Please Tell Me

By: Mike Omer

Narrated by: Marcella Cox

After a year in captivity, a kidnapped child escapes—only to reveal horrific truths that lead her psychologist on a race against time in this thriller from New York Times bestselling author Mike Omer.

When eight-year-old Kathy Stone turns up on the side of the road a year after her abduction, the world awaits her harrowing story. But Kathy doesn’t say a word. Traumatized by her ordeal, she doesn’t speak at all, not even to her own parents.

Child therapist Robin Hart is the only one who’s had success connecting with the girl. Robin has been using play therapy to help Kathy process her memories. But as their work continues, Kathy’s playtime takes a grim turn: a doll stabs another doll, a tiny figurine is chained to a plastic toy couch. All of these horrifying moments, enacted within a Victorian doll house. Every session, another toy dies.

But the most disturbing detail? Kathy seems to be playacting real unsolved murders.

Soon Robin wonders if Kathy not only holds the key to the murders of the past but if she knows something about the murders of the future. Can Robin unlock the secrets in Kathy’s brain and stop a serial killer before he strikes again? Or is Robin’s work with Kathy putting her in the killer’s sights?

©2023 Mike Omer (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Narrator Marcella Cox portrays the characters in a calm, steady way that somehow ratchets up the already intense tension. Listeners will relate to the main character, Robin, and be as shocked as she is by the twists and turns Omer (Spider's Web) doles out. Highly recommended for listeners who enjoy mysteries and thrillers, with a doozy of a twist at the end.”—Library Journal

“Even as he shifts gears from one set of riddles and anxieties to the next, Omer keeps the tension consistently high enough to prod you into reading just one more chapter. A masterful melding of everyday domestic suburban fears with serial-killer thrills.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Omer’s no-nonsense prose…allows his proficient plotting to take center stage…The result is a haunting and propulsive hair-raiser.”—Publishers Weekly

Good story - Awful Narrator

The story was good. It kept me entertained. The narrator was not good. She mispronounced too many words. I don't know how you can narrate a book and not know how to pronounce words that had multi-syllables. Just terrible narration.

It was a decent listen

The story is pretty good, the narrator is easy to listen to, but I truly detested main characters’s mom. She was way over the top! She was my least favorite part of the story and I almost stopped listening because of it.

Great Experience

Story line was awesome and a true mystery! I thought I knew for sure who the culprit was; I was wrong. This tale will keep you guessing who’s the guilty person!
I also have to say- I am not sure why this audible has less than 5 stars. I thought the reader was great and I would personally listen to another one of her readings.

It was confusing at first than got better.

I don’t see what vaccines had to do with story, I understand Covid if you want to use that. The whole global warming thing was a little unnecessary as well. I really do love his books this one seemed like it certain things didn’t have a place since they didn’t have anything to do with story. You listen to books to escape and to enjoy not have the same stuff as the news every day pushes on you!

Kept me listening!

This was a good thriller. I thought the author was guiding me one way but then I was wrong in what I thought was happening. Overall it good listen.

Turn of events!

The whole story kept you guessing! I was hooked from the very beginning. Outstanding story and storytelling.

Very good in a different sort of way.

A story that kept me interested. The child therapy angle was different and fun. Always looking for clues.

Engaging story, narration is stilted

I generally like Omer’s books as nice ways to pass the time. Not amazing literature but I don’t want that all the time. His books are always interesting enough to keep me going, and this one had me guessing to the end. I liked the trust Robin built with Kathy, it seemed genuine. (The acknowledgements in the written book mention that Omer consulted with several psychologists and a child therapist, I believe that is why this works)

However, this narrator wasn’t quite right. It was all very similar in tone, with odd pauses in the speaking. To be honest, it worked during therapy sessions where Robin needs a calm controlled voice but then seemed out of place in other parts of the book.

Overall, I’m glad I listened but I would hesitate to listen to another with this narrator.

An Accurate Play Therapy Scenario

As a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, I feel this book is a great read for someone interested in play therapy. The play therapy theme was woven well into this murder mystery, so it really kept my interest.
The reader was great with her various voices. The only thing that bothered me about her pronunciation was her leaving the “t” sound out of many words she spoke.

oh I don't know

Can the author show us on the doll where social media hurt him?
This is an interesting listen, with more depth than I expected in some ways and frustratingly shallow and blunt monologuing about the state of the world that undo all of the good character development.