Chorley Chronicals: Virtue Falls (Virtue Falls #01) by Christina Dodd {Audio}

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Virtue Falls (Virtue Falls #01) by Christina Dodd {Audio}

1:22 PM | Posted by Unknown

Virtue Falls (Virtue Falls #01) by Christina Dodd
My Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Title: Virtue Falls
Author:  Christina Dodd
Narrator:  Rebecca Soler
Series:  Virtue Falls #01
Length: Unabridged; 16 hours, 22 minutes (Audio)
Publisher:  MacMillan Audio;
Published: September 09, 2014
Source: Publisher via Audiobook Jukebox
Format: Audiobook
Genres: Fiction; Suspense
Subjects: Murder/Investigation; Single Women; Contemporary Women

Twenty-three years ago, Misty Banner was brutally slashed to death in her home in Virtue Falls, Washington. Her husband was convicted of the murder. Their four-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, witnessed the crime, but has no memory of the killing. Now, two decades later, Elizabeth is back in Virtue Falls. She soon discovers her father is innocent. The real killer is still out there. And her investigation has stirred dark and deadly resentments that could provoke in another bloody murder - her own - in this riveting novel from best-selling author Christina Dodd.

©2014 Christina Dodd (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

My Review:

I did read the Novella, The Listener, prior to reading Virtue Falls and must admit that it was a great little teaser to get you started and interested in Virtue Falls (stay tuned for a review of The Listener). I do have to admit that the length of this book is what kept me from jumping right to it, as I can get pre-book jitters, especially if it's a long title!

I felt that there were great, solid characters in this book, but I did feel like the story was a little more drawn out than it had to be. The premise of the story is wonderful though, a father that supposedly killed his wife, a daughter that was there but can't remember the murder...I mean, you can't go wrong with that! Throw in a little bit of my ex is still madly in love with me and is going to win me back and you've got a winning combination! I just think that winning combination could have been achieved a little quicker!

I must admit that the storyline wasn't that of your usual storyline. You have the quirky/nerdy Elizabeth, that lives for her work, who just isn't your every day, run of the mill, suspense character, and I think that was refreshing. She was studying earthquakes, which is another thing that you really don't read much about in mystery novels, so I think Christina Dodd is on to something in trying to keep with traditional mystery but with refreshing new details!

I hate when it comes down to actually rating a book, because I do feel like 3 stars is too low, however, I do feel like 4 stars was a little too much. I would probably settle for like, 3.75 stars, if that were possible! I liked that this story was different, that these characters were unique and different, I just wish the story weren't so lengthy. I think there were some parts that were overly descriptive, that could have been left out and wouldn't have taken away from the story at all!

With that being said, I will continue on with this series, as I'm interested to see where Dodd is going with it! I see that next in line, The Relative, is another novella, which is absolutely thrilling to me because I can breeze through those, so I look forward to seeing where this goes!