Loved it 🥰

I loved it! So much more than I thought I would.
GA made me go through a rollercoaster of emotions and it left me with this feeling of helplessness and sadness …impossible or not-the-right-time kind of love always do this to me…I feel like crying 😢

God I love this feeling of finding an amazing series and don’t have to worry about what to read next for a while.

The audio was so so good! JF Harding does a stellar job!

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Great start to series by J.F. Harding...

***🎧 Audio Review 🎧***

When Greg started putting this out as a freebie to his newsletter followers at the start of Covid in 2020, I remember emailing him, thanking him and saying it was too good to go out as a freebie and was he going to publish it? Yes he replied, it was in the plan eventually but he'd see how things went. Well, although this got buried in my Audible library 🎧 for a helluva long time, the quality of the writing still shines through and J.F. Harding does a terrific job with the narration as per usual. I can only hope that Theo's pain will lessen in Yet a Stranger, and Auggie will continue to mature.

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Enjoyable Story

Enjoyable story that is well written with likeable characters and good world building. The narration is very good as well.

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You Just Saw a Murder

Auggie thinks he’s hot, uh, stuff. He’s a social media influencer on Instagram back when the platform was in its infancy. Back when breaking out was easier simply because most users hadn’t figured out how to leverage the platform. No worries for Auggie, though, he’s got it covered. Has it already gotten him into trouble? Yep. Is that going to stop him? Oh heck no. He’s got to get through two semesters at Wroxll College in Missouri and then he can head back to SoCal with lucrative endorsement deals where he can make it big. All nice and neat. Who can fuck that up? Well, a night of carousing in a stolen car might…

Theo is the opposite of Auggie. He lost his beloved husband and daughter in a horrific car accident and is now living life by going through the motions. He has teaching, his studies toward his PhD, and Shakespeare. Always Shakespeare. He and Auggie meet in, uh, interesting circumstances, but life gets really complicated when Auggie turns up in Theo’s class. Now, there’s no hankie panky while they are student/teacher, but they do have a murder to solve.

I couldn’t see, at first, how a young prof and an 18-year-old were going to do this. Well, as Gregory Ashe often does, he took me down a dark and twisted path. And, of course, there are potential romantic attachments going on. Theo is being chased by his husband’s former police officer partner. I’m not a fan of Cart, but he’s handy with tools, which is great because the bad guys keep tearing up Theo’s house. Auggie has always portrayed himself as straight, fearful of losing followers. He’s hidden himself away for a long time and I wondered what’d happen if he was outed. Then there’s his roommate who is getting way too close for comfort. Where will that lead?

For those familiar with the Hazard and Somerset series, John-Henry Somerset makes an appearance in this book – well before he’s been reunited with the man he used to bully in high school. I love when books give you little glimpses into characters you know. This book is also set in 2013. I was in my late-thirties, so most of the music and pop culture references go over my head, but for someone who was paying attention to those things back then (regardless of their age) then it’s a fun stroll down memory lane.

Quick note – this book is very violent. In places I didn’t expect it. For me, the violence was both disturbing and necessary. Again – prof and student – you wouldn’t expect some of the things that happen. But then, as I’ve said, this is a Gregory Ashe. Expect the unexpected.

J.F. Harding narrated this great book and I’m so glad he did. He hits every note and just shines. I also want to say I loved how King Lear was interwoven into the story. Almost made me want to drag out my copy. Almost. I’m pretty busy these days with reviewing audiobooks, so I think I’ll stick to that.

Now, book 2 is already out in audio so I’m headed that way now!

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stunning

this is a gripping, emotionally intense mystery that's also funny and sweet, with excellent narration, can't wait for the next one to come out in audio

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Same storyline as 'Orientation'

"Two broken men get tied up in an investigation to find a flash drive that contains compromising material that leads to murder... " Sounds familiar eh! That's because it's the same storyline as 'Orientation', book 1 in the Boriealis Investigation series by the same author.
The narration for this book was great. But Augie was completely immature and unlikable as a character. I was really put off by a sulky self consumed college student who crashes cars when he feels sorry for himself. He treated his lovesick room mate like trash and as a grown ass adult, I have no idea what Theo saw in Augie- apart from his Twinkiness. Not convinced by this couple. Theo's cop buddy would have made a more believeable love interest.

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2 people found this helpful

Read the book to understand the clever title

Hands up I received this audible book as an advanced listener.
Now this was an interesting listen for me and initially I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. Meeting Auggie as a college freshman and his interest with social media made me wary as these are not some of my favourite tropes. However, I should not have feared as Gregory Ashe always gives you well developed characters and key people you want to get to know better. In this case Auggie and Theo who become entangled in a crazy crime caper whilst they are both trying to sort out who they are in this new phase in both of their lives. The book title captures this period perfectly.
If you have read some of Gregory's other books you will recognise the university town and a few of the other characters. This is a nice touch point.
The selection of Jeff Harding as narrator was inspirational as he captures the two central characters and those around them very well; adapting to moments of humour, pathos and terror very well. I equally, laughing, sadden and terrified along with and for Auggie and Theo.
There is much to build on with these guys that i couldn't wait for the audible book so I have already started on e-book two.

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Another wonderful, nail biting book from the highly talented Gregory Ashe

I’ve been on a Gregory Ashe binge read/listen recently having only discovered him within the past two years. What a find! But having listened to the six books in his Hazard and Somerset mystery series, back-to-back, I decided to take a break. His writing is supremely clever, subtly romantic (he writes romance so effortlessly that it’s almost not there, but when he does it’s completely bone melting), and his stories are intense with plots criss crossing and seemingly unrelated, until *bang* he hits with scenarios that leave me breathless. I have to rewind to ensure I haven’t imagined or misunderstand something his clever mind has just dropped into my poor unsuspecting, bedevilled mind.

Naively I decided to start another of his series to give myself a “break” and began THE FIRST QUARTO. This looks pretty tame I thought… fool that I am. I can just enjoy without chewing my fingernails to the quick, I thought - again… fool that I am. This is the brilliant Gregory Ashe and he doesn’t write tame - he writes exciting, wonderful, twisty, absolutely impossible plots that always play out and with intriguing characters who take on life and leave me loving them.

So I’ve learnt my lesson. I will *never* underestimate Gregory Ashe again. I’m just about to start book two in this series and was gutted to learn that book three has yet to be written but go on I must. Auggie and Theo will get their HEA - they must, or I’m flying to the USA to personally give Gregory Ashe a taste of his own medicine. HIGHLY recommended reading/listening but only if you can take the intense and emotional ride Gregory Ashe takes you on, and only if you’re happy with a very slow burn, but ultimately wonderful romance that’s ALWAYS worth waiting for.

This is the first time I’ve listened to JF Harding and his narration/performance of They Told Me I Was Everything was stupendous. His range of voices is quite remarkable and his portrayal of Theo and Auggie just perfect; they are extremely loveable, likeable and memorable. In my opinion this is one sign of a great author, when characters stay with you and no matter who of Gregory’s multitude of fans you might be talking to they know and love these characters as much as you do. These two men and JF Harding’s portrayal of them has only added to my immense enjoyment of what is a fantastic book. I’m off now to put myself through more torture.

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