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A review by jenbsbooks
Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli
3.75
I liked this ... text was included in KindleUnlimited, with a $3 add on for audio. I paid it (I think it HAD been in the AudiblePlus catalog at one point, but no longer). Narration was fine, but there were three separate 1st person POVs ... Meghan, Brecia and Skye. Only one narrator. I don't know if she tried to make the voices different? They all sounded the same to me. I think this really needed three different voices, three different narrators. At least each chapter was marked with the POV, and the Audible table of contents showed it too ... I can't tell you how many times I had to glance at my phone screen to double check whose head we were in. Not just the narration, I felt like I needed a reference as to which girl was which at the start. The book starts with Meghan, one year ago. Brecia was the first, her storyline starts two years ago. Skye is in the present. Meghan and Brecia's storylines ultimately come together with Skye in the present.
There have been a few book with a "ghost" lingering around ... [book:In an Instant|51037979], [book:If I Stay|4374400], a few others. Always interesting to see the qualities and tricks given (can they make things move, can they walk through walls?) in any one story. Here they have some minor "haunting" abilities (making electronics surge), animals can see/sense them, can't "teleport" but can walk/run without getting tired.
This was very UTAH centered. Something I note, as it's my home state. While the word "Mormon" was never mentioned, it was alluded to several times (thinking someone didn't drink coffee as it's against their religion, mention of church congregation, visiting teachers, song "Abide with Me"). A funny ... indicating maybe a certain someone needs to work on the "thou shalt not kill" teaching!
The Fugitive movie (love it!) was also alluded to. "He's not Richard Kimball, he's the one-armed man!"
Song SUNG ... another thing I note, when a character sings in the story, does the narrator sing it. Here, yes she did, and she sang it well. The aforementioned "Abide With Me ..." just a few lines.
I was perhaps in a bit of an emotional state already. This got to me a few times. Because of the whole "ghost" angle, this can't really be considered "realistic" like many of the crime/thrillers. I tend to be super judgmental (could that really happen? Me thinks not). Here ... I think I've stepped back on the "reality" of everything, because of the supernatural element.
It was a little frustrating that it was never really explained WHY ... there was a motive for Brecia, although a year afterward? No sexual assault with the other two. Just wants to kill?
I actually really like the cover with the shattered pieces ... good tie-in with the three girls. The title does tie-in, although ... it actually could have not included that and still worked. A bit of a stretch. The audio cover, the single shoe ... I liked that one too, but prefer the "pieces" cover.
Not many of the words I watch for ... scowl (x7), one smirk ... proFanity x7.
Some sex (minor) ... and of course murder.
I guess there is a small follow-up novella, but I can't really call this a series.
There have been a few book with a "ghost" lingering around ... [book:In an Instant|51037979], [book:If I Stay|4374400], a few others. Always interesting to see the qualities and tricks given (can they make things move, can they walk through walls?) in any one story. Here they have some minor "haunting" abilities (making electronics surge), animals can see/sense them, can't "teleport" but can walk/run without getting tired.
This was very UTAH centered. Something I note, as it's my home state. While the word "Mormon" was never mentioned, it was alluded to several times (thinking someone didn't drink coffee as it's against their religion, mention of church congregation, visiting teachers, song "Abide with Me"). A funny ... indicating maybe a certain someone needs to work on the "thou shalt not kill" teaching!
The Fugitive movie (love it!) was also alluded to. "He's not Richard Kimball, he's the one-armed man!"
Song SUNG ... another thing I note, when a character sings in the story, does the narrator sing it. Here, yes she did, and she sang it well. The aforementioned "Abide With Me ..." just a few lines.
I was perhaps in a bit of an emotional state already. This got to me a few times. Because of the whole "ghost" angle, this can't really be considered "realistic" like many of the crime/thrillers. I tend to be super judgmental (could that really happen? Me thinks not). Here ... I think I've stepped back on the "reality" of everything, because of the supernatural element.
It was a little frustrating that it was never really explained WHY ... there was a motive for Brecia, although a year afterward? No sexual assault with the other two. Just wants to kill?
I actually really like the cover with the shattered pieces ... good tie-in with the three girls. The title does tie-in, although ... it actually could have not included that and still worked. A bit of a stretch. The audio cover, the single shoe ... I liked that one too, but prefer the "pieces" cover.
Not many of the words I watch for ... scowl (x7), one smirk ... proFanity x7.
Some sex (minor) ... and of course murder.
I guess there is a small follow-up novella, but I can't really call this a series.