THE MORNING AFTER Pierce Reed/Nikki Gillette, Book 2

Natalie Naudus's quietly intense narration ratchets up the tension in this gruesome psychological thriller. Listeners will be riveted by the audio's opening scene, in which a woman wakes to find that she has been buried alive--with another body in the same coffin. Detective Pierce Reed is assigned to the case, only to discover that he has a personal connection to the victim and possibly the killer, too. Naudus's skillful pacing keeps the action moving as Reed and reporter Nikki Gillette become enmeshed in the case and in the pull of their mutual attraction. Naudus's characterizations add much-needed depth, bringing out an emotional complexity not present in the disappointingly clichéd text. The story is adequate, if repetitive, but Naudus's expert narration sets this audiobook apart. S.A.H. 2022 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2022]