The Depresso Trilogy

By: O. W. Láav

Narrated by: Pamela Almand

What if you really, really wanted to die…but couldn’t?

Welcome to the life of Owen, a suicidal man who can’t seem to die, no matter how many times he’s tried.

Owen’s monotonous, bleak life is interrupted by a chance encounter with Dinah Borst, an ambitious but troubled police captain. The officer offers him the chance to find a purpose in life: Leverage his ability to avoid death and intervene clandestinely in cases where the police are hampered by red-tape.

Together, Owen and Dinah will attempt to make their city a better place by saving lives, fighting a psychopathic unkillable killer, and battling police corruption. But can they manage to overcome their personal challenges and become heroes, or will they sink into a pit of darkness and despair in the process?

©2022 O. W. Laav (P)2023 O. W. Laav

Dark novel and disturbing

I got drawn into this because l like this reader but it is really dark. It got real deep into depression but the fantasy angle made it almost dark humor. In depth discussions of mental illness, and depression and alcoholism that got a little bogged down, but all in all in a good cop thriller. I actually liked it a lot after all that.

Refreshing take on superhero genre

This book explores a plethora of themes - reluctant superhero, police drama, unexpected friendship, coping with loss, mental health struggles - all of which somehow blend together across the three parts. The story doesn't always fit neatly into a particular genre but there is always something going on to keep you entertained and invested in Owen and Dinah.

What stood out most to me was the honest, realistic portrayal of depression. It wasn’t just a background detail or a cliched plot device. Living with depression was central to the story (the title kind of gives that away), and it captures the emptiness and isolation that comes with it, while still offering a glimmer of hope.

The ending was unexpected, not how I would have liked the story to end, but I can appreciate why it had to end this way.

Unexpected binge-listen

Not a typical genre for me, but I enjoyed it and binged in a few days! Nuanced representation of mental health issues, which rang true to me. Dialog was sharp, and I felt like I really got to know the characters as complex beings. Narration was good, but a little slow (listened on 1.3x).

Dark and intense cop "fantasy"?

This is a hard book to review but I really liked it. It is a cop suspense/fiction but also a little supernatural and a little like a Marvel comic book! A depressed and suicidal man tries everything to kill himself, but miraculously heals every time. He meets up with a female detective who wants him to use his "superpowers" to help out the department since he's bulletproof. Dinah's depressed, too, dealing with issues in her past, but finds a kindred spirit in Owen. Anything more is probably a spoiler, but this is an unusual audiobook because it has everything and even when it seems like a comic book it has real emotion and important deep dives into chronic depression. I think it is really good and got to know and like each flawed character. Narrator was excellent and made Owen's depression belieavble and real but showed compassion as he struggled to heal. I hated the ending and cried, And shed tears several times listening to this but tears of compassion and understanding of his pain.

Dark and Entertaining

The Depresso Trilogy is an enjoyable and darkly entertaining action mystery from Canadian writer O. W. Láav. In The Depresso Trilogy, we follow Owen, a suicidal man who can’t seem to die, no matter how many times he’s tried to end his life.

But when an ambitious and troubled police captain by the name of Dinah Borst offers him the chance to find a purpose in life: to help the police leveraging his ability to avoid death, he thinks that something worth living for.

Owen and Dinah will give all they have to save the city but at the same time, they must overcome their own personal challenges, fears and misconceptions.

Former 747 captain, Multi Award-Winning SAG/AFTRA narrator and voice actor Pamela Almand keeps us entertained throughout the almost 11 hours of the audio production and delivers a captivating performance.

Pam is one of my favorite narrators in the Audiobooks Industry, and listening to her bringing to life these stories is like spending quality time with a close friend.

Her narration for The Depresso Trilogy is, as always, top-notch, so it comes as absolutely no surprise that she brings our flawed heroes to life in another captivating and flawless, signature performance.

If you like well-written, darker, and thrilling stories featuring flawed characters, intense action, and gritty investigations, then The Depresso Trilogy is definitely for you. This is a dark book, dealing with chronic depression. But Mr. Owen Laáv, writes from experience, and sheds so much light and compassion on his characters that you come away with knowledge and even empathy for them.

However, if you struggle with depression, anxiety, or have suicidal thoughts, it is recommended that you skip this novel, as some events may be triggering, and reach out to professionals for help.

I had a blast listening to The Depresso Trilogy and I’ll be keeping an ear out for more works of fiction from this author.

As always, Pam’s narration enhances and enriches the listening experience making this story even more captivating.

I am a blind audiobook reviewer, so if you found this review interesting I hope you will consider leaving a helpful vote below. Most audiobooks I receive for free for review purposes. Thank you! Take care, stay safe, and don't forget, always listen with your heart.