Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Never Run (A May Moore Suspense Thriller—Book 1)
- Author: Blake Pierce
- Narrator: Melissa Durbin
- Length: 0.246354167
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 16-Aug
- Publisher: Findaway Voices
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Detective Stories
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s a particular thrill in diving into a small-town mystery where the stakes are personal, the setting is vivid, and the characters are complex. Blake Pierce’s *Never Run* (A May Moore Suspense Thriller—Book 1), narrated by Melissa Durbin, delivers on all these fronts, creating an audiobook experience that is as gripping as it is emotionally resonant. Listening to it reminded me of moments when I’ve wandered through unfamiliar, atmospheric towns during my travels, where the air feels charged with stories waiting to unfold.
May Moore serves as a compelling protagonist—relatable yet layered. At 29, she’s grappling with the shadow of her brilliant older sister, who is an FBI agent, while simultaneously trying to carve out her own identity as a deputy sheriff in her quiet Minnesota lakeside town. The intrigue begins when the cold case of May’s missing younger sister resurfaces, haunting her family’s history just as a similar serial killer begins to terrorize the community. The story unfolds like a storm rolling over the placid surface of a lake—eerily quiet at first, then erupting in chaos and revelations.
As I listened to Melissa Durbin’s narration, I couldn’t help but think back to evenings spent in Oaxaca, where a family’s grandmother would captivate us with her stories. The way she wielded her voice to command attention reminded me of Durbin’s measured control and ability to evoke emotion. Durbin breathes life into May, capturing her vulnerability, determination, and moments of self-doubt with a voice that feels intimate and layered. You can almost hear the tension in May’s voice as she battles not just external threats but also her inner demons.
The setting of the story—a quiet lakeside town in Minnesota—becomes a character in its own right. Pierce’s descriptions are so vivid that you can almost feel the crisp air biting at your skin, hear the crunch of boots on snow-covered paths, or see the eerie stillness of the lake at dusk. It brought me back to a journey through the Atacama Desert, where the stark beauty of the landscape mirrored the tension I felt listening to *One Hundred Years of Solitude*. Similarly, Pierce’s writing evokes both beauty and unease, creating a setting that heightens the stakes of the unfolding drama.
Thematically, *Never Run* tackles heavy subjects: family dynamics, sibling rivalry, and the weight of unresolved trauma. May’s relationship with her older sister, who is brought in to help with the case, is fraught with tension and unspoken grievances. Their dynamic is both a strength and a vulnerability as they are forced to confront their shared past while racing against time to stop a killer. The book’s exploration of these themes resonated with me deeply, reminding me of how human connections—no matter how strained—can become lifelines in moments of crisis.
Durbin’s narration heightens the emotional impact of these themes. Her pacing is impeccable, building suspense in the right moments and allowing quieter, introspective scenes to breathe. However, there were moments where I wished for slightly more variation in character voices to differentiate them further. This is a minor quibble in an otherwise stellar performance.
If I were to draw comparisons, *Never Run* finds its place alongside other atmospheric thrillers like Tana French’s *In the Woods* or Karin Slaughter’s *Pretty Girls*. However, Pierce’s focus on a protagonist who is both an underdog and deeply relatable sets this audiobook apart. May Moore is not your stereotypical hard-boiled detective; she’s someone who stumbles, doubts, and yet perseveres—a quality that makes her journey all the more compelling.
For those who savor mysteries that delve into personal stakes and psychological depth, *Never Run* is a must-listen. Its breakneck pace, combined with Pierce’s knack for twists and red herrings, will keep you hooked until the very last chapter. And thanks to Durbin’s narration, the audiobook feels less like a performance and more like an intimate storytelling session, akin to sitting by a fire and hearing a tale that sends chills down your spine.
On the other hand, if you prefer thrillers with a more procedural focus or where the protagonist is infallibly confident, you might find May’s vulnerabilities less appealing. But for me, these imperfections are what make her journey so human and relatable.
In closing, *Never Run* reminded me why I love audiobooks as a medium. They allow us to experience stories in a way that feels deeply personal, much like those evenings in Oaxaca where storytelling was an act of connection. Melissa Durbin’s narration, paired with Blake Pierce’s taut writing, creates an experience that lingers long after the final chapter. For anyone ready to be drawn into a world of suspense, secrets, and familial bonds, this is a journey worth taking.
Happy listening, and may your next audiobook be as thrilling as this one.
Sincerely,
Marcus Rivera
Until our next literary adventure, Marcus Rivera
