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Section 47 #1
A Sense of Danger
A Spy
...
My name is Charlotte Locke, and I’m an analyst for Section 47, a secret government agency that tracks terrorists, criminals, and other paramortal bad guys who want to unleash their abilities on an unsuspecting mortal world. I have a magical form of synesthesia that senses danger and uncovers lies - making me a stealthy operative.
I’m trudging through another day when one of Section’s cleaners - assassins - takes an interest in me. I don’t need my synesthesia to realize that he is extremely dangerous and that he will do anything to achieve his goals - even if it means putting me in the line of fire.
... and an Assassin
I’m Desmond Percy, one of Section 47’s most lethal cleaners. I’m also a man on a mission, and I need Charlotte Locke’s skills to help me keep a promise, settle a score, and kill some extremely bad people.
Charlotte might not like me, but we’re stuck together until my mission is over. Still, the more time we spend together, the more I’m drawn to her. But at Section 47, you never know who you can trust - or who might want you dead
My name is Charlotte Locke, and I’m an analyst for Section 47, a secret government agency that tracks terrorists, criminals, and other paramortal bad guys who want to unleash their abilities on an unsuspecting mortal world. I have a magical form of synesthesia that senses danger and uncovers lies - making me a stealthy operative.
I’m trudging through another day when one of Section’s cleaners - assassins - takes an interest in me. I don’t need my synesthesia to realize that he is extremely dangerous and that he will do anything to achieve his goals - even if it means putting me in the line of fire.
... and an Assassin
I’m Desmond Percy, one of Section 47’s most lethal cleaners. I’m also a man on a mission, and I need Charlotte Locke’s skills to help me keep a promise, settle a score, and kill some extremely bad people.
Charlotte might not like me, but we’re stuck together until my mission is over. Still, the more time we spend together, the more I’m drawn to her. But at Section 47, you never know who you can trust - or who might want you dead
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First published November 12, 2020
179 people are currently reading
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About the author
Jennifer Estep
97 books12k followersJennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.
Jennifer is the author of the Elemental Assassin, Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.
For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit her website at www.JenniferEstep.com or sign up for her newsletter: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-....
FOLLOW JENNIFER ONLINE:
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennifer_Estep
Amazon: https://amzn.to/39lCyX6
BookBub: https://tinyurl.com/y4dm3zso
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Jennifer's blog: https://tinyurl.com/2dj4afb
Jennifer's newsletter: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-...
Happy reading, everyone! 😎
Jennifer is the author of the Elemental Assassin, Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.
For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit her website at www.JenniferEstep.com or sign up for her newsletter: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-....
FOLLOW JENNIFER ONLINE:
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/yyj59omw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_es...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennifer_Estep
Amazon: https://amzn.to/39lCyX6
BookBub: https://tinyurl.com/y4dm3zso
Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/y638q98k
Jennifer's blog: https://tinyurl.com/2dj4afb
Jennifer's newsletter: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-...
Happy reading, everyone! 😎
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
December 6, 2022
I have finally figured out the basics of accessing e-books through my library and this has potential to seriously complicate my reading life. There I was last night, uninspired by my library books, despite having picked up new ones that day. This little volume called to me and I answered that siren song.
Jennifer Estep has ideas for books that interest me. I read eight of her Elemental Assassin series before I got distracted. I enjoyed the first book of her Crown of Shards series, although I never felt the need to continue on. I got to know Estep a little when she attended a writers conference here in Calgary in 2017 and she struck me as a hard working, disciplined writer and very pragmatic business woman. This is the best book of hers that I have read so far.
This author has imaginative magic systems and I was quite taken with the various talents of the characters in this world. The paramortals keep their talents hidden from regular human society, but their abilities are harnessed by the low-profile spy/assassin organization known as Section 47. Of course there are similarly skilled criminals.
Charlotte Locke has an interesting variant of synesthesia, allowing her to see colours when someone is lying, in speech or in print. This sense also detects danger and allows Charlotte to avoid or at least mitigate what happens to her. Under normal conditions, an analyst like Charlotte would remain in the bowels of the Section 47 building and never require her early warning system, but Charlotte's brilliant reports and accurate analysis has attracted the interest of a high ranking cleaner (i.e. assassin) who is on a revenge mission.
I really liked Charlotte as a character. She has learned so many skills from her mundane grandmother and her deadbeat father (who was a well known cleaner who screwed up royally). She has skills and brains, a delightful combination and Desmond, the vengeful cleaner, recognizes her worth. That's the big fantasy as far as I am concerned—a man who actually sees a woman's abilities and appreciates her as a person equal to him. Desmond's skill set includes seeing people's auras and detecting strong emotion and he likes what he sees in Charlotte.
Within minutes of meeting, these two have given each other nicknames. Desmond is Australian and Charlotte calls him Crocodile Dundee, shortened to Dundee. Desmond calls her Numbers, for her sure analysis of a spreadsheet. These epithets are a bit corny, but serve the purpose of establishing a link between the two agents.
Estep uses my favourite romance trope, enemies to lovers. They aren't really enemies but they are definitely hostile! I loved all the action and the plotting as they pursued the criminals and attempted to uncover the mole in Section 47. There is much more going on than a simple romance story. My library has the second book, Sugar Plum Spies, and I can see myself picking it up soon.
Jennifer Estep has ideas for books that interest me. I read eight of her Elemental Assassin series before I got distracted. I enjoyed the first book of her Crown of Shards series, although I never felt the need to continue on. I got to know Estep a little when she attended a writers conference here in Calgary in 2017 and she struck me as a hard working, disciplined writer and very pragmatic business woman. This is the best book of hers that I have read so far.
This author has imaginative magic systems and I was quite taken with the various talents of the characters in this world. The paramortals keep their talents hidden from regular human society, but their abilities are harnessed by the low-profile spy/assassin organization known as Section 47. Of course there are similarly skilled criminals.
Charlotte Locke has an interesting variant of synesthesia, allowing her to see colours when someone is lying, in speech or in print. This sense also detects danger and allows Charlotte to avoid or at least mitigate what happens to her. Under normal conditions, an analyst like Charlotte would remain in the bowels of the Section 47 building and never require her early warning system, but Charlotte's brilliant reports and accurate analysis has attracted the interest of a high ranking cleaner (i.e. assassin) who is on a revenge mission.
I really liked Charlotte as a character. She has learned so many skills from her mundane grandmother and her deadbeat father (who was a well known cleaner who screwed up royally). She has skills and brains, a delightful combination and Desmond, the vengeful cleaner, recognizes her worth. That's the big fantasy as far as I am concerned—a man who actually sees a woman's abilities and appreciates her as a person equal to him. Desmond's skill set includes seeing people's auras and detecting strong emotion and he likes what he sees in Charlotte.
Within minutes of meeting, these two have given each other nicknames. Desmond is Australian and Charlotte calls him Crocodile Dundee, shortened to Dundee. Desmond calls her Numbers, for her sure analysis of a spreadsheet. These epithets are a bit corny, but serve the purpose of establishing a link between the two agents.
Estep uses my favourite romance trope, enemies to lovers. They aren't really enemies but they are definitely hostile! I loved all the action and the plotting as they pursued the criminals and attempted to uncover the mole in Section 47. There is much more going on than a simple romance story. My library has the second book, Sugar Plum Spies, and I can see myself picking it up soon.
October 3, 2021
4-stars
This is the first book in Jennifer Estep's all-new paranormal romance series Section 47.
Section 47 is a secret agency that is in charge of going after paranormal terrorists and criminals and prevents them from causing havoc on the unsuspecting mortal world. This secret agency's mandate has to operate all without the mortals knowing anything about magic and paranormals.
Charlotte Locke is an analyst at the agency, but she also has magic that the agency isn't fully aware of. She can use her synesthesia magic to senses danger and uncover lies, but she's also able to see patterns and mistakes while analyzing reports and files. She's a third-generation employee of the company. She's a legacy.
Desmond Percy is an assassin, and he's one of the best in the world who works for Section 47.
Desmond has had himself assigned from Australia to serve in Washington D.C.'s office for a special mission. He's there because of his own agenda. Desmond is a third-generation employee of the company. He's a legacy.
The Locke's and Percy's are also sworn enemies, but Charlotte and Desmond have decided to make a pact to work together and go after one of the baddest paranormal terrorists of them all.
I really liked Charlotte and Desmond's characters and the chemistry between them.
They started out as enemies and gradually started to trust one another and became friends.
The story was smart, well-written and engaging.
The romance between Charlotte and Desmond is slow-burn but well worth the journey.
A Sense of Danger is a great start for a new series.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
"An ARC of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. "
June 16, 2022
Das Buch hat so viel Spaß gemacht!! Gut, der Plot ist eher flach, aber Dank des rasanten Erzähltempos, des fesselnden Schreibstils und der beiden tollen Protagonisten bin ich regelrecht durch die Seiten geflogen und habe das Buch, ganz untypisch für mich, in nur wenigen Tagen beendet.
Die Kombination aus Spionagegeschichte und Paranormalem funktioniert super. Jennifer Estep ist eine sehr erfahrene Autorin und weiß daher genau, was gute Unterhaltung braucht. Actionreich, packend und auch die Emotionen kommen nicht zu kurz. Desmond und Charlotte harmonieren wunderbar miteinander. Powerfrau trifft Spionageprofi, mit viel sexy Vibes und Bauchkribbeln. Das war genau das richtige Buch zur richtigen Zeit. Ich habe den Klappentext gelesen und wusste einfach, dass ich es mögen würde. Das nächste Buch der Autorin ist bereits auf dem Weg zu mir.
