Black Soul Rising

From the Taldano Files

By: S. A. Ison

Narrated by: William E. Fortier

Set in 1970, before the personal computer, before cell phones, and even more rare, a woman detective in a male-dominated career.

Detective Carmela Taldano is handed what seems like a benign, low-level case. Soon, she realizes this case is a game changer, as she is now on the hunt for a vicious and voracious serial killer. She must use her intuition and shear guts to hunt this predator down before more people die.

However, while hunting this man down, Taldano becomes the hunted. Someone in her department wants her dead and wants this high-profile case. She also comes into the cross hairs of the very animal she is hunting down.

If Silence of the Lambs made you shutter, Black Soul Rising will leave you breathless.

©2015 Stephanie Albino (P)2018 Stephanie Albino

Black Soul Rising

This story was extremely dark and twisted from beginning to end. It held my attention throughout. The author is adapt at promoting visualization of the horrors and it was mezmerizing. highly recommend this read.

Making a Serial Killer

This is a solid suspenseful thriller. Good cat and mouse game story with an interesting plot. I really felt like the whole story ticked and tied perfectly with itself and I really was quite pleased with how the entire story unfolded. It seemed to me like the story was put together like a math problem where everything had its place and in the end there is only one answer that works.

I really enjoyed listening to the story, although from time to time, I felt that the dialogue was a little unpolished. Every now and then characters would say things that didn’t match their character or wasn’t how I thought people actually talked. Very easy to overlook as the thrill and story itself were quite good. The author describes the book as a disturbing and horrifying peek into the perverse mind of a serial killer. I would say that this is that as well as the disturbing and horrifying events that take place to create a serial killer. This story is quite disturbing, and there is a lot of sexual, mental, and physical abuse that occurs throughout this book and may not be for everyone. It takes a strong fortitude to listen to some of this story as I can’t say that monsters like this don’t actually exist today.

The setting and time this story takes place is perfect for how everything plays out. It definitely lends itself to the nature of the story as it was a simpler time yet has many flaws that allows for many of the events to occur. What feels like a quaint rural town has monsters living in it and that juxtaposition does not go unnoticed as the two are quite opposing.

Lenny and Detective Taldano make interesting main characters. It becomes tough to decide who to root for. On one had you feel sorry for Lenny given that you understand how and why he is who he is, but then you also know that like a rabid animal he needs to be put down. Taldano is a female detective just trying make her way through a male dominated career and you want to see her succeed. Regardless of what happens you know it won’t end well for one of them and it can’t be anything less than heartbreaking.

First time I have listened to William Fortier and I think that his gruff voice was perfect for this type of story. His voice definitely sets the tone for this story and he is able to keep you on the edge of your seat while driving you forward to the inevitable end. I will say I didn't care for the chapter transition noises. It sounded like radio static when you lose reception and was a bit distracting.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Spine chilling

A true spine chilling story. Creepy and sad all at once. A fast and scary ride. I had to keep the lights on, just that scary. I really enjoyed this.

A haunting book on so many levels!

A haunting and realistic story that clearly defines the early male/female roles, the depths of depravity of mankind, and how it was possible to catch criminals without the help of technology.

In 1950 a tormented young woman gave birth to a beautiful boy, abused and alone, she visited upon him all the hate she held for men.

Years later, Detective Carmela Taldano is a female trying to succeed in a male-dominated career. As a result of her being female and the driving need to humiliate her, she is given a low-profile dog mutilation case. When it is discovered that the dog mutilation case is much bigger, more vicious and is a career-making case, Taldano discovers she is truly hated. She becomes the hunted as she works through the case.

I wasn’t ten minutes in before I began to question if I could listen to this audiobook to the end. It was well done and hauntingly vivid as well as captivating. Ison accurately describes the extreme sexism that existed in our society in 1950-1960’s; the thoughts and practices during a time period in which society supported such behavior.

The pain each character encountered and survived was overwhelming, giving the listener a ride on an emotional rollercoaster. The horror of each victim is stunningly gruesome demonstrating the depths of depravity a single human can reach.
Ison inserted some twists in the plot that were amazing and attention-grabbing. Each character was vividly built and solid.

The narrator, William E. Fortier performed the audiobook with a smooth, easy flowing voice. He gave each character a voice that resonated from beginning to end. I liked how he read the book using his voice to give some inflection to indicate fear, hate, and other emotions.

The only thing that gave me pause was the use of a recorded cat sound that was used once and then the narrator imitated the cat – far better than the recording! Otherwise the production quality was good.

This is a good book, one that most will find poignant and terrifying at the same time. I found I could not stop listening and I know that when I go to bed for the next month or so, I will be haunted.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author/narrator/publisher.
Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog.
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Wow what a listen

I was warned beforehand that this was dark and it was indeed.

This is NOT for people who cannot deal with books regarding the ugliest parts of some humans.

I found the book quite interesting and liked how one horror showed how another horror begin.

I understand that during the timeline of this book certain things weren’t spoken about and therefore society thought they didn’t happen. Even in the best of families.

The brutality is discomforting but unfortunately STILL happens everyday.

If you cannot handle the horror of some realities this book is not for you.

I felt like the initial character had her story told quite well to indicate what had happened but the second character’s story was not told in as much detail but it was clear the things that made him do certain things.

The supporting characters are developed clearly.

There were no big gotcha moments and some of the affectations of serial killers have been over done in the past.

The narration was just not very professional. There were loud background noises, the narrator droned so slowly I had to speed the sound up, I have NO idea what that obnoxious noise was at the end of each chapter was, and either USE sound effects or don’t. It’s VERY distracting when a book uses, doesn’t use..... those.

The book is good and could have been MUCH better will fuel narration or a better trained actor.

Black soul rising

There are twist and turn in the plot of the story. I can't hardly pause but keep on listening. Great audiobook

Highly recommend Audible Black Soul Rising- 5 star

Black Soul Rising ,is a well written murder -suspense thriller, but the narration by Fortier. made it even more intriguing and filled with realistic suspense. The variations of voice over by Fortier ,was amazing, for the many characters in the story. I could not stop listening to this story. At times it took my breath away and made the hair stand on the back of my neck, in horror or disbelief of the twisted & brutal actions of that monster in his hunting & kill. The narration made it so real, intriguing,& haunting I found myself sitting at the edge of my chair. I needed to find out who that monster of a man was. The author was brilliant in her story line and character with a bit of background history in the creation of this monster. This is not the typical book I would read , for it was very crude and twisted but as a suspense thriller, it was outstanding, mainly because it was narrated so well. Outstanding job by S.A. Ison and William Fortier. I would recommend this audible version. I give both 5 stars.

Twisted

Twisted story makes you wonder what goes through this authors mind at the wee hours of the morning. Not much can be said to do it real justice, it's just downright disturbing. Horrific in all the right ways, Highly recommended for those that Don't want to sleep at night!

Great Story!

This is an extremely well written story that will make you want to listen to the very end to see what happens next. This tale will make you want to be nicer to people!

Black Soul Rising

I really liked this book.Set in 1970 it captured the time very well.It also captured police behaviour very well.There is a killer mutilating women.He was born before you could just drop unwanted babies off places.His mother let him live.A scarey tale of how human relationships affect us. William E.Fortier was a good narrator. The fuzz between chapters was the only issue. I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.