Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Where You Go (A Kelly Cruz Mystery—Book One): Digitally narrated using a synthesized voice
- Author: Rylie Dark
- Narrator: Caroline (synthesized Voice)
- Length: 04:37:31
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 03/07/2023
- Publisher: Findaway Voices
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Detective Stories
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
Let’s break down something fascinating in the evolving world of audiobook production: Rylie Dark’s “Where You Go” represents one of the first major mystery releases to fully embrace synthetic narration. As someone who’s analyzed over 300 audiobook adaptations for my ‘Future of Stories’ podcast, I can tell you this is where the rubber meets the road in digital storytelling innovation.
The premise hooked me immediately – bounty hunter Kelly Cruz is exactly the kind of morally complex protagonist I love, with her rescue pitbull and ‘take no prisoners’ attitude reminding me of my favorite noir detectives. But here’s what makes this interesting: the synthetic narration creates an unexpected layer of tension. Caroline’s digitally produced voice has this slightly uncanny valley quality that actually “enhances” the thriller elements. During Kelly’s most intense confrontations, the synthetic voice’s lack of human breathiness made the violence feel more clinical and terrifying.
This recording made me reflect on my BookTok series about “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”, where human narration added emotional depth. Here, the opposite occurs – the synthetic voice strips away comforting human warmth, leaving only the stark narrative. When Kelly enters the mind of the serial killer, the AI narration’s neutral tone becomes disturbingly effective at conveying psychopathy.
From a technical standpoint, the pacing is impeccable – the algorithm handles Rylie Dark’s rapid-fire dialogue exchanges with precision I’ve rarely heard from human narrators. Action sequences benefit tremendously from this machine-gun delivery. However, the emotional beats suffer slightly; Kelly’s backstory about her father’s death lacked the vocal tremble a human actor might have added.
The cultural impact here is significant. We’re seeing the birth of a new audiobook subgenre where the narration style becomes an intentional artistic choice rather than just a production method. It reminds me of when we analyzed the alien language sound design in “Project Hail Mary” – sometimes technological limitations create unexpected storytelling advantages.
For mystery/thriller fans, this offers a uniquely unsettling experience. The plot’s twists (which are genuinely unpredictable) gain an extra layer of disorientation from the synthetic voice. However, listeners who prioritize rich vocal performances might find it lacking warmth. It’s fascinating how the same quality (AI neutrality) becomes both the book’s greatest strength and its most noticeable limitation.
Compared to similar detective series, “Where You Go” stands out for its willingness to experiment with form. The synthetic narration makes Kelly’s world feel more dangerous and alien – which perfectly suits her character as an outsider battling systemic indifference. The FBI agents she clashes with sound particularly robotic through the AI filter, creating an interesting commentary on institutional dehumanization.
If you’re curious about the future of audiobooks or enjoy tech-infused noir, this is a must-listen. Just don’t expect traditional narration comforts. The experience left me equal parts thrilled and unsettled – much like Kelly Cruz herself.
Pushing storytelling boundaries with you,
Sophie Bennett