Die Kombination aus Spionagegeschichte und Paranormalem funktioniert super. Jennifer Estep ist eine sehr erfahrene Autorin und weiß daher genau, was gute Unterhaltung braucht. Actionreich, packend und auch die Emotionen kommen nicht zu kurz. Desmond und Charlotte harmonieren wunderbar miteinander. Powerfrau trifft Spionageprofi, mit viel sexy Vibes und Bauchkribbeln. Das war genau das richtige Buch zur richtigen Zeit. Ich habe den Klappentext gelesen und wusste einfach, dass ich es mögen würde. Das nächste Buch der Autorin ist bereits auf dem Weg zu mir.
September 16, 2022
Charlotte arbeitet als Analystin in einer Geheimorganisation, die sich mit paranormalen Kriminellen beschäftigt und dafür auch Agenten mit besonderen Kräften einsetzt. Charlottes Job ist aber nicht besonders gefährlich, mit ihrer Gabe kann sie Lügen erkennen und so auch gefälschte Unterlagen durchschauen, um dadurch an neue Informationen zu gelangen. Aber plötzlich versucht jemand, Charlotte aus dem Weg zu räumen und sie muss erkennen, dass sie in ihren scheinbar harmlosen Berichten, die eigentlich niemand liest, auf eine wichtige Spur gestoßen ist.
Obwohl sie einen guten Job hat, arbeitet sie nebenbei als Kellnerin und verdient doch noch nicht genug, um ihre Schulden begleichen zu können. Ich mochte ihr cleveres, analytisches Denken und ihre zielstrebige, ruhige Art. Special Agent Desmond, der in ihrem Leben auftaucht, als die Angriffe auf ihr Leben beginnen, ist da schon viel selbstbewusster und auf seiner Mission zögert er auch nicht, alle Mittel zu nutzen die ihm zur Verfügung stehen. Seine Recherchen haben auch einen direkten Bezug zu Charlottes Arbeit, sodass sie noch tiefer mit hinein gezogen wird. Ihre Unterschiede und Charlottes Ärger darüber, dass ihr jegliche Kontrolle über ihr Leben entzogen wird, sorgt für Spannung und unterhaltsame Momente zwischen den beiden.
Zwischendurch war ich etwas verwirrt, weil es einerseits schon bestimmte Bösewichte und auch klare Ziele gibt, aber einige spannende Wendungen haben dann auch mal die Richtung geändert. Mit gefährlichen Kämpfen, schlauen Schlussfolgerungen und kleinen Twists bleibt die Geschichte auf jeden Fall immer spannend, doch vom Hocker reißen konnte es mich auch nicht. Wie erwartet ist es aber ein solider Fantasy-Krimi mit einer guten Liebesgeschichte und daher konnte mich das Buch auch gut unterhalten.
Obwohl sie einen guten Job hat, arbeitet sie nebenbei als Kellnerin und verdient doch noch nicht genug, um ihre Schulden begleichen zu können. Ich mochte ihr cleveres, analytisches Denken und ihre zielstrebige, ruhige Art. Special Agent Desmond, der in ihrem Leben auftaucht, als die Angriffe auf ihr Leben beginnen, ist da schon viel selbstbewusster und auf seiner Mission zögert er auch nicht, alle Mittel zu nutzen die ihm zur Verfügung stehen. Seine Recherchen haben auch einen direkten Bezug zu Charlottes Arbeit, sodass sie noch tiefer mit hinein gezogen wird. Ihre Unterschiede und Charlottes Ärger darüber, dass ihr jegliche Kontrolle über ihr Leben entzogen wird, sorgt für Spannung und unterhaltsame Momente zwischen den beiden.
Zwischendurch war ich etwas verwirrt, weil es einerseits schon bestimmte Bösewichte und auch klare Ziele gibt, aber einige spannende Wendungen haben dann auch mal die Richtung geändert. Mit gefährlichen Kämpfen, schlauen Schlussfolgerungen und kleinen Twists bleibt die Geschichte auf jeden Fall immer spannend, doch vom Hocker reißen konnte es mich auch nicht. Wie erwartet ist es aber ein solider Fantasy-Krimi mit einer guten Liebesgeschichte und daher konnte mich das Buch auch gut unterhalten.
Read
March 13, 2023I can see that this book is fun in the same way that I can see that watching a match in a sports bar or dancing at a rave or driving a racing car is fun, but like them, it's not my kind of fun.
What makes it fun?
Well, the idea of Section 47, a secret US government organisation set up to carry out covert, extrajudicial killings of paranormals around the world judged by the US to be terrorists, has legs. Telling the story by alternating between the viewpoint of the analyst and the assassin added energy and humour and built up the suspense around what each of them is yet to discover about the other. The plot is motivated by personal revenge, concealed behind a mission to protect the world from an evil creator and broker of paranormal weapons. Things are complicated by the initial antagonism between the analyst and assassin who needs her to carry out his revenge and by the presence of a traitor somewhere in Section 47 There's a fair amount of violence. I'm 38% through and haven't reached the first set-piece covert op yet and already I have four people killed in close combat and one flashback death scene following an IED explosion. The people are pretty and the dialogue and interior monologues are full of snark.
Why isn't it my kind of fun?
I remain too stubbornly serious to let myself enjoy this book the way I can see that it's meant to be enjoyed.
The main characters are unrelentingly attractive. This attractiveness is described in detail. I know this should be helping me slide into a Will they? Won't they? or, more likely, a When will they? And will they regret it? sexual tension thing but it just has me rolling my eyes and wondering why there are no paranormals who look just like everyone else? Wouldn't that be an advantage in an Assassin? Do you really want to be giving off a tall, dark and dangerous vibe when you're carrying out a covert op?
As for the sexual attraction thing, I don't buy it. These guys are in their thirties. They kill people for a living. They have major life challenges in front of them. And they let themselves get distracted by how sexy someone's eyes are or how tightly built their bodies are? Haven't they grown out of that stuff yet?
Then there's the politics. The book doesn't have any,.but my nature abhors a political vacuum so, as I listen to the two insiders disclose their experience of working in Section 47, I get distracted from the clothes and the sexy people in them and the powers that they have by wondering what it means that neither of them doubts for a moment the right of Section 47 to kill on command. That that is taken for granted is one of the scariest things in the book. The analyst is supposed to be very good at spotting patterns. She tells me that only 1% of the population are paranormals but she never questions how it came to be that the US government has somehow leashed a whole bunch of paranormals and turned them into lethal attack dogs to use against other paranormals. The assassin and the analyst are both 'Legacy' members of Section 47, meaning that they were guaranteed a job because previous generations of their family served in Section 47. Neither of them questions this nor recognises it as nepotism nor reflects on how nepotism distorts the culture of an organisation over time.
I can see that enjoying the book hangs on liking the two main characters and cheering them on both in defeating the bad guys and in getting together as a couple or, at least, wanting to get together as a couple. I don't like the assassin. He's manipulative. Dishonest with himself and others. He kills without compunction or remorse. He uses honesty and intimacy as currency to buy compliance. He masks his rage-driven need to kill behind a mawkishly sentimental memory of the death of a friend without admitting to himself that he's mostly motivated by the damage to his self-image that he sustained when he couldn't prevent his friend from dying. Not an easy guy for me to cheer for.
So this book is not for me but...
...if you want a paranormal thriller about a sexy revenge-driven assassin and a sexy not-ready-to-trust-anyone analyst going up against violent paranormal super-villains while having a traitor in their ranks, you should have a lot of fun with this one.
Meanwhile, I'll go back to being the only guy in the sports bar sitting alone, listening to my audiobook through my noise-cancelling headphones as I sip my Guinness.
What makes it fun?
Well, the idea of Section 47, a secret US government organisation set up to carry out covert, extrajudicial killings of paranormals around the world judged by the US to be terrorists, has legs. Telling the story by alternating between the viewpoint of the analyst and the assassin added energy and humour and built up the suspense around what each of them is yet to discover about the other. The plot is motivated by personal revenge, concealed behind a mission to protect the world from an evil creator and broker of paranormal weapons. Things are complicated by the initial antagonism between the analyst and assassin who needs her to carry out his revenge and by the presence of a traitor somewhere in Section 47 There's a fair amount of violence. I'm 38% through and haven't reached the first set-piece covert op yet and already I have four people killed in close combat and one flashback death scene following an IED explosion. The people are pretty and the dialogue and interior monologues are full of snark.
Why isn't it my kind of fun?
I remain too stubbornly serious to let myself enjoy this book the way I can see that it's meant to be enjoyed.
The main characters are unrelentingly attractive. This attractiveness is described in detail. I know this should be helping me slide into a Will they? Won't they? or, more likely, a When will they? And will they regret it? sexual tension thing but it just has me rolling my eyes and wondering why there are no paranormals who look just like everyone else? Wouldn't that be an advantage in an Assassin? Do you really want to be giving off a tall, dark and dangerous vibe when you're carrying out a covert op?
As for the sexual attraction thing, I don't buy it. These guys are in their thirties. They kill people for a living. They have major life challenges in front of them. And they let themselves get distracted by how sexy someone's eyes are or how tightly built their bodies are? Haven't they grown out of that stuff yet?
