Between The Lines

Infamous

Author: Suzanne Brockmann

Performed by Patrick Lawlor and Angela Dawe

Released: July 2010 by Brilliance Audio

Category: Crime, Thriller, Paranormal

AJ Gallagher’s great grandfather, Jamie, begins the story.  He’s been appearing to AJ causing the latter and his family to wonder if he’s losing his mind.  Given what he’s been through it wouldn’t have surprised anyone. Serving in the first Gulf War left AJ with PTSD and he subsequently lost a decade to alcohol.  Sober now and living a quiet life in Heaven, Alaska, the last thing AJ wants is to leave his sanctuary.

Jamie has been portrayed as a thief, murderer and all round bad guy by historian Alison Carter who researched and wrote a book about one Silas Quinn.  Quinn was a US Marshall and supposedly shot and killed ‘the notorious outlaw’ Jamie ‘Kid’ Gallagher for killing, Melody, his wife and has gone down in history as a Wild West hero. Jamie Gallagher knows differently and wants AJ to put the record straight and clear his name.

Alison is consulting on a movie being made about Quinn in Jubilation, Arizona where all the action took place. Jamie persuades AJ to travel from Alaska to Arizona and try to convince Alison she has her facts completely wrong. The attraction between them is fairly instant but Alison is the daughter of an alcoholic mother and is wary of getting involved with someone who has a problem with alcohol, not to mention someone who sees and talks to a ghost.

During the making of the movie Alison witnesses something she doesn’t realise will put her in danger. After a murder is committed and attempts are made on her life she and AJ, with Jamie’s help, have no choice but to find out what’s going on.

Performance

The dual narration, which isn’t always my favourite thing, is actually ok. I like Patrick Lawlor’s voice and his narrations are most always solid with good character portrayals. Angela Dawe was also good with distinct voices, even the male ones.  Usually I find male narrators better at female voices than females reading male voices.

Thoughts

A multi layered story, with Jamie’s back story, Alison and AJ’s romance and Melody’s long lost diaries documenting her first marriage and how she and Jamie got together, all woven together seamlessly. And running through it all is the question of why someone is trying to kill Alison.

The characters are rounded and very likeable , or maybe more...check out the book cover!  I know, I’m easily pleased ;-)  The human flaws give them reality and depth and the relationships, especially between Jamie and AJ are poignant and moving.