Seeing Trouble

Deadwood Mystery Shorts, Book 1

By: Ann Charles

Narrated by: Lisa Larsen

What do you get when you combine a chicken named Elvis, a locked diary, and a secret Violet Parker does not want share with her daughter?

Seeing Trouble is the first of many short stories involving the characters of the Deadwood Mystery series.

©2013 Ann Charles (P)2014 Ann Charles

Disappointing

I've listen to the first two books in the series and have enjoyed them. I purchased this thinking it would have some value but it is rehashed backstory for the most part. It would have been appropriate to add as an additional short at the end of the second book. Unfortunately, the backstory didn't provide any insight to the main character, instead offering only casual observation. This was not added value for the series and I don't encourage purchase as it will not further engage a reader.

The Diary

Violet Parker loved her twins and her life in Deadwood where she lives with her Aunt Zoe. When her daughter finds her old diary in the basement it brings back the memories of her pregnancy. Plus an interview with Violet by the author. Great voice for Violet and marvelous funny author. Recommend.

Ghosts, Romance and a few Scares

If you could sum up Seeing Trouble in three words, what would they be?

I would recommend this audio series, because it's funny, romantic and can be a bit scary. If you like Charlaine Harris's series True Blood, you'll like this author. Granted, this series doesn't have Vampires and Wolves, but they can be quite graphic/gory, suspenseful, thrilling and as I said, scary.

I liked reading Violet’s old diary.

However I did not like the interview or short story at the end as much. The diary portion did answer some questions about Violet’s estranged relationship with her sister and her journey to motherhood. I only paid like $2 for this and it was worth that. I purposely did not use my credit on this because it is only 46 minutes long. Instead, I chose other payment options when checking out. Overall it’s a good accompaniment to the Deadwood series, but you could skip it and still be able to follow along in the main series without feeling like you missed something.

Should Be Free. Short-short + writing exercise

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

It provides some info that pertains to the series, so yes. But only if it is free, or maybe 99 cents. I wouldn't recommend paying for it. Bonus material like the author's interview with her main character is usually offered at the end of a full length book. You know, as a bonus. Using it as filler to make up for the shortness of the story is kind of a d*** move.

Would you ever listen to anything by Ann Charles again?

Yes, I like the series and the author, Ann Charles. I won't buy the .5 short stories that Audible is offering for this series again. Fool me once, blah, blah, blah.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Why not use the usual series narrator? I think that would have been better. Lisa Larsen did a good job, but why not use Caroline Shaffer? It makes Seeing Trouble feel even less like a short story and more like a fragment or an out-take.