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The Writer: San Juan Islands Mystery, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

D.W. Ulsterman (Author, Publisher), Maria McCann (Narrator)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 3,709 ratings
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College journalist Adele Plank has been granted a rare interview with one-time best-selling author, Decklan Stone. He is a man largely withdrawn from the world following the tragic death of his young wife 27 years earlier. Adele ventures to the writer's remote, private-island home in the beautiful San Juan Islands, and there begins a journey of dangerous discovery that will have her scrambling to unravel a mystery far more shocking and deadly than she could have ever imagined.

The writer is a Kindle Scout winner and the first installment of the ongoing and highly popular San Juan Islands Mystery series.

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  1. Book 1 of 12
    San Juan Islands Mysteries
  2. Listening Length
    5 hours and 34 minutes
  3. Author
    D.W. Ulsterman
  4. Narrator
    Maria McCann
  5. Audible release date
    May 12, 2022
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    D.W. Ulsterman
  8. ASIN
    B0B137ZY74
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
  11. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 5 hours and 34 minutes
Author D.W. Ulsterman
Narrator Maria McCann
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date May 12, 2022
Publisher D.W. Ulsterman
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0B137ZY74
Best Sellers Rank #42,345 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1,217 in Crime Thrillers (Audible Books & Originals)
#1,219 in Women Sleuth Mysteries
#5,652 in Women Sleuths (Books)

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
3,709 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the reading experience fun, wholesome, and intriguing. They also praise the writing style as well-written and full of fascinating detail. Readers describe the plot as suspenseful, tense, and amazing. They find the characters rich and believable. Customers also describe the storyline as good and interesting. Opinions are mixed on the setting, with some finding it beautiful and developed, while others say it's predictable and not really believable

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
StorylinePlotWriting styleCharactersReading experienceSetting
176 customers mention "Storyline"174 positive2 negative

Customers find the storyline really good, satisfying, and remarkable. They also say the book is moderately paced and keeps their attention. However, some readers mention the prologue is very disturbing.

"...I know I've been critical but the novel is still well written and worth reading." Read more

"...will have a sense of satisfaction of reading something that is truly worth reading, not just meant to pass the time...." Read more

"...(the boat is at John Wayne in Sequim) I greatly enjoyed a high quality story in which I could relate to the places referenced...." Read more

"I loved every minute of this fabulous book. I look forward to reading more books by this very able author." Read more

150 customers mention "Plot"110 positive40 negative

Customers find the plot suspenseful, intriguing, and satisfying. They also mention that the story is tense and well constructed.

"DW Ulsterman writes thrilling mystery novels. In the style of JA Dance, another one of my favorite mystery novels...." Read more

"...In this case, the epilogue is Adele's article. It gives off a satisfying feel for the ending and at the same time a heartwarming happiness for those..." Read more

"...However, it was the intrigue and the powerful love of this story that kept me engaged. I highly recommend it!" Read more

"...The ending was a stretch for me. In real life people that are held captive for years are usually the victims of sexual abuse...." Read more

105 customers mention "Writing style"81 positive24 negative

Customers find the writing style well-written, with strange and interesting characters. They also say the author has a gift of putting words and sentences together that explain the characters. Readers also say that the book is a nice quick read with short chapters and fascinating detail about the exotic islands where the story unfolds.

"...His novels also make a quick read so I can move on to the next one in the series." Read more

"...The writing and pace was great. I read this in a single night trying to figure out where it was headed.*..." Read more

"...It was well written with some strange and interesting characters and a totally unexpected ending. I'm glad I stayed with it." Read more

"...There were some glaring grammatical errors in the edition I read on my Kindle, and considering it was published and backed through Kindle Scout I..." Read more

62 customers mention "Characters"53 positive9 negative

Customers find the characters rich and believable.

