Secrets of the Tainted Trough

A Sally the Loner Mysterious Misadventure, Book 10

By: Alexie Linn

Narrated by: Schann Stewart

Length: 4 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

In The Secrets of the Tainted Trough, imagine waking up from a nap to see a donkey and a horse peering through the screen door, both desperately thirsty. Would you give them a drink? And then what?

Sally, an energetic 87-year-old woman, faces this exact dilemma. Intrigued by the animals, she decides to investigate why they keep returning to her property. What she discovers shocks her to the core - their water trough is contaminated with a body. But whose body is it? And how did it end up in the water trough?

With no one else around but a goat, chickens, and a pup, Sally wonders if the body could be their missing caregiver. As the mystery deepens, she must grapple with the fate of both the animals and the unknown person in the trough.

Join Sally on her thrilling and perplexing journey as she unravels the truth behind this mysterious misadventure.

Prepare to be captivated by the twists and turns in The Secrets of the Tainted Trough, a tale filled with suspense, intrigue, and unexpected revelations.

©2024 Alexie Linn (P)2024 Marilyn Deeter

A cute, entertaining story.

This is the second book in this series that I have listened to. I really enjoy Sally and her antics. But her crotchety old voice really gets on my nerves. She really doesn't need to sound like that. So there is that. And then the sound effects.........Leave them out, please. We are not grade schoolers. We know what things sound like. 2 stars for the narrator. Her other voices are acceptable.

I really enjoy the character of 87 year old Sally. She's cute, kind, sweet and so very pleasant. I love the mystery of this plot. I love the way they go about solving the body found in the trough. I love the cute animals as well. A really fun book.

Cute Cozy Mystery

"Secrets of the Tainted Trough" by Alexie Linn is an intriguing audiobook with a compelling storyline that kept me engaged throughout. The plot is well-crafted, with plenty of twists and turns that make it a captivating listen. However, there are a couple of issues that affected my overall enjoyment and led to my three-star rating.

Firstly, the narrator's voice for the character Sally is extremely irritating and loud. While attempting to portray an elderly woman, the narrator makes Sally yell rather than talk, which becomes grating over time. This choice significantly detracts from the listening experience, making it difficult to fully immerse in the story whenever Sally speaks.

Secondly, the use of sound effects in the audiobook feels unnecessary and distracting. While they might add some atmosphere, they often come off as over-the-top and more suited for a children's book. Given that this book is not targeted at children, these sound effects end up disrupting the flow of the narrative rather than enhancing it.

Despite these drawbacks, the book itself has a lot to offer in terms of plot and character development. If you can overlook the narration issues and the distracting sound effects, "Secrets of the Tainted Trough" still provides an enjoyable and engaging mystery.

Disclaimer: The book was provided for free, but the review and opinions are mine.