Having heard many great things about Mary Burton’s work, I jumped at the opportunity to read/listen to 📚🎧Don’t Look Now. Narrated by full cast the story I found myself transported on a journey filled with mystery and suspense.
Title: Don't Look Now
Author(s): Mary Burton
Narrator(s): Hillary Huber, Alan Carlson, Kirt Graves, Heather Firth, Zara Eden, Joyce Oben
Published by Brilliance Audio on September 28, 2021
Length: 10hrs 50mins
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense
Source: Kindle Unlimited, Publisher
Format: Audiobook, eBook
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating:
A homicide detective in the dark. A serial killer on the loose. Both have their obsessions in a nerve-twisting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton.
Austin homicide detective Jordan Poe is hunting a serial killer she fears is the same man who assaulted her sister, Avery, two years ago. The details line up: the victims are the same age, same type, dead by the same grim MO. Luckily Avery survived. But the terrible memories linger, making Jordan more determined than ever to stop this monster in his tracks.
Texas Ranger Carter Spencer isn’t one to poach on a detective’s territory. Yet no matter how resentful a capable lone wolf like Jordan is, when she is attacked at a third crime scene and suffers a trauma that leaves her with limited vision, it’s up to Carter to help Jordan navigate a world she no longer recognizes. He needs her instinct, her experience, and her fearless resolve to crack this case. A case that’s about to get even darker.
A stranger is watching. He’s closing in on his ultimate prey. And no one but the killer can see what’s coming.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
In Burton’s latest romantic thriller, we meet Detective Jordan Poe. A topnotch detective, but stubborn as the day is long. Jordan took on the role of taking care of her younger sister, Avery, after the death of their mother. Since then, their lives did not take the easy road. Avery hung out with the wrong crowd and soon became involved in drugs. The turning point to getting her life back on track was the day Jordan found her bound, wrapped in plastic and left to suffocate.
Two years later Jordan visited a crime scene and found the victim bound, wrapped tightly in plastic and gagged. Then she found another victim murdered in the same fashion. Immediately, her thoughts flashed back to the day she rescued her sister. She recognized the murders mirrored the manner in which she found her sister two years ago. The only difference her sister lived. The case became personal as a result, so you can imagine her turmoil when she learnt that Texas Ranger Carter Spencer would take over the case.
I enjoyed the story from start to finish. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The crime scenes are gritty and definitely not for the faint of heart. Jordan’s captain took her off the case, but she went and did her own investigation. Eventually, she and Jordan became a team. I loved how well they worked together, even after an attack left her blind.
Although advertised a romantic suspense, the romance was non-existent. First, I never felt the chemistry between Jordan and Spencer. Also, expressions of feelings were not portrayed until near the end and it didn’t feel authentic.
I had a fair idea as to the identity of the villain. Given the nature of the victims, it wasn’t too hard to figure out the who and the why. However, it would have been nice to have the perpetrator’s back story. I never understood his motive and what compelled him to effect such heinous acts.
Narration
This was my first time experiencing a full cast narration, and I enjoyed the experience. I have listened to Hillary Huber before, but the other narrators were new to me. They all did a wonderful job bringing the story and the characters to life. I would definitely listen to them again.
Conclusion/ Recommendation
| Story Evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Plot | |
| Characters | |
| World Building | |
| Writing Style | |
| Pacing | |
| Cover | |
| Narrator (Audio) | |
| Enjoyment | |
| Ending | |
| Overall: | |
[bctt tweet=”Don’t Look Now by Mary Burton offered up a well developed thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish #NewRelease #MustRead #suspense #mystery” username=”TtlyAdd2Reading”]
About Mary Burton
Mary Burton loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson. When it comes to research, she’s known for taking a hands-on approach, whether it means interviewing professionals, attending forensic seminars or studying evidence collection and analysis. Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for suspense, romantic suspense and thrillers. Her recent titles Don’t Look Now, Near You, Never Look Back, I See You, Hide and Seek, Cut and Run and Her Last Word consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List. She is a 2019 Montlake Romance Diamond Award winner signifying she’s reached one million readers. A Richmond native, Mary has lived in Central Virginia for most of her life. She’s a graduate of Virginia’s Hollins University and and she worked in marketing before her first book was published in 2000. Today she’s the author of thirty-seven published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and eight works of contemporary fiction as Mary Ellen Taylor, including Winter Cottage, Spring House, Honeysuckle Season and the upcoming The Words We Whisper. She’s co-editor of Deadly Southern Charm, A Lethal Ladies Mystery Anthology. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America. When not on the road for research or visits with readers at bookstores, book festivals and conferences, Mary remains very much a homebody. She and her husband spend time alternately enjoying their empty nest and spoiling their four-legged babies Buddy, Bella and Tiki.
- The Wildfire Girl: Carolyn Arnold - December 6, 2024
- One Night With You: Carrie Ann Ryan - December 1, 2024
- The River Ghost: Dawn Merriman - November 23, 2024
A full-cast narration sounds awesome, it must have been quite a production to organize.
I agree. It definitely enhanced the story.
A full cast audio does sound like it would really enhance the story- at least that has been my experience. I like the sound of the mystery part and I’ve had this author on the wish list for a while. I guess if the mystery is good enough then I could tolerate the flat romance.
oh wow this book doesn’t have a romance? That surprises me since people say she is a romance writer. Its good to know, as long as I go into it knowing beforehand I tend to enjoy it more.
Great review darling.
It surprised me too. Luckily it never prevented me from enjoying the story.
Glad you enjoyed it despite the issues you encountered, it’s good that the suspense was well delivered.
The story could have survived with tout the tidbit of romance.
Great review. I’m not sure if this would be a book for me. I love detective novels and thrillers but I’m not a fan of including romance in them, even if it wasn’t really romance!
I understand. The romance was not necessary for this story.
I haven’t read this author before but this sounds like it would be a great read.