"...Adele is a good main character, the people in the island are interesting, and the climax was very breathtakingly thrilling...." Read more

"...Character development was quite complete without getting so involved in such minuscule trivia as to make it boring...." Read more

"...It was well written with some strange and interesting characters and a totally unexpected ending. I'm glad I stayed with it." Read more

"...I really enjoyed the plot and the development of the characters... a reclusive writer and an aspiring journalist are set to collide in one way or..." Read more

32 customers mention "Reading experience"25 positive7 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and exceptional at holding their interest. They also say it's riveting and perfect for rainy day reading. Readers also mention that it'd be a fun way to spend a rainy and gloomy day.

"...Now that's two awesome things for a book background. The combination was really good and it gave The Writer its personality...." Read more

"...And he is very obviously an expert boater. It’s refreshing not to cringe when reading descriptions of being on the water." Read more

"...It was moderately paced but kept your attention and kept you reading to find out more. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy!" Read more

"...not allow me the willing suspension of disbelief, and sucked all enjoyment right out of it for me. I'm sorry I wasted my time on it." Read more

37 customers mention "Setting"18 positive19 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the setting of the book. Some find it beautiful and splendid, while others say it's predictable and not believable.

"...ideas that just got muddled as the story went along and some things were unbelievable and seemed to be added as an afterthought...." Read more

"I will say, I've been in the San Juans and it's beauty is outstanding, just like the author describes...." Read more

"...of what developed in the story was quite remarkable and did not always seem realistic...." Read more

"Brings to life the charm and beauty of the locale while also reminding us people are much the same no matter where you fid them." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Whistler
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
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DW Ulsterman writes thrilling mystery novels. In the style of JA Dance, another one of my favorite mystery novels. Being from WA, his books make a familiar read as I have visited the San Juan Island many times. His novels also make a quick read so I can move on to the next one in the series.
One person found this helpful
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czai
4.0 out of 5 stars A new mystery-thriller series that's worth your time!
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2016
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{ 5 Things About The Writer }

Amateur Sleuth.
Adele Plank is a college journalist invited to interview her all time favorite author. Now that's two awesome things for a book background. The combination was really good and it gave The Writer its personality. Adele's thirst to know what really happened to Decklan Stone's kept me intrigued all through out the novel. Her role as a journalist kept her in loop into this buried mystery about Decklan's wife.

It's a small island mystery.
When the mystery or crime is set in a small place, it doesn't only make things more interesting because everyone knows everyone but you also get to roam around the place as you read. I wouldn't say I got to know the island but I had a good round. Ulsterman brought me there and I met the oh-so nice and interesting people of the island. It made me interested to pick up the next book in the series!

Intriguing.
I wouldn't say it's suspenseful but it was during its climax. The intriguing mystery really kept me reading this book. It had that amazing pull that made me just want to read it page after page. I read this in like two days and that's an achievement for me! I'm a slow reader and ending up finishing a book in a day or two is glorious moment when we're suppose to throw a party and be glad for another exciting read (or maybe that's just me).

Interesting Revelation.
Honestly I had my hunch. I was just trying to formulate the how and the why. All throughout my read, the question WHY hangs in the air. Perhaps I've read this mystery twist a couple of times and somehow I'm still not getting into it. It still surprises. It still catches me off guard. Not the 'who' but the 'why'.

There's an Epilogue.
I like epilogues! I like how they are usually told in a different way the story is told. In this case, the epilogue is Adele's article. It gives off a satisfying feel for the ending and at the same time a heartwarming happiness for those involved in the mystery.

