Four Calling Birds

Mourningkill, Book 1

By: Molly Briar

Narrated by: Cole Eubanks, Molly Briar

Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

I retired from the Army Special Forces, purchased a bucolic little Upstate farm, and intended to spend my winter years restoring the ancient house, away from people. It wasn’t as fun as I thought it would be, but it was too late to change course now.

When I got a call from an old colleague, everything changed. A favor was owed. A wounded agent needed a place to lie low and hide out from the criminal organization that was hard on their heels.

When my ex-wife was dumped at my house, a stab wound in her gut, covered in scars, years of resentment and longing bubbled to the surface. Not just between us, but with the team that had been falling apart without her guiding hand. A fight was coming to my doorstep, and years of bitterness and resentment threatened to break us before the first shot was fired.

Happy Holidays to me... Four Calling Birds is the first in the Mourningkill series. All of the books can can be listened to as a standalone. No other books must be heard before this.

©2023 Molly Briar (P)2024 Molly Briar

A not so jolly holiday romance

This is not your typical holiday romance, and boy did I devour it! This duet style narration was amazing. You can feel the emotions of both characters and the banter is phenomenal. The world building is really good and the ride you go on with Mack and Charlotte is so much fun. Molly and Cole really help bring these characters to life and add the perfect amount to make this one of my favorite audiobooks to date!

Audiobook Review: Four Calling Birds

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Storyline Summary:

Retired Special Forces operative and recluse, our unnamed protagonist, isn’t exactly thriving in his “idyllic” new life on an upstate farm. His plan to find peace and purpose away from it all is shattered when a wounded operative—none other than his ex-wife—arrives on his doorstep, bringing with her a cascade of old wounds and the danger of a crime syndicate hot on her heels. This is a suspenseful, complex story of loyalty, betrayal, and survival, set against the snowy isolation of winter countryside.

What I Loved About the Story:

The story is immersive, blending high-stakes action with an intimate look at the characters’ emotional scars and the impact of their shared history. The tension between the protagonist and his ex-wife adds a layered vulnerability amid the thriller elements, giving the story a raw, emotional quality I didn’t expect. The author beautifully captures the uneasy truce between two ex-lovers caught up in circumstances that demand both trust and resilience.

Narration & Audio Quality:

Cole Eubanks nails the protagonist’s voice, with a gruffness that feels earned and a steady calm that matches the character’s hardened background. Molly Briar, voicing the ex-wife, delivers a compelling mix of grit and wounded pride, bringing emotional nuance that enhances every scene. Their voices complement each other, adding realism to the estranged dynamic between their characters. Audio quality is top-notch, with seamless production and no noticeable hiccups in pacing.

Pacing & Engagement:

The pacing is taut, pulling you through with just enough downtime to digest the character's pasts and stakes before dropping you back into the action. Key moments are striking without being overwhelming, and I found myself holding my breath in a few especially suspenseful scenes. It's a balanced mix of heart-pounding and thought-provoking.

Audience Recommendation:

Perfect for fans of suspenseful thrillers with military intrigue and messy, complex relationships. If you loved Reacher or The Terminal List, this will likely resonate.

Final Thoughts:

Four Calling Birds is more than just a winter thriller; it’s a gritty, emotional ride with broken characters fighting for redemption as much as survival. The unique, isolated winter farm setting feels like a character itself, amplifying the intensity and vulnerability of the story. A solid start to the Mourningkill series—I’ll definitely be looking out for the next book!

Molly and Cole did it again!!

Molly and Cole's voices are amazing! They made me feel like I was part of their family. This story had sweet and hilarious moments. Mack's feud with Bruce the Deer was the best! Mack's sarcasm had me rolling on the floor laughing. The side charcters' voices were perfect! I can't wait to hear the other stories on audio!

Rekindled Love and Found Family

I strongly believe that Four Calling Birds will forever be my favorite Molly Briar book.

Hearing some of my favorite characters come to life through Molly and Cole’s voices was extraordinary. Molly perfectly captured the sadness and heartbreak of Lottie recalling some of her most tragic life experiences. And Cole personified Mack’s desperate longing for his wife in such great detail.

I also absolutely love how each of them changed their voices for the other characters. It really brought the whole story to life for me.

I highly recommend this audiobook (and the physical/ebook) for anyone who loves the found family trope or who wants a story of second chances and a love that doesn’t end.

Also Bruce the Buck. IFYKY

Emotional depth of the narrators makes this audio!

Loved this book! It was a perfect length for an audio book and a lovely second chance romance. It had humor, amazing spice and the perfect amount of angst.

