Relative Danger

A Cealie Gunther Mystery, Book 1

By: June Shaw

Narrated by: Beth Richmond

Cealie Gunther avoids things that bind - like control-top pantyhose and Gil Thurman.

Widowed Cealie thinks she wants to avoid her hunky ex-lover Gil as she travels while trying to rediscover herself. But he opens Cajun restaurants in many cities, and Cealie's not great at avoiding temptation.

She tries to avoid family members so she won't become dependant, but since her family is most important, she constantly winds up around them. Murder is always involved. Cealie gets drawn in, although as owner of a copyediting agency she knows parts of speech but not weapons.

She's dropping by to visit her motherless granddaughter now and watch her become a high school graduate - unless Cealie's interference in the school creates a catastrophe involving someone very special.

©2007 June Shaw (P)2009 Books In Motion

Worst.Reader.Ever

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I read really good reviews on this book elsewhere which is why I wasted a credit, however the reader is the worst I have ever listened to. A good reader obviously would have made a huge difference.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Unfortunately I couldn't get through the first chapter because the reader was sooo bad.

Would you be willing to try another one of Beth Richmond’s performances?

Oh my god, No!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger that I wasted a credit on it.

Any additional comments?

Unfortunately the acting was so bad in this book that I could not even get through the first chapter. This woman reads in a singsong voice that is so grating on the nerves. The book itself may be great and I read good reviews about it, but I definitely wont be listening to it on audio. Unfortunately an audiobook is only as good as its reader and if the reader stinks the book does too. I listen to a lot of audio books because I travel a lot by car for my job and I can honestly say the narration was worst I have ever heard.

new category: Chick Mystery

What disappointed you about Relative Danger?

Complete drivel.

Has Relative Danger turned you off from other books in this genre?

I'm undecided about this. Have to admit I like Stephanie Plum, no matter how badly written. But I think one such character is enough.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Beth Richmond?

No idea.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Relative Danger?

I would not have published this book to begin with.

Any additional comments?

I feel we need a category for this type of romance/mystery/ comedy.