If this book had stayed focused on the themes of journalistic integrity and the power of the media, it would have been a better read.

Instead it kept meandering into other vague hints of storylines dealing with the relationships and families of the characters. These threads seemed to serve no purpose other than to lead the reader into a sequel, which I have no interest in purchasing.

I do enjoy plots that involve conspiracies and this book had a strong start. Unfortunately, it was not tight enough to keep me in suspense. I would not consider the ending to be a cliffhanger since I did not care enough about the unfinished story lines to even wonder how or if the next book will complete them.

My Thoughts:
I am not typically a mystery/suspense/crime thriller kind of girl, but something about this book's description pulled me in. I do like to push outside of my boundaries now and then, and I find that even easier to do when it's an audiobook and I don't have to "fight" my way through the actual reading of it. I think the 9/11 aspect tied in with conspiracy theories idea is what really intrigued me. And boy was I right to chose this one!

Alex Vane is an interesting character who is fully fleshed out and has a somewhat complicated past. I love how much his food and fitness was part of the story, because it was part of what made him who he was. He reminds me of myself in some small ways, specifically they way of eating, and the way others look at you when you eat that way (healthy foods, lower carbs, etc.) There is also a part in the book where he is having some emotional issues and he all of a sudden starts binging on unhealthier foods. This is very true to character for a person who has gone through the whole dieting aspect and then hit a low and binged. I was very happy with how accurate certain portrayals were.

I also liked the character of Camilla. She was just as complex as Alex, maybe even more so. Both characters had some issues involving their parents, and again, they were very real with how they were portrayed and how they worked through those issues. Even the side characters are very realistic. Everyone has their own story and motives, etc., they are not there just to advance the story.

But the story, oh my the story! It was so interesting and had so many twists and turns, and that ending? Damn! I am just going to say I am intrigued enough to want to carry on with the rest of the story, and since it's available on Audible I might just have to hook that up sooner rather than later!

What to say about the story itself? It was so crazy with the twists and turns, the motivations, the whys... I honestly don't know what to say without giving things away, and this book needs to be experienced. I do have to say it is a little slow at first as it builds up the story (this is why I rated it 4 instead of 5) , but once the action starts going it never stops.

The narrator, Joe Hempel, did an amazing job with this audiobook. His use of different voices for different characters was spot on, and he always was able to emphasize the given emotions needed for each individual scene. I had no trouble listening to his smooth voice for the duration of the almost 10 hour audiobook. On Audible he has over 18 pages of books he has narrated, including all 5 of the Alex Vane series. I look forward to exploring more.

The Pros:
The characters are fully fleshed out and believable, even the side characters. I loved them all!
The story was so full of twists and turns and characters it kept me intrigued right until the end.
The narrator was amazing.

The Cons:
A little too slow in the beginning as things build up.

The Anonymous Source (The Alex Vane Media Thrillers #1) by A.C. Fuller
Narrated by: Joe Hempel
Publisher: OrangeSky Audio
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Release Date: February 23, 2021

The Anonymous Source is the first book in the The Alex Vane Media Thrillers series by A.C. Fuller. I had never read anything by the author before and now I am looking forward to diving into all his works! I'm so excited this series is being released on audiobook!

The narration by Joe Hempel was incredible! He really brought the story to life.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and likable. The plot was intense, filled with twists and turns. This book covered so much and I found it fascinating! I enjoyed the controversial topics covered (big media takeover). Set a year after 9/11, we get to relive some of the moments that occurred at the Twin Towers. I really enjoyed the perspectives that we set up and getting a glimpse into the world of a young journalist.

I will definitely be diving into this series! There are 5 books in total, which are all currently available for purchase. The first three audiobooks will be released on February 23rd and the remaining two on March 16th!

I'm so grateful to A.C. Fuller, OrangeSky Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

FIND THE SOURCE. BREAK THE STORY. STAY ALIVE.

Alex Vane--a brilliant, fitness-obsessed reporter for The New York Standard--wants nothing more than to break into the flashy world of TV news.
Alex seeks the help.from a professor, Camila Gray
They uncover a $500-million secret that could derail the largest media merger in history.

A great good. This had me hooked from the beginning and to the finish. Very hard to put down. Good story and great characters. This book held my attention throughout and kept me glued to the pages!

I really wanted to love this one, the blurb was great; I was excited!
But I found the narrator didn't differentiate the characters enough and the chapters didn't clarify who was speaking all of the time - so it was a bit confusing.


Thanks so much OrangeSky Audio, via Netgalley, for gifting me an audiobook copy.