Then there's the politics. The book doesn't have any,.but my nature abhors a political vacuum so, as I listen to the two insiders disclose their experience of working in Section 47, I get distracted from the clothes and the sexy people in them and the powers that they have by wondering what it means that neither of them doubts for a moment the right of Section 47 to kill on command. That that is taken for granted is one of the scariest things in the book. The analyst is supposed to be very good at spotting patterns. She tells me that only 1% of the population are paranormals but she never questions how it came to be that the US government has somehow leashed a whole bunch of paranormals and turned them into lethal attack dogs to use against other paranormals. The assassin and the analyst are both 'Legacy' members of Section 47, meaning that they were guaranteed a job because previous generations of their family served in Section 47. Neither of them questions this nor recognises it as nepotism nor reflects on how nepotism distorts the culture of an organisation over time.
I can see that enjoying the book hangs on liking the two main characters and cheering them on both in defeating the bad guys and in getting together as a couple or, at least, wanting to get together as a couple. I don't like the assassin. He's manipulative. Dishonest with himself and others. He kills without compunction or remorse. He uses honesty and intimacy as currency to buy compliance. He masks his rage-driven need to kill behind a mawkishly sentimental memory of the death of a friend without admitting to himself that he's mostly motivated by the damage to his self-image that he sustained when he couldn't prevent his friend from dying. Not an easy guy for me to cheer for.
So this book is not for me but...
...if you want a paranormal thriller about a sexy revenge-driven assassin and a sexy not-ready-to-trust-anyone analyst going up against violent paranormal super-villains while having a traitor in their ranks, you should have a lot of fun with this one.
Meanwhile, I'll go back to being the only guy in the sports bar sitting alone, listening to my audiobook through my noise-cancelling headphones as I sip my Guinness.
June 23, 2022
Es gibt diese Autoren, wo man einfach jedes Buch kauft. Man kennt keinen Klappentext, nur das Cover. Jennifer Estep ist so eine, auch wenn ich noch voller Spannung auf die Folgebände der Elemental Assassin Serie warte, muss ich dennoch alle anderen Bücher von ihr lesen. Dieses Buch ist mal wieder etwas anderes, aber ich habe es voller Spannung angefangen. Es klingt ganz anders als ihre anderen Bücher, aber trotzdem fand ich es wieder gut geschrieben und die Charaktere sind einfach nur bewunderswert. Ich bin von Charlottes Wissen so fasziniert und ihre Kombinationsgabe ist auch unglaublich ausgeprägt. Sie ist eine taffe Person und man kann sie einfach nur gerne haben. Und dann noch Desmond, der männliche Charakter und das Gegenteil von ihr, aber er versteht seinen Job und ich muss zugeben, ich möchte nicht, dass er sauer auf mich ist, denn mit ihm legt man sich besser nicht an. Ich bin schon gespannt auf weitere tolle Bände dieser zwei und warte voller Erwartungen auf neue Bücher.
4,5 Sterne
4,5 Sterne
August 21, 2022
Rezension: (kann Spoiler enthalten)
Auf ein neues Buch von Jennifer Estep freue ich mich immer und auf die Spion-Thematik war ich besonders gespannt, weil es mal was ganz anderes ist. Und die Entwicklung des Themas mochte ich sehr.
Im Verlauf der Geschichte bekam man einen sehr guten Einblick in die Section 47, ihre Abteilungen, die Missionen, etc.. Das fand ich persönlich unheimlich spannend.
Charlottes Fähigkeit war auch echt interessant, aber besonders mochte ich ihre gute Kombinationsgabe und ihre Bereitschaft, ihr Umfeld zu verteidigen und nicht einfach aufzugeben.
Desmond war für Charlotte der perfekte Teampartner, sie waren ein wirklich tolles Duo und er konnte dort eingreifen, wo Charlotte ihre Grenzen hatte.
Die Handlung selbst war sehr spannend, zuerst hätte man vielleicht nicht vermutet, dass so viel hinter den Angriffen auf Charlotte steckt, aber nach und nach kamen sehr viele Verbindungen ans Licht.
Für mich ein wirklich tolles Buch mit Spionen, Intrigen und einem gewissen Funken Magie!
5 Sterne
Auf ein neues Buch von Jennifer Estep freue ich mich immer und auf die Spion-Thematik war ich besonders gespannt, weil es mal was ganz anderes ist. Und die Entwicklung des Themas mochte ich sehr.
Im Verlauf der Geschichte bekam man einen sehr guten Einblick in die Section 47, ihre Abteilungen, die Missionen, etc.. Das fand ich persönlich unheimlich spannend.
Charlottes Fähigkeit war auch echt interessant, aber besonders mochte ich ihre gute Kombinationsgabe und ihre Bereitschaft, ihr Umfeld zu verteidigen und nicht einfach aufzugeben.
Desmond war für Charlotte der perfekte Teampartner, sie waren ein wirklich tolles Duo und er konnte dort eingreifen, wo Charlotte ihre Grenzen hatte.
Die Handlung selbst war sehr spannend, zuerst hätte man vielleicht nicht vermutet, dass so viel hinter den Angriffen auf Charlotte steckt, aber nach und nach kamen sehr viele Verbindungen ans Licht.
Für mich ein wirklich tolles Buch mit Spionen, Intrigen und einem gewissen Funken Magie!
5 Sterne
November 25, 2021
4 stars
I've been looking for a good paranormal romantic-suspense since reading Faith Hunter's Soulwood series. Jennifer Estep's new Section 47 series delivers the action, suspense, and fantasy elements I've been craving. Near the middle of the plot I was beginning to feel intellectually underestimated with the intrigue but Ms. Estep delivers a triumphant resolution. The romance is on par with paranormal romance, meaning the romance moves a little too quickly for this reader; although, the hero and heroine are engaging and well-rounded. I'm crossing my fingers that this indie release is very successful because I want more!
I've been looking for a good paranormal romantic-suspense since reading Faith Hunter's Soulwood series. Jennifer Estep's new Section 47 series delivers the action, suspense, and fantasy elements I've been craving. Near the middle of the plot I was beginning to feel intellectually underestimated with the intrigue but Ms. Estep delivers a triumphant resolution. The romance is on par with paranormal romance, meaning the romance moves a little too quickly for this reader; although, the hero and heroine are engaging and well-rounded. I'm crossing my fingers that this indie release is very successful because I want more!
September 25, 2022
Not my cup of tea. It had nothing wrong, but it bored me to death and I had to force myself to finish it.
Probably as I’ve never been a fan of James Bond, yes the old movies might have been nice to watch when I was young, but I never read those books or any other in the genre that I can think of.
Probably as I’ve never been a fan of James Bond, yes the old movies might have been nice to watch when I was young, but I never read those books or any other in the genre that I can think of.
April 28, 2025
***3.5 stars***
I nearly always enjoy this author, and this is a fun spy series with supernatural elements. Charlotte, the FMC, is pretty great, and her power is really interesting.
Desmond, the MMC, is ... mmm, I'd give him a 7 on the scale of 1-10, though he has a strong likelihood of growing on me. But he had a strong tendency to be a self-righteous, privileged jackass in this one.
The spy plot is fun, though tbh I thought the mole was obvious.
But there is a very serious flaw in the foundation of the series, imo, and it kept the book to this relatively low rating. The flaw is: Section 47 can go fuck themselves. Seriously. And so I can't fathom how/why Charlotte bends over backwards to work with such a bunch of assholes.
They're not good guys. They're more like a black ops group, but Charlotte makes casual reference to agents being disappeared, stuff like that, if they cross the bosses. And it gets even worse than that. Desmond's dad is one of the bosses of the organization, and he's more corrupt than a third world despot. Seriously. At one point the terrorist they're tracking confirms daddy-dickhead bought bioweapons from her. It is also heavily implied that he got Charlotte's father killed...and also stole the ransom money Charlotte's grandmother borrowed to try and save him, not only killing her dad but leaving her family in crippling debt from the stolen money.
Charlotte's has a cool power - she can see lies, false info, stuff like that. She could make a killing in a job in the private sector with a skill like that, and given that she's working two jobs and sleeps in a hovel on a mattress on the floor due to this debt, I don't understand why she hasn't quit. Especially since, as I said, they're not good guys. She doesn't seem to like her job much, and they treat her like shit as she does it. So why does she stay? And that issue is compounded when she's ordered to help a douche (Desmond...a real douche at first, and obviously using her) or lose her job. That's not enough leverage for me to believe she'd stay, and do this dangerous job he's forcing her into, because the job sucks and all the people in it suck even more. And that lever comes up over and over - do this or you're out - and it's just ridiculous. Any sane person would laugh in their faces and wave buh-bye. She has no reason - literally - to stay.
At the very end, after she pulls off the dangerous mission, she decides she kind of likes this job. It was both not believable (like, oh really, after they treated you like shit for a few weeks, huh) and too little too late. The book would have worked much better if she loved her job from the outset, and was desperate to keep it. At one point they even say you know you need this job with all your debt and I laughed so sarcastically that my throat hurt. This job? This job that pays peanuts, such shit that she has to work a night shift in a diner to cover her bills, all while people keep trying to kill her? GTFOH with that. The job is shit, the people are shit, the pay is shit, the benefits are shit (some of her debt is from her grandmother's cancer treatments - grandmother who also worked for Section 47, with such shit health benefits that Charlotte was left with half a million dollars in debt once the cancer finally killed her grandmother). Charlotte would be a gazillion times better off if she walked out rather than let them shoehorn her into this dangerous mission.
But she never does, and it doesn't make a lick of sense.
I'm going to read the next one because I already have it. Hopefully that kind of douchebaggery is over, since she does like her job now, has a good partner, and has proven herself beyond a shadow of a doubt. But we'll see.
