Last Room at the Cliff's Edge

Detective Linda Mysteries, Book 1

By: Mark McNease

Narrated by: Daniela Acitelli

Retired homicide detective Linda Sikorsky and her wife Kirsten McClellan head to Maine from their home in the New Jersey woods for a weekend of rest, relaxation and rewrites as Kirsten finishes drafting her first novel. Bad weather alters their plans, forcing them to stop for the night at the Cliff's Edge, a roadside motel known for secrecy and indiscretion. Something murderous goes bump in the night, sending the women on a search for justice when a young reporter's body is found violated and dumped on a back road. A road Linda must now go down, no matter where it takes her, or what it reveals.

©2016 Mark McNease (P)2017 Mark McNease

Nice introduction to a new series

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
This was an enjoyable mystery story. I am partial to books taking place in New England because I am familiar with the area. I thought the lead characters were almost the odd couple in the beginning of the story, but as it progressed they seemed like a more plausible match. Fun for a car ride.

Fun to Read, Murder Mystery!

Enjoyable book with a good story line and characters. Love that it is set in the New Hope PA area.

Not what I was expecting.

This book was not what I was expecting. It is a mystery that is featuring lesbians. The mystery aspect of the book was good. I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher.

Entertaining and fun read!

My first read by this author and I thought the story was interesting. I did have a little trouble getting into the beginning as the story seemed to be predictable. I was very pleased to find that after a few plot twists I was wrong. The audio narration was enjoyable and overall I found the story entertaining!

Story & Writing, Fine -- Narrator, not so much

Would you try another book from Mark McNease and/or Daniela Acitelli?

Maybe read the author, but not the narrator.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I couldn't get to the end.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Daniela Acitelli?

Almost anyone.

Did Last Room at the Cliff's Edge inspire you to do anything?

Yes, stop listening, start reading, instead.

Any additional comments?

The narrator has a very odd rhythm to her reading. She tends to draw out a word here and there in a way that does not fit the narrative or the dialogue. She also gets the emphasis on the wrong word. It gets annoying. Example: (Not verbatim) I knoooowww he is the one, instead of the correct interpretation putting the emphasis on "he."

Never take the last room at Cliff's Edge

On the way to a writer's retreat with her wife Kristen, retired detective Linda Sikorsky is forced by a storm to stop at a seedy wayside motel in Maine. When things go bump in the night, Linda can't help reverting to her old detecting habits. She learns of the murder of a reporter for a small local paper and uncovers old secrets that have been festering for years. This satisfying mystery ends with Linda and Kristin finally making it to the retreat and all is well, but they have a wild ride getting there.

Solid mystery story

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. It was quite interesting and the dynamics of Linda and Kirsten's relationship is cute and entertaining throughout. It is a well structured plot and there is action as well as mystery. There are a great number of quirky characters to add to the story as well. This is a small town mystery full of varied participants that have a long history. A history full of unsolved disappearances and deaths that are whispered about only. When detective Linda and her mate happen into town and into the mystery events conspire to snag them into it all. It was a great listen.

Any additional comments?

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review

Good narration & story

Detective Linda and Kristen taking time away, when they got caught in a storm. The ingriendents are all here for a good mystery. A storm spending a night in a cliff hotel and mayhem, resulting in a body. The creepy part was Linda going down that road. Good narration by Daniela brought the character of Linda and what she is like. Given audio for my voluntary review

Excellent story and narrator!

What starts out as a road trip to get away and have some time together while Kristen works on her first mystery novel turns into the real thing when a storm strands them overnight. You can take the detective out of law enforcement, but you can't take law enforcement out of Detective Linda. Very engrossing, yet not overlong.
Ms Acitelli gives an excellent audio interpretation!
Don't miss this one!

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I enjoyed the story line, the performance is one that you really have to be on top of not to miss anything.