It is a shorter book but that did not detract from the pace. Lottie and Mack were together for over 10 years before separating, something neither of them wanted. So I really enjoyed the low angst of them getting back together. They knew what they wanted, they just needed the right circumstances.

I loved the found family of their military team. The different personalities made for great interactions and fights, lol.

Military romances are a particular favorite of mine and Molly Briar writes them well. The characters, story, and suspense are top notch.

Molly and Cole’s narration was amazing. This story was emotional and that shined through their narration. I love and greatly prefer dual narration and Molly and Cole are rapidly becoming favorites.

Perfect ‘coming home’, found family story!

+ 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝𝐬 +
𝘉𝘺 𝘔𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘳

[ 4.5 ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ]
[ 2.5 🌶️ 🌶️ ]

𝑨𝑳𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘
FCB is book one of MB’s Mourning Kill series and can be read as a stand alone. Just as Fire for Effect is a military novel, this is placed in the same world and team. I had read FFE before I got to this ALC, and it gave me a ‘coming home’ feeling. Settling the situations that was hinted in book two.
This was a beautiful, finding ourselves story about Mack and Lottie.
A little novel filled with the completion of so many missed moments and misplaced feelings. It’s one that’s also filled hilarious banter, and unusual dramatics with a certain deer. It has one of my favourite tropes, found family. Despite being a military novel, it’s topped with emotion and the raw partnership dynamic of the MCs.
The performance of @coleroberteubanksnarrates and MB was excellent,once again. There were more characters played within this one, and executed beautifully!
I loved it. It was such a good homey novel to cleanse my palate. Perfect if you’re wanting something for the holidays 🤍

Thank you for the ALC @molly.briar and co-narrator @coleroberteubanksnarrates 🖤🖤

🖤ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜɴ
⚡️ʜᴇ'ꜱ ᴇx-ᴍɪʟɪᴛᴀʀʏ
🖤ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ
⚡️ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
🖤ᴘᴀꜱᴛ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘ
⚡️ᴄɪɴɴᴀᴍᴏɴ ʀᴏʟʟ
🖤ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ ꜰɪᴇʀᴄᴇ
⚡️ᴍɪʟɪᴛᴀʀʏ
🖤ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏᴡɴ

Another hit by Molly

I've been listening AND reading Mollys work both as a narrator and an author and I love her work. The way she brings stories with both action and romance just freaking love it. Cole Eubanks was a first listen for me. I usually listen to my books at normal speed but I did find myself listening at 1.3 speed wise since I felt like the voice pacing was on the slower. Besides that this book was definitely another great hit for me.

Not you average Christmas story

I loved this book!!! It is not your cutesy holiday romance story and it made it perfect. Molly just knows how to write a book to lure you in from the very beginning and keep you hooked.

The banter between the MCs was fantastic. Charlotte had me cracking up multiple times with her witty comebacks. Mack, I loved him! And his deer Bruce 🤣😂🤣 I can’t even begin to explain it, you have to read the book.

Charlotte and Mack were just meant to be. Life got in the way and they had parted ways many years ago, but then they were brought back together. I loved their connection. Their struggle with infertility touched my heart and made me sad for them. But they had their own little family and it was perfect for them.

This was my second book that Molly and Cole narrated and it was just as amazing! Their voices just got together so well. They really bring the characters and story to life! I can’t wait to listen yo more.

Not Your Average Holiday Romance

One thing that really resonated for me with this book is the emphasis on found family and that sometimes our happily ever looks different than what we were expecting. One of the main subplots of this book focuses on miscarriage and for me if was a breath of, much needed, fresh air where the characters cam to a point of acceptance with the hand that was dealt versus having a magical medical miracle. The journey that Mack and Charlotte go through it equal parts emotional and action packed. Honestly this is the Die Hard version of a holiday romance novel, it is a wild ride that pulls no punches.
The audio version of this book was pure perfection - the narration styles of Molly Briar and Cole Eubanks just work seamlessly as a duet. This is the first book that I have listened with this duet and it every time I fall in love all over again. They each have a way of capturing the personalities of the characters and bringing them to life.

Oh...Bruce...IKYK

Four Calling Birds : A Not So Jolly Christmas Romance.

This is my 1st book by author Molly Briar

Book 1 of the Mourningkill series

The names of each of the Chapters are fun. Lotte and Mack's love for each other is so apparent in this second chance romance. The humor that is woven in brings more depth to the storyline. i.e, Bruce the Buck. With a sprinkle of suspense and a little military action and their chosen family. 
I would definitely recommend this read and author ! I received a free copy of this book via Audible. ALC