I nearly always enjoy this author, and this is a fun spy series with supernatural elements. Charlotte, the FMC, is pretty great, and her power is really interesting.
Desmond, the MMC, is ... mmm, I'd give him a 7 on the scale of 1-10, though he has a strong likelihood of growing on me. But he had a strong tendency to be a self-righteous, privileged jackass in this one.
The spy plot is fun, though tbh I thought the mole was obvious.
But there is a very serious flaw in the foundation of the series, imo, and it kept the book to this relatively low rating. The flaw is: Section 47 can go fuck themselves. Seriously. And so I can't fathom how/why Charlotte bends over backwards to work with such a bunch of assholes.
They're not good guys. They're more like a black ops group, but Charlotte makes casual reference to agents being disappeared, stuff like that, if they cross the bosses. And it gets even worse than that. Desmond's dad is one of the bosses of the organization, and he's more corrupt than a third world despot. Seriously. At one point the terrorist they're tracking confirms daddy-dickhead bought bioweapons from her. It is also heavily implied that he got Charlotte's father killed...and also stole the ransom money Charlotte's grandmother borrowed to try and save him, not only killing her dad but leaving her family in crippling debt from the stolen money.
Charlotte's has a cool power - she can see lies, false info, stuff like that. She could make a killing in a job in the private sector with a skill like that, and given that she's working two jobs and sleeps in a hovel on a mattress on the floor due to this debt, I don't understand why she hasn't quit. Especially since, as I said, they're not good guys. She doesn't seem to like her job much, and they treat her like shit as she does it. So why does she stay? And that issue is compounded when she's ordered to help a douche (Desmond...a real douche at first, and obviously using her) or lose her job. That's not enough leverage for me to believe she'd stay, and do this dangerous job he's forcing her into, because the job sucks and all the people in it suck even more. And that lever comes up over and over - do this or you're out - and it's just ridiculous. Any sane person would laugh in their faces and wave buh-bye. She has no reason - literally - to stay.
At the very end, after she pulls off the dangerous mission, she decides she kind of likes this job. It was both not believable (like, oh really, after they treated you like shit for a few weeks, huh) and too little too late. The book would have worked much better if she loved her job from the outset, and was desperate to keep it. At one point they even say you know you need this job with all your debt and I laughed so sarcastically that my throat hurt. This job? This job that pays peanuts, such shit that she has to work a night shift in a diner to cover her bills, all while people keep trying to kill her? GTFOH with that. The job is shit, the people are shit, the pay is shit, the benefits are shit (some of her debt is from her grandmother's cancer treatments - grandmother who also worked for Section 47, with such shit health benefits that Charlotte was left with half a million dollars in debt once the cancer finally killed her grandmother). Charlotte would be a gazillion times better off if she walked out rather than let them shoehorn her into this dangerous mission.
But she never does, and it doesn't make a lick of sense.
I'm going to read the next one because I already have it. Hopefully that kind of douchebaggery is over, since she does like her job now, has a good partner, and has proven herself beyond a shadow of a doubt. But we'll see.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2020
I like quite a few of this author's other series, so I thought this one would be good to try. It's a bit different, spies with psychic gifts. I liked it, yet was a bit bored, doesn't really make sense. I really liked Charlotte and how super smart she was, how down to earth and how she was determined to dig herself out of the pit she was in. I think the latter is the most relatable. Who hasn't felt like bills are taking over their lives and the payments you make seem like a pebble in the ocean, yet you keep going because that is all there is to do.
I was pretty indifferent on Desmond. He liked to jump to conclusions right away and needed to see proof before believing things weren't true, odd being he was a spy. I hated how he drew Charlotte in and didn't warn her and how he dropped her later when things went bad.
The ending was a bit crazy. I liked how Charlotte exposed the bad guys and how she let everyone at work know who the bad guys were. Also loved how Charlotte figured out who a key person was in Section.
If more books are written in this series I will probably check it out, but it would be a make or break book in the series for me.
I was pretty indifferent on Desmond. He liked to jump to conclusions right away and needed to see proof before believing things weren't true, odd being he was a spy. I hated how he drew Charlotte in and didn't warn her and how he dropped her later when things went bad.
The ending was a bit crazy. I liked how Charlotte exposed the bad guys and how she let everyone at work know who the bad guys were. Also loved how Charlotte figured out who a key person was in Section.
If more books are written in this series I will probably check it out, but it would be a make or break book in the series for me.
July 11, 2022
In ihrem neuen Buch entführt uns die Autorin nach Washington und erzählt die Geschichte der Analystin Charlotte Locke. Die arbeitet für die Geheimorganisation 47, einer Organisation für paranormale Kriminelle. Charlotte verfügt selbst über eine besondere Fähigkeit, die ihr in ihrem Job zugute kommt.
Die Handlung wird abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Charlotte und Desmond erzählt. Desmond ist ein Cleaner, ein Auftragskiller der Organisation und die beiden müssen einen Fall zusammen lösen. Natürlich knistert es ordentlich zwischen den Beiden, die Romanze hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Aber auch die restliche Handlung, vor allem der Fall, an dem die beiden arbeiten. Die Geschichte ist sehr spannend und sehr aktiongeladen.
Charlotte ist ein taffer Charakter, was man zuerst gar nicht so merkt. Erst im Laufe der Geschichte wird ihr ganzes Potential gelüftet.
Alles in allem genau die richtige Mischung aus Spannung und Romanze. Das Buch kann als Einzelband gelesen werden, hat aber Potential für eine Reihe. Bisher hat die Autorin aber noch keine weiteren Bücher geschrieben.
Von mir gibt es eine klare Leseempfehlung mit voller Punktzahl.
Die Handlung wird abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Charlotte und Desmond erzählt. Desmond ist ein Cleaner, ein Auftragskiller der Organisation und die beiden müssen einen Fall zusammen lösen. Natürlich knistert es ordentlich zwischen den Beiden, die Romanze hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Aber auch die restliche Handlung, vor allem der Fall, an dem die beiden arbeiten. Die Geschichte ist sehr spannend und sehr aktiongeladen.
Charlotte ist ein taffer Charakter, was man zuerst gar nicht so merkt. Erst im Laufe der Geschichte wird ihr ganzes Potential gelüftet.
Alles in allem genau die richtige Mischung aus Spannung und Romanze. Das Buch kann als Einzelband gelesen werden, hat aber Potential für eine Reihe. Bisher hat die Autorin aber noch keine weiteren Bücher geschrieben.
Von mir gibt es eine klare Leseempfehlung mit voller Punktzahl.
June 9, 2022
Dass Jennifer Estep grandiose, spannende Geschichten erzählen kann, hat sie schon in ihren Fantasy-Reihen wie der Mythos-Academy-Reihe oder der Splitterkronen-Reihe gezeigt. In ihrem neusten Roman, "Sense of Danger", erzählt sie nun einen Spionagethriller mit Science-Fiction, Fantasy und romantischen Elementen - wie immer äußerst charmant, mitreißend und originell!!!
Das Cover ist zwar im typischen, unspektakulären Jugendbuch-Fantasy-Stil gehalten, dafür aber raffiniert gemacht und gefällt mir gut. Zusehen ist die Silhouette einer Frau mit wehenden Haaren, die im angedeuteten Fokus einer Kamera vor einer unbekannten Bedrohung davonläuft. Umrahmt wird das Motiv von unheilvoll roten Wolken mit den Silhouetten von Möwen, welche sich kontrastreich vom dunklen Hintergrund abheben. Auch innerhalb der Buchdeckel zieht sich das Motiv des Kamera-Fadenkreuzes durch die Gestaltung und schmückt jeden der 37 Kapitelanfänge. Sehr gut gefällt mir auch, dass der Verlag den äußerst passenden Originaltitel beibehalten hat, welcher sowohl die gefährliche Grundstimmung aufgreift als auch auf die nützliche Gabe der Hauptprotagonistin, Gefahr zu erkennen, hindeutet.
Erster Satz: "Die Auftragskiller erkannte man immer an ihren Anzügen."
Schon mit dem ersten Satz macht die Autorin klar: diese Geschichte wird alles andere als langweilig. Jennifer Estep entführt hier nach Washington DC, in dem es von normalen und paranormalen Spionen nur so wimmelt. Im Mittelpunkt steht dabei die sogenannte Section 47, eine geheime Spionageorganisation, welche Terroranschläge und Großverbrechen verhindern soll, die durch Menschen mit magischen Kräften verübt werden. Dazu sind neben Analysten, die Hintergrundrecherchen für Einsätze durchführen, Charmeuren, die durch soziale Kontakte im Außeneinsatz Informationen beschaffen vor allem die sogenannten Cleaner berüchtigt und gefährlich, da sie als speziell ausgebildete Auftragskiller, die gefährliche Ziele eliminieren. Was für uns abenteuerlich erscheinen mag, ist für unsere erste Protagonistin Charlotte Alltag. Als Analystin und Tochter eines Cleaners arbeitet sie schon seit Jahren für die Section 47, um magischen Bösewichten auf die Spur zu kommen. Im Gegensatz zu den Cleanern und Charmeuren ist ihre Aufgabe aber auf den Schreibtisch beschränkt. Das ändert sich, als der Cleaner Desmond extra aus Australien anreist und ausgerechnet sie für eine gefährliche Mission anfordert...
