They Told Me I Was Everything

The First Quarto, Book 1

By: Gregory Ashe

Narrated by: J.F. Harding

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Auggie is starting his first year at Wroxall College. It’s a punishment, and he’s determined to make his way through the year, prove himself, and earn the right to go back home.

Theo is a grad student recovering from a terrible car accident. He’s lost his husband and their daughter, and he’s trying to figure out how to keep going.

When both are tangled up in a murder, though, they have to set their personal problems aside and work together — first to clear their names, and then, when the killer turns his attention on them, to survive.

But what might really kill them is finishing a seminar together on King Lear.

©2020 Gregory Ashe (P)2020 Gregory Ashe

Back in Wahredua

Before I made it through the first 30 minutes of this audio, I knew Gregory Ashe was going to do it to me again, in the "why the hell do I keep doing this to myself?" kind of way. I guess because I'm addicted to fantastically plotted, well written, brutal crime fiction with complicated, broken men who frustates me equally much as they make me love them? 🤷‍♀️ *considers* Nope, not my fault, I'm still blaming Ashe.

Theo is a grad student who is suffering the loss of his husband and daughter in an accident that left him with painful injuries, and not just the physical kind. He spends a lot of his time in an insulated fog of prescription drugs or *and sometimes both* alcohol, and lives with deliberate carelessness. His only saving grace is teaching in his grad program, which he actually enjoys, and gives him his one bright spot of normalcy.

Auggie is an eighteen year old internet personality and has a presence on all the major social media platforms. He has a business plan to grow his brand and make money hand over fist, and he's well on his way to that. His whole life consists of Instagram moments and YouTube videos, at least the ones he scripts and performs. A terrible incident off-script and a bad breakup derails his plans for a while so Auggie decides college at Wroxall in Wahredua, MO will get his image back on track. Nobody, literally nobody, knows the real Auggie, only the image he lets them see. And the real Auggie is really kind of lonely. He gets so tired of the character he's forced to play that the pressure builds up until it pops. And bad things happen.

Auggie ends up in Theo's class and neither is impressed with the other, particularly since they meet before that in less than ideal circumstances. Since this is Wahredua, which we already know is populated with more than its fair share of shady people, those not-ideal circumstances end up pulling them both into a murder investigation. Worse, it makes both of them the focus of really dangerous people who think Auggie and Theo have something they want.

Theo and Auggie have to work together, much against Theo's will. There's an attraction there, but Auggie is an eighteen year old and Theo is not going to go there, even if his head and his heart were in the place to do it. But things get tangled up, and that includes their kind-of friendship. Not gonna lie, sometimes Theo is a real jerk, and both he and Auggie make some of the worst decisions ever. But under all the issues, they're good guys and they need each other, I think. By the time the case is resolved, and both of them come close to not making it out, Auggie and Theo have a bond between them. Not the one Auggie wants, but they care about each other, and friends is what they'll have.

Do I need to suspend belief a little bit? Well yeah. Did I care? Not at all. Auggie's very young and Theo is a twenty-eight year old grad student, neither are detectives. But they are smart *and motivated* and that's part of GA's magic pen, that he makes you believe it. I honestly want to run right to the next one but I already know what Ashe is going to do to me for however many books. *looks sourly at GA* So I need a break.

And can I say how much I enjoyed seeing pre-Hazard Detective John-Henry Somerset? 🥰 Even though his part was small, he's still Somers. *sigh*

On the side of the audiobook, no lie, I actually squeed when I saw the narrator was J.F. Harding, and he did not disappoint! ❤ His performance was part of the reason I loved Theo and Auggie so much and he had the personalities and uncertainties down for both perfectly. I'm crossing my fingers we get him for the whole series. I don't know if I'll be able to wait for the audio on Yet a Stranger *coughI already own the kindlecough* but you best believe that I'll be listening to it whether it's a first read or reread, either way!

Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

In which Gregory takes us to College.

Not just any college, you understand. This school just happens to be Wroxall College in (Pre-Hazard-and-Somerset) Doyle County, Missouri.

As can be expected from anything written by GA, our sojourn into the academic world is fraught with tragedy. Theo Dalton, a PhD candidate working in the English Department has just returned to work after a car crashed ravaged his body, killed his husband Ian, and left their daughter Lana with severe head injuries.

Auggie Lopez, is a freshman to struggles to balance his genuine desire to learn with keeping up the façade he presents to his Internet audience, who thinks he is straight.

