Another audio book in the Joanne Kilburn mysteries series
These books can be read as a stand alone so you don't need to read them in order
I have read/listened to a few these are based in Canada and are very " Perfect Loved up family " which is a bit unbelievable but generally the mysteries make the story
That said this audio book in the series was not one of the best

I am afraid I only made it halfway before giving up. This book is so slow it almost ground to a halt. The premise is great but I felt like we were going round in circles.
I hate leaving a less than positive view and I am sure many people would love the book. Just not for me.

I love this series by Gail Bowen and would love to be a part of their family!! This in my 3rd ARC by her and I read all of the books in this series after my 1st one and I am so glad that I did! I can't wait for the next one in the series to come out so I hope she writes fast!! I appreciate how self-aware and caring her entire family is.

#TheLegacy
#NetGalley

The Legacy by Gail Bowen
Narrator, Marcia Johnson
Joanne Kilbourn book 22
I am a longtime fan of this series but the last two books have not been favorites of mine. Part of this may be that I don’t like this new narrator so much. Also with this book I felt there was some dialogue that was mainly info dumping. It seemed too much like the author was trying to clue in new readers to things that had happened in the past but putting this info into dialogue was a bit clumsy. The story was still interesting and the wedding was very touching and I still love all the friends and family but the book seemed to be missing something.

Interesting and thoughtful book - a mystery with its roots in the literary world. I appreciated the efforts to see people with disabilities in an understanding way. Most of the characters were lovely, and I enjoyed getting to know them and their pups. Then into all the charming elements come a dark and twisted story. This was an excellent audiobook.

Slow moving and focussed more on other elements rather than a mystery or thriller, so the writer lost me early into story.

Book Title: The Legacy
Series: A Joanne Kilburn Mystery
Author:: Gail Bowen
Narrator: Marcia Johnson
Publisher: ECW Press Audio
Genre: Fiction with a bit of Mystery r
Pub Date: November 10, 2023
My Rating: 4. Stars
Pages: 264

I was drawn to this story when I read the protagonist was a sixty-two mother of four and grandmother of 5. I immediately did a fist bump!
I did notice that it stated it was part of a series but no number was listed. Later discovered that this was #23!! I was sure I would be lost. But thought I would give it a try. I was immediately drawn into Joanne’s world.
True it was a bit slow but I was doing catch-up so it was fine.
One reader described it as a ‘relaxing read”- I agree!
I did love these characters!

Want to thank NetGalley and ECW Press Audio this enjoyable audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 10 2023

I didn’t enjoy much about this book and thought the dialogue clunky and quite unrealistic. The plot didn’t engage with me and I was glad to get to the end.

'The Legacy' is somewhere between general fiction and a mystery - slow moving and veering off on character tangents unrelated to the central mystery, it didn't quite have the page-turning energy expected from a mystery, nor the artful way with language I expect from literary fiction. That said, the characters are likable and the writing and settings are pleasant in a comfortable, upper class American slice of life way.

Dialogue is not this slow-moving book's strength, unfortunately... a lot of it is stilted and some of it just flat-out expositional. Example: a long-time married couple saying something along the lines of "Bob, who has been my friend for 15 years," when they both are completely aware of who Bob is and what his relation is. I think dialogue is the main thing that held the writing back from being satisfying as a work of literary fiction.

Despite the book's shortcomings, Gail Bowen is a competent writer and I would read books by her again.

Thanks, NetGalley and ECW Press, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.