Die Autorin stellt hier also ein schlichtes, aber wirkungsvolles Setting vor, das den Nährboden für eine spannende Handlung bereithält. Wie jedes Büro ist auch die Section 47 nicht gegen Klüngeleien, Intrigen, Verrat und Betrug gefeit und zusätzlich zu den gefährlichen Missionen hat die Autorin beiden Hauptfiguren dunkle Hintergrundgeschichten und offene Rechnungen gegeben, die sie miteinander, mit anderen Mitarbeitern und Zielpersonen haben. Wer greift Charlotte immer wieder an? Weshalb wollte Desmond ausgerechnet sie für den Einsatz? Gibt es Verbindungen ihrer aktuellen Mission zum letzten, schiefgegangenen Einsatz ihres Vaters? Und wem können die beiden vertrauen...? Hier wird also schon allein durch das sehr dynamische und energiegeladene Setting viel Spannung und Konfliktpotential für die Handlung gewonnen. Und das ist auch gut so, da ihre sonstige Handlung recht geradlinig erzählt wird. Vor allem einige der Wendungen gegen Ende waren für mich leider vorherzusehen. Die fehlende Überraschung machte die Autorin aber mit besonders viel Action im Showdown wieder gut und sorgte so dafür, dass sowohl Fans von Actionromanen, Krimis, Thrillern, Romanzen, Superhelden-Scie-Fie und Fantasygeschichten auf ihre Kosten kommen.
Charlotte: "Ich hatte den ersten Teil meines Plans ins Rolle gebracht - hatte gerade sozusagen eine Hand voll Messer in die Luft geworfen. Nur die Zeit konnte sagen, ob ich es schaffte, die Waffen zu jonglieren - oder ob die Klingen nach unten schossen, um mich in Stücke zu schneiden."
Unterstützt wird dieser Eindruck durch den temporeichen und dynamischen Erzählstil, der die Handlung zu jeder Zeit vorwärtstreibt und Längen verhindert. Mit spannenden Kämpfen, Intrigen, Geheimnissen, Einsätzen und Wendungen sowie der ständigen Vorstellung neuer Gaben bekommen wir zu jeder Zeit genügend Spannendes präsentiert, dass man darüber wegsehen kann, dass im Grunde viele bekannte Konzepte und Tropes unterschiedlicher Genres verwendet wurden. Denn neben Fantasy-Elementen werden hier auch Science-Fiction-Anklänge und eine Liebesgeschichte in den Spionagethriller verbaut. Anstatt überladen zu wirken, kann "Sense of Danger" aber von den vielen Einzelelementen profitieren und zu einem runden, vielseitigen Genremix avancieren, der vermutlich eine breite Zielgruppe ansprechen wird.
Eine weitere Stärke neben dem hohen Erzähltempo und der Vielseitigkeit der Handlung sind die beiden sympathischen Figuren, die hier abwechselnd aus der Ich-Perspektive erzählen dürfen. Gerade dadurch, dass die beiden sich nur bedingt trauen und aufgrund ihrer verschiedenen Magien unterschiedliche Einblicke in aktuelle Geschehnisse haben, ist dies eine äußerst interessante Art durch ihr Abenteuer zu führen. Sehr gut gefällt mir auch, dass die Liebesgeschichte dezent im Hintergrund bleibt und die recht gradlinige Handlung um einige unterhaltsamen Querelen ergänzt. Anzumerken ist an dieser Stelle, dass es sich trotz der typischen Jugendbuch-Aufmachung keineswegs um ein typisches Jugendbuch handelt. Nicht nur weil hier viele blutige Kämpfe ausgetragen werden, sondern vor allem weil die Protagonistin mit ihren 35 Jahren außergewöhnlich "alt" ist. Dass war für mich natürlich eine nette Abwechslung, aber dadurch ist Charlotte vielleicht nicht die beste Identifikationsfigur für 14jährige, sondern spricht eher etwas ältere Leser*innen an. Sie ist sehr viel erfahrener, selbstbewusster, reifer und gefestigter als die üblichen Fantasy-Protagonistinnen, was die Story von viel Geschmachte, emotionalen Schwankungen, Peinlichkeiten sowie einer ellenlangen Selbstsuche befreit und mir sehr zugesagt hat. Neben ihr bleibt Desmond zwar eine Winzigkeit blasser, insgesamt konnte ich aber beide ins Herz schließen. Dasselbe lässt sich auf die Nebenfiguren und Antagonisten beziehen, welche aufgrund der dominanten Handlung nur grob angeschnitten werden. Von einer Geschichte dieses Genres habe ich aber auch nichts anderes erwartet.
Desmond: "Ich mag nicht als Killer arbeiten, wie mein Vater es getan hat, aber ich lasse niemanden mit einem Mordversuch an mir davonkommen." Diese Wildheit hatte ich bei ihr nicht erwartet, doch sie gefiel mir - mehr als sie sollte. Charlottes Blick huschte erneut über meinen Körper. Ihre Aura brannte noch heller als bisher, doch das war nichts um Vergleich zu dem grausamen Lächeln, das ihre Lippen verzog. "Geh dich anziehen, Dundee", schnurrte Charlotte. "Wir haben zu arbeiten."
Zuletzt lässt sich noch sagen, dass das Ende von "Sense of Danger" die Geschichte sehr gelungen abschließt. Die Geschichte von Charlotte und Desmond wird befriedigend zu Ende erzählt, dabei bleiben aber noch genügend Fragen offen, sodass die Autorin ohne Probleme nochmal in die Welt der Section 47 zurückkehren könnte.
Fazit:
"Sense of Danger" ist ein temporeicher, mitreißend erzählter und vielseitiger Spionagethriller mit Science-Fiction, Fantasy und romantischen Elementen. Die Wendungen hätten ein wenig überraschender, das Handlungskonstrukt ein wenig frischer und die Nebenfiguren ein wenig lebhafter sein können - alles in allem bin ich aber begeistert von Jennifer Esteps neustem Roman!
Das Cover ist zwar im typischen, unspektakulären Jugendbuch-Fantasy-Stil gehalten, dafür aber raffiniert gemacht und gefällt mir gut. Zusehen ist die Silhouette einer Frau mit wehenden Haaren, die im angedeuteten Fokus einer Kamera vor einer unbekannten Bedrohung davonläuft. Umrahmt wird das Motiv von unheilvoll roten Wolken mit den Silhouetten von Möwen, welche sich kontrastreich vom dunklen Hintergrund abheben. Auch innerhalb der Buchdeckel zieht sich das Motiv des Kamera-Fadenkreuzes durch die Gestaltung und schmückt jeden der 37 Kapitelanfänge. Sehr gut gefällt mir auch, dass der Verlag den äußerst passenden Originaltitel beibehalten hat, welcher sowohl die gefährliche Grundstimmung aufgreift als auch auf die nützliche Gabe der Hauptprotagonistin, Gefahr zu erkennen, hindeutet.
Erster Satz: "Die Auftragskiller erkannte man immer an ihren Anzügen."
Schon mit dem ersten Satz macht die Autorin klar: diese Geschichte wird alles andere als langweilig. Jennifer Estep entführt hier nach Washington DC, in dem es von normalen und paranormalen Spionen nur so wimmelt. Im Mittelpunkt steht dabei die sogenannte Section 47, eine geheime Spionageorganisation, welche Terroranschläge und Großverbrechen verhindern soll, die durch Menschen mit magischen Kräften verübt werden. Dazu sind neben Analysten, die Hintergrundrecherchen für Einsätze durchführen, Charmeuren, die durch soziale Kontakte im Außeneinsatz Informationen beschaffen vor allem die sogenannten Cleaner berüchtigt und gefährlich, da sie als speziell ausgebildete Auftragskiller, die gefährliche Ziele eliminieren. Was für uns abenteuerlich erscheinen mag, ist für unsere erste Protagonistin Charlotte Alltag. Als Analystin und Tochter eines Cleaners arbeitet sie schon seit Jahren für die Section 47, um magischen Bösewichten auf die Spur zu kommen. Im Gegensatz zu den Cleanern und Charmeuren ist ihre Aufgabe aber auf den Schreibtisch beschränkt. Das ändert sich, als der Cleaner Desmond extra aus Australien anreist und ausgerechnet sie für eine gefährliche Mission anfordert...
Die Autorin stellt hier also ein schlichtes, aber wirkungsvolles Setting vor, das den Nährboden für eine spannende Handlung bereithält. Wie jedes Büro ist auch die Section 47 nicht gegen Klüngeleien, Intrigen, Verrat und Betrug gefeit und zusätzlich zu den gefährlichen Missionen hat die Autorin beiden Hauptfiguren dunkle Hintergrundgeschichten und offene Rechnungen gegeben, die sie miteinander, mit anderen Mitarbeitern und Zielpersonen haben. Wer greift Charlotte immer wieder an? Weshalb wollte Desmond ausgerechnet sie für den Einsatz? Gibt es Verbindungen ihrer aktuellen Mission zum letzten, schiefgegangenen Einsatz ihres Vaters? Und wem können die beiden vertrauen...? Hier wird also schon allein durch das sehr dynamische und energiegeladene Setting viel Spannung und Konfliktpotential für die Handlung gewonnen. Und das ist auch gut so, da ihre sonstige Handlung recht geradlinig erzählt wird. Vor allem einige der Wendungen gegen Ende waren für mich leider vorherzusehen. Die fehlende Überraschung machte die Autorin aber mit besonders viel Action im Showdown wieder gut und sorgte so dafür, dass sowohl Fans von Actionromanen, Krimis, Thrillern, Romanzen, Superhelden-Scie-Fie und Fantasygeschichten auf ihre Kosten kommen.
