Renee at It’s Book Talk began this meme as a way to share old favourites, as well as books that were published over a year ago. Not to mention those that are languishing on the to be read pile for whatever reason.
This week I’m revisiting Infamous by Suzanne Brockmann. The audiobook was released in 2010 by Brilliance Audio and the narrators are Patrick Lawlor and Angela Dawe.
AJ Gallagher’s great grandfather, Jamie, begins the story. He’s been appearing to AJ causing the latter and his family to wonder if he’s losing his mind. Given what he’s been through it wouldn’t have surprised anyone. Serving in the first Gulf War left AJ with PTSD and he subsequently lost a decade to alcohol. Sober now and living a quiet life in Heaven, Alaska, the last thing AJ wants is to leave his sanctuary.
Jamie has been portrayed as a thief, murderer and all round bad guy by historian Alison Carter who researched and wrote a book about one Silas Quinn. Quinn was a US Marshall and he supposedly shot and killed ‘the notorious outlaw’ Jamie ‘Kid’ Gallagher for killing, Melody, his wife and has gone down in history as a Wild West hero. Jamie Gallagher knows differently and wants AJ to put the record straight and clear his name.
For a man who’d been born nearly a hundred and thirty years ago, Jamie looked sharp. And young. He’d been ninety-one when A.J. was born, and had died the year A.J. turned ten. He’d never seen his beloved gramps without a face full of wrinkles, but aside from the very first time the ghost had appeared to A.J., he usually chose to manifest himself this way. As a man who was decades younger than A.J., which was weird. Assuming that being haunted by one’s great-grandfather’s ghost was less weird if the spirit looked like an old man.
Alison is consulting on a movie being made about Quinn in Jubilation, Arizona where all the action took place. Jamie persuades AJ to travel from Alaska to Arizona and try to convince Alison she has her facts completely wrong. The attraction between them is fairly instant but Alison is the daughter of an alcoholic mother and is wary of getting involved with someone who has a problem with alcohol, not to mention someone who sees and talks to a ghost.
During the making of the movie Alison witnesses something she doesn’t realise will put her in danger. After a murder is committed and attempts are made on her life she and AJ, with Jamie’s help, have no choice but to find out what’s going on.
The dual narration, which isn’t always my favourite thing, is actually excellent. I like Patrick Lawlor’s voice and his narrations are always solid with good character portrayals. Angela Dawe was also good with distinct voices, even the male ones. Usually I find male narrators better at female voices than females reading male voices.
A multi layered story, with Jamie’s back story, Alison and AJ’s romance and Melody’s long lost diaries documenting her first marriage and how she and Jamie got together, all woven together seamlessly. And running through it all is the question of why someone is trying to kill Alison.
The characters are rounded and very likeable. The human flaws add reality and depth and the relationships, especially between Jamie and AJ, are poignant and moving.
A. J. Gallagher didn’t crash the set in dusty Arizona to rub elbows with Hollywood’s elite. Unable to ignore ghosts from the past that refuse to stay buried, A. J. came to put an end to the false legend that has tarnished the reputation of his family. But when he confronts Alison, sparks fly. And when Alison is targeted by ruthless criminals, suddenly she and A .J. must face the intense attraction that threatens to consume them—and survive the danger that threatens their very lives.
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