OVERALL, The Writer is an intriguing mystery thriller that kept me reading page after page. Adele is a good main character, the people in the island are interesting, and the climax was very breathtakingly thrilling. The Writer is a good mystery read!
60 people found this helpful
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Terry Mahoney
5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply engaging
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2024
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I will say, I've been in the San Juans and it's beauty is outstanding, just like the author describes. However, it was the intrigue and the powerful love of this story that kept me engaged. I highly recommend it!
3 people found this helpful
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Cynthia
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but could have been great with a different ending I think
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2016
Verified Purchase
I eagerly read this book and I had really high hopes. It was a great set-up but I admit, I didn't like the ending.
The writing and pace was great. I read this in a single night trying to figure out where it was headed.
*SPOILERS*** Don't read past here if you haven't finished the novel yet.
I guess I wanted the writer to be 'bad'-playing a twisted game with Adele. I expected the sheriff to be a player in the mystery but I didn't think he'd be the culprit along with the son. I thought maybe he had wanted (or had) an affair with the writer's wife. The writer himself had played around so I thought it made sense that she might have too. I figured it would turn out that the writer's wife wasn't as squeaky clean as she seemed and maybe that had led to the circumstances of her death.
The ending was a stretch for me. In real life people that are held captive for years are usually the victims of sexual abuse. I had a hard time believing she was kept for the reasons in the story.
The novel was good but the ending wasn't the complex mystery I'd been expecting from the build-up. It could have been great with another conclusion.
Also, I think the clues don't have to be reiterated so much. Most people would have picked up on the stuttering since only one character was mentioned that had the issue.
I know I've been critical but the novel is still well written and worth reading.
7 people found this helpful
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Old Dude
5.0 out of 5 stars A true WORDSMITH of the highest order. Another WINNER for D. W. Ulsterman!
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2016
Verified Purchase
I have been reading D. W. Ulsterman's books for years, ever since receiving Dominatus as a free read. Dominatus is and will always be my favorite of Mr. U's books, but let me move on.

'The Writer' is a bit out of character for D.W. in my opinion, although not to imply that I am disappointed in it. Quite the opposite. I have been conditioned by his previous writings to be prepared for an all out frontal assault on the senses with an adrenaline rush that might be compared to driving in a NASCAR race, though I have never had that experience personally. What I got instead was a well thought out string of events that led up to an ending that was totally unexpected and left me satisfied, but still open for more. Character development was quite complete without getting so involved in such minuscule trivia as to make it boring. (I don't really care what color candles the character had on his/her first birthday cake).

It is proving hard for me to review this book without giving spoilers, but I will continue to the best of my ability. The author's descriptions of the locale made me feel as though I was there with the characters. I could feel the rain, enjoy the sights and almost taste the food as they did. It was as though I were a part of the plot instead of the reader. My role was to simply be a bystander and to observe what was happening as it happened. It was a role I gladly accepted more and more the deeper I became involved in the book. That night after I finished it, I dreamed about it, inserting myself into the plot, although never quite knowing why I was there.

If you are considering purchasing this book, by all means, do so. Hopefully, you will become as involved in it as I was and, upon completion, will have a sense of satisfaction of reading something that is truly worth reading, not just meant to pass the time. It will leave you thinking about the characters long after you have finished reading it.

I will continue to read anything that D. W. Ulsterman writes. I have never been disappointed by any of his writings, to include his political blogs and Facebook posts. Write On, D. W.!
90 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Cindy Humphrey
1.0 out of 5 stars not great
Reviewed in Canada on September 17, 2016
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not well written didnt hold my interest
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JMD the Teddy Tamer
4.0 out of 5 stars which is quite an achievement as I admit to being a page skipper if I get bored. I was entertained by the story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2016
Verified Purchase
I read this quickly, it kept my attention, which is quite an achievement as I admit to being a page skipper if I get bored. I was entertained by the story, I enjoyed meeting the characters, but I enjoyed it too much and I finished wanting more. I did work out what was happening before it happened but I still finished the book and was not disappointed. Except in wanting more. Length is not everything in a book, it can just be pages and pages of plodding and space filling, but with this author I think there could be lots more pages of interesting people, background and plot. I think you will like this book and I hope there will be a next one!
One person found this helpful
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Marilyn Murray
4.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
Reviewed in Australia on July 29, 2016
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Great little novel with a fascinating storyline.
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The Seany Show
4.0 out of 5 stars Dark and mysterious
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2017
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Dark and mysterious, i liked it a lot. Great characters and great writing. Will definately check out the next book. Very good read.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Not a thriller!
Reviewed in Australia on July 29, 2016
Verified Purchase
I don't normally write reviews but felt compelled to do so after reading this incredibly disappointing book. If I thought it had been written by a school aged person I would have perhaps understood it's complete lack of depth but to know this is by an accredited author is beyond belief. I am still trying to understand why anyone would give this five stars.
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