Dead Air
My rating
4 / 5
Source of my Copy : Audio Book from Net Galley
Author
Michael Bradley
Publisher
CamCat Books
Genre
Mystery/Crime
Length Of Audio
9 hours
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Summary
Kaitlyn Ashe, a famous radio DJ in Philadelphia, has everything. She is happy, successful, and in love. But deep down, she knows she has been keeping her past a secret from everyone. A secret that someone else knows and is now threatening her with it. First, it starts with weekly anonymous messages, then things escalate, and Kaitlyn is terrified to go back to her own house. When will this stop? After justice has been avenged? Justice for what? What has Kaitlyn Ashe buried in the Shallows?
They say time heals all wounds. It’s a lie. - Stalker in Dead Air.
My Review
I received an Audiobook for this particular review and I’m going to be honest and tell you, this was my first Audiobook. I never tried Audiobooks before because I couldn’t settle with the idea of someone reading out my book to me. I found it lacked appeal. But I was wrong. I loved this narration by Rachel Fulginiti that felt like Kaitlyn Ashe was telling her story. The variations in her tone while differentiating between characters were bang-on. I was never confused. My experience couldn’t have been better.
What I loved
Moving on to the story, Michael Bradley has done a terrific job with the plot. Gradual progressive unlocking of the mystery in every chapter was so exciting. Every chapter ended with a cliffhanging note and made me quickly move on to finding what happens next. I was hooked.
Most chapters were in the third person with Kaitlyn or Rodney, the investigating officer. Some chapters were dedicated to the mysterious stalker and were addressed in the first person. I liked this glimpse into the mind of the stalker. It was very entertaining.
Another bit I liked was the GBT serial-killer sub-plot. It added to the excitement of the main story, kept me guessing about a link between the two. I even liked the whole radio setup that Kaitlyn worked at. It was new and refreshing for me. And it gave the impression that the author was well versed in the working of a radio station.What I disliked
The story had some letdowns. The other characters were typical of a novel; a father-figure Scot, a creepy colleague Kevin, a BFF Sammy and a well-to-do and perfect boyfriend Brad, who proposed amid the crisis. The investigative officer, Rodney, was a letdown too. You would expect more from a police veteran. I also wondered why Kaitlyn never revealed her secret to the police even when things came crashing down all around her.
Final Verdict
Owing to these pitfalls, I cannot rate the novel a perfect score and give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Who should read it
Readers sensitive to creepy stories should avoid this book. But I gladly recommend this book to suspense readers because it is nothing short of a goose-bump giving, hair standing-on-the-edge mystery.
I was thoroughly entertained.
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About the author
Michael Bradley
Born and raised in southern New Jersey, Michael Bradley spent years in radio broadcasting in New Jersey and West Virginia. He has been "up and down the dial," working as an on-air radio personality, promotions director and even program director - all jobs that provided a wealth of fond, enduring, and sometimes scandalous moments. Some of them make it into his suspense novels. When he isn't on the road, working, or writing, Michael hits the waterways in his kayak, paddling creeks, streams, and rivers all over Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. Or he reads to get inspired by writers such as P.D. James, Ian Rankin, Leslies Charteris, Simon Brett, Lisa Unger, and Ian Fleming. Michael is a member of Pennwriters and Mystery Writers of America, and he serves as the technical assistant to the director of ITW's Pitch Fest and ConsultFest for the annual ThrillerFest conference. Michael lives in Delaware with his wife Diane and their two furry four-legged "kids," Preaya and Willie.
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