Do either of these poor guys have the time or energy to solve a murder? Not a chance! Do they have a choice? Nope.

As with all of GA's characters, they climb into your heart and take up residence, and you want to smack them and hug them all at the same time. And when you read the last page, you sigh and get on Gregory's FB page and ask when he will tell you more about them.

J.F. Harding is one of my favorite narrators, and does an outstanding job presenting this story in audio form.

Well done on this new series, Mr. Ashe!

exceptional

What an absolute perfect narrator for this story. In my head, when I read the book, I didn't have a gruff voice for Theo, but it fits, and honestly gives the story more oomph. A new favorite of mine for sure.

Well-paced thriller with dynamic characters

I could not stop listening to this one; although, I will admit I am a fan of the author's writing style so keep that in mind.

I grew fond of the main characters and was quickly invested and hooked till the end.

The narrarator was fun and easy to understand. They captured the characters personalities well, expressing a great variety of emotionality and depth.

My favorite part about this story is how naturally the character dynamics between the protaganists unfolded. It felt lovely to feel the characters personalities expand and slowly develop over the course of the book.

The story was thrilling because of the pacing. It had a few perfectly timed moments of suspense that sent my heart racing and tensed my muscles in anticipation. This pacing balanced the plot events, character development and relationship dynamics.

Overall, well done 5/5

Wow I’m now a Fan

This is the first Gregory Ashe novel I’ve listened to, and after this book I can definitely say I’m now a fan. The story was gripping and intriguing from the start, and I really liked both of the main characters. On top of that, the narrator was amazing, first time listening to him—I’ll definitely be looking out for his name in the future. Also Gregory Ashe’s prose was lyrically descriptive in all the right places to set the scene and mood. I’m on to book 2 in the series now!

Fabulous storytelling and five star narration

I don’t know what the heck took me so long to dive into Gregory Ash. But holy cow, I’m glad I’m here for it now. The writing is so tight and expressive. I loved everything about this book. Augie and Theo I can see will become one of my favorite couples. What great dynamics between the two of them and the dialogue is everything. An excellent mystery that had my heart pumping. Can’t wait to dive into the next one. Adding to this is one of my absolute favorite narrators, JF Harding. This man really brings it as he does with all of his audiobooks. What a fabulous combination, can’t wait to dive into the next one.

A great start to an amazing series!!😍

Wow! This book was absolutely brilliant!!

J.F Harding performed an amazing and authentic audio delivery and narration. He really captured the essence of the story and gave the characters their own voices.

Auggie and Theo couldn't be more different. Yet they are put in a situation where they have to work together to clear their names for a crime they didn't commit.

I loved the parallel slow burn romance. Which was definitely a welcome delight.

The characters were engaging, likeable, real, relatable and well fleshed out.

The plot was gripping and compelling.
Overall I definitely enjoyed listening to this book and will definitely be revisiting it for a relisten.

One of Ashe's best

Gregory Ashe is so good at creating characters you want to comfort and strangle in equal measure. This was by far my favorite example. Great story and stellar narration.

Great start of a new series

This is the first book in a new series by GA which is set in Wahredua in the Hazard and Somerset universe. Auggie is attending Wroxall College and is an Instagram personality. He has demons in his past which are hinted at in this book and I presume will be fleshed out in coming books. Theo is his grad-student professor. His challenges are right there in full display. He is “trying” to recover both physically and mentally from a car accident that took his husband and daughter away from him. He is not handling it well. They meet by chance around a murder and are thrust into solving the murder and of course there is a greater mystery that I’m sure will be revealed later. GA maintains his title of King of the Slow Burn, although the kindling relationship does bloom in this book. Although it starts a little slow and I had some “REALLY?” moments when the back and forth emotions got on my nerves, I eventually found myself swept up in the investigation and their relationship. Yes, I wanted to hit both guys in the head many times, but the caring for each other comes through as the situation grows dire. The cameos were also really nice. I look forward to continuing their journey.

J.F. Harding is a tried-and-true performer and does a great job. His voice is so soothing, and he gives each character a personality. He really made this book come alive.

I was given a free copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.

Fantastic!

I love all things Gregory Ashe so I had no doubt I would enjoy this book. And, of course I did! It’s fun being in the same world as Hazard and Somerset and even have a Somerset cameo! Great story that kept me interested the whole way. I’m excited to start the next one and see their lives develop.

JF Harding is one of those narrators that’s almost an auto-buy for me. To combine him with Gregory Ashe made this dumpster fire of a year, well, a bit lighter!