Charlotte: "Ich hatte den ersten Teil meines Plans ins Rolle gebracht - hatte gerade sozusagen eine Hand voll Messer in die Luft geworfen. Nur die Zeit konnte sagen, ob ich es schaffte, die Waffen zu jonglieren - oder ob die Klingen nach unten schossen, um mich in Stücke zu schneiden."
Unterstützt wird dieser Eindruck durch den temporeichen und dynamischen Erzählstil, der die Handlung zu jeder Zeit vorwärtstreibt und Längen verhindert. Mit spannenden Kämpfen, Intrigen, Geheimnissen, Einsätzen und Wendungen sowie der ständigen Vorstellung neuer Gaben bekommen wir zu jeder Zeit genügend Spannendes präsentiert, dass man darüber wegsehen kann, dass im Grunde viele bekannte Konzepte und Tropes unterschiedlicher Genres verwendet wurden. Denn neben Fantasy-Elementen werden hier auch Science-Fiction-Anklänge und eine Liebesgeschichte in den Spionagethriller verbaut. Anstatt überladen zu wirken, kann "Sense of Danger" aber von den vielen Einzelelementen profitieren und zu einem runden, vielseitigen Genremix avancieren, der vermutlich eine breite Zielgruppe ansprechen wird.
Eine weitere Stärke neben dem hohen Erzähltempo und der Vielseitigkeit der Handlung sind die beiden sympathischen Figuren, die hier abwechselnd aus der Ich-Perspektive erzählen dürfen. Gerade dadurch, dass die beiden sich nur bedingt trauen und aufgrund ihrer verschiedenen Magien unterschiedliche Einblicke in aktuelle Geschehnisse haben, ist dies eine äußerst interessante Art durch ihr Abenteuer zu führen. Sehr gut gefällt mir auch, dass die Liebesgeschichte dezent im Hintergrund bleibt und die recht gradlinige Handlung um einige unterhaltsamen Querelen ergänzt. Anzumerken ist an dieser Stelle, dass es sich trotz der typischen Jugendbuch-Aufmachung keineswegs um ein typisches Jugendbuch handelt. Nicht nur weil hier viele blutige Kämpfe ausgetragen werden, sondern vor allem weil die Protagonistin mit ihren 35 Jahren außergewöhnlich "alt" ist. Dass war für mich natürlich eine nette Abwechslung, aber dadurch ist Charlotte vielleicht nicht die beste Identifikationsfigur für 14jährige, sondern spricht eher etwas ältere Leser*innen an. Sie ist sehr viel erfahrener, selbstbewusster, reifer und gefestigter als die üblichen Fantasy-Protagonistinnen, was die Story von viel Geschmachte, emotionalen Schwankungen, Peinlichkeiten sowie einer ellenlangen Selbstsuche befreit und mir sehr zugesagt hat. Neben ihr bleibt Desmond zwar eine Winzigkeit blasser, insgesamt konnte ich aber beide ins Herz schließen. Dasselbe lässt sich auf die Nebenfiguren und Antagonisten beziehen, welche aufgrund der dominanten Handlung nur grob angeschnitten werden. Von einer Geschichte dieses Genres habe ich aber auch nichts anderes erwartet.
Desmond: "Ich mag nicht als Killer arbeiten, wie mein Vater es getan hat, aber ich lasse niemanden mit einem Mordversuch an mir davonkommen." Diese Wildheit hatte ich bei ihr nicht erwartet, doch sie gefiel mir - mehr als sie sollte. Charlottes Blick huschte erneut über meinen Körper. Ihre Aura brannte noch heller als bisher, doch das war nichts um Vergleich zu dem grausamen Lächeln, das ihre Lippen verzog. "Geh dich anziehen, Dundee", schnurrte Charlotte. "Wir haben zu arbeiten."
Zuletzt lässt sich noch sagen, dass das Ende von "Sense of Danger" die Geschichte sehr gelungen abschließt. Die Geschichte von Charlotte und Desmond wird befriedigend zu Ende erzählt, dabei bleiben aber noch genügend Fragen offen, sodass die Autorin ohne Probleme nochmal in die Welt der Section 47 zurückkehren könnte.
Fazit:
"Sense of Danger" ist ein temporeicher, mitreißend erzählter und vielseitiger Spionagethriller mit Science-Fiction, Fantasy und romantischen Elementen. Die Wendungen hätten ein wenig überraschender, das Handlungskonstrukt ein wenig frischer und die Nebenfiguren ein wenig lebhafter sein können - alles in allem bin ich aber begeistert von Jennifer Esteps neustem Roman!
September 20, 2021
*Source* Author
*Genre* Urban Fantasy Romance
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
A Sense of Danger is the first installment in author Jennifer Estep's Section 47 series. Things you should know. 1. This was previously released as audio only and now is being self published by the author. 2. The story alternatives between two main characters: Charlotte Locke is an analyst for Section 47. She has synesthesia magic which allows her to see errors in spreadsheets, reports, etc. Desmond Percy is one of the agency’s top cleaners; an assassin. His best friend and their entire team was killed on his last mission, and now he’s looking for revenge.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy Romance
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
A Sense of Danger is the first installment in author Jennifer Estep's Section 47 series. Things you should know. 1. This was previously released as audio only and now is being self published by the author. 2. The story alternatives between two main characters: Charlotte Locke is an analyst for Section 47. She has synesthesia magic which allows her to see errors in spreadsheets, reports, etc. Desmond Percy is one of the agency’s top cleaners; an assassin. His best friend and their entire team was killed on his last mission, and now he’s looking for revenge.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
December 21, 2021
This was a fun book - I hope there are more in the series! The male narrator did not pull off the Australian accent, though, and that was a bummer.
February 6, 2022
Imagine the present world, but one in which magic users (think X-Men type of powers) walk among ordinary humans. Section 47 is a secret government agency which is tasked with stopping magical terrorists and criminals. Section 47 employs a whole raft of people with special skills to help in their mission, the elite of whom are termed the Cleaners, and are magically enhanced assassins. There are also analysts, Charmers (who lure criminals into honeytraps etc) and liaisons (who act as personal assistants to Cleaners). Oh, and there's an inherent snobbery about people who's family also worked for Section 47 - they are Legacies and are perceived to be treated better than the others.
Charlotte Locke may be a Legacy, but her legacy (from her father and grandmother) is tarnished by the botched job which ended her father's life. While he was a Cleaner, she is an analyst, like her grandmother, and her magical skill is the ability to spot what is wrong with something - day-to-day she uses it to spot the mistakes and fake entries in bank accounts to trace terrorist funds etc, but it also allows her to spot when people are lying and sense danger. Charlotte's supervisors have consistently overlooked her and either ignored her findings or stolen them and presented them as their own, she's used to it now and keeps her head down. Because she had to borrow money to pay the ransom for her father from the botched job in South America, and then her grandmother's cancer treatment, Charlotte is seriously in debt and works nights at a nearby diner.
One day Charlotte and her friend Miriam are sitting having lunch in the Section 47 canteen when she spots a new cleaner. Surprisingly the new cleaner tries to chat her up and asks her to dinner, something which she shuts down quickly, you'd rather eat dinner with a cobra.
The new cleaner is Desmond Percy, a transfer from Australia, while ostensibly he's in the US to help track down Henrika Hyde, a rich and powerful paranormal who is using her pharmaceutical business to develop biomagical weapons, he has a secret mission - one which involves Charlotte's work.
At first Charlotte is afraid that Des is here to kill her, but after he saves her from an attack by four cleaners she's not so sure - now they must work together to stop Henrika Hyde.
I have always found Jennifer Estep a writer of complex books, which is a fancy way of saying I don't always understand what is going on. Her heroines are always more clever and wily than me and see about 100 moves ahead. However, very early on I correctly called the mole in Section 47, both based on a hunch but also based on a clue.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It was high-octane detective work with a magical twist.
Charlotte Locke may be a Legacy, but her legacy (from her father and grandmother) is tarnished by the botched job which ended her father's life. While he was a Cleaner, she is an analyst, like her grandmother, and her magical skill is the ability to spot what is wrong with something - day-to-day she uses it to spot the mistakes and fake entries in bank accounts to trace terrorist funds etc, but it also allows her to spot when people are lying and sense danger. Charlotte's supervisors have consistently overlooked her and either ignored her findings or stolen them and presented them as their own, she's used to it now and keeps her head down. Because she had to borrow money to pay the ransom for her father from the botched job in South America, and then her grandmother's cancer treatment, Charlotte is seriously in debt and works nights at a nearby diner.
One day Charlotte and her friend Miriam are sitting having lunch in the Section 47 canteen when she spots a new cleaner. Surprisingly the new cleaner tries to chat her up and asks her to dinner, something which she shuts down quickly, you'd rather eat dinner with a cobra.
The new cleaner is Desmond Percy, a transfer from Australia, while ostensibly he's in the US to help track down Henrika Hyde, a rich and powerful paranormal who is using her pharmaceutical business to develop biomagical weapons, he has a secret mission - one which involves Charlotte's work.
At first Charlotte is afraid that Des is here to kill her, but after he saves her from an attack by four cleaners she's not so sure - now they must work together to stop Henrika Hyde.
I have always found Jennifer Estep a writer of complex books, which is a fancy way of saying I don't always understand what is going on. Her heroines are always more clever and wily than me and see about 100 moves ahead. However, very early on I correctly called the mole in Section 47, both based on a hunch but also based on a clue.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It was high-octane detective work with a magical twist.
