Audio: Shallow Ground by Andy Maslen @Andy_Maslen @SteveWestActor @BrillianceAudio #KindleUnlimited #LoveAudiobooks

Posted November 10, 2020 by Anne - Books of My Heart in Book Review / 10 Comments

Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Audio: Shallow Ground by Andy Maslen @Andy_Maslen @SteveWestActor @BrillianceAudio #KindleUnlimited #LoveAudiobooksShallow Ground by Andy Maslen
Narrator: Steve West
Series: Detective Ford #1
Published by Brilliance Audio on November 10, 2020
Genres: Mystery
Length: 10 hours, 20 minutes
Format: Audiobook
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One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

Barely a month since his promotion to Inspector, DI Ford is called in to investigate the murder of a young nurse and her son in a small flat in Salisbury. There are few clues, and no apparent motive, but Ford can sense that there’s a serial killer at work. After all, he knows from brutal personal experience how killers cover their tracks. . .

It’s been six years since Ford lost his wife in a climbing accident - an accident he caused. He is desperate to keep the truth hidden, especially from his son, Sam. But Ford’s new partner, Dr Hannah Fellowes, is a crime scene investigator with a ruthlessly analytical mind, and as they work together to track down the killer, his crippling guilt is compounded by fear of exposure.

When instinct leads him towards a high-profile suspect, his superiors’ warnings just make him more determined to connect impulse and fact. But can Ford hold it all together - the case, his life - long enough to stop the killer?

When I saw a British mystery with Steve West narrating, it was certain I would read it.  Shallow Ground is the beginning of the Detective Ford series which I’ll definitely want to continue.  The main character is a single dad, who lost his wife in a tragic accident.  He has felt considerable grief and guilt.  Now six years later, Ford has a teenage son and a promotion.

Ford is leading his first major case since his promotion. He has an instinct but everyone else sees things differently.  There are some key scientific aspects which are helped along by the new CSI, Hannah.  I really liked both Ford and Hannah as characters and enjoyed their work together as they got to know each other.  Ford was a reasonably good supervisor with giving out appropriate tasks and praising good work.  His people are mostly supportive and good at their work.

The possible suspects are quite the quirky bunch.   There are enough clues to make it a bit difficult to discern the killer quickly.  The team works the case in a smart and strategic way, gathering evidence, and eliminating suspects based on their facts. Naturally, there is a lot of pressure to solve a case with a guy who keeps killing.

It was lovely to watch Ford with his son, Sam, and the progression in their relationship. There are ups and downs because of Ford’s work schedule and Sam’s interests and activities, but they work through the issues. I’m going to enjoy seeing them as they navigate Sam’s teen years.

Narration:

Steve West is my favorite narrator. Since the main character DI Ford is male and this story is his point of view, it fit well.  Of course, then I pictured the main character in my head as Steve West. Oddly, it is easy for me to “see” him as DI Ford, Inspector Jury, Hugh  d’Ambray,  Sean Kendrick and more. Sometimes it bothers me to hear a narrator as other characters but that hasn’t been an issue with Steve West. The characters don’t sound just the same.  The character voices in Shallow Ground were nicely differentiated and seemed appropriate.  I listened at my normal 1.5x speed.

Listen to a clip: HERE

 

About Steve West

A London native, Steve began his career by winning the Stage & Television Today acting scholarship at the age of 17 (after ironically believing that he had bombed the audition!). What followed took him through one of London’s top drama conservatories, onto the West End stage in ABBA’s musical phenomenon Mamma Mia! and then to working opposite the likes of Chucky the killer doll and Don Draper in TV’s Mad Men.

Having moved to the States in 2009 he earned a place as a highly respected and award winning voice over artist working across commercials, films, documentary, audiobooks and video games. He starred as Galahad in Sony’s epic motion capture release The Order 1886 which took over 2 years to film and employed the most up-to-date filming and audio techniques in the field.

Versatile in a multitude of ways from acting to singing to dancing to dying 100’s of different ways in a sound booth he continues to enjoy work both on stage, screen and behind a mic. Check out his latest news on the home page, join the conversation on Facebook and twitter and even head back to the 1800s and ‘be’ Steve/Galahad on the PS4!

About Andy Maslen

Andy Maslen was born in Nottingham, in the UK, home of legendary bowman Robin Hood.

Andy once won a medal for archery, although he has never been locked up by the sheriff.
He has worked in a record shop, as a barman, as a door-to-door DIY products salesman and a cook in an Italian restaurant.


He lives in Wiltshire with his wife, two sons and a whippet named Merlin.

Rating Breakdown
Plot
One StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Writing
One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Characters
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Narration (Audio)
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Overall: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Anne - Books of My Heart
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

  • COYER-20

Posted November 10, 2020 by Anne - Books of My Heart in Book Review / 10 Comments


10 responses to “Audio: Shallow Ground by Andy Maslen