Audio Review: The Paul Monroe Mystery Series, Book 1 By: A. P. Eisen aka Felice Stevens, Narrated by Kale Williams

Lesetiger has listened to The Paul Monroe Mystery Series and we have reviews for all 3.

Couldn't Cheat Death "a great start to a mystery series with interesting characters."

From the blurb:

Detective Paul Monroe has little room in his life for anything but work. Maintaining order and solving

cases in the town of Thornwood Park keeps him busy. When Jerry Gregoria, a popular bartender and personal trainer is found murdered, there’s no shortage of suspects. It seems Jerry was busy shaking more than cocktails all over town, leaving Paul and his partner with an ever-growing list of men and women who have reasons to want Jerry dead. The deeper Paul delves into the case, the more he finds himself drawn to hotel manager Cliff Baxter, whom he hasn’t seen in years.

 

Cliff Baxter’s childhood crush on Paul Monroe hasn’t waned since high school. In fact, with the sexy detective conducting the investigation at the hotel, Cliff is more than happy to help. Ever since his last relationship went up in flames, Cliff has made it a rule to never get involved with a closeted man. But after Paul is threatened and things between the two heat up, Cliff decides to make an exception.

 

With new twists in the case popping up every day and the mayor breathing down the police department’s neck, Paul needs to solve the case yesterday. It takes a crisis for Paul and Cliff to realize what started out as something casual could be everything they’ve both been looking for but never thought to find. But if the killer strikes again, they might never get that chance.

Lesetiger's Review:

As a mystery fan, I was very excited to read the Paul Monroe series. Couldn't Cheat Death is the first book in the Paul Monroe Mystery series by A.P. Eisen, whose writing style I enjoy.

Paul Monroe is a sympathetic detective who is called to a murder. The victim was a bartender with a rather large circle of friends, which makes the list of suspects grow considerably. Paul seems a bit closed at the beginning. But this slowly changes when he meets the hotel manager Cliff Baxton. Cliff was his late brother's best friend and he had a crush on Paul when he was young, but Paul is not openly gay. I liked Cliff because he really does Paul good and brings him out of his shell.

In addition to the exciting investigation, the two grow closer. Should Cliff dare to date Paul? Actually, he has sworn not to get involved with anyone who is not outed. But Paul is pretty hot.

I really liked this first volume. There were many suspects and at one point I had one of the suspects in focus. So for me, the resolution was not a surprise, but it was a lot of fun to follow the investigation.

The ending fit for me, but now I'm totally curious about the next volume, because I really want to know what happens next with Paul and Cliff.

Kale Williams narrated the audiobook and he did a really great job with his pleasant voice. I love the way he brings the characters to life. Both protagonists got an absolutely fitting voice. An absolute listening pleasure!

Highly recommended!

🎧Audiobook Review🎧

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️

Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ️️

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"A successful mixture of a mystery and a love story and a great narration" in Diagnosis: Death.

From the blurb:

When a body is found in the park, Paul Monroe knows two things: This isn’t a simple mugging, and the

weekend he has planned with his boyfriend is officially over before it begins. With no murder weapon but a slew of suspects at the ready, Paul and his partner, Rob, begin the tedious task of piecing together the few clues they have.

Happier than he’s ever been, Cliff knows there’s more to Paul than the tough exterior the man shows to the world, but Cliff is determined to take things slow. An unexpected phone call forces him to revisit the pain of his past, and now he needs Paul more than ever, but he’s hesitant to ask, unwilling to pressure Paul into a decision he might not be ready to make.

Paul’s investigation means more long nights away from Cliff, who is grappling with his unsettling news. Not being able to support Cliff isn’t sitting right with Paul, and for the first time his personal life is as important as his job. Knowing he has Paul to lean on gives Cliff the courage to speak and to heal old wounds as they navigate the minefield of building a relationship. Meanwhile, a killer walks the streets of Thornwood Park, and Paul won’t be satisfied until they are caught and justice served.

Lesetiger's Review:

Diagnosis: Death is the second volume in the Paul Monroe Mystery series. I was thrilled with the first volume and was eager to find out what happened next with Detective Paul Monroe and his boyfriend Cliff Baxter.

The author's writing style is very pleasant, the story is written in an easy-going way and I was very quickly in the middle of the action.

A body is found in the park and Paul knows immediately that his weekend is over. Together with his partner Rob, Paul begins to investigate. I always enjoy puzzling along in a mystery novel. The author presented many suspects here, some of whom had a motive. She then surprised me at the end, because I didn't see that coming. That was incredibly well done.

Privately, Cliff and Paul's relationship continues to develop. I really like these two characters as well as Paul's partner Rob, they are likeable and endearing. This time Cliff is struggling with his past. I really enjoyed watching Paul's personal life become more important now and how he supports Cliff.

The mix of a mystery and a romantic story is absolutely great. I also really like that the protagonists are a bit older and how their relationship is steadily developing.

Kale Williams narrated the audiobook, and he did a killer job with his pleasant voice. I love the way he brings the characters to life. The protagonists have been given a voice to match. This audiobook is also an absolute delight to listen to!

Highly recommended!

🎧Audiobook Review🎧

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️

Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ️️

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"The series gets better with each book and Kale Williams is the perfect narrator" Lesetiger on Death Comes to Main Street.

From the blurb:

In the sleepy town of Thornwood Park, something dark and ugly is brewing....

Detective Paul Monroe is investigating a routine string of break-ins when the case takes an unexpected turn. Merchants are receiving threats, and things might be more sinister than he originally suspected. Paul’s been on the receiving end of those warnings as well, but he brushes them off, not bothering to mention them to his partner, Cliff, until Cliff himself is threatened.

In fact, Cliff discovers he’s been shut out of quite a few things and confronts Paul, who doesn’t understand the problem. The situation escalates quickly, leaving them at a crossroads, with Cliff conflicted and wondering if he’s an equal partner. Now Paul finds himself fighting not only for the people he’s sworn to protect but for his relationship and the man who means everything to him.

When an unthinkable tragedy occurs, it’s a race against time to catch a killer who thinks he’s untouchable and has committed the perfect crime.

Only...nobody’s perfect.

Lesetiger's Review:

"Death Comes to Main Street" is the third volume in the Paul Monroe Mystery series. Since the volumes build on each other, I recommend reading the previous two volumes.

I must say that the series gets better with each book.

In the town of Thornword Park, Paul Monroe is currently investigating a series of burglaries. He doesn't tell his partner Cliff Baxter that he is getting threatening messages.

But it doesn't stop at the threats and then some unforeseen things happen.

The story is a bit darker this time, but well constructed and very exciting. I was thrilled from the beginning and investigated with Paul and fevered along when it came once again to a confrontation with Cliff.

I still like the two main characters very much. They are each lovable in their own way and they struggle with relationship issues now that they live together. That was just as interesting to witness as the exciting investigation into the ongoing case. But then a tragedy occurs that no one expected and now a race against time begins to catch the murderer.

Again a great mix, I unfortunately couldn't turn the audiobook off as the plot hooked me. Also, the audiobook was narrated by Kale Williams who did a killer job. I love his pleasant voice and his intonations. He brought the book to life and gave me an absolute listening pleasure.

Highly recommended!

🎧Audiobook Review🎧

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️

Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ️️

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Couldn't Cheat Death, Diagnosis: Death and Death Comes to Main Street are all available on Audible and are Whispersynced.