Donn's Legacy

The Soul Searchers Mysteries, Book 3

By: Caryn Larrinaga

Narrated by: Jessica McEvoy

How do you catch a killer who moves like a ghost?

Mackenzie Clair is sure she’ll find answers in New Mexico. The mysteries around her mother’s past have haunted her for 20 years, and every sign points toward the truth lurking in her childhood home. But the Donn’s Hill Body Magnet should have known better than to expect a quiet trip. Everywhere Mac goes, ghosts follow.

All her life, Mac thought her mother’s death was just a tragic accident. But when a tourist dies under suspiciously similar circumstances, connections between Evelyn Clair and more recent victims start stacking up. There’s a serial killer on the prowl, and they’ve set their sights on Donn’s Hill.

Hard as she tries, Mac can’t convince the police the deaths are related. The murderer is like a ghost, moving through the living world in ways only a psychic can follow. It’s up to Mac to solve the case, but if she can’t sift through the clues from her past, she won’t live to see her future.

Donn’s Legacy is the thrilling conclusion to the Soul Searchers mystery series. If you like ghosts, psychics, and pause-resisting stories, you’ll love these spine-tingling whodunits by Caryn Larrinaga, featuring psychic Mac and her spirited tortoiseshell cat, Striker:

• Donn’s Hill
• Donn’s Shadow
• Donn’s Legacy

©2020 Caryn Larrinaga (P)2021 Caryn Larrinaga

Couldn’t stop listening

Loved the story and the narrator! I’ve read all 3 in the series, wish there were more books.

Great conclusion to the trilogy

I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy from Audiobookworm Promotions. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. I listened to the first two books, Donn’s Hill and Donn’s Shadow recently and liked them so I was looking forward to listening to Donn’s Legacy.

This is my favorite of the three Soul Searchers books I’ve listened to. Mac has only lived in Donn’s Hill for a few months, but she’s growing as a psychic and is determined to use her abilities to find out who is murdering psychics, but is she strong enough? She seems to doubt herself more than others do.

Mac is brave and cares a lot for others. She does seem a little whiny at times, though. Her boyfriend is very supportive and although he doesn’t like her putting herself in danger, he is there for her when she needs him. Some of the other characters from the first two books left for one reason or another, and I missed them.

I enjoyed the twists and turns in this book, and I really liked the conclusion to the trilogy. I’m going to have to read more of Caryn Larrinaga’s books when I can.

Jessica McEvoy does a great job with the different voices in the story. She’s the perfect narrator for Donn’s Legacy. She performs the story and brings it alive.

A perfect blend of storytelling and performance

Buckle up, ghost busters, it’s time to rescue the dead!

Donn’s Legacy, by Caryn Larrinaga, is the third audiobook in her Soul Searchers trilogy, and in all of the best ways, it’s everything returning listeners will expect: investigations into the supernatural, deep backstories told with forward momentum instead of in flashback, complex characters who love and fight and grow together as the story moves along. There’s a lot of listener comfort material here, too—whole paragraphs devoted to donuts, to say nothing of our favorite feline sidekick, Striker—but never at the expense of a story where the suspense runs high and the stakes couldn’t be any higher. And all of it, again, is narrated by the incomparable and inimitable Jessica McEvoy, who breathes life into this paranormal comfort-thriller like she owns Donn’s Hill. By now, of course, she almost does.

Also, Larrinaga again does something that never ceases to impress. For the third time in a row, she’s delivered an ending that no one will see coming. You’d think at this point that readers and listeners would be ready for this, would have prepared for it and guessed at it—and, speaking only for myself, I certainly tried. But when the reveal comes at the very end—no spoilers, but…well, congrats, Ms. Larrinaga. You got me again.

Runes! Seances! Out-of-body projection! Spirits of the dead trapped in boxes! Battles in the astral plane! And cat noises, too. Lots of cat noises. If this were just a book, it’s be the perfect one to curl up with in front of a warm fire, just like the other two, maybe grab your coffee or tea or wine glass (depending on the time of day) and just disappear in it. But thanks to Jessica McEvoy—whose spot-on performance can make you stand up and cheer one moment, sniffle back tears the next—Donn’s legacy is a book that is even better listened to than read. Highly recommended.

A Fantastic End to a Wonderful Series

Graham and Mac are taking a vacation in New Mexico where Mac grew up. They find a dead woman and a possible lead of who Horace is and then learn of a friend’s passing when they get back home. Something sounds odd to Mac about Elizabeth’s passing, especially since that was how her own mother died.

