Audiobook Review: Songbird by Gail Meath

Gail Meath’s Songbird, the first book in the Jax Diamond series, is now out on audiobook! See my review below.

AUDIOBOOK DESCRIPTION

Author: Gail Meath
Narrator: Terry Shepherd

Meet Jax Diamond, a sharp, sophisticated, skilled, no-nonsense private detective. Or is he? Glued to his side is his canine partner, Ace, a fierce and unrelenting German Shepherd whose mere presence terrorizes criminals into submission. Well, maybe not.

But the two of them are a whole lot smarter than they look. And they have their hands full when a playwright’s death is declared natural causes, and his new manuscript worth a million bucks is missing.

Laura Graystone, a beautiful rising Broadway star, is dragged into the heart of their investigation, and she’s none too happy about it. Especially when danger first strikes, and she needs to rely on her own ingenuity to save their hides.

Join Jax, Laura and Ace on a fun yet deadly ride during the Roaring Twenties that takes twists and turns, and a race against time to find the real murderer before he/she/they stop them permanently.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

This is a fantastically fun cozy mystery set in 1923 New York. The characters don’t just jump off the page, they pull you into their world. Jax’s sidekick, Ace, the wonderfully charming German Shepherd, will make his way into your heart in no time.

The setting in 1923 New York City is well described and transports us back to that place and time. The portrayal of Coney Island makes you feel as if you are there, hanging on for dear life in the Steeplechase or winning a prize in the baseball toss. The mystery is very well done, with puzzles and red herrings that will keep you guessing. The main characters are complex and interesting. Jax, private investigator and former cop, has his own secrets to keep, and Laura’s talents are revealed to expand way beyond singing.

The audiobook is expertly narrated by Terry Shepherd, who portrays all the different characters in a realistic way for the time period. He shows an uncanny ability to convey suspense, romance, humor, and history to bring the story alive.

There is a sweet romance, but the complex and fascinating mystery is the star of the show, along with the lovable Ace. I highly recommend this book, the first in the Jax Diamond Mysteries series, to all mystery fans and to anyone who enjoys the 1920s and New York City history.

COMMENTS FROM THE AUTHOR

Honestly, I have never purchased or listened to an audiobook before.  After Terry Shepherd agreed to narrate Songbird, he asked me to listen to each chapter as a final edit.  I cannot tell you how strange it was hearing my own book being read.  It was surreal, giving me goosebumps, and I had to keep reminding myself that I wrote this. 

I’ve used the Microsoft Word ‘Speech’ feature to read portions of my books back to me at times, but the voice is very monotone, without feeling or excitement, so I did not know what to expect. In this audiobook, Terry perfectly portrayed the voices, personalities, and emotions of all the characters, male and female. There is also a small part of the book that includes French waiters, and he mastered their accents with ease. It was a wonderful experience, and I’m so happy Terry was a part of this project.

AUDIOBOOK BUY LINKS

AUDIBLE | GOOGLE PLAY| BARNES AND NOBLE | KOBO | SPOTIFY | CHIRP