Serenity Jones is a psychic - the real deal. She knew she could see ghosts when she was small and she saw a boy stealing her things from her room. Her mother didn't believe her, but despite this, Serenity becomes a famous tv personality with her own show.

Her skills are legendary, with the help of two spirit guides. But one reading changes everything. A distraught young mother has lost her husband in the Iraq war, and she just wants to hear words of love from him.

What everyone hears is not what anyone suspected, and the flow on effects afterwards are particularly damaging to Serenity herself. She makes her own mistakes at this time and is trying to undo a problem with her spirit guides.

This is the first story I have read by Jodi Picoult - even though she is incredibly popular in New Zealand. This is a short story and I did enjoy it - although the ending is left quite open. I could've read an entire novel on the reading Serenity did and the fallout of this particular reading was entertaining.

Great writing, with humour and a little supernatural. There is a horrifying scene in there too, so watch out if you're a little squeamish.

I read this a while ago but enjoyed listening to it. The narrator was good and the plot lent itself well to this style of narration. With a listen

I was really enjoying this then it abruptly ended. Will have to look up the rest of the book! I liked the narrator and want to read more!

This started off strongly. I like Jodi Picoult's voice and how she presented the character of Serenity as someone with a genuine gift for communicating with the dead, and I loved the descriptions of her show and her two spirit guides. The story held my attention right up until things fell apart for Serenity and at that point things my engagement dipped and I didn't find the ending particularly satisfying.

I love everything Jodi writes so this was a great little novella to do with the book. It just added to the story and gave you a bit more insight into the characters. Narrator was great, really enjoyed it

Where There’s Smoke is an amazing short story, how can a character develop so much in such a short amount of time? The psychic gifts are well fleshed out and her personality shone. I really loved the story as well and definitely have done with so much more of it. I hope this is just an introduction to Serenity (main character) and more is to come.
The themes of trust, American war politics and grief are well covered. I loved the paranormal aspect the most, I felt creeped out as well as amazed.
A great short story brought to life via audio.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

Serenity became aware of her psychic gifts as a young child. She has since gone on to have a TV show where she recounts messages from the dead to their living loved ones. As Serenity seeks to increase her ratings and also her level of fame, she delivers a message that is not in the best interest of her guests.

When Serenity invites a war widow on to her show, she finds herself caught up in controversy no one saw coming. She seeks to right the damage she inadvertently caused while trying to save face.

I absolutely loved this short audiobook, listened to in on sitting on my morning walk. I wouldn't typically say that I'm a fan of magical realism and I would certainly say that I am a skeptic when it comes to mediums and psychic readings but this book drew me right in. The additional sound effects really added to the audiobook with its TV show setting and Serenity's spirit guides were a brilliant addition to the set of characters.

Thoroughly enjoyed Where There's Smoke by Jodi Picoult. A perfect read for a walk on a summers day.

I’m a fan of Jodi Picoult and was really excited to listen to Where There's Smoke. I hadn’t read Leaving Time, which features Serenity Jones, but I don’t think that that mattered. I will now go back and read this.

It’s a short listen at just over an hour, but despite its short duration it really packs a punch. Serenity is a psychic with her own successful daytime TV show. However her life is turned upside down with the fallout of one episode in which a widow seeks to connect with husband.

It was expertly narrated by Amy Finegan.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bolinda Audio, for making this audio-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really enjoyed this for what it was. I wish it was longer. It was extremely hard to write a review for this because it was so short.

If I’m being honest I haven’t read Leaving Time which was probably a mistake seeing as though this is a prequel to that buttttt I really enjoyed it and now I’m excited to go and read Leaving Time

Thanks so much for my early copy! I’m new to Jodi Picoulys books but I’m loving her books so far

This is the short story prequel to Leaving Time, another wonderful Jodi Picoult story.

This short audiobook is narrated beautifully by Amy Finegan, and I felt myself immersed alongside Serenity Jones, as she uses her psychic gift, with some of the unintended consequences.

Overall an enjoyable, and entertaining audiobook experience.

With thanks to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for this audio listening copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Jodi Picoult always has a way with words and I enjoyed listening to this short story, read compellingly by Amy Finegan.

