Another stellar performance with a story that doesn't match up

it's hard to pull the same trick twice. while the predecessor book "everyone in my family has killed someone" managed to weave the meta narrative of "being an author, writing a book on being an author" and "being a mystery novel" the sequel struggles to capture the same.

The book spends a lot of time being a sequel, discussing the downsides of being a sequel and ruminating on the fact it's a sequel. This is to frame the protagonists arc and is important to the story, but it still makes for a lackluster first act.

Characters, not as memorable as the first with each not getting their own time in the spotlight, the book felt like it had a rough start, a middle act that was too bloated and a final act that, while great, took too long to start and sidelined a lot of it's characters.

The overall whodunnit is well played out and interestingly paced, as a set, the mystery carries the story, but everything surrounding the mystery left me wanting.

None of this however is a slight to the absolutely fantastic performance by Barton Welch, who sells the "author writing their life, aware it's a book" fantastically.

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Excellent story, poor narration

This book was excellent, possibly better than the first.

The only blip was the narration, mostly it was fine but the attempt at Scottish and Irish accents were painful. To all non-Scottish or Irish narrators, you can’t do the accents, stop trying.

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Fun! As good as the first.

I like the fun style of the author interacting with the reader. Great narration again! Suggest to anyone who hasn’t read the first to do them in sequence to avoid any spoilers.

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Didn’t want it to end

Excellent book. The narration as well as the story. So good, with lots of twists. Can’t wait for the next one!

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Same excellent humour and mystery from book 1

Loved it! Such a fun read! Great mystery, lots of self distance and humour. More!!!

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you need to have read the first book

Not sure if i zoned out whilst listening to this book or just found it boring. The end was good but not sure it was worth the effort to get there. Still a good format and I like the way he narrates, just a bit obvious and boring. You do need to have read the first book to read this one but then this isn't as good as the first sadly.

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Great narrator, fun mystery

Although this author has a relaxed, humorous style which I love, his main character Ernest is beginning to annoy me! He’s a little too smug but Barton Welch’s superb narration saves the day and makes an otherwise irritating character likeable. This series lacks the cleverness and suspense of Stevenson’s other books but it’s an enjoyable listen.

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Sadly dsappointed. Not as good as EIMFHKS

Love Barton Welch as a narrator. His intonation and text interpretation is brilliant. Scottish accent made me chuckle but then I'm rubbish at accents, so I will let that slide!

Now, the story. I devoured EIMFHKS. I couldn't stop listening. This book I just couldn't get into. It was disjointed and just didn't flow. I couldn't follow it and it didn't make sense.

I absolutely love the writing style and it hasn't put me off reading other books by Benjamin Stevens, I was just really disappointed after pre-ordering EOTTIAS, it just didn't live up to my excited anticipation.

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Must-read for fans of the first

As a sequel skeptic I was quickly reminded of the strength of Stevensons’ character craft - the narrative voice is just as down to earth as in the first book, builds a satisfying web of clues, and still shocks you along the way. A master of playing with the format and subverting expectations in all the right places.

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Well worth a listen

Though this is told in a chatty, joking casual way, it is superb writing as having to remind yourself that the narrator is a character. There are also some beautiful observations of human characteristics such as couples saying their partners name multiple times but each time the meaning of why they are saying it changes. And beautiful thoughts of human nature, what it is to be a writer etc.

If you liked this check out the authors exclusive for audible shorter stories too. Just as grand and well thought out. Though you can’t beat Ernest as your narrator.

Loved it! I hear there’s a Christmas one coming too 🤞🏻

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