May 24, 2022
3.5 ☆
Overall I am just ecstatic that I found something good to read.
Section 47 is a paranormal assassin/spy thriller series. It took a while for me to get into it but once I was in, it was a fun ride. Our heroine Charlotte Locke is being targeted and she doesn't quite know why yet. After four cleaners aren't sent after her and she is saved by the guy who tried to hit on her things get even stranger.
I adore Charlotte she has been given a shite hand but she has made the best out of it all. She is smart, resourceful, calculating and loyal. She is a mastermind of planning. What she doesn't want to do however is work with the enemy but there is no choice. She is a legacy of Section 47 and she has a lot to prove and she will not back down.
Her rescuer is none other than a cleaner named Desmond Percy. A Percy! Another legacy family with Section 47. The Locke's and the Percy's are the Montague's and Capulet's of this book. Only that this books gets a HFN as they shall be a book 2.
I equally adored Desmond Percy he is charming, deadly and the best thing about him. He wanted Charlotte for her brain. Ok he did have an ulterior motive but who doesn't at Section 47?
It was action packed, filled with suspense and luckily that the end some romance. All in all a win win!
A few words as my personal opinion on Ms. Estep. I read her Elemental Assassins series up to book 5 where for me the story finished as she had achieved her goal of revenge. I enjoyed these books very much. A couple of years later I then read the Crown of Shards series which is gory. and bloody awesome. Ms. Estep for me can write and she has great worldbuilding.
Overall I am just ecstatic that I found something good to read.
Section 47 is a paranormal assassin/spy thriller series. It took a while for me to get into it but once I was in, it was a fun ride. Our heroine Charlotte Locke is being targeted and she doesn't quite know why yet. After four cleaners aren't sent after her and she is saved by the guy who tried to hit on her things get even stranger.
I adore Charlotte she has been given a shite hand but she has made the best out of it all. She is smart, resourceful, calculating and loyal. She is a mastermind of planning. What she doesn't want to do however is work with the enemy but there is no choice. She is a legacy of Section 47 and she has a lot to prove and she will not back down.
Her rescuer is none other than a cleaner named Desmond Percy. A Percy! Another legacy family with Section 47. The Locke's and the Percy's are the Montague's and Capulet's of this book. Only that this books gets a HFN as they shall be a book 2.
I equally adored Desmond Percy he is charming, deadly and the best thing about him. He wanted Charlotte for her brain. Ok he did have an ulterior motive but who doesn't at Section 47?
It was action packed, filled with suspense and luckily that the end some romance. All in all a win win!
A few words as my personal opinion on Ms. Estep. I read her Elemental Assassins series up to book 5 where for me the story finished as she had achieved her goal of revenge. I enjoyed these books very much. A couple of years later I then read the Crown of Shards series which is gory. and bloody awesome. Ms. Estep for me can write and she has great worldbuilding.
December 22, 2024
I enjoyed this once I got into it. It's a paranormal spy story with a dash of romance.
Jennifer Estep always has really interesting magic (or gifts) in her books, and this is no exception. I liked this aspect and also that Charlotte, the FMC, was really intelligent.
While some of the banter with Des, the MMC, was fun, I wasn't particularly invested in the romance.
There were some things about the introduction of his character that irritated me, such as Charlotte insulting Des by calling him Crocodile Dundee. I'm Australian. The stereotype is super corny. I didn't love it. Also, Charlotte repeatedly mentioned his sexy Australian accent, which is whatever, but the audiobook fell short on this front. One of the narrators didn't do so well with the accent. The other had a bit of an abrupt reading style.
In any case, if I continue with the series, it will be by reading it rather than listening.
Jennifer Estep always has really interesting magic (or gifts) in her books, and this is no exception. I liked this aspect and also that Charlotte, the FMC, was really intelligent.
While some of the banter with Des, the MMC, was fun, I wasn't particularly invested in the romance.
There were some things about the introduction of his character that irritated me, such as Charlotte insulting Des by calling him Crocodile Dundee. I'm Australian. The stereotype is super corny. I didn't love it. Also, Charlotte repeatedly mentioned his sexy Australian accent, which is whatever, but the audiobook fell short on this front. One of the narrators didn't do so well with the accent. The other had a bit of an abrupt reading style.
In any case, if I continue with the series, it will be by reading it rather than listening.
December 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! It’s like Alias (that TV series starring Jennifer Garner) but with paranormal agents! I can’t wait to read more about Dundee and Numbers!
August 18, 2024
Dual-POV paranormal romance with an urban fantasy focus
Charlotte Locke is a 35-year-old analyst for Section 47, a secret government agency that tracks down and eliminates paranormal criminals, especially terrorists. People with magical talents are labeled paramortals in this world, and ordinary humans are mortals. Charlotte's magical talent is called synesthesia. It makes her a human lie detector, warns her when there is danger anywhere near her, and allows her to easily view errors that are accidental or purposeful in accounting records and reports from other operatives. She has been working as an analyst for Section 47 for 10 years. She has always had a desk job and never been on the front lines in active danger. However, her father, Jack Locke, who was killed 15 years ago on a failed mission, was a highly skilled Section 47 assassin, which is given the title, cleaner, within the agency. Jack trained her in self-defense techniques and the use of regular and improvised weapons.
Desmond Percy is a 36-year-old cleaner within Section 47. His magical power is galvanism. He can manipulate every kind of energy, especially electrical energy, which he can use to heal as well as to kill. He is extremely fast on his feet, proficient in multiple martial art techniques, and enormously skilled with many different weapons, but his favorite weapon looks like an old-fashioned watch with a chain. The chain has a razor sharp edge that he uses to simultaneously strangle and cut the throats of evil paranormal villains. Desmond has been working for Section 47 for 11 years and is one of its top cleaners. He has killed over 50 paranormal villains in the course of his career.
Charlotte and Desmond intersect when Desmond becomes convinced that she is absolutely essential to his current mission, tracking down one of the most horrendously dangerous paranormal villains he has ever faced.
This is an entertaining, high-octane, dual-POV, paranormal romance with two strong, active MCs. It has a moderate amount of magical world-building, not enough to make it fully urban fantasy, but more UF adjacent.
There are multiple, overt homages to James Bond throughout this story. All of the cleaners wear a suit like James Bond. Desmond uses 007 as his password for his safe, and Charlotte's cynical comment on that fact tells us that the James Bond movies exist in this particular, magical universe.
The romance is slowburn, with no sex until the very end of the book. The sex scene itself has limited details, but is not quite "closed bedroom door."
I obtained access to this audiobook for the amazingly low sale price of $4.75 through my Audible membership. It is not available through Hoopla or KU.
The audiobook has a male and a female narrator. They both do a good job.
Charlotte Locke is a 35-year-old analyst for Section 47, a secret government agency that tracks down and eliminates paranormal criminals, especially terrorists. People with magical talents are labeled paramortals in this world, and ordinary humans are mortals. Charlotte's magical talent is called synesthesia. It makes her a human lie detector, warns her when there is danger anywhere near her, and allows her to easily view errors that are accidental or purposeful in accounting records and reports from other operatives. She has been working as an analyst for Section 47 for 10 years. She has always had a desk job and never been on the front lines in active danger. However, her father, Jack Locke, who was killed 15 years ago on a failed mission, was a highly skilled Section 47 assassin, which is given the title, cleaner, within the agency. Jack trained her in self-defense techniques and the use of regular and improvised weapons.
Desmond Percy is a 36-year-old cleaner within Section 47. His magical power is galvanism. He can manipulate every kind of energy, especially electrical energy, which he can use to heal as well as to kill. He is extremely fast on his feet, proficient in multiple martial art techniques, and enormously skilled with many different weapons, but his favorite weapon looks like an old-fashioned watch with a chain. The chain has a razor sharp edge that he uses to simultaneously strangle and cut the throats of evil paranormal villains. Desmond has been working for Section 47 for 11 years and is one of its top cleaners. He has killed over 50 paranormal villains in the course of his career.
Charlotte and Desmond intersect when Desmond becomes convinced that she is absolutely essential to his current mission, tracking down one of the most horrendously dangerous paranormal villains he has ever faced.
This is an entertaining, high-octane, dual-POV, paranormal romance with two strong, active MCs. It has a moderate amount of magical world-building, not enough to make it fully urban fantasy, but more UF adjacent.
There are multiple, overt homages to James Bond throughout this story. All of the cleaners wear a suit like James Bond. Desmond uses 007 as his password for his safe, and Charlotte's cynical comment on that fact tells us that the James Bond movies exist in this particular, magical universe.
The romance is slowburn, with no sex until the very end of the book. The sex scene itself has limited details, but is not quite "closed bedroom door."
I obtained access to this audiobook for the amazingly low sale price of $4.75 through my Audible membership. It is not available through Hoopla or KU.
The audiobook has a male and a female narrator. They both do a good job.
November 22, 2021
I finished another of Jennifer’s series this year and when I saw this was book 1 of a new series I was tentative to give it a try but knew I needed to.
I am so glad I did!
I loved Charlotte her power and magic are unique the fact that no one knows exactly how good she is well that is just epic really.
We also meet Desmond and he plays a big role in this book and I think the series.
These two have that want to trust each other but not sure if they can.
The back and forth is interesting.
I want more! I loved the narration it was perfect for it and I am glad the narrators sound like the characters!!
I am so glad I did!
