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Book Review of Playing With Fire (Audio CD) (Unabridged)

Playing With Fire (Audio CD) (Unabridged)
RockStarGirl avatar reviewed on + 329 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2


I am a big fan of Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles series, and this new novel caught my attention. There are two parts I would like to address in my review: the story itself, and the narration.

The story goes back and forth from present day to the past, which I love when it is done well, and it is here. You are hooked immediately from the beginning of the tale, in which the main character picks up a piece of very old sheet music at a shop in Venice. The unusual things that begin to happen from that point on set the stage for a mystery with unearthly undertones. This is not a paranormal, however, so don't let that put you off. You will feel haunted by the time you finish this book, though, because the Holocaust is a predominant theme throughout.

Now, to address the narration of the audiodisc, I recommend listening to this one over reading it for one standout reason...the music. The book is centered around a piece of sheet music and there are several times that the piece is played throughout the disc, as well as a few other pieces. It sets the tone for the story and adds so many layers. My only criticism of the narration is when the female narrator attempts a male voice and the male narrator attempts a female voice. Both come off sounding somewhat silly to me, but this probably won't bother most people. It was just slightly distracting to me. Overall, it was a solid performance of a very good book.