‘The Night Ferry’

By Michael Robotham

(Playaway audiobook)

Alisha Barba, a Sikh detective with the Metropolitan Police, is recovering from a serious back injury when she receives a letter from Cate, her best friend from childhood.

Alisha and Cate have been estranged for several years but Alisha is eager to see her old friend. In her letter, Cate begs Alisha to meet her at their high-school reunion. At the reunion a seemingly very pregnant Cate tells Alisha that someone is trying to take her baby. She pleads for Alisha to stop them. The two friends don’t have much time to talk before a speeding car comes out of nowhere and kills Cate’s husband. Cate dies later of injuries she sustained.

Alisha enlists the help of colleague Vincent Ruiz to help investigate Cate’s death. Their investigation leads them from London to the red light district of Amsterdam — a dangerous journey into the underworld of sex trafficking, people smuggling, slavery and exploitation.

Robotham’s novel contains the elements of a tense, engaging thriller: appealing characters and exciting plot twists. Clare Corbett’s British accent and great narration make the characters shine.

This was my first time listening to a book in the Playaway format, and I enjoyed the convenient format. The Playaway is about the size of a deck of cards and can be easily carried in a pocket.

The Joplin Public Library also has the audiobook disc edition and regular print version available for checkout.

‘A Killer’s Kiss’

By William Lashner