Her Name Is Murder

Lady Dreamscapes, Book 1

By: A.C. Merkel

Narrated by: Jaimee Moore

“We can’t waltz forever, Grant.”
“We can damn well try.”

Magical musician Murder LaVoe is tired of running. She’s been running for nearly 500 years. When you don’t age, people take it personally. She has returned 40 years later to her favorite borough in New York City, hoping to finally settle down and hide her secret by taking the identities of falsified heirs. A public attempt on the life of her rock 'n' roll alter ego, Lady Dreamscapes, and a chance meeting of subservient immortals in need, threaten to take away the life she holds so dear. Can NYPD detective Grant Noble III solve her mysteries in time to save her? Maybe it’s him that needs saving?

Levi Esmund is a Protector of the Ageless sculpted from Clay by Murder’s mother to be her companion. No one knows just how tied the fates of the Protectors are to their charges. Levi just wants a good book, and a hot guy. Maybe, just maybe, he’d like to be a real boy.

Tress is also a Protector. A trans-woman, and white-out Victorian goth, who has learned to excel at glamours and wards. The Curse of the Ageless prevents her from physically becoming a woman permanently. She’s devoted her life to helping trans-girls in need. Just one problem. She has yet to figure out how to save herself.

Series overview:

We have existed in the shadows of your world for all of history.
The blessed, the cursed, the mages, and the witches.
Sometimes you choose to ignore us.
Sometimes we cover it up.
We keep our heads down, lest you lot make them roll.

©2020 Andrew Merkel (P)2020 Andrew Merkel

Fun book that history and magic buffs will love.

I first read this book on my Kindle, but I also ordered the audiobook because I wanted to hear it come alive in a voice other than the one inside my head. The narrator did exactly that with her stellar performance. This is an audiobook to listen to when you want a bit of history, tons of magic, a bit of romance, and a whole lot of imagination and music references. Her Name is Murder is based on a unique premise: immortal beings (not vampires) who have golem-like protectors, and both forms of existence are curses. What happens when a detective falls in love with an immortal named Murder? Fun, love, and magical shenanigans. Throw in the Tudors and the Salem Witch trials, and you have this plot, which spans centuries through flashbacks. The dialogue is crisp, and the main characters are good people (or beings) at heart. The tone of the book is fun throughout with good doses of sarcasm. Wonderful to listen to on a rainy day or to spark joy on a commute.

Interesting Urban Fantasy

History buffs will get a kick out of the story, die hard fantasy lovers will probably be upset over how light the fantasy elements are. However, it's a good book, it was a nice story and I was sucked in fast, listening to most of it in one day, finishing the last 4 chapters the next. I did have a couple of points where I think the action transitioned too quick and I was slightly confused what was happening.

Voice work is decent. Even though some parts are intended to be off key, it was hard to listen to.

A genre-blending adventure

Set in an alternate/ parallel version of the modern world, Her Name is Murder is a genre-blending adventure that has a little bit of everything. Urban fantasy, historical fiction, magical realism, and romance fans will all enjoy this novel. I appreciated the inclusivity, with racial diversity and characters who fall on the LGBTQIA2S+ spectrum.

The protagonist, Murder, is a 500 year old woman cursed with immortality, and all the challenges that come with it. There is a strong focus on character building, providing glimmers into Murder’s life and experiences from centuries-past interwoven with the modern day story.

I enjoyed the narrator changing voice, accent and even language depending on the character and their surroundings. The second book in this series, London Calling, is slated to release October 26, though I’m unsure of the audio is being released at the same time. Either way, I look forward to hearing it.

Fantastically addictive

THIS! Is a great book. Full of wonderful surprises! Filled with love stories for ALL! The Author takes you to landscapes through the world and centuries.

Curse of Immortality (finally not a Vampire)

Fantastic story of what it would be like to live through 500 years of history (a secret fantasy of mine) as a person who is different.

Set yourself free: assassins are out to get you so put your seatbelts on its going to be a bumpy ride.

Levi is a golem. Murder is cursed in her mother’s womb with “immortality”. Soul mates/Platonic Friendships over centuries where we get to see the changes in political systems, sexualities, women’s status in society. All of this while staying alive for 500 years with a multitude of careers and witnessing the amazing changes.

I loved the Narrator-Her command of accents, characterization, voices etc- I never lost my place or which character was speaking.

To the author: There better be much more because you really have a hit book here!

Riveting

Loved the audible version of Her Name is Murder. I read it and loved it. But the audible narrator made it come alive. She has a great voice. I would definitely listen to more audiobooks narrated by her. And of course, A.C. Merkel is a great writer. I look forward to his next book!

OMG LOVE LOVE LOVE

I loved Her Name Is Murder when I read the ebook. I thought it was fantastic and fun, mysterious and witty, and I definitely fell hard for Grant, a quick love affair that apparently has just increased over time.

I was lucky enough to snatch up this gem of an audiobook and just when I thought I had really enjoyed this story, Jaimee Moore blew me out of the water. The french accent, the southern belle, the British, GRANT... for the love of all that's holy, GRANT. Let's just say, I listened to this in one sitting, lost a day and I will do it all over again!!

From the bottom of my very soul I loved this and would strongly urge you to love it tooooooooo!

Wonderful experience!

I have read the Kindle version of Her Name is Murder and loved it. I’m so glad I decided to listen to the audio version as well!
Jamie Moore is a brilliant narrator and the perfect voice for Murder. But she also manages to bring all side characters to life in a beautiful and charming way.
A wonderful listening experience and highly recommended!

Narrator Brings the Magic Alive!

After reading the Kindle eBook of Her Name Is Murder and experiencing the adventure of A.C. Merkel's wonderful tale, I had to download the audiobook. I'm so glad I did! Jaimee Moore brings the magic alive! I loved Murder LaVoe already yet hearing Jaimee narrate the character made Murder shine and delivered her charm impeccably. Jaimee managed to perform many male characters and accents all with unique tones and inflection in their voices. A superb and highly entertaining audiobook! I highly recommend adding both the print copy and Audible version of Her Name Is Murder. I'm anxiously awaiting book 2, London Calling!