I loved Charlotte her power and magic are unique the fact that no one knows exactly how good she is well that is just epic really.
We also meet Desmond and he plays a big role in this book and I think the series.
These two have that want to trust each other but not sure if they can.
The back and forth is interesting.
I want more! I loved the narration it was perfect for it and I am glad the narrators sound like the characters!!
September 15, 2022
Sehr cool!
Hatte viel Spaß mit dem Buch und es kam genau richtig - war so richtig in Stimmung für Urban Fantasy mit Romance.
Jennifer Estep schreibt in einem flotten Tempo mit einer wunderbar bildlichen und leichten Sprache. Man fühlt sich unterhalten, es wird gut erklärt und man hat alles super vor Augen.
Hier und da kamen noch einige Action-Szenen rein, dazwischen eine Liebesromanze, nicht zu vergessen die gut ausgebaute Fantasy Welt in unserer heutigen Zeit und mein Wochenende war gerettet.
Freue mich schon auf die Fortsetzung!
Hatte viel Spaß mit dem Buch und es kam genau richtig - war so richtig in Stimmung für Urban Fantasy mit Romance.
Jennifer Estep schreibt in einem flotten Tempo mit einer wunderbar bildlichen und leichten Sprache. Man fühlt sich unterhalten, es wird gut erklärt und man hat alles super vor Augen.
Hier und da kamen noch einige Action-Szenen rein, dazwischen eine Liebesromanze, nicht zu vergessen die gut ausgebaute Fantasy Welt in unserer heutigen Zeit und mein Wochenende war gerettet.
Freue mich schon auf die Fortsetzung!
November 10, 2021
Loved this book, this world was so interesting, and I loved these characters and her brains and his skills, and they were a great partnership, and I can't wait for more!
September 28, 2025
3,5 ⭐️
Irgendwie hatte mich die Geschichte am Anfang gar nicht aber das wurde immer besser
Mochte Charlotte und Desmond schon aber hab die Tension nur so halb gecheckt
Irgendwie hatte mich die Geschichte am Anfang gar nicht aber das wurde immer besser
Mochte Charlotte und Desmond schon aber hab die Tension nur so halb gecheckt
November 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this fun read! Well thought out plot, though I spotted the two moles right off!
July 3, 2022
Ein neues Buch meiner Lieblingsautorin, da komme ich natürlich nicht drumherum es zu lesen.
Mir hat das Setting und die beiden Charaktere, Desmond und Charlotte, sehr gut gefallen. Ich fand die Idee mit den Fähigkeiten und wie sie funktionieren interessant und spannend.
Das beide zusammenarbeiten begeistert Charlotte erstmal so gar nicht. Beide haben gewisse Vorurteile dem anderen gegenüber, aber wer zusammenarbeitet, der lernt sich auch besser kennen.
Mir hat gefallen, dass die Handlung aus der Sicht von beiden geschrieben wurde. Sie war spannend, actionreich und humorvoll.
Ich bin gespannt wie es für die beiden weiter geht.
Mir hat das Setting und die beiden Charaktere, Desmond und Charlotte, sehr gut gefallen. Ich fand die Idee mit den Fähigkeiten und wie sie funktionieren interessant und spannend.
Das beide zusammenarbeiten begeistert Charlotte erstmal so gar nicht. Beide haben gewisse Vorurteile dem anderen gegenüber, aber wer zusammenarbeitet, der lernt sich auch besser kennen.
Mir hat gefallen, dass die Handlung aus der Sicht von beiden geschrieben wurde. Sie war spannend, actionreich und humorvoll.
Ich bin gespannt wie es für die beiden weiter geht.
October 7, 2023
4,5 ⭐
December 13, 2021
The quiet ones always get you. This new series by Ms. Estep pulls me into a Jason Bourne world filled with paranormals. Or is it a James Bond world filled with paranormals? Either way, prepare yourself for intrigue, snarky comments, angry analysts, and betrayal.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
November 27, 2020
A Sense of Danger is a new, audiobook-only, standalone romance from urban fantasy author Jennifer Estep. The paranormal spy-thriller centers on Section 47, a secret government-type agency that monitors and takes out the paramoral terrorists of the world. Charlotte is an analyst whose magic allows her to see errors in spreadsheets, reports, etc. She’s been tracking a dangerous weapons maker, but her recently deceased boss kept passing her work off as his own, so now Charlotte is hoping to get some recognition for her work.
Desmond is one of the agency’s top cleaners, an assassin. His best friend and their entire team was killed on his last mission, and now he’s looking for revenge. He’s in DC, hoping Charlotte’s intelligence and abilities can help him take down those who betrayed him. The pair doesn’t always get along, but they find a way to work together.
A Sense of Danger brings together the action of a military/suspense romance and the magic of an urban fantasy, creating a wonderful blend I haven’t read in a few years. I really like Charlotte: hard working, smart, and sassy. She makes some hard choices, but does everything out of loyalty and for the betterment of the world. She’s had some tough breaks in her life, but she doesn’t let it get her down.
Desmond is suave and confident, but he isn’t quite sure Charlotte will help him. Yet with the truth, he is able to win her over. Of course, each is attracted to the other, but the book is more about the mission than falling in love. I enjoyed listening to the pair put the pieces together and make the connections necessary to succeed. I was a bit disappointed that Charlotte takes actions behind Desmond’s back, but his acceptance and trust are part of his personal growth and necessary for a relationship between the pair.
The mission is exciting, but the bad guys fell a bit flat. I pretty much guessed who was responsible for the betrayals right from the beginning, which is fine; however, once it is revealed, I felt the characters come across a bit like the bad guy cliches or a comic book villain.
Narration: The story is shared in the alternating first person POVs of Charlotte and Desmond, with Ms. Laser taking the lead on Charlotte’s POVs and Mr. Cartwright for Desmond. Overall, the story flows well and the narration is strong. Ms. Laser does a great job with Charlotte’s southern accent, and easily shifts to other dialects and accents during dialogue. She provides plenty of emotion and modulates her voice to suit a character’s gender, age, and persona. I liked her version of Desmond’s Australian accent.
On the other hand, I wasn’t wow’d by Mr. Cartwright’s performance. I will preface my comments by noting I listened to the book at 1.3x playback speed, which worked for me most of the time. However, Mr. Cartwright’s cadence was noticeably altered by the faster speed. His narration has a robotic feel like he over-annunciates every word, pausing a lot. When I slowed down the speed to 1x, his work smoothed out some and his Australian accent came through more clearly, but his words were drawn out and continued to have a clipped edge. With that said, I liked his dialogue for the other characters, especially Charlotte. He successfully alters his performance to suit her southern accent and other American-based accents.
A Sense of Danger kicks off a potential new series, but the author hasn’t committed to more books at this time. It is a standalone story, so no frets over a cliffhanger ending. I enjoyed the mix of spy-action suspense and paranormal abilities, so I for one, hope Ms. Estep writes more!
Story: B-
Female: B+
Male: C+
Desmond is one of the agency’s top cleaners, an assassin. His best friend and their entire team was killed on his last mission, and now he’s looking for revenge. He’s in DC, hoping Charlotte’s intelligence and abilities can help him take down those who betrayed him. The pair doesn’t always get along, but they find a way to work together.
A Sense of Danger brings together the action of a military/suspense romance and the magic of an urban fantasy, creating a wonderful blend I haven’t read in a few years. I really like Charlotte: hard working, smart, and sassy. She makes some hard choices, but does everything out of loyalty and for the betterment of the world. She’s had some tough breaks in her life, but she doesn’t let it get her down.
Desmond is suave and confident, but he isn’t quite sure Charlotte will help him. Yet with the truth, he is able to win her over. Of course, each is attracted to the other, but the book is more about the mission than falling in love. I enjoyed listening to the pair put the pieces together and make the connections necessary to succeed. I was a bit disappointed that Charlotte takes actions behind Desmond’s back, but his acceptance and trust are part of his personal growth and necessary for a relationship between the pair.
The mission is exciting, but the bad guys fell a bit flat. I pretty much guessed who was responsible for the betrayals right from the beginning, which is fine; however, once it is revealed, I felt the characters come across a bit like the bad guy cliches or a comic book villain.
Narration: The story is shared in the alternating first person POVs of Charlotte and Desmond, with Ms. Laser taking the lead on Charlotte’s POVs and Mr. Cartwright for Desmond. Overall, the story flows well and the narration is strong. Ms. Laser does a great job with Charlotte’s southern accent, and easily shifts to other dialects and accents during dialogue. She provides plenty of emotion and modulates her voice to suit a character’s gender, age, and persona. I liked her version of Desmond’s Australian accent.
On the other hand, I wasn’t wow’d by Mr. Cartwright’s performance. I will preface my comments by noting I listened to the book at 1.3x playback speed, which worked for me most of the time. However, Mr. Cartwright’s cadence was noticeably altered by the faster speed. His narration has a robotic feel like he over-annunciates every word, pausing a lot. When I slowed down the speed to 1x, his work smoothed out some and his Australian accent came through more clearly, but his words were drawn out and continued to have a clipped edge. With that said, I liked his dialogue for the other characters, especially Charlotte. He successfully alters his performance to suit her southern accent and other American-based accents.
A Sense of Danger kicks off a potential new series, but the author hasn’t committed to more books at this time. It is a standalone story, so no frets over a cliffhanger ending. I enjoyed the mix of spy-action suspense and paranormal abilities, so I for one, hope Ms. Estep writes more!
Story: B-
Female: B+
Male: C+
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