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A Roland March Mystery, Book 1

By: J. Mark Bertrand

Narrated by: Mel Foster

Houston homicide detective Roland March was once one of the best. Now he's disillusioned, cynical, and on his way out. His superiors farm him out on a variety of punishment details until an unexpected break gives March one last chance to save his career. And his humanity. All he has to do? Find the missing teenage daughter of a Houston evangelist that every cop in town is already looking for. But March has an inside track: a multiple murder nobody else thinks is connected. Battling a new partner, an old nemesis, and the demons of his past, getting to the truth could cost March everything. Even his life.

©2012 J. Mark Bertrand (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Wrong narrator for the book

I liked the book. I am not normally a fan of Christian Fiction (I almost never read it). But several of my friends have recommended this to me and it has gotten good reviews. And I picked up the kindle version for free and used promotional credit for the audiobook. So I didn't have anything to lose.

The narrator was wrong. His accents were stereotypical and schlocky and overall detracted from the book. The book needed a darker narrator. Someone with more age and gravel in his voice. James Marsters (of Dresden Files book) would have been fine.

The narration wasn't horrible, I listened to most of the book. But I finished up the book on kindle and think that reading the book is a better choice.

The second book in the series is available on Audible, but I will read instead of listen to it.

Great book

Loved everything about this book. It was a very engaging story. Really enjoyed listening to it.

I was Hooked - At Hour 3

The book had a fantastic start. Things were looking very good, then it slowed down to the point where at hour 2, I was considering whether I wanted to continue. It was exactly at hour 3 that I realized "this is a fantastic story, and Roland March is a great character". For someone who loves to listen to mystery and police procedurals, it was refreshing to have a normal person as the detective, not brilliant, not violent, average guy. Roland March makes mistakes which makes him feel so human. The back-story was a very slow build, but in the end, I liked Roland's wife, whom I started off disliking, and I admired Roland, whom I thought at first was somewhat "oafish".

There seem to be lots of complaints about the narrator. I thought that Mel Foster had the perfect voice for Roland and some of the other men, but he does a terrible women's voice. I understand the annoyance, but the story kept me moving forward. I got to where the voices were fine with me.

Glad to see Book 2 in the series is waiting for my next credit. I hope Audible will put Book 3 on an audiobook.

Great main character... leaves you wanting more!

Excellent narrator! He performs all the characters so well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A crime novel, with just the right amount of humor, and emotion. I totally enjoyed this book!

Feels like a Dragnet movie

Overall the book was pretty good. It was writen in first person and the narration made me feel like I was listening to Dragnet with Joe Friday. The author did an excellent job with character development. I'm looking forward to reading book 2 in the series.