Audiobook Reviews

Welcome to this month's audiobook reviews. A good audiobook is a joy to review because an audiobook combines the pleasure of a good read with the entertaining performance of a voice actor. It's very much like the old time radio programs because they put on a stage performance entirely with sound. We can't get enough of them, and now they're available on cassette, CD, and MP3 e-books! Several websites now allow you to download audiobooks to your computer or MP-3 player. Whether you like to call these treasures a book on tape, an audio book or an audiobook, we want you our monthly audiobook reviews to be the place to find the best in new audiobooks in any format.

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Santa Fe Dead

by Stuart Woods

Penguin Audio
Audio CD
ISBN# 978-0-14-314318-5
Suggested Retail Price: $29.95 or as low as $8.95 from Amazon.com!

This third audiobook from Stuart Woods' thrillers featuring Ed Eagle, the attorney in New Mexico, begins with Ed and his girlfriend Susannah Wilde watching a trial on TV in San Diego in which Ed's ex-wife Barbara is charged with the murder of two people she mistook for Ed and Susannah. Just before the jury returns a Not Guilty verdict, Barabara escapes from custody. Barbara flees into the arms of a newly wealthy attorney whose only attraction for her is his bank account. He gets the escape charges dismissed and soon, incredibly soon, thereafter, they marry.

The hits just keep on coming when a movie producer hires Ed to find his wife and stepson who have been kidnapped. The two turn up murdered, but Ed is disturbed when the producer doesn't seem to feel the loss at all. All he cares about is the inheritance from his wife's estate. Hmm...

You can pick this book apart as much as you like. If you manage to truly suspend your disbelief, you'll enjoy listening to the story read by the talented Michael Kramer who gives life to these odd characters. This is not Stuart Woods' best effort by a long shot. But its just perfect for a summer car trip when you don't want to invest too much intellectual capital in anything more serious than your choice of sunblock.

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Lock and Key

by Sarah Dessen

Penguin Audio
Audio CD
ISBN# 0143143050
Suggested Retail Price: $39.95 or as low as $15.81 from Amazon.com!

Several years after she was abandoned by her mother, poor Ruby Cooper is forced by social workers to move in with her sister Cora and her husband Jamie who live in a posh section of town. Their world is completely foreign to Ruby whose life had been a struggle of evading landlords and creditors with her mother and finally, striving to survive on her own. Her new life with her sister brings many emotional issues to the forefront. Cora left home over 10 years ago, so their relationship is sketchy, and Jamie tries his best to help her cope with it all.

The new school she has to attend brings the culture clash into stark contrast. She starts carpooling with Nate, a boy who lives next door. Ruby is wary of Nate's friendship, even though he's being nothing but a good friend. Ruby's life with her mother has led her to avoid being dependent on anyone except herself, so she shuns any close relationships however well-intentioned. She constantly looks for a way to leave Cora's house and be on her own, though she's well aware of just how difficult that will be. Nate's had some bad experiences, too, and so he undrstands Ruby very well.

"Lock and Key" is a poignant story of a young woman whose chances for happiness have been stomped on at every turn until she moves in with Cora. She's been hurt by so many people that she trusts no one and hides her feelings with a fascade of rebellion and anger. The fish out of water aspect of her change in lifestyle with Cora and Jamie are secondary to the central theme of this girl's realization of how everyone needs to love and be loved. Ably read by Rebecca Soler.

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More Audiobook Reviews

Be sure to visit us again next month when we'll review more great audiobooks! Our audiobook reviews are written by our Editor, Richard L. Trethewey.

Rainbo Electronic Reviews' audiobook reviews are published monthly. Back issues of our reviews are available from the Rainbo Reviews Backissues Archive. We're proud to announce that the reviews archive is now searchable by category so you can find audiobooks (or audio books) we've reviewed in the past.

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