you need to listen to this

I'm not a horror genre person and i nearly stopped after the first couple of chapters BUT the story develops into a twisty turny rollercoaster of a sci-fi love plot thriller i couldn't stop listening the only downside was the narrator was two evenly paced

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gripping page turner

powerful story writing ,
anticipation for Rory's next adventure
truly gifted author
page turning narrative

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Troubles Keeper

I totally enjoyed this book.Rory Fine is a busdriver with a gift.He can pull troubles from people,if they let him.When he meets a similar soul,he may be the only one that can save her. Steve Marvel was a fine narrator. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.' 

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Loved it (Audiobook)

This is the second book I’ve listened to by this author, and it’s wonderful. The touch of supernatural adds another level to the story, yet keeps it within the realms of believability. As hinted at, I think these characters have a few more adventures to come, and I look forward to them unfolding, hopefully soon.

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You have to read /listen to this book!!

I really enjoyed this book! Rory Fine the bus driver has an amazing gift which he uses often to cheer people up with but he gets darkness from a lady he's in love with and then it all starts to get exciting 😁. It's good versus evil...... Loved it!!

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Exciting Book

There are some lovely characters if this story particularly Rory Fine ,
fine by name and fine by nature so he says
fabulous story an enjoyable story to listen to

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Wonderfully read, gripping, scary, but ultimately

Would you listen to The Troubles Keeper again? Why?

Probably. I've only just finished it, so it's hard to say. It is certainly good enough to read again.

What does Steve Marvel bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Steve can do different voices and bring a range of emotions to each. This really helps convey the story.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me happy, sad, scared and frustrated at different times.

Any additional comments?

I was gifted this book in return for an honest review. I read a lot of audio books and feel well placed to review from that point of view, as well as being a big SF, Crime, Fantasy fan.

I'll start at the beginning (good place huh?).

I had a few problems in the opening few chapters and you might too, so I want to tell you about them in the hope that I can convince you to keep going. You won't regret it.

The narration is excellent! However, this wasn't immediately apparent to me. Frequent audio readers will know that, in addition to getting used to the writing, as with any book, you also have to get used to the reader. I was honestly confused to begin with, was there two or more resides here? Whose voice belonged to which character? Possibly it was just because I read while driving and often have to pay more attention to the road. Anyway, there is one reader and he gets the voices, in my opinion, spot on.

There are several characters that have big speaking parts. The main one, Rory, is read in a completely befitting laid back style, but you get exactly how Rory is feeling from the inflection and intonation and this is crucial. Rory is a thoughtful, introspective person who takes the weight of the world on himself. Inevitably this pulls him in many directions. The pain and difficulty is apparent.

A big one for me is the bad guys voice. It's creepy, but not in a pretend, put on way, it sounds like a real person who really is evil.

A warning is appropriate at this point, the evil character really is evil and some events are not for the squeamish. I hear Susan May had to tone it down even! It borders on Lovecraftian sometimes.

All of these things the reader is aware of in the opening chapters. It can be confusing, dark and even feel slow because of it. You might find yourself saying - oh get to the point Susan! Believe me, she will.

When an event, around chapter 5/6, brings the story to life, there is no turning back. Apart from a mid book slow down, the pace lifts and you will be hooked til the end.

I found it easy to suspend my disbelief because Rory is a wonderful character and I hope we hear more from him and his abilities. Even so, I found I was even more enthralled in the second half of the book, once a lot of things are more out in the open. You really care for Rory and Susan keeps us guessing right to the end. There are many truths spoken about the universe and the evil person perpetrates his evil by doing a real, horrible thing that I hadn't heard of before. Creepy! Brilliant!

I have a couple of things that, I pondered as I read, and I hesitate to include them, both because, having thought more about them, I understand now, though it wasn't stated in the book. Also, this section might include spoilers.

I don't like it when something is introduced in the latter half or worse, near the end of a book, that helps solve the problem. Especially if it's a gadget. It is arguable as to whether this is the case here, but there is a Character who could be a great one, if there are further books in the series, who has solutions in his box of tricks. He could easily have been introduced earlier, even right at the start. However, because the start already has so much going on, I think this would have been a mistake. As it is, he appears in the mid book lull, and explains himself fully - so I'm ok with this now.

Also, I kindof wish there was more to Marianna. I won't expand on what I mean, that would be a big spoiler. It doesn't affect this book though.

Overall, I tend to rate a book based on how it made me feel, how good it was to read, how difficult it was to put down and if there were any major gaffs. Add to this book the excellent narration and there is no contest. It's a straight 5.

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An amazing journey with a very Fine troubles keepe

Where does The Troubles Keeper rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

it is among the best audio books i have listened to so far.

What did you like best about this story?

I was already familiar with the story. but i enjoyed listening to the original plot and the interesting characters. The mix of fantasy, science fiction and romance was what i liked the most in this book. The idea of Trouble Keeping, mixed the presence of an odd serial killer was fascinating.

What about Steve Marvel’s performance did you like?

It was really good. I liked how he voiced Rory Fine, the changes he made in the intonations to signal different charaters and emotions. I liked the performance very much. And many times i found myself smiling, without being aware of it, at Rory Fine and his thoughts.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I was a little bit distracted at the beginning, but then it became harder to stop listening. I felt more drawn to the characters, more concerned about them and feeling sorry to leave them behind when i had to stop listening.

Any additional comments?

I felt that the voice of Rory Fine was like i imagined it, it fit him and his character very well.

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An accidental hero

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, thank you Susan.

Gentle, shy and sweet Rory Fines drives the bus. He watches life from the drivers cab, making everyone he touches feel happier, lighter, more care free. Literally. Rory Fines has a secret, a gift, if you prefer, Rory can take away your troubles just by accidentally touching you. He takes those troubles and locks them away inside himself, then later dumps them in the river where they can’t trouble anyone anymore.

Haunted by a terrible event from his childhood that he feels responsible for, he eases his pain by helping others. The regulars on the bus love him and he cares for them in return particularly the girl who works in the local music shop, Mariana. Actually he loves her, is drawn to her in an inexplicable way and she to him it seem. But Mariana is also special and this has attracted something dark, something evil, something deadly.

Now Rory must fight to save the girl he loves from being destroyed by someone linked to to him in a surprising way. Helped by an old teacher, a psychic and a couple of guardian angels, can Rory save the day, the girl and the world from a brutal gory end?

I was reminded of Odd Thomas while listening to this book, another gentle soul with problems he doesn’t deserve. I really hope we hear more from Rory, Mariana and co.

This is definitely an over 18 read with graphic descriptions of murder and horror. If you are disturbed by horror this is not for you. That being said the book is humorous in places with a satisfying HEA which, as I’m a nurse, touched my heart. I look forward to reading more from Susan May and can highly recommend this book. Steve Marvel did a great job narrating (see how I avoided saying he was marvellous?) now go and read it.

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An original idea for a story, well executed

I have read one of Susan Mays other books and really enjoyed it, so gave this one a try. I'm glad I did. I'm not sure the science bits would hold up to really close examination, but they were put across in such a convincing way it didn't matter. I enjoyed the journey of the main character and couldn't have predicted where he would end up at the start.

Its well performed. I can be very fussy about narrators but I love this ones voice and execution.

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