Danger9b and his Goddess of Fortune

By: Richard J. Hatch

Narrated by: Richard J. Hatch, A Host of International Voice Talent

Length: 13 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

It's a sweet love story, an action/adventure mystery, based on real events and meshed in a fascinating setting and time. As Danger 9b says: Something’s wrong wit me, Rick Foster, admit it. I’m a terrible camel driver, a clumsy art thief, I heal dead people, steal carts of horse dung, and impersonate doctors. I’ve been hauled in by secret police and came close to second degree murder. I accidentally put my father's name on an assassin's list and continue to make my first crush think I am some kind of government agent. And at 16, I’m a really bad liar. So why start behaving myself now?

Rick, alias Danger 9b, the son of an active spy, was practical, harmless, straight-as-an-arrow, knowing all the rules. What happened to him? Jill MacGregor happened. Fiery, stand-offish, rich capricious trickster, Jill is the new girl in their small International High School in Ankara, Turkey.

Despite his best instincts, Rick esteems Jill as an earthly goddess. Unfortunately, fully mortal Jill is an entire universe of trouble. Is her wonder worth the worship? This boy-girl thing is a massive mystery for Rick. There’s a reason she is alluring to only two boys, and he can’t figure out why his nemesis and Jill’s first love, Mitch Alegre is so hooked. He’s already got the hottest girl in school.

With a solitary stick of gum, Jill contorts Rick’s first whopping lie to win her over and lands them both prisoners in the Soviet embassy. To keep his deception and her interest booming, it’s gonna take the Beatles, the Russians and even the CIA to work it all out.

Jill hoards her own secrets but now must count on help from Rick in an international search to find her massive, shadowy inheritance, whatever it is, or it will be gone forever. Knowing that only Jill has what other heirs want, they stalk Jill, and their tactics grow more desperate. First love has never been more fun or threatening, piecing together the mammoth puzzle of Jill, his Goddess of Fortune.

©2024 Richard J. Hatch (P)2024 Richard J. Hatch

Do you want to know a secret?

Danger9b and his Goddess of Fortune follows the escapades of Sophomore Rick Foster and his zany friends at an international school in Turkey. Set in the 60’s, Rick is head over heals for Jill, and he’ll do whatever it takes to win her attention, including lying. Jill’s a firebrand with her own secrets, and between the two of them, they manage to create plenty of trouble.

Listen to the audiobook – the story comes to life with multiple narrators, sound effects, and Beatles songs. Lyrics to those songs are cleverly woven through the narration, as are 60’s lingo and fads. Clever story, well worth the listen.

A charming coming of age story with phenomenal production value

A warm and inviting story told with passion and stylish touches, it’s hard to put down. It has the appeal of Stephen King’s ‘Stand by Me’ but with a loving care and compassion for the characters in a unique setting in Turkey. It’s narrated with great care and inflection that really carries the story through. I want more Danger9b !

This was an extensive study in how “coming of age” is not as simple as it would appear.

The voice actors really captured their characters’ hearts and brought them to mine. I really identified with them. Although it could seem cheesy, it wasn’t; it addressed some of the difficult issues tastefully.

Young Love, Adventure, Mystery and the Beatles

Danger9b and his Goddess of Fortune, though an oddly titled tale, weaves a delightful narrative of young love in a foreign land, an enduring mystery passed down through generations, and a captivating treasure hunt across countries and time.

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War in and around an international school in Turkey, the story unfolds with a diverse cast of characters, including the children of diplomats, spies, and military commanders.

Narrated through the eyes of Rick Foster, the son of an American CIA agent stationed in Turkey during the mid-sixties, the narrative takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of Jill MacGregor. Rick finds himself entangled in a web of intrigue, involving espionage, mysterious figures, and even breaking into the Russian embassy.

Most of the trouble they find themselves in is of their own doing. Rick is crushing hard on Jill and will do anything to get her attention and spend more time with her. Often this means pretending he’s a spy working with CIA and tasked with various missions. Jill and their gang of friends go along with the shenanigans and often just manage to scrape by without causing too much trouble.

Jill is an enigmatic character in her own right. Her family is incredibly wealthy thanks mostly to her grandfather’s efforts into archaeology and discovering lost secrets of Alexander the Great. It’s this wealth and secrets that make her a target of some unsavoury people who desperately want to get their hands on some secret knowledge left behind as clues for Jill by her grandfather.

The origins of the story, rooted in coded notes discovered in the author’s attic, add an intriguing layer of mystery to the narrative. While the balance between fact and fiction remains unclear, the tale is undeniably compelling, keeping me engaged until my earbuds’ batteries ran dry.

Starting with a narrative style reminiscent of ‘I bet you’re wondering how I got into this mess,’ the story evolves into a gripping account of childhood rivalry, a treasure hunt spanning the Middle East, and the escapades of teenagers in a foreign land during the sixties.

The story completely sucked me in, and I found myself rooting for Rick to win out against his rival for Jill’s affections. Young love isn’t all smooth sailing as pretty much everyone would know, so it makes for some tense moments.

The production of the audiobook is as an audio drama, so comes with sound effects and a musical score; mostly short pieces of some of the Beatles’ hits of the time. The narration includes the author as well as a host of others as the young Rick Foster, Jill, their classmates and the various locals they run into.

Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable listen. If you’re a fan of coming-of-age tales, treasure hunts, historical intrigue and young love, then this story won’t disappoint.

The Tales we Tell as Young Adults!

Rick aka danger9b is a relatively nerdy type of guy who falls in love with Jill, the girl of his dreams, his goddess, so to speak. Rick’s dad is a spy and Rick uses his knowledge of his dad’s work to engage and try to win the goddess of his dreams. The fun begins!

The author, Richard J. Hatch, is a masterful storyteller who blends real events and fictional ones into a believable and captivating narrative. His character development is rich, detailed, and highly authentic – the nerdy versus the athletic popular kid all in the battle for the girl. Hatch weaves The Beatles, Russia, and the CIA into the narrative in a creative and immersive manner for the listener. While there are moments of eye-rolling (because we all know a childhood friend/nemesis that would fit completely into each of these character roles) and aha moments that keep you on the edge of your chair! I found the inclusion of several Beatles songs fresh and delightful! Furthermore, the songs highlighted several instances of thought or action by a character or situation in a humorous manner. The plot twists and hidden agenda were entertaining and well-written!

The narrators, Richard J. Hatch and the Host of International Voice Talent further enhanced the narrative richly and entertainingly. While I am not normally a fan of theatrical performances, this was perfect! Not too much and it did not take away from the storyline or become a distraction. I looked forward to seeing how the lyrics/song would highlight the action. Richard J. Hatch spoke clearly and kept the storyline moving forward at a steady pace with intentional pauses and energy appropriate to the character and situation at hand.

It is an epic-length story but one that will keep you engaged and listening! It is fun, fast-paced, and entertaining. A must-hear and experience audiobook!

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.