Brit in the FBI #2 makes you look forward to #3!!!

Would you listen to The Lost Key again? Why?

Yes, I would. I really enjoyed this book which integrated action, dialogue, intrigue, historical information, and humor. Narrators were great!

What other book might you compare The Lost Key to and why?

Book 1 flowed directly into Book 2 with more than just storyline. It continued with the same humor and drama. I enjoy the books of Catherine Coulter and find similarities with those of David Baldacci. There's substance to their entertaining and thoughtful books.

What about Renee Raudman and MacLeod Andrews ’s performance did you like?

They are always fantastic. Two of my favorites.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I definitely chuckled several times. The wit and humor were integrated into the story very well and performed by the narrators expertly. You could actually hear the interchanges among the characters as if you were there.

Any additional comments?

I hope that this progresses into a multi-book series.

11 people found this helpful

Good Adventure, Solid Writing and Narration

This is very much an adventure, worthy of one of the Clive Cussler series. It is not a mystery. There are some very gory and graphic scenes, more so than Cussler.

Story is relatively believable. Bends, but does break, your credibility. Not much romance which is perhaps the appreciated influence of Ellison.

I would certainly read more but won't rush into it.

Female narrator was fine. Male voice was fine too. It is my personal preference to not bother with the second voice. He didn't have a big role and I'd find it jarring to occasionally hear the male voice. Obviously not the fault of the narrators.

5 people found this helpful

Loved it!

Really liked the story although it has darker characters than the first book. Can't wait for the next book to come out.

4 people found this helpful

Gratuitous S&M, really?

Would you try another book from Catherine Coulter and J. T. Ellison and/or Renee Raudman and MacLeod Andrews ?

Perhaps, but they will need less cardboard characterizations in the book.

What was most disappointing about Catherine Coulter and J. T. Ellison ’s story?

The main villain was one dimensional and the whole gratuitous S&M side of him was a bore.

Have you listened to any of Renee Raudman and MacLeod Andrews ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have and they did an excellent job with a story and characters that could have been stronger.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No.

Any additional comments?

This book had a lot of potential that never really developed. The characters are interesting but were portrayed as stereotypes which wasn't necessary. The story was interesting but because the characters were so predictable the story became rather predictable and uninteresting.

9 people found this helpful

Who wants a job with world travel?

2nd in the Brit in the FBI series, this audiobook retains the narrators from the second book. Both narrators continue to have certain aspects (pronunciations, etc) that sometimes brings the reader out of the action. This book did not feature supernatural-like events unlike the first book in the series. Nicholas Drummond is on his first official day in the FBI with Mike Caine as his partner when they stumble on case that takes them from the U.S. to London, Scotland, and Paris. Nick and Mike uncover a secret organization and the quest for a weapon that Marie Curie developed. There is plenty of mystery, double crosses, and action to keep the reader engaged. Although there is mention of events from the first book, this book can be read as a stand-alone.

1 person found this helpful

what a thrill ride !!!!!

what a great story. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. I know that term is over used , but in this case is is not. Characters are brilliant. The story will envelope you from the first word. Enjoy everyone.

1 person found this helpful

Well done

First Catherine Coulter book for me. The story was a bit much, but it was so well performed I couldn't wait to come back for more. I really enjoyed having both a male and a female performer. Made the rather long story move quickly. Is you are looking for a good summer read for working it the yard or that long drive check this out.

1 person found this helpful

The Lost Key Fell Flat

As a reader, I am willing to do my part. I can suspend my belief in many circumstances, forgive an occasional scientific blunder, overlook a slow patch or two, try, try, try to like your book because I know you put a lot of work into it, and faithfully finish it before reviewing it because that only seems like the fair thing to do. But for this book, it was more effort than I could muster - the authors simply asked too much of their readers. Nothing about this book was 'grabbing' - it was dull, uninspired, trite, and shallow. Which is odd, because there was plenty of action in the book. Lots of things 'happened'. They just weren't told in a cohesive or interesting way. The book jumped from plot point to plot point with lots of boring filler in between, but the story never felt like it got off the ground - it just zombie walked from beginning to end, and never developed into anything substantial. Try as I might to get into it, I felt I was always listening on top of the story rather than ever being taken into it. There was just nothing about it to make me care. Characters were hardly developed, dialog was bland, and backstory was stuck in willy-nilly, almost as if the story were being invented and shifted and supported as it went along. It made me think of a decaying old building that someone had to keep propping up with bricks as it sagged and sunk and threatened to topple.

Additionally, the main storyline itself was overly contrived - it wasn't even fun to try to accept the outlandish and downright silly premise of the book. It wasn't much of a mystery, if it was one at all. I mean, I just shook my head wondering why it took them so long to get 'the key is in the lock' bit. As far as I know, that was the only mystery part to the whole book, the rest was just watching the characters, who behaved either irrationally, super heroically, or stock dastardly, stumble and fumble along on their hunt.

As for the narration, it wasn't bad, per se. The two readers blended well - but I thought the book would have been fine with one reader. Maybe if it had been read at a slightly faster pace and with, in the case of MacLeod Andrews, a bit more pizzaz, it might have helped the story take a bit of life. He has a very nice voice, but it lacked dynamism. I really didn't care for Renee Raudman, but I never do. She has a speech impediment that makes her sound like a grizzled old prospector whose dentures are loose, 'heh heh ssssonny'. It's annoying.

Overall, I don't feel I can recommend this book. It is much pulp, and what little fiction there is was farcical.

3 people found this helpful

Stilted, cliche dialogue.

Would you be willing to try another book from Catherine Coulter and J. T. Ellison ? Why or why not?

I like Catherine Coulter's books fine, but this one did not live up to her previous ones.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Renee Raudman and MacLeod Andrews ?

Andrews was great, but the female was ANNOYING. I spent the first two hours trying to figure out if you had a real lisp or it was affectation.

Any additional comments?

The dialogue was so completely cheesy and unbelievable. The story was not bad, but I expected much better from Coulter.

2 people found this helpful

Boring

What would have made The Lost Key better?

More suspense; more in depth characters and emotion

What could Catherine Coulter and J. T. Ellison have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Less dry

How could the performance have been better?

It was okay

What character would you cut from The Lost Key?

None I just would expand their emotions

3 people found this helpful