldn't get past the first story

Reviewed: 08-27-21

it's very rare that I abandon a story so early or right in the middle of listening. I just couldn't listen anymore. I'm not squeamish and don't mind rough talk but this was too much. Ive read books dark books so it's not the topics but it was.disturbing almost to the point of revulsion. it's like watching Leaving Las Vegas but without caring about the characters.

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love this series

Reviewed: 05-25-21

First of all the narration is excellent. The voices. The pacing. All of it. One of my new favorites.

As to the story, although sci-fi, it's really a murder mystery that uses the dispatcher role as flavor not the main course, making for more interesting characters.

id love to see the series continue.

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Excellent narration!

Reviewed: 05-06-21

Had I not known the truth, I would have bet a lot of money that this was voiced by several people. From a young girl to an old British clergyman to a deep sonorous tour guide this narrator did it all.

The individual stories within the framework of book were, like most anthologies, varied. I enjoyed them all but none blew my socks off. The premise of telling the stories as a tour group encounters each resident/story teller was a unique concept. Overall it's a solid book with an exceptional narrator.

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1 person found this helpful