Reviewer: Tracy Jed Had to Die by Tara Sivec
Narrator: Amy McFadden
Publisher: Novel Audio
Publication Date: October 27, 2016
Format: Audiobook
Source: Audible Escape
Point-of-View: First
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Length: 8 Hours and 11 Minutes
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The happiest day of Payton Lambert's life was the day she graduated high school and watched Bald Knob, Kentucky get smaller and smaller in her rearview mirror. She wanted more for her life than a tiny town where everyone knows your business and you can’t find a decent cup of coffee for at least forty miles. Twelve years later, an unexpected phone call in the middle of the night has her packing up her life in Chicago and racing back home to the one person she ever regretted leaving behind.
Wait, one person?? Make that two. When the hell did Leo Hudson become sheriff of Bald Knob and get so hot? The scrawny Future Farmer of America who followed Payton around like a puppy and could recite cow insemination facts in his sleep is long gone. Leo is still hot on her heels, but now he's wearing a badge and dead set on solving a murder that may or may not involve Payton...along with half the town.
You steal a few wine coolers in high school and make one little comment about cutting off a man's balls when you come home, and suddenly, you're suspected of killing him.
In a town where the biggest crime happened the day Jethro Snell kicked a few of his cows (an honest mistake when you've had a few jars of homemade moonshine), people are pointing fingers, rumors are spreading like wildfire, and Payton swears she's only making out with the sweet-talking, studly sheriff to distract him from the secrets she's keeping.
When you've been tased, peed on by a yippy dog named Bo Jangles, and can't stop picturing what Sheriff Hudson looks like naked, it will be a tough job making everyone agree that...Jed had to die.
Payton Lambert got out of her hometown of Bald Knob, Kentucky the minute she could. She went to Chicago, got a degree, and now owns her own coffee shop (called Liquid Crack)…which is getting franchised! She has no plans to ever go back to Bald Knob, but all of her resolutions of the past 12 years go down the drain when she gets a call about her best friend, Emma Jo.
Emma Jo got married right out of high school and stayed married to the deceitful charmer for 12 years. During that time she’d been abused constantly. Of course, no one would have believed her if she’d told anyone, her husband is the town mayor and just an all-around good guy. Blech. He finally beats her to the point that she reaches out to Payton for help and Payton is there as fast as she can be.
Payton is not liked in her hometown. She was a troublemaker during her youth and a menace (according to the town folk) and not welcomed. She forces Emma Jo to finally get a restraining order against her husband Jed and gets the locks on her house changed.
Leo Hudson is the hot town sheriff and has got his eye on Payton. He had a crush on her in high school when he was just a skinny geek. That crush never died and now he’s not going to let her get away without making his move.
When Jed turns up dead, Emma Jo and Payton believe that something they did caused Jed’s death and they’re petrified that Leo will find out. That doesn’t stop Payton and Leo from starting something. Payton’s not sure where the relationship is going, however. If she doesn’t go to prison for Jed’s death, then she’ll be going back to Chicago to get away from the town that hates her.
This audiobook cracked me up. When I first read the blurb I figured this story was based on the song by the Dixie Chicks Goodbye Earl. It started off a little bit that way but only a bit. I liked the turn it made and found it original and hilarious.
Payton was my favorite character in this book as her sarcasm brought joy to my heart. Now, Payton and Emma Jo trying to come up with lies to try and hide what they thought they did got a bit old, but overall was pretty funny.
Amy McFadden was the narrator on this story, and I thought she did a fantastic job. She was spot on with her accents and everyone had a different one so there was no question about which character was doing the talking. I’m pretty sure she made the book that much better for me.
If you’re in the mood for a fun and funny audiobook, then this is definitely one you should pick up.
Rating: 4 out of 5