The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner Narrator: Sarah Zimmerman
Series: FBI Profiler #1
Published by Brilliance Audio on December 25, 2018
Genres: Suspense
Length: 10 hours and 52 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble
What would you do if the man of your dreams hides the soul of a killer?
Jim Beckett was everything she'd ever dreamed of...But two years after Tess married the decorated cop and bore his child, she helped put him behind bars for savagely murdering ten women. Even locked up in a maximum security prison, he vowed he would come after her and make her pay. Now the cunning killer has escaped - and the most dangerous game of all begins....
After a lifetime of fear, Tess will do something she's never done before. She's going to learn to protect her daughter and fight back, with the help of a burned-out ex-marine. As the largest manhunt four states have ever seen mobilizes to catch Beckett, the clock winds down to the terrifying reunion between husband and wife. And Tess knows that this time, her only choices are to kill - or be killed.
I’ve been getting most of the books from the D.D. Warren series from the library. However, I was on the waitlist for the next books, Audible was kind enough to offer a sale with the first two books in the FBI Profiler series on sale for a little over $2.00 each. This gave me the perfect excuse to go back to the beginning of the Gardner Universe and read her first stories.
I don’t think this is the first book Lisa Gardner ever wrote, but it is early in her career. And it shows. It’s not a bad story, just not all that believable like her later books are. In this story, you have a heroine who is running from her serial killer ex-husband who just escaped from prison. She finds an ex-marine to help teach her how to take care of herself while she tries to run from him.
The premise of the story isn’t bad. But the villain seems to be the best at disguises that would make Mission Impossible Tom Cruise jealous. This guy makes himself look like something like himself, can even make himself look like women. He seems to be able to get into places where he shouldn’t be able to without anyone the wiser.
Again, not a bad story, but you can see how she’s grown as an author with the D.D. Warren series. That said, I do continue down this series and they do get better. You can really see Ms. Gardner’s storytelling and character development grow.
Narration:
This story is performed by Sarah Zimmerman. I listened to this book a while ago, and I’ve gotten behind on writing reviews. I have to say, I don’t remember much about this narration. It wasn’t outstanding or horrible. It was a good performance or I would remember that. I see no reason why I wouldn’t listen to this narrator again.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Lisa Gardner
New York Times bestselling crime novelist Lisa Gardner began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has parlayed her interest in police procedure, cutting edge forensics and twisted plots into a streak of eleven bestselling suspense novels.
Readers are invited to get in on the fun by entering the annual “Kill a Friend, Maim a Mate” Sweepstakes, where they can nominate the person of their choice to die in Lisa’s latest novel. Every year, one lucky stiff is selected for literary immortality. It’s cheaper than therapy, and you get a great book besides. For more details, simply visit Lisa’s website.
Lisa lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with her family, as well as two highly spoiled dogs and one extremely neurotic three-legged cat. Lisa graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in international relations.
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I started listening to audiobooks when a new book in a series was coming out and I wanted to get a refresher, but didn’t have time to read all the books (I think it was Anita Blake). I fell in love. I stayed with strictly re-reading books that I’d already read for a long time. I eventually tried an audiobook for something that I hadn’t read first and was hooked there too. Now, I listen to audio for both re-reads and first time. I have some series that I’ve given up reading and only listen. I try to get any many books/audiobooks from the library to help save on my budget. Books on CD and the newer digital downloads from the library really allow me to listen more. I then purchase my favorites (because who can wait in line for your favorite book??) and less mainstream books from Audible or some other online retailer.
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The premise of the story sounds really good. Sorry to hear some of it wasn’t all that believable. Still sounds good.
Sounds like this was a winner for you! Thanks for sharing, great review!
😀 Nice find!