Christina Webster

Engaging and Somehow Nostalgic

Reviewed: 01-03-25

I don’t listen to a lot of non-fiction but thought I would try this because I liked the title and I’m so glad I did! The author created an engaging setting with intriguing characters, some of whom are easy to dislike and others who can draw the reader in emotionally. I didn’t find the the storyline and time hops to be too too confusing or convoluted as I had read in other reviews; I enjoyed having to pay attention and think about connections and they kept me guessing almost the entire way. The ending is strangely satisfying and I was disappointed when it was over. Oh! And the narration is outstanding!

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Nice Detail

Reviewed: 08-14-24

I enjoyed how the author focused more than most on Elizabeth’s upbringing and her relationship with those around her. I think the narrator has a pleasant voice and excellent pacing, but the sound quality is very distracting. I could only listen in small bursts and never with my earphones because the mouth noises and strange bass-like thumping is very off-putting. At one point there is a group of people talking and a loud woman’s voice made me think there was someone in my house! I don’t blame the narrator, however, as this is probably bad sound engineering. This would make an excellent choice for people who enjoy mouth sound-ASMR.

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1 person found this helpful

Engaging

Reviewed: 07-28-24

I was surprised by the depth of information the author was able to find about two almost forgotten individuals and the community in which they lived. The historical context never weighed down the very human story of its many characters.

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Great premise but frustrating development

Reviewed: 06-16-24

This book is engaging and relatively well written for the first part but falls off the rails by the second half. The author makes the main character very unlikeable as the book goes on; she is alternately noble and insufferably stubborn and short-sighted. It’s a strange lack of development. By the last major death I found myself commenting out loud about her stupidity.

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Gripping

Reviewed: 04-24-24

I’m not sure how I stumbled upon this title or why I chose to give it a try but I’m very glad I did! This is not what I would think of as a typical disaster book yet somehow it’s more riveting than any I’ve read before! I wouldn’t have thought I would enjoy reading about the aftermath and all the legal proceedings but somehow the authors managed to make this informative and engaging with just the right amount of detail. I don’t enjoy how frustrated and outraged I was by the end but I can’t even imagine how difficult things were for the residents, families, friends, and the dedicated night staff who had to act and make difficult decisions in an unimaginable situation. If any of you read this: thank you for sharing your stories!

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Clever and Entertaining

Reviewed: 11-27-23

Mitchell’s description of young Henry III’s coronation would be enough to purchase this book. It’s a touching yet humorous observation and reflects the best of his writing.

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2 people found this helpful

Compelling Story Marred by Narration

Reviewed: 02-26-23

I have read articles and watched documentaries about the Sunshine Mine disaster and hoped that this book would add depth and create a fuller picture - it succeeded! This is an excellently written and well-researched book. Unfortunately, as an audiobook, it is mostly ruined by the narrator’s strange, overwrought performance. It became so bad I was actually annoyed and couldn’t finish. The mispronunciations and odd cadence are tolerable, but the breathy, melodramatic manner in which the dialogue is read is way too distracting.

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Frustrating

Reviewed: 08-22-22

I have never posted a negative review and think that these may be the only 3 stars I’ve given, but this was a difficult listen! The writing is clunky as the author often repeats words (mostly adjectives) and turns of phrase within a few lines. The use of incorrect tense is frustrating as the author seems to shift to modern day while referring to past events. I don’t know how an editor let this draft slip past! On a more positive note: the narrator did an admirable job with the material and there were many interesting stories and characters that the author cleverly wove together.

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Almost Unbelievable!

Reviewed: 07-07-22

Darcy O’Brien did a wonderful job blending research and narrative to tell a truly horrifying story! Without using shock tactics he was able to paint a gruesome picture of wasted lives and the almost impossible evil that lurks among us.

The narrator, Perry Daniels, always gives a solid performance but I continue to wish that he wouldn’t “do” female voices. His emphasis on “said” at the end of sentences is also awkward, robotic, and disruptive to otherwise excellent narration.

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1 person found this helpful

Editing Issue NOT a Big Deal

Reviewed: 06-24-22

Do not be dissuaded from purchasing this title by reviews that complain about the editing in chapter four. The rest of the performance is great and the small glitches do not ruin the chapter. If anything, it’s interesting to hear the process of narrating; it shows the amount of work that is required to create a finished product. The story is well-written and very interesting! I had heard about the Johnny Gill on various podcasts and was suppress how much more the author was able to elaborate on in terms of witness accounts and timelines. She also did a wonderful job of creating the ambience and feel of the time.

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