the setup…
It’s been ten years since Laura (Lo) Blacklock almost lost her life on the ill-fated Aurora. She and Judah are now married and parents of two boys. When her youngest was born three years ago during the pandemic, she opted to stay home. Now she’s ready to re-enter the travel journalism marketplace but the landscape has changed significantly. Out of the blue, she receives an invitation to attend a luxury Swiss hotel opening owned by the reclusive Marcus Leidmann, a wealthy businessman who has also eluded the press. Enticed by the location and the possibility of snagging an interview, Lo accepts. Once there, all goes well until she receives a mysterious request to join Marcus in Suite 11, only to be greeted by a woman who’s a blast from the past.
the heart of the story…
It wasn’t a surprise to find Lo faced with another situation where she feels the need to come to the rescue of someone in distress, despite what happened ten years ago. It’s Marcus’s mistress who he’s kept in his own private prison. Even though what happens next had me screaming, “no, no, no,” at least her logic was somewhat sound and in character. I had my suspicions from the onset but they kept shifting so I gave Lo the benefit of the doubt.
the narration…
I’m a fan of Imogen Church and loved her interpretation of Lo, despite her “interesting” American accent for Judah. She’s also a talented storyteller.
the bottom line…
I didn’t want to listen to the first book again and was fortunate to find a summary of it that set me up perfectly. While Lo didn’t always use the best judgment here, she made enough smart moves to protect herself. It’s more of a puzzler than a thriller, often with some locked room elements. I was always engaged and liked being well immersed in Lo’s life prior to her arriving in Lake Geneva. Even though I saw the final twist coming, I heartily enjoyed the journey getting there. Here’s hoping there’s at least one more story to tell involving Lo Blacklock…and friends.
Book Info
- Release Date: July 8, 2025
- Series: Lo Blacklock #2
- Narrator: Imogen Church
- Audio Length: 15 hours, 11 minutes
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
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Blue Mood Café 
Fab review, Jo, glad you enjoyed it!
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Thank you, Nicki💜
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It sounds like a good story, nice review, Jo. I just read a summary of the first book, as it has been 5 years since I read it. I added this one to my TBR shelf.
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Thank you, Carla💜 I left the good stuff out😏 That summary is all you’ll need to prepare for this one.
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I am not a fan of that narrator so I am going to give this one a read. Glad it was good and a fine review, Jo!
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Thank you, Marialyce💜 Her capture of Lo is great but Judah…not so much.
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Great review! I enjoyed this one too.
Anne – Books of My Heart
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Thank you, Anne💜
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Sounds good. I’m deciding what my next audiobook should be and I might look at some of the back catalogue. I know what you mean about ‘interesting’ accents. Some Scottish accents can be a bit dodgy depending on the narrator!
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Thanks, Joanne💜 It’s always interesting to hear how accents are handled. This was “unique”😏
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Wonderful review. I’m glad that you enjoyed it.
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Thank you, Jodie💜
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Fab review! I’d probably have to read a summary as well before starting this one, as I don’t remember much about the first book… It’s good to know I don’t have to reread the whole book though. This sequel does sound good! xx
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Thanks, Yvo💜 I just googled the book title and summary and got a good one. Let me know if you want the link.
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