Fortune's Deadly Descent

Fortune, Book 2

By: Audrey Braun

Narrated by: Angela Dawe

When novelist Celia Hagen steps away from her train compartment, her seven-year-old adopted son, Benny, vanishes. Police search the train and Saint-Corbenay, the village in the South of France that mother and son were passing through. But there is no sign of Benny. After days of waiting at home for news, a ransom call, something, Celia returns to Saint-Corbenay against the advice of everyone, including her beloved, Benicio.

The little town is picturesque, but disturbing rumors abound. As dark secrets emerge, it seems that no one - not even Benicio or the brooding detective leading the case - is above suspicion. Celia thought she had seen it all, but nothing could prepare her for where her search will lead.

In the follow-up to Audrey Braun’s best-selling debut, A Small Fortune, Celia discovers just how quickly everything she loves can spiral toward a life - and death - that no one could have seen coming.

©2012 Audrey Braun (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Prequel? Sequel? The Plot Needed More

I slowly, ever so slowly, became engaged with this story, but found it lacking fundamental elements of a good mystery. For a plethora of reasons, I felt I had begun reading a novel in the middle of a series and desperately needed the backstory. The author made attempts at providing one, but somehow, it seemed a bit contrived and shallow.

Still, I found the premise of the story and the twisted, turning familial crises interesting enough to keep me with it to the end. The "mystery" is a good one, is was just that the story supporting the mystery needed bolstering.

Set in Europe, the background of Zurich and elsewhere made for an interesting locale for the events surrounding the missing boy.

Can't say I wasted my time or money, but this was not the best I've read recently by far.

Excellent thriller

Do you know when you buy a book but for some reason, you just don’t listen to it of which I have maybe 100 of them that I’ve yet to listen to. This is one of them. Excellent story kept you glued to your listening device, wondering which turn was coming next. Of course this author only has one book on audible and the great Angela Dawe does a fabulous job as usual with all of the foreign accents. That is her best feature. Do not miss any book that she narrates with a Scottish accent outstanding. My favorite book that she narrates is from Julie Garwood. Sweet talk. I listen to that at least once a year even though I have so many more to listen to for a first time. It never fails to bring, smiles and uplift the spirit.
Where my comments of help?