Circle of Bones

The Shipwreck Adventures, Book 1

By: Christine Kling

Narrated by: Angela Dawe

Former marine Maggie Riley has just set sail for the Caribbean, ready for a little R&R on her 40-foot boat before starting a work assignment in Dominica.

Then Cole Thatcher appears. Sexy, naked - and possibly nuts - Cole turns out to be an archaeologist searching for the wreckage from a World War II submarine that may hold millions in gold coins and classified documents from a powerful inner circle of the secret society Skull and Bones. Maggie has enough skeletons to deal with, but when she learns her own past may intersect the Bonesmen’s, joining Cole in the hunt for the sub may be the only course to uncover a hidden truth.

©2013 Christine Kling (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Great treasure hunt and mystery

I liked how the two different story lines came together. A missing french submarine and a Caribbean island sailor with a mysterious lover.

Entertaining Adventure Book Under 10 bucks

Good solid effort. Interesting, holds reader's interest the whole way. Believable characters, excellent setting, fairly predictable plot, though well-done.

The time/POV shifts in the story were occasionally hard to follow. One paragraph would follow another (not a chapter break), but the action was days later. Or the same day, different locale.
I didn't like the ending. Contrived cliffhanger, the kind intended to force you to read the next in the series to find out how the hero or heroine gets out of an impossible situation. However, as the next book is only $7.34 so not such a big issue this time.

All in all the book was an entertaining adventure book without excessive gore or sex scenes.

Angela Dawe did a really good job with the delivery of the story. Some people didn't like her narration but I have to disagree I liked her reading.

Lady Indiana Jones Adventures

I purchased this series out of order and am just listening to this story, shame on me for missing out on a great tale. I listened to #2 first and didn’t realize when I wrote that review, that yes, these tales are linked together and really don’t stand alone.
There are a few authors, this one and e.g. Tiffany Snow’s Kathleen Turner series, my fave, that do link the adventures together. So many reviews say get the whole series or must read in order. I have been burned and had to return books based on that suggestion.
I now choose a summery and if the author gains my attention, then I purchase the series and force myself to listen at book #1. As you have already discovered #1 can be an author’s best work, and for other author’s their best work comes later and you rely on fellow reviewers to advise.
If you start this series, get this book first!!
I am a huge fan of reader Ms Angela Dawe, as I like all her male voices. Her Scottish accents, none better! Her children voices can warm your heart. In this tale, she nails the foreign speech patterns head on and you are right there in the limelight with our characters.
See Marcia Clark’s series for a great mystery series and Nora Roberts MacGregor for a great romance series read by Ms Dawe. They will not disappoint if you are a fan of hers.
Were these comments helpful?

Starts a bit Slow

Any additional comments?

I wasn't sure about this book, and the first time I started listening I was put off by the narrator. However, I did eventually go back and started listening to this book again. Once I got past the narrator, the book was actually pretty good. There were some parts that made me wonder how the strong and smart lead female character, Maggie Reilly, couldn't see what was coming. However, these lapses in judgement do add new twists to the story. Overall, this book is good listen to pass time.

fun read

it took a bit to get into but worth it. very exciting ending and good set up for the next book

The narrator ruins the story

I am 2/3rd's into the book when I am writing this review. The storyline is good and I highly recommend reading the book. After listening to 100's of audiobooks, it is rare when I find a narrator that can destroy my enjoyment of the story. Sadly, I have found one and unfortunately she is the narrator for the three book series. Her voices for men and woman are fine; it is the habit of starting sentences with first word or two forceful. Not once in a while, but with just about every sentence -- no one talks this way. The start of the book was fraught with tension and high suspense where none was needed and no room given to build-up the tension when it was appropriate. I am finishing the book but will probably not continue the series, at least as an Audible book.

Kling weaves a sea tail well.

well written novel of the Caribbean, sunken treasure, history of the sub Surcouf, spicy love scene and high drama.

Great story, but the narrator...

Fascinating story, yet it was difficult to get past the narrator. Her style is almost identical to my GPS tone - quite mechanical and intense. Too intense from the beginning. The only time she changes tone is when she changes accents. Worth the effort to continue, however. Don't let her voice stop you from purchasing :)

Narrator hits the wrong note

What did you love best about Circle of Bones?

I like the story very much

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot was tense at times, and, this being a new author to me, I couldn't be sure the good guys and gals would survive to the final page.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Angela Dawe?

Sadly, just about anyone. The narrator started off with far too much tension so that suspense didn't have a chance to build. Her odd intonation didn't help, either.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reaction.

Any additional comments?

The second book in this series is also narrated by the same individual so I won't be purchasing it as an audiobook.

CIRCLE BONES

Would you listen to Circle of Bones again? Why?

OH, YES!

Who was your favorite character and why?

THE NARRATOR OF THE STORY.

What about Angela Dawe’s performance did you like?

VERY GOOD! WOULD LISTEN TO ANYTHING SHE PERFORMED.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

SUSPENSEFUL FROM BEGINNING TO END. FAMILY SAILING VACATION GOES TERRBLY WRONG! SHIPWRECKED, BETRAYAL, MURDER!

Any additional comments?

COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN FROM BEGINNING TO END IT KEEPS YOU ATTENTION RIGHT UP TO THE LAST PAGE!