Hard Truth [Large Print] (Hardcover)

This one started slow for me. I guess I need to have the intrepid Anna Pigeon, Park Ranger Extraordinaire, in the story as soon as possible, so I can vicariously live a dramatic life of adventure through her. However, in this story, she took a while arriving. I needed to know how things were going with her: her work, her pets . . . her love life.

However, this Anna Pigeon mystery turned out to be a dynamite story. And, of all the books in this series, probably it is the one with the most heart. By the end of the novel, I was cheering for all the women who had been transformed through facing the hard truth in their lives. I also appreciated learning about how abusers captivate and control their victims.

This story also showed much more of Anna’s tender-hearted side, probably because she was juxtaposed against such evil. In addition, as the story unfolded, I began to sympathize with the secondary heroine in the story, much more than I expected, until, by the end, I felt so grateful that she had resolved her difficult issues. I felt encouraged as she found her own power.

The twist near the end really surprised me. I had no idea who the perpetrator of the crimes could be. Usually, I’m making intelligent guesses, one of which turns out to be the right one. In Hard Truth, the real murderer wasn’t even on my list.

I love narrator Barbara Rosenblat’s wonderful performances throughout the Anna Pigeon series. How can she possibly sound like so many different people including men, women, and children of all ages? Her range, tone, cadence, and rhythm change so effortlessly. I have also enjoyed listening to Barbara Rosenblatt in the caterer/sleuth Goldy Schulz mystery series by Diane Mott Davidson, and the Egyptologist mystery series, by Elizabeth Peters (in which I’m absolutely in love with Ramses), and which Rosenblat narrates entirely in a British accent. Amazing!

This one started slow for me. I guess I need to have the intrepid Anna Pigeon, Park Ranger Extraordinaire, in the story as soon as possible, so I can vicariously live a dramatic life of adventure through her. However, in this story, she took a while arriving. I needed to know how things were going with her: her work, her pets . . . her love life.

However, this Anna Pigeon mystery turned out to be a dynamite story. And, of all the books in this series, probably it is the one with the most heart. By the end of the novel, I was cheering for all the women who had been transformed through facing the hard truth in their lives. I also appreciated learning about how abusers captivate and control their victims.

This story also showed much more of Anna’s tender-hearted side, probably because she was juxtaposed against such evil. In addition, as the story unfolded, I began to sympathize with the secondary heroine in the story, much more than I expected, until, by the end, I felt so grateful that she had resolved her difficult issues. I felt encouraged as she found her own power.

The twist near the end really surprised me. I had no idea who the perpetrator of the crimes could be. Usually, I’m making intelligent guesses, one of which turns out to be the right one. In Hard Truth, the real murderer wasn’t even on my list.

I love narrator Barbara Rosenblat’s wonderful performances throughout the Anna Pigeon series. How can she possibly sound like so many different people including men, women, and children of all ages? Her range, tone, cadence, and rhythm change so effortlessly. I have also enjoyed listening to Barbara Rosenblatt in the caterer/sleuth Goldy Schulz mystery series by Diane Mott Davidson, and the Egyptologist mystery series, by Elizabeth Peters (in which I’m absolutely in love with Ramses), and which Rosenblat narrates entirely in a British accent. Amazing!

This one started slow for me. I guess I need to have the intrepid Anna Pigeon, Park Ranger Extraordinaire, in the story as soon as possible, so I can vicariously live a dramatic life of adventure through her. However, in this story, she took a while arriving.

However, this Anna Pigeon mystery turned out to be a dynamite read. And, of all the books in this series, probably it is the one with the most heart. By the end of the novel, I was cheering for all the women who had been transformed through facing the hard truth in their lives. I also appreciated learning about how abusers captivate and control their victims.

This story also showed much more of Anna’s tender-hearted side, probably because she was juxtaposed against such evil. In addition, as the story unfolded, I began to sympathize with the secondary heroine in the story, much more than I expected, until, by the end, I felt so grateful that she had resolved her difficult issues. I felt encouraged as she found her own power.

The twist near the end really surprised me. I had no idea who the perpetrator of the crimes could be. Usually, I’m making intelligent guesses, one of which turns out to be the right one. In Hard Truth, the real murderer wasn’t even on my list.