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Rolson McKane
Crystal Queen
'Crystal Queen' is a prequel, of sorts, to 'Boogie House,' the first Rolson McKane novel. While Rolson is busy slamming into future clients with his car, his ex-wife, Vanessa, is roaming the streets of Atlanta with her new love interest. They live from high-to-high and have fallen on some hard times.
That all changes when a guy Vanessa calls The Money Man shows up and demands what he's owed. She and Jerry use a dead man's death to swipe a suitcase full of what they hope is money and end up on the wrong side of a major conflict over drugs and cash. Their trouble is multiplied when a killer named Limba Fitz decides to get involved.
Vanessa and Jerry bounce from bad situation to bad situation, just trying to survive the night. Meanwhile, Van gets caught up thinking about her ex-husband and her hometown, and she wonders if cutting her addicted ways might be the best way out of this situation. The question is, will she make it out alive or be shipped back home in a fresh new coffin?
That all changes when a guy Vanessa calls The Money Man shows up and demands what he's owed. She and Jerry use a dead man's death to swipe a suitcase full of what they hope is money and end up on the wrong side of a major conflict over drugs and cash. Their trouble is multiplied when a killer named Limba Fitz decides to get involved.
Vanessa and Jerry bounce from bad situation to bad situation, just trying to survive the night. Meanwhile, Van gets caught up thinking about her ex-husband and her hometown, and she wonders if cutting her addicted ways might be the best way out of this situation. The question is, will she make it out alive or be shipped back home in a fresh new coffin?
57 pages, ebook
Published October 22, 2017
22 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 11, 2019
Can’t wait to read the rest of the series, like the style of writing.
November 26, 2017
( Format : audiobook )
"Nothing like mortality to get the juices running."
A short story, set in Atlanta, written from the perspective of Vanessa, of the panic ensuing after a visit of The Money Man to the place in which she and current partner, Gerry, were living. He wants 50,000 dollars by the end of the week. But the money is gone, "Up our noses and into our pipes". So, with the very real threat of violence hanging over them - they get stoned, again. Then Dollar Bill is murdered ...
A brilliantly written characterisation of the self obsessed, mind wandering unfocused addict that is Vanessa, she is both heartless bitch and sentimental friend simultaneously as she lives through what is happening and remembers what she left behind. Vanessa is so well portrayed by narrator, Ramona Master, she truly becomes her, with her warm sexy valley girl voice intoned pitch perfectly to throw all the nuances of her character's thoughts and desires. Despite all of her faults, and, yes, there are many, it is impossible not to like this impetuous, foolish and trapped drug addict of Ms.Master's performance. She is so alive. Simply superb.
I received a complimentary copy of Crystal Queen from the rights holder, at my request, via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. I loved the book. I understand that there will be more about Vanessa and her erstwhile husband, Robson, a distant figure in this story. I can't wait!
"Nothing like mortality to get the juices running."
A short story, set in Atlanta, written from the perspective of Vanessa, of the panic ensuing after a visit of The Money Man to the place in which she and current partner, Gerry, were living. He wants 50,000 dollars by the end of the week. But the money is gone, "Up our noses and into our pipes". So, with the very real threat of violence hanging over them - they get stoned, again. Then Dollar Bill is murdered ...
A brilliantly written characterisation of the self obsessed, mind wandering unfocused addict that is Vanessa, she is both heartless bitch and sentimental friend simultaneously as she lives through what is happening and remembers what she left behind. Vanessa is so well portrayed by narrator, Ramona Master, she truly becomes her, with her warm sexy valley girl voice intoned pitch perfectly to throw all the nuances of her character's thoughts and desires. Despite all of her faults, and, yes, there are many, it is impossible not to like this impetuous, foolish and trapped drug addict of Ms.Master's performance. She is so alive. Simply superb.
I received a complimentary copy of Crystal Queen from the rights holder, at my request, via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. I loved the book. I understand that there will be more about Vanessa and her erstwhile husband, Robson, a distant figure in this story. I can't wait!
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November 30, 2017***I received a free Audible audiobook from the narrator in exchange for my honest feedback***
STORY: 3 stars
PERFORMANCE: 5 stars
OVERALL: 4 stars
STORY
CRYSTAL QUEEN is more a collection of chapters rather than a complete, “book”. For me, this collection of chapters served to lure me unto the exciting storyline only to cut off prematurely, eager for more. From a financial perspective, I can’t fault the author for doing this yet as a reader, it is infuriating! Without judging what a tease this, “book“ was, I have to admit that I was fascinated by the drug addicted character’s chaotic behavior and felt their fear as they ran for their lives. CRYSTAL QUEEN is well written and engaging.
PERFORMANCE
I listened to the Audible audiobook narrated by Ramona Master. Having never previously listened to anything by this narrator, I didn’t know what to expect and was very, very pleasantly surprised by her performance!
Ms. Masters never once read but acted everything out, putting on a stellar performance that was extremely believable. Aside from mispronouncing the word, “carotid“ (as in carotid artery, which could have been misspelled by the author), her performance was 100% perfect! I will definitely be seeking out more audiobooks narrated by Ramona Master!
STORY: 3 stars
PERFORMANCE: 5 stars
OVERALL: 4 stars
STORY
CRYSTAL QUEEN is more a collection of chapters rather than a complete, “book”. For me, this collection of chapters served to lure me unto the exciting storyline only to cut off prematurely, eager for more. From a financial perspective, I can’t fault the author for doing this yet as a reader, it is infuriating! Without judging what a tease this, “book“ was, I have to admit that I was fascinated by the drug addicted character’s chaotic behavior and felt their fear as they ran for their lives. CRYSTAL QUEEN is well written and engaging.
PERFORMANCE
I listened to the Audible audiobook narrated by Ramona Master. Having never previously listened to anything by this narrator, I didn’t know what to expect and was very, very pleasantly surprised by her performance!
Ms. Masters never once read but acted everything out, putting on a stellar performance that was extremely believable. Aside from mispronouncing the word, “carotid“ (as in carotid artery, which could have been misspelled by the author), her performance was 100% perfect! I will definitely be seeking out more audiobooks narrated by Ramona Master!
January 8, 2018
Crystal Queen by T. Blake Brady was a good quick read. Vanessa and her love interest live from one high to the next. But this just finds them from one bad situation to the next. Vanessa finds herself wondering about her ex-husband and what happens if she was to get clean.
October 21, 2018
A short read, but very action packed. Through the writing, I was able to picture clearly what is happening in the book. T. Blake Braddy has a gift for writing. I cannot wait to read the next book!
August 19, 2018
WOW WHAT AN INTERESTING READ!!
Crystal Queen leads us to Vanessa and the Banker guy, Jerry in Atlanta, Georgia.
This is where she winds up as a drug addict, and living with Jerry. And of couse, this is where the mysterious metal briefcase shows up!!
A quick, nonstop read, but full of interesting things, we readers wondered about!!
Crystal Queen leads us to Vanessa and the Banker guy, Jerry in Atlanta, Georgia.
This is where she winds up as a drug addict, and living with Jerry. And of couse, this is where the mysterious metal briefcase shows up!!
A quick, nonstop read, but full of interesting things, we readers wondered about!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews