Dead Man's Island

A Henrie O Mystery, Book 1

By: Carolyn G. Hart

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Dead Man's Island is the first installment of the Henrie O Mystery series.

Chase Prescott, media magnate, is nearly killed by a box of cyanide candy. Fearing for his life, he calls his former lover, retired reporter Henrietta O'Dwyer Collins. His request is simple: He'll assemble all the suspects if she will kindly point out the would-be murderer.

On Chase's private island off the South Carolina coast, Henrie O meets the players in this deadly drama: Prescott's unstable young wife, his sullen stepson, and his toady of a secretary. The field of suspects is wide, and Henrie O has her work cut out for her. As she unearths a will and new evidence, a killer hurricane sweeps up from Cuba, threatening to maroon them. But in this luxurious vacation spot, the storm's fury is less dangerous than the murderous greed of one of Prescott's guests.

©2009 Carolyn G. Hart (P)2012 Random House

A book maybe more for a woman.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The over all story was ok, the performance was good. Personally the story fell short. One of those female trying to be a male type story. The story starts off slow but gets better from middle to end. I suppose if you had nothing to do it would be an ok listen (not an insult or slam just a so so listen to me.)

If you’ve listened to books by Carolyn G. Hart before, how does this one compare?

First story I've listen to so nothing to compare it with from this author. I might try another and see if other stories are similar.

Have you listened to any of Kate Reading’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Honestly I don't know if I've hear her before or not. Performance was fine.

Could you see Dead Man's Island being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Maybe some type of B flick with unknowns getting a start.

Any additional comments?

I like mysteries, detective, newspaper type of stories but this one was not for me.

Intriging

The 1st of the Henrie O series. This series was started when the Death on Demand had about 8 titles. It has some flaws, so it's really about 4.5. Henrie O's summarizes the suspects too often. The wrap up is not as clean as it could have been. Still, the solution is imaginative and just flat fire cracker good.

A true edge of your seat thrill

I want to start this by saying Kate Reading brings her best to this reading. She is likely one of my favorite voice actors and I got this book because she was reading it. As usual Kate Reading delivers a wide range of voices to different people, builds wonderful tension with her inflections, and in general does a wonderful job. The recording itself was competent with no major audio issues. Good listening quality.

I LOVED this novel and eagerly bought the second book of the series. Carolyn Hart delivers a truly tense suspense novel that had me glued to the book staying up late to see what would happen next. Henrie O. the character is described as someone who has a lot of twists and surprises in her life and the book was one suspenseful twist after another. Each time raising tension as things fall apart in paradise.

A great setting and cast of colorful characters rounds out this take on this concept of a group of people on an isolated island. While it takes a little time to keep all the characters straight when the novel gets going and the hurricane is rolling towards the house the stage is well set. I think some of the moments are a little annoying and I disagree with how Carolyn Hart interprets some of the characters but it overall works well. I assuredly get why Henrie O. does what she does and that probably is enough

I will say this: the ending and solution to the puzzle is fairly obvious. Carolyn Hart isn't interested in fooling the readers and she sets out the clues in an obvious and straightforward manner. It is the action of getting to that conclusion and the suspense in-between that makes the story really work. This is a story that works on momentum and sells its momentum which is hard to pull off in a novel. The twists and turns are in general engaging. It is also nice seeing an older woman sleuth who is not afraid to get dirty and play rough.

So overall I was extremely pleased with this one had a great time. I can not wait to start book 2.

JUST NOT FOR ME

Carolyn Hart is one of my very favorite authors but this book just left me flat. I couldn't picture the setting of the story, I couldn't see the characters, and I just couldn't get the gist of this book.