The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).
This Detective Kay Hunter series is one where I got the first couple books as ebook freebies and then purchased the audiobooks for 99¢ at Chirp. It’s a long series so this is a perfect way to see if I enjoy them before going on in the fifteen book series.
Kindle freebie on October 9, 2024 (currently $1.99 at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)
Chirp purchase for 99¢ on June 17, 2020
Overall rating 3.98 with 3,796 ratings and 405 reviews
Scared to Death by Rachel Amphlett Narrator: Alison Campbell
Series: Detective Kay Hunter #1
on December 3, 2016
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 376
Length: 8 hour, 26 minute
Format: Audiobook, eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
A serial killer murdering for kicks. A detective seeking revenge.
When the body of a snatched schoolgirl is found in an abandoned biosciences building, the case is first treated as a kidnapping gone wrong. But Detective Kay Hunter isn’t convinced, especially when a man is found dead with the ransom money still in his possession.
When a second schoolgirl is taken, Kay’s worst fears are realised. With her career in jeopardy and desperate to conceal a disturbing secret, Kay’s hunt for the killer becomes a race against time before he claims another life.
For the killer, the game has only just begun…
In Scared to Death we are introduced to Kay Hunter, and her husband Adam, who is a veterinarian. They have suffered a personal tragedy; they are still coping with grief. We also meet various member of the team. Kay seems to get on with everyone except DCI Larch. He had her up against the professional standards board because a gun in evidence went missing. She had checked it out but it was proven she was not at fault. He still seems to be holding a grudge.
Kay seems to do a lot of the team management and direction, even though she is a DS not a DI. The case is grizzly. A young girl has been kidnapped and tortured. The ransom was paid but she died before they got to her. The police procedural seems to be well handled. More kidnappings are discovered. The team works details about how the victims might be related, who might have a van seen around the abductions. It is a little twisty but they do solve the case.
Kindle freebie on March 1, 2023 (currently $5.99 at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)
Chirp purchase for 99¢ on July 20, 2022
Overall rating 4.20 with 2,269 ratings and 169 reviews
Will to Live by Rachel Amphlett Narrator: Alison Campbell
Series: Detective Kay Hunter #2
on April 1, 2017
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 328
Length: 7 hours, 15 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Reputation is everything.
When a packed commuter train runs over a body on a stretch of track known to locals as “Suicide Mile”, it soon transpires that the man was a victim of a calculated murder.
As the investigation evolves and a pattern of murders is uncovered, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter realises the railway’s recent reputation may be the work of a brutal serial killer.
With a backlog of cold cases to investigate and attempting to uncover who is behind a professional vendetta against her, Kay must keep one step ahead of both the killer and her own adversaries.
When a second murder takes place within a week of the first, she realises the killer’s timetable has changed, and she’s running out of time to stop him…
There is a horrifying death of a victim who was tied to a train track. A witness heard them crying for help but couldn’t get to them in time. The team goes to work and finds there have been a lot of deaths on the train tracks lately, originally all thought to be suicides. Now they look closely at them to see if they were, or if they were murder.
The procedural work of talking to family, friends and work colleagues leads them to different theories. There’s also a help group for those who have been charged with drunk driving, which two of the victims had been. Some of them had been on anti-depressants.
Kay has decided she needs to figure out who did take the gun to clear herself, but someone doesn’t want that. Her home is burgled and torn up. One of her team is beaten. She hasn’t told anyone but someone must have noticed her computer look at the case.
At the end of Will to Live, there is a heart-stopping rush to save the probable victims on the tracks. The twists happen fast and furious but they get it all sorted. The first fourteen books are on Hoopla in audio which makes it easy to continue the series when I find time.
Narration:
The narration for the series is performed by Alison Campbell. I don’t believe I have listened to her previously. She has a feminine voice with a light English accent. Her female voices worked well for me but the male voice were too high and a bit scratchy/husky. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- 🎧 Somebody Worth Killing by Jessica Payne @jessicapayne.bsky.social @pattimurin.bsky.social @berkleypub.bsky.social @penguinaudio.bsky.social #LoveAudiobooks #JIAM - June 16, 2026
- Sunday Post – 14 June 2026 @caffeinatedreviewer.com @readingreality.bsky.social @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - June 14, 2026
- National Park Mysteries : Death Valley Duel, Great Sand Dune Massacreby Scott Graham @sgrahamauthor @joeljrichards @tantoraudio.bsky.social @TantorAudio #LoveAudiobooks #JIAM - June 13, 2026
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
I think I have these freebies, too. Another series I’ve wanted to start.
I’m uncertain how much I will like this series after 2 books. It’s not as strong as Kim Stone who is amazing.
I need to listen to some of the freebies I’ve acquired from Chirp! Someday! I’m currently trying to get through library lends before they expire. I did just finish one: Drop of Corruption and loved it! I finally listened after postponing my borrow soooo many times!
I had a rough time with library books this year. I LOVE Robert Jackson Bennett and hope to read one of his earlier series soon.
Great job getting though some of those freebies!
Thanks. It informs me as to whether I want to read more of the author too.