Yet another great review of my audiobook, Harmless! Thanks to the reviewer, Carol at CarolsNotebook.com for the kind words.

I have to thank the audiobook’s reader, DJ Holte for asking if I was interested in reviewing Harmless, otherwise it’s probably not a book that would have come across my radar, but it was a really good, unique read. The story’s told in the first person by Steve Pendragon and listening to it on audio rather than reading it in print seems perfect. Steve is a rambler, someone who conversation goes off on tangents and the audio came across that way, like Steve was telling us the story, got side-tracked, got back to the plot. It worked well and DJ Holte really made Steve come alive, foibles and all. and since it’s told, mostly, in the first person, he doesn’t have to “be” the other characters, he has to “be” Steve being the other characters, which he did well.

Steve (with a v) is definitely the center point of the novel. While it’s a mystery, it’s really more about the character than the plot. He’s an odd guy: obsessive-compulsive, a bit delusional, a stalker, an ardent admirer of the postal service. He functions in life, holding a job, but doesn’t have any close friends, unless you count the mailman or the lady at the Laundromat, or officer Thomas who he tried to sell a car to once upon a time. He’s a little nutty – talk about an unreliable narrator.  He starts unlikable but eventually you start rooting for him and hoping it won’t turn out that he did actually kill Kerry.

The story takes a couple of odd turns and a couple of twists I didn’t see coming, given that all I had was Steve’s version of the world. He doesn’t exactly have a clear grasp of what’s going on, although there is definitely maybe a cop determined to prove Steve is the killer, even when Kerry’s diary points in another direction.

It’s an unusual story, worth picking up. It’s funny, too, in a dark kind of way.  It had me laughing out loud a couple of times, which probably made me seem kind of odd, walking around laughing to myself with the ear buds hidden by my hair.

Holy frijoles! Check out this rave review of the latest audiobook I narrated, Harmless (written by Ernie Lindsey). The review is by Judy Purdee, and appears on her review blog, Love2Listen.

My Thoughts:
I totally enjoyed Harmless! Actually enjoyed doesn’t really express how I experienced it.  I couldn’t put it down.  My plans to go out shopping or visit a relative flew out the window as soon as I started listening.  I took the whole day and listened from beginning to end. I love mysteries that include humor.  This book has all the required elements of that kind of mystery – laugh out loud moments, plot twists and surprises, and an unconventional love story.   Steve Pendragon appears at first to be a clueless, self-centered man.  The people he chooses to be his friends find him acutely annoying.  He can’t seem to get to the point of a story without going off the subject.   I found him fascinating.  I liked the way he observed the world and how he found character attributes in other people that he identified with.  He is a bit psychic and describes himself as “operating on a higher plane.”  He is obsessed with the post office and mail delivery.    

What I liked most about Harmless was the performance of the narrator, DJ Holte.  It was as if I had Steve following me around telling me his story and not minding when I laughed at him.  That’s an experience I would never get from the print version.  From the first word of the audio sample, I knew this was a voice I would enjoy.  I’m adding DJ Holte to my list of favorite narrators and hope to hear more of his work.

Author Ernie Lindsey has crafted a story that is funny and entertaining with a main character you will grow to love.  I highly recommend the audio version of Harmless and give it 5 stars all around.

Get your own copy at any of the links below:

http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Harmless-Audiobook/B00GMPEULC/

http://www.amazon.com/Harmless/dp/B00GN5WXI8/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/harmless-unabridged/id746555468?uo=4

We think it’ll make a great Christmas gift. 😉