I ‘watched’ in my mind as Serenity Jones prepares for her TV show, alongside her guides, fascinated by the unexpected turn that the show takes and the resulting impact.

An interesting quick listen.

This is a prequel short story about a character that appears in a Jodi Picoult novel, Leaving Time, Serenity, set about 10/15 years prior.

I am going to round this up to three stars, but that’s because I’m feeling generous. It is a tad short with all it has going on, but I wonder if this is something you need to read/listen after Leaving Time, as there were elements of the characters and her gifts that I do wish we had a deeper dive on. Same with the two situations that Serenity has to tackle.

I didn’t know this audiobook had a soundscape (shower running, glass shattering, etc), and I’m not convinced these added anything to the story.

I am going to read more Jodi Picoult this year (Nineteen Minutes & maybe Small Great Things [when I feel brave as this is going be heavy, I suspect]), but am I going to try Leaving Time? Not sure, but we shall see…

I'm sorry to say that I was disappointed with this short story. I am surprised that it was written by Jodi Picoult as it didn't seem her style of writing. The sound effects did nothing for me and the knocking actually made me jump at one point.
This is apparently a prequel to the author's next book which I will in fact look out for because it's maybe that I just don't like short stories.

Narrated by Amy Finegan
Presented by Bolinda Audio

Definitely too short, but apparently there's a novel coming soon featuring this character so that would make more sense.

I enjoyed this, but it definitely ended too soon. The focus here is on the consequences of actions, and there's definitely enough to the story that a full length novel could be had from it. Serenity is a psychic, and I liked how it was done. I'd be curious to know more about this character, though admittedly she wasn't particularly likeable.

The narrator did a great job of the characters, though the 'immersive experience' sound effects were hit and miss. Some really added to the listening experience but others - for example, the contrived sound of footsteps - seemed more gimmicky than anything. Still, it was an easy listen and the sound effects gave it something a little different.

Overall, I did enjoy this listen though it wasn't particularly memorable. An easy way to spend an hour or so, though I'd be interested in the follow up novel to add more to this short story.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

I’m a big Jodi Pocoult fan, and I haven’t read a single book of hers that I don’t like. Given the opportunity to listen to this as an audiobook ARC, I jumped!

The story is a good length, and was well written. The narrator was also pretty good. This, from what I can tell, is a prequel to an already-released book, which I plan on hunting out now I’ve finished this one.

Yet again, Jodi has an amazing ability to surround the reader/listener. I especially enjoyed being able to lie back, close my eyes and listen as the words created images in my mind.

In comparison to Jodi’s other books, it’s by no means her best (in my opinion!), but is still up there as a good read!

Where There's Smoke by Jodi Picoult and narrated by Amy Finegan was a great quick listen to. I really enjoyed this audiobook. The only problem with it I want more and I love all of Jodi's books, she is a great Storyteller and all her books have been a 5 star read.

Big thank you NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for my ARC.

A fantastic quick read. Only problem now is I want more!!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook in return for a fair and honest review

A short story about Serenity Jones from a previous novel, Leaving Time, and how she used her psychic gift. After meeting a young war widow, Serenity finds the lost soldier however this appears to be the first step in her life being thrown in to chaos.

It was an interesting idea and I enjoyed the extra effects to try and immerse the listener but overall I was left feeling like something was missing. I felt like the narrator really worked for the characters and added to the listening experience.
I am really happy and grateful to have received this short story to give my thoughts, thank you NetGalley and Bolinda Audio

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧

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I want to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book. I'm a huge fan of Jodi Picoult so I was excited to listen to this one.

It's been quite a few years since I read Leaving Time so my memory is a little foggy, if anything this short story made me want to read it again.

From what I do remember of Leaving Time, Serenity Jones was an interesting character and I did want to know more about her. This short story tells us how she came to be and her rise to fame.

It was entertaining, enjoyable and tense. I wish it hadn't ended so quickly but that defeats the point of a short story.

I was blown away by this audiobook. The background sounds and enhancements really brought the whole story to life. It’s quite a dark book, about ghosts and spirits. It’s really freaky when the background noises start as it feels like you’re right there in the spirit vision.
Loved this book.