Customer Reviews

Blue Smoke and Murder CD

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Very disappointing. The story line was lost totally by the time all of the details of art were dealt with. I bought the book but got the CD book from the library so started with that. I made it through the first half of the story but just couldn't take listening to the other half.

This book became so bogged down in descriptions and explanations of the art world that neglected the story and character development. I am a huge Elizabeth Lowell fan, but this story missed the mark big time!

I wanted to like this CD. It is unabridged, and I enjoy Elizabeth Lowell. But I agree with the other reviewers of the CD and the book- way too much time with "Fine" Western art. Often is actually pretentious while it mocked the pretentiousness of the art world! Lots of eye rolling.
Some interesting points, I would have liked the art aspect in moderation, and I like some of her "strong woman" family history - although the whole Mormon polygamy thing felt way out of left field!?!
The characters were okay - but fell a bit flat.
Specifically for the CD - the lady narrating did ok with main character voices - but oh geez. Sometimes romance novels just don't translate well out loud, because, well, sometimes they can be ridiculous and you can't just skim through it when you are listening to it while driving across the country. The narrator often made the heroine sound whiny and ridiculous. She did rather well with the male character, Zach, although if I hear her say "That's blue smoke" one more time I might go nuts.
However, the other main male role, the hopped-up on steroid killer with a Girl with a dragon tattoo-type sidekick (I mean really, this book can be all over the place!) was ridiculous. The narrator used a silly batman voice for him!
Skip this one, unless you LOVE Lowell and have read everything else. Don't get the unabridged CD.