The Chemist

If you've ever avoided pressing the play button for fear a favorite character won't survive the chapter, this audiobook isn't going to be comfortable listening. Early on, narrator Ellen Archer signals that Meyer's characters are on borrowed time. Alex--not her real name--is being hunted by the government that once lauded her for her ability to interrogate terrorists with chemical torture. A final assignment promises to clear Alex's name but takes an unexpected turn. Archer's urgent tone keeps listeners on high alert, and torture scenes have near physical impact. In Archer's narration, Alex's clipped tone and practical personality mix realistically with her nascent feelings of hope and wonder. And even with Archer's outstanding portrayal of Alex, secondary characters Kevin and Val still steal all their scenes, thanks to Archer's memorable voices. Pack your go bag and enter Meyer's breathless romantic suspense. C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

November 14, 2016
In this uneven adult romantic thriller from YA bestseller Meyer (the Twilight series), a woman “currently calling herself Chris Taylor,” a former operative for a secret U.S. government agency that killed her mentor, must take extraordinary steps to stay alive. The compelling opening chapters document the extreme precautions Chris employs to avoid leaving traces of her presence, as well as the sophisticated self-defense mechanisms she has devised. When Chris receives an email from Carston, a former agency colleague, she replies that she’ll meet him one week later where they first met, which turns to be an outdoor cafe in Washington, D.C. At their rendezvous, Carston persuades Chris to use her skills as a no-holds-barred inquisitor to prevent a crippling bioterrorism attack on the country. The first step is for Chris to locate Daniel Beach, who has been working with a Mexican drug lord to distribute a super-charged influenza virus. Once Chris finds Daniel, the plot plays out along predictable lines that don’t do justice to the intriguing setup. Underdrawn characterizations don’t help. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House.

April 3, 2017
Actor Archer does a great job voicing this romantic thriller from Meyer. She uses three narrative tones: neutral for the book’s third person narration; tough for when protagonist Alex, a former operative for a secret U.S. government agency that killed her mentor, is fighting to stay alive; and soft for when Alex is dreaming about or partaking in an unlikely romance. She also gives each of the secondary male characters his own clear and recognizable voice. Archer’s pacing changes in accordance with the degrees of tension of the plot—and each scene is full of devastating new threats and clever new ways of thwarting them. Meyer fans will enjoy Archer’s reading. A Little, Brown hardcover.