Don't Open the Door by Allison Brennan Narrator: Amy McFadden
Series: Regan Merritt #2
Published by Harlequin Audio on January 24, 2023
Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Length: 11 hours, 11 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
After their ten-year-old son, Chase, was senselessly murdered, Regan's life unraveled. Her corporate lawyer husband, Grant, blamed the death on Regan’s work as a US marshal. Unable to reconcile their grief, they divorced, and Regan quit her job and moved away.
Now she's back after a voice mail from her former boss Tommy said he had important news to share about Chase’s killing. Regan is stunned to learn Tommy is dead too. When she reaches out to Grant, his panicked reaction raises her suspicions. Then a lawyer with ties to her ex also turns up murdered, and the police make Grant their top suspect.
Unsure of his guilt or innocence, Regan risks everything to find Grant before the police do so she can finally get the answers to all that has haunted her since losing Chase. But the truth is not even close to what she imagines—and now she fears she has no one to trust.
I was thrilled to get another book in this world with this character to continue the Regan Merritt series. I really like Regan, her style and way of organizing things is very logical and smart. Don’t Open the Door was extremely dangerous for her and people from her “previous” life. One of her former co-workers, a marshal is investigating her son’s death and has finally put together some pieces.
I loved reading about Regan’s history and how she ended up divorced and living in Arizona with her father. A child’s death is always a tragedy and Regan needed answers. She takes up the investigation and it is dark. The people who don’t want her to figure things out are perfectly happy to kill anyone who shines light which threatens their greed or power. Regan isn’t the only target. Her ex-husband isn’t really a bad guy; he’s just so weak and needy.
The pace and the life or death edge were engaging. Regan was much better at deducing the situation than me. I was happy to see her survive and get some closure. I’m excited to see what she does next, if she starts some kind of work. I look forward to her building her new life and relationships in Arizona.
Narration:
I am comfortable with this narrator for Regan, who is the main character and most of the time is spent in her head or her speaking. Regan is calm, controlled, with a firm, straightforward voice, almost without emotion. There were distinct voices for both male and female voices sounded appropriate,. Every so often I got a different voice, a smug smirking voice I associate with a young adult character this narrator performed (a different book), but there is no young adult here and it felt out of place. I listened at my usual at 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Allison Brennan
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Allison Brennan believes that life is too short to be bored, so she had five children and writes three books a year. Allison recently relocated from Northern California to Arizona with her husband and two youngest children.
Allison has penned more than three dozen thrillers and many short stories. COLD SNAP was a finalist for Best Thriller in the Thriller Awards (ITW) and FEAR NO EVIL (2007) and COMPULSION (2015) won the Daphne du Maurier award. Allison has been nominated multiple times for RWA’s Best Romantic Suspense award, and the Kiss of Death’s Daphne award. She currently writes the Lucy Kincaid/Sean Rogan thriller series, and is launching the Mobile Response Team series in February 2020.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I love the sound of this! I’m reading more thrillers and mysteries these days, and this looks like an author I should try😁
Brennan is a reliable and talented author with good plots and characters.
I have enjoyed this author’s work in the past. I am looking forward to reading this one.
I hope you love it. I did.
I’m looking forward to see what Regan does next too! Glad to see you enjoyed this as well.
I thought it was great. I hope you enjoy it too.
I did! Thanks.
This sounds like a good one. And that cover is gorgeous!
I really enjoy this author. I’m reading a couple of her other series and working on her backlist.
I read one Allison Brennan a few years back and it was from a different series, but I do like her smart heroine detectives. I’ll have to try this other series.
I really enjoy all her series and am trying to read more than the 3 I have read.
This is an author that I have wanted to read for a very long time. This sounds fantastic!
I hope you get a chance Carole. She’s a favorite of mine in the 2 series I am currently reading and the backlist I have been trying to read also.
This series looks good. I like an intelligent heroine.
Yes no matter the genre I am all about reading about intelligent women and even intelligent men. I like people to be smart and strong. I know they’ll have some flaws and make some mistakes though.
Ooooo sounds intense but good!
yes, I would say it was intense because of the killer trying to get rid of anyone who knew anything or might know anything.
Regan sounds like a character I could easily become invested in. Glad to hear this was another great read for you. 🙂
Thanks I really enjoy all the Allison Brennan books. Regan feels a bit like a Spock. She does have emotions but she keeps her cool.
Great review. I’m looking forward to this one. The first book wasn’t that great for me, but I also know that sometimes the first book in a series isn’t necessarily the best one.
Well other than having Regan Merritt as a main character this one is completely different setting, other characters. I hope you enjoy it.