The Julius House by Charlaine Harris Narrator: Therese Plummer
Series: Aurora Teagarden #4
Published by Recorded Books on November 25, 2009
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 6 hours, 30 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Wealthy businessman Martin Bartell gives Roe exactly what she wants for their wedding: Julius House. But both the house and Martin come with murky pasts. And when Roe is attacked by an ax-wielding maniac, she realizes that the secrets inside her four walls and her brand-new marriage could destroy her.
Settling in as newlyweds in a home with a dark, mysterious past is the not the only unsettling matter Aurora Teagarden faces. Charlaine Harris’ Aurora Teagarden series continues to pull me in to the drama as much as the mystery in Roe’s life.
The Julius House is fourth in the strongly connected series of books in the Aurora Teagarden Mystery series.
Roe and Martin are prepping for their wedding and both deliver some amazing wedding gifts. Martin’s to Roe is the old Julius House she fell in love with when house hunting. She’s hip-deep in renovating the house, all the social occasions for their engagement, and startled when Martin tells her the garage apartment will be occupied by his old Vietnam army buddy and his wife. But, it’s Martin’s secrets along with the house’s mysterious past that occupy a newly-married Roe.
I had a feeling Martin’s secrets were going to be huge and as fast as this pair decided to get married and didn’t get to know each other’s pasts, yeah, I was ready for the big snaggle-toothed reveal and it was a doozy. Shelby and Angel Youngblood, Martin’s friend and his wife with their lethal martial arts abilities, hard-bodies and stone-cold (seemingly) personas were an interesting addition. Although, Roe’s heartwarming southern hospitality worked on that pair and showed they had their own layered characters. It was fun following along as Roe dragged Angel into her mystery-solving activities trying to get to the bottom of the Julius House family disappearances. Another great stunner of a twist for the solution.
But, oh boy, Martin and Roe are on something of shaky ground now that the truth is out. I’m eager to see what comes next.
The Julius House was another solid and engaging entry in the series. Those who like their cozy mysteries to be on the borderline of thrilling and appreciate a human drama and complex character growth along with their mystery should give this series a go.
Narration:
I’m so glad Therese Plummer continues to be the series narrator. At this point, I’m so into her portrayal of the characters, particularly, Roe, and the way she draws one into the story that I’m pretty sure I’d hear her voices in my head if I was reading the print.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Therese Plummer
Therese Plummer is an actor and voice over artist living and working in New York City. Favorite roles to date include TV: Rose Nerrick, The Good Wife, Andy in Law and Order SVU. Stage: Celebrity Row; New York Theatre Workshop, Under Tillage, The Irish Repertory Theatre. Off-off Broadway credits include The Vagina Monologues, Suzanne in Twilight of the Gold’s and Madeline in the Award Winning Samuel French Short play The Sweet Room. Comedy Credits include Improv at Upright Citizens Brigade and Stand-up at Caroline’s Comedy Club. Therese also performed her one woman show, Ribbons Undone, at the Here Arts Center.
Therese records audio books for Audible.com, Recorded Books and Talking Books, Inc. As an adolescent counselor, Therese spent five years utilizing Drama therapy techniques in individual and group settings before moving to New York. She shares a passion of creating, helping and entertaining and feels incredibly lucky to do all three.
About Charlaine Harris
Tired of abiding by the mystery rules, Harris wrote a novel about a telepathic barmaid that took at least two years to sell. When the book was published, it turned into a best seller, and DEAD UNTIL DARK and the subsequent Sookie books were adapted in Alan Ball’s “True Blood” series. At the same time, Harris began the Harper Connelly books. Harper can find the bones of the dead and see their last minute.
When those two series wound to a close, the next three books were about a mysterious town in Texas, called Midnight.
A change in publisher and editor led to Harris’s novels about a female gunslinger in an alternate America, Lizbeth Rose. The Gunnie Rose books concluded with the sixth novel.
She’s thinking about what to write next.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I’m still blow away at how many books and series Harris writes. These books sound like something I would really enjoy. Thanks SR!
Up until last year when I started binging her series through the library, I didn’t get how extensive her backlist was either. This has been a series that has a good blend of genre elements.
I’ve enjoyed all the Sookie Stackhouse books, the Lily Bard series, A Town Named Midnight series and the Gunnie Rose series. I think the only one I haven’t read is the Aurora Teagarden series – at some stage I should get hold of the first one as I really enjoy her writing:).
Yes, these are a little like the Lily Bard smalltown atmosphere. I think you’d enjoy them, Sarah!
I love it when a huge secret is revealed.
Oh yeah, the mystery behind the disappearances was a fabulous reveal. 🙂
Are you enjoying this series more than her Gunny Rose? This sounds like a series I might like!
I think I like it a smidge better. I loved the Gunnie Rose series when it first got going and didn’t like the final book. So far this one has a few moments in some of the books, but I like the overall stories. Hopefully, I like the end. 🙂
Right now, I think the Lily Bard and the Midnight, TX books are my favorites by her.
This sounds like a good addition to the series. Sounds interesting with Martin’s secrets coming out in this one. I haven’t read any Charlain Harris books besides the Stookie Stackhosue series and the Harper Connelly series, but this one does sound good. I remember seeing some of the films of this series, but don’t remember much about them.
I’m getting toward the end of this series so I think I can rank it. I like it about the same as the Sookie Stackhouse series and Harper Connelly, but I think Lily Bard and Midnight, TX are my favorites.
I really need to listen to this series; I am sure I would enjoy it. Great review Sophia!
Yes! I second that motion. I think they are good cozy stuff. 🙂
This is one of those authors I haven’t really dedicated anytime to but always mean to. This seems like a fun series.
I get it. I have several like that. I try to pick older series I can get through the library app and it seems to be working out great. I’m enjoying them.
This author really does write a lot!!!
You said it. I’ve read almost all her series, but there are still the standalones and then another graphic novel series I haven’t gotten to.