Things keep moving as the Soul Searchers find new crew to replace those that have left. Mac is learning more about astral projection and finds she has brought a ghost back with her from her trip to New Mexico. But she is still plagued by Horace and having a harder and harder time trying to get some restful sleep. Mac is getting closer to the breaking point and it’s looking like Horace may just win.

At the end of Donn’s Shadow, I was worried that with the team breaking up and Mac going to New Mexico that they would be done. But don’t worry, this is just another stepping stone on the way to the finally. Poor Mac, I really thought she was going to snap and be lost to Horace. All is not lost, just keep reading.

Jessica McEvoy does a fantastic job narrating this story. She has an amazing voice and great pace. I can’t wait to find other books that she narrates.

I really liked this series and recommend it to anyone that is looking for a paranormal cozy mystery. I do recommend reading it from the beginning to get the full experience.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to listen to and post an honest review.

simple put i want more

Returning to Donn's Hill. I finished the third book and I already want some more.

I love Jessica McEvoy as Mac and all the characters of Donn's Hill and the Soul Searcher Mysteries.

Very Satisfying Ending to 3-book mystery

Donn’s Legacy is a vey satisfying ending to this trilogy. While I hope the author gives us more books in this series, if not, this is a solid ending. I’ve really enjoyed my time hunting down paranormal murderers with Mac and her crew of friends.

This book picks up shortly after the ending of Book 2. Mac and Graham are headed to New Mexico, back where Mac lived as a kid and where one parent is buried. She feels that the answers as to who the mysterious and dangerous Horace really is. I especially liked this part of the book as I lived in Socorro for many years and the setting is all around that area with the Very Large Array mentioned and suspicious happenings in Escondida area. Though I did think it was interesting that they were surprised to find a house with a basement. Basements aren’t everywhere in NM, but I can think of several houses off the top of my house have basements. I also like the yurt getaway hotel.

After getting some unexpected bad news while in NM, the two rush home to Donn’s Hill (and I forget what state that city is in, but it’s within a day’s drive of Escondida). Anyhoo, things just aren’t going as planned for Mac. She doubts her own powers but also if frustrated that close friends doubt her powers too. In small instances like this, I felt that Mac was hyper-sensitive and a little annoying, but aren’t we all at times? So it was easy to forgive her. Anyway, it all works to push her harder and pretty soon she has attained a skill she thought was unattainable, allowing her to chase down more info about this Horace.

I do love Striker kitty in this book. She has so much personality, from protecting Mac to encouraging her to commit minor crimes to demanding to be paid in special kitty treats. I could totally picture her face when put into a harness and leash – ha! Mac is very lucky to have such a companion.

On a side note, I did find the sudden switch in personality of their new tenant, an author, to be odd and wondered why it was even done. He went from being judgmental and stand-offish to cordial and chatty, serving tea and playing with Striker. I didn’t get it and it didn’t seem to add to the story.

Besides some minor quibbles, the story is full of suspense and I loved trying to guess who might be the culprit as Mac doesn’t know what Horace looks like as he has disguised his supernatural appearance. The pacing is great with moments of reflection mixed in with danger and action or kitty antics. That last hour of the book was unputdownable. I even ignored a phone call. The story wraps up with all my questions answered and leaving Mac in a good place. 4.5/5 stars.

The Narration: Jessica McEvoy is still a great Mac, capturing her variety of emotions in this book. I also liked her various accents (Russian, Irish, Spanish, etc.). Her creepy voice for Horace is also great. The pacing was perfect and there were no tech issues with this recording. 5/5 stars.

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Caryn Larrinaga. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

I loved the story

It was great just how it was written always you wanted more to know how it felt to be in Mac shoes

That’s it???

The ending was subpar. So, we never get to see Mac’s gifts grow? I’m still upset about Gabriel trying to kill her, but that doesn’t matter? Mac still considers her a friend? Graham was way too protective, and probably rightfully so, but it irked me. She’s a grown woman for goodness sakes! And in book 2 they never really explain how they even ended up together? This series was super pg. 13, and annoyingly so, but I only listened to it because Jessica McEvoy was the narrator. The story was bland. I wanted her psychic powers to develop more and for her to see more ghosts. A better sequence with her mom would have been nice too. It was ok.