J.A. Jance has once again delivered a fantastic addition to the J.P. Beaumont series with "Proof of Life". Despite there being 23 books in the series, Jance manages to keep the storyline fresh and captivating, filled with unexpected surprises. In my opinion, she is one of the top-notch authors in the mystery thriller genre today. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and the entire series, but I suggest starting with "Until Proven Guilty" to fully appreciate the journey. If you're hooked on Jance's writing, I also suggest checking out her other gripping series, namely the Joanna Brady Series and the Ali Reynolds Series.
This book was amazing, mate. I've been longing for these characters, and reading it felt like reconnecting with old mates. JA Jance really nails it once more.
This JA Jance novel, 'Proof of Life', delivered a familiarly satisfying experience. The plot was engaging and the twists kept me hooked. However, I found the vocal performance to be quite bothersome. The emphasis was often misplaced, giving the impression that the performer was reading the sentences without prior familiarity. The main character was portrayed with a somewhat sarcastic sing-song voice, which occasionally spilled over to other characters. Surprisingly, in the middle of the book, the performer switched to a straightforward tone for several chapters, making me question if a different performer had taken over. Just as unexpectedly, the sarcasm returned. It was a strange inconsistency. Having read approximately 15 books from the JP Beaumont series, I had a clear idea of the character's voice in my head, and it definitely did not include a sarcastic sing-song tone.
I had a tough time with this book mainly due to the narrator's performance being absolutely dreadful. It's safe to say that I won't be purchasing any future books that he narrates.
I've had the pleasure of devouring every J.P. Beaumont novel, as well as the captivating stories of Joanna Brady and Ali Reynolds. However, "Proof of Life" took a different turn. It primarily revolved around a dog's tale, while revisiting events from a previous life. Unfortunately, the narrator chosen for the audiobook did not meet my expectations. Instead of a thrilling Beaumont mystery, I was left with a disappointing and subpar storyline.
I found the plot of 'Proof of Life: A J. P. Beaumont Novel' to be intriguing and thought-provoking, but the pacing left much to be desired. Personally, I reckon I would have had a better time reading it rather than listening to it. However, I must say that the narrator did a fantastic job, even though the story felt like it dragged on a bit. On the upside, this book lays a solid foundation for future installments featuring JP Beaumont.
Finally, we have another fantastic Beaumont story to sink our teeth into. However, I must say that the narrator chosen for this audiobook is quite dreadful. His slow and melodic tone, coupled with his tendency to elongate certain one-syllable words (like "Mel" or "mad") into seemingly endless 7 or 8 syllables is beyond frustrating. It's like nails on a chalkboard. To make matters worse, he inexplicably lowers his voice and slows down even more at the end of a sentence, only to continue that same sentence after a brief pause. It's utterly bewildering and irritating. But, my biggest gripe was how he completely butchered the pronunciation of one of the antagonist's names: Nguyen. Instead of correctly saying it as a simple one-syllable word ("Wen"), he turns it into a grotesque 4 or sometimes 5 syllable monstrosity, painstakingly enunciating each and every letter. It's mind-boggling. Here's a little piece of advice for whoever selects these narrators: if a word is going to be repeated over 100 times throughout the book, it wouldn't hurt to double-check the proper pronunciation beforehand!
Nevertheless, if you can manage to overlook the abysmal performance, you'll discover that the story itself is truly captivating and engaging.
The story was fantastic. Just like the previous narrators in this series, the narrator for this audiobook had some peculiar inflections. It seems like they have a knack for selecting narrators who aren't exactly top-notch, but it doesn't diminish the enjoyment of the story.
I'm a huge fan of J.A. Jance novels. I've devoured every single one of the Beaumont novels, whether reading or listening to them. However, I was completely taken aback and let down by "Proof of Life." In this installment, JP seems like a washed-up has-been, and it's a major disappointment. The book's biggest issue is the excessive amount of back story, which made it incredibly dull and uninteresting. Perhaps part of the problem lies with the narrator. His voice lacks any kind of emotion or depth, and he's definitely no Gene Engene. Despite my disappointment with this particular book, I'll still continue to listen to the Beaumont, Brady, and Reynolds books. I sincerely hope that "Proof of Life" was just a fluke and not an indication of a new normal for the series.
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