A wonderful holiday cozy with surprising depth

Which character – as performed by Donna Postel – was your favorite?

The heroine, Raine Stockton, was a very appealing character on many levels.

Any additional comments?

Christmas cozies have become an industry unto themselves and to do my part for the economy, I try to read one every December. Often they're a disappointment but "Silent Night," the fifth volume in the Raine Stockton Dog Mysteries, was a welcome surprise.

Stockton and her search and rescue dog Cisco live in a small North Carolina town. This is, of course, a murder mystery, but in addition to a murder, there's a child in a manger, romance, the Smokey Mountains in winter, history, possible spies, social conscience, surprisingly excellent action, and puppies. Stockton has the best description of heartache after a divorce I've ever read and her sympathy for rural people in an area with decreasing economic options is heart-felt. This is not, however, a grim read. It is a delightful Christmas cozy with a very appealing heroine, an engrossing and meaningful plot, and puppies. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

3 people found this helpful

Christmas Crime

Raine Stockton is preparing for Christmas in Hanover County and it isn't exactly a season to be jolly. She can't afford to complete the renovations on her kennel and dog run, she's finally divorced and her ex Buck Lawson has a new love interest. Raine herself is in the process of starting a new relationship; maybe. Miles Young is interested in Raine and she him; maybe. All that was before his ten year old daughter showed up in Hansonville with an attitude and a mouth. Add to that everyone she usually celebrates Christmas with is leaving for the holidays. Not to mention that someone is stealing all the baby Jesus' in town. Oh yes three Golden Retriever puppies are left at her house.
Then she finds a live baby in the manger at the Christmas Pageant and things become even more serious. Naturally between Buck, Raine and her own Golden Cisco solve all the crimes and Christmas is merry for all.
The Raine Stockton dog mysteries are a sweet pleasant listening experience that I share with my overgrown kid of a daughter. Her attitudes echo the old south and her feelings about her dogs is touching. A great shared experience for us.

7 people found this helpful

Great story ..even better narrator!

Would you consider the audio edition of Silent Night to be better than the print version?

Yes the narrator brought this story to life!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Silent Night?

The bonding between Melody and our maim character!

Have you listened to any of Donna Postel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No unfortunately this was the first not I have listened toamy so I am not easily pressed.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed and cryed and was drawn in deep into the story.

Any additional comments?

Great narrator!

2 people found this helpful

A fun read

I enjoyed this mystery. The dogs add a fun twist to the story line. The Dialog is well written.

1 person found this helpful

For the dog lover

Can’t go wrong with Donna Ball if you’re an animal enthusiasts she makes the dogs so real it like a movie playing in your head Story was a little to predictable but still a fun read

1 person found this helpful

Ms. Ball is now 1 of my favorite authors!

I love this series, and Dogleg Island series as well. Ms Ball spins suspense with romance and characters that are believable. Once you start listening, you're hooked! If you're a dog lover and appreciate a good suspense story mixed with romance and human emotions, you're going to love Donna Ball's books! She will not disappoint you!

1 person found this helpful

it ends with a kiss!

murder/mayhem + mystery /romance +(Dogs)= One terrific book! And one very very satisfied reader indeed!

1 person found this helpful

A Wonderful Cozy Mystery!

Raine Stockton has many wild stories, past & present about her search & rescue dog, Cisco. Raine runs a dog training business and fosters several other dogs with humorous personalities. We get to follow along with the escape artists (Magic, Mystery & Mischief), Raine's foster dogs, all while a new dangerous mystery gets solved.

In Silent Night, a murder and a mysterious kidnapped baby evolve with Raine unknowingly in the middle of it all. Raine also appears to be falling for Miles & his daughter Melanie.
Silent Night is a cozy, witty mystery packed with humor, adventure and danger all surrounded by Christmas. The author, Donna Bell got my attention shortly after the story started with her wonderful dog tales and held my interest through out the entire story. The narrator, Donna Postel tells the story in a humorous way with lots of voices, that only added even more charm to this book! Kudos to both ladies for doing such a fine job. This book was very enjoyable.

1 person found this helpful

wonderful book, but not 3rd in the series

What made the experience of listening to Silent Night the most enjoyable?

the narrator is wonderful, just how I imagined the character to sound.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I've read these books on my kindle and have loved every one of them. each plot is well thought out and described.
this book is actually the fifth in the series though, they're missing "Gun Shy", and "Bone Yard"

Have you listened to any of Donna Postel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I listened to the first two of this series that were released and can't wait for more to come.

1 person found this helpful

Buy it for a great Christmas (or anytime) read

Publisher Summary

It's Christmas time, and for Raine Stockton and her Search and Rescue dog, Cisco, Hansonville, North Carolina is just like a Norman Rockwell painting - except for the rash of thefts of baby Jesus figurines from nativity scenes, an abandoned box of golden retriever puppies that someone leaves beside her mailbox, and a mysterious gift from one of Cisco's a grateful admirers. Raine already has her hands full with her own misbehaving pooches, unexpected house guests, and a complicated new relationship. But when a newborn is abandoned in the manger of the town's living nativity and Raine walks in on what appears to be the scene of a murder, she has more to worry about than keeping the Christmas spirit alive.
©2011 Donna Ball (P)2014 Donna Ball

My Review

Prior to "Silent Night" I hadn't read any in the Raine Stockton Dog Mystery series, I was assured however, that this Christmas story can be read as a stand alone. This is true, but I enjoyed it so much I wish I had started from Book One!
This is a story that hooks you in from the very beginning, I found the first chapter engrossing, chilling and full of the anticipation of something about to happen! Well, it certainly did, but not quite as I expected, which only added to my enjoyment.
Raine, our heroine is quite a woman, she is doing it really tough at the moment, suffering financial hardships and a degree of emotional turmoil. Her old love has a new love and this takes some getting used to, a bit more difficult perhaps than Raine had expected. I thought the author added a clever little touch when she mentions the way way in which the male colleagues of Raines ex now felt entitled to treat her with disrespect. Now, they somehow feel no compunction in being rude and snubbing her whenever they get the chance, this, despite the fact that Buck, her ex, treats her respectfully.

I loved how Raine, more used to dogs than children, adapted her dog training methods to modify the behaviour of a very unhappy little girl - the 10 year old child of her very new love interest. These methods worked too, (along with lots of human and puppy love thrown in).
This story moves along well, plenty of action to keep the listener interested, it's a Christmas feel good story, and also a darned good mystery.


Narration

It never takes too long for the listener to know when they have found a new gem! Donna Postel is my new gem, I am a fussy listener, for me, the narrator is the most important element of an audiobook. Donna is master of narrative and of characterisation, no overacting here, a class act all the way. Talent and experience are the magic combination here, Donna is now in my top three favourite narrators, I think I make myself clear!

2 people found this helpful