I listened to this book rather than read it. I like listening to books when I'm running, going on errands, or doing chores. This is my first book from this author and it was interesting enough I'd like to read (or listen to) the rest of this series!

The description of this book intrigued and it absolutely delivered! I found myself wanting to read it in every spare moment of my days/evenings until I finished it. I was surprised by the character development in a good way- sometimes thrillers focus more on the action than the characters and their backstories. This book balanced action and backstory well. Teagan's backstory is fascinating and there situations she finds herself in through the duration of this novel are not for the faint of heart. The book wrestles with complex situations from fertility to crime to career to what one will do to save the ones they love. I will not share more in order to keep it spoiler free. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!

I give the audiobook narration 4/5 because i would have enjoyed if there had been a female narrator instead of a male narrator since the book centers around Teagan. The book itself I give 4/5 because I feel like there are a lot of questions that I have unanswered, but maybe that's unfair because it is a series.

A complimentary audiobook copy was provided by via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book 17 of 2024

The New Bad Thjng by Michael Ebner
⭐️⭐️

Action is clearly not my thing.
It was so fast paced and intense that it was the sort of book you needed to listen to and finish in a day or two, so not to forget any info.
Teagan goes from one of the best journalist, to a biography writer for a wanted villain, to stone called killer.
In between all this having a child, so actually thinking about it - very strong female lead who although has a husband seems to handle it all. And when hubby does have the baby he seemed to struggle alone.
Tegan the unexpected heroine.

Thank you NetGalley, Pens and pictures for this pre release opportunity to review x @netgalley

This was a very quick read, full of action and twists, this book had a lot going on. I had the audio version of this book and the narrator was excellent, a great choice. Teagan was the unlikely brave heroine of the book, going head to head with some really scary, bad dudes. You do have to put aside reality a bit to fully immerse yourself in this book, at times I kept thinking Teagan wants a family and a baby so badly but yet she’s in these life threatening situations all over the world I wish she would just stay at home with hubby and interview her celebrities and be safe lol. I commend the author on bringing attention to human trafficking- enslaved girls and women, which is a huge humanitarian crisis. This would definitely make a great action film or series. Thank you to NetGalley, Pen and Picture and the author for the advance audio copy!

This was a quick actioned packed thriller. It felt more like a movie. I listened to the audio version and felt the narration was spot on with the action scenes and emotions. This was about a terrorist/crime organization and how this journalist gets mixed up in them trying to help share someone’s story.

I’ve never read an action/thriller before and it was really interesting to picture the story unfolding.
I loved all the detail, as well as the main character and her journey to motherhood + protecting her family!!

Hit the ground running and never really stopped for breath!
If you love those old school thriller movies that are action filled, never a dull scene…this is for you!
I was gifted the audio via NetGalley and listened to it in one day. The narrator was perfect for this I felt, and I loved Tegan’s character, I thought she was very realistically written (within the world of the book)

Honestly if your wanting a fun ride, a good fast time definitely pick this one up!

3.5stars

I enjoyed listening to this, (when my NG Shelf was working!). So after technical difficulties I did like this book. It is well narrated. The narrator uses perfect voices and tone and I really appreciated the pace.

I wasn't too keen on the espionage element - whilst I knew this was part of the story going in - it's in the blurb - I felt it was a bit too dry for me. It felt a bit like Codename Villanelle, but less kill-y. Hard to describe.

Happy to have read it, but probably won't continue the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I found this book interesting but a little hard to get into. I struggled to get my head around the book at first, I’m not sure whether I missed it with listening to the audiobook or just that the distinguishing wasn’t clear but I found it difficult to tell when flashbacks were happening at first. After I figured it out it did make sense and I can kind of understand the motivations behind most of the characters actions. It ends on a cliffhanger and I was absolutely gutted it ended there as I can’t wait to find out what happens to the characters next.

A gripping thriller that blends elements of mystery and suspense with a dark, atmospheric setting. The novel revolves around a series of unsettling events connected to a sinister force or presence that emerges under the cover of a menacing moon. Ebner’s storytelling builds upon tension and pacing, effectively building a sense of dread and anticipation throughout the narrative.

An action-packed page-turner that includes dynamic shootouts along with deep, resonant soul-searching.

The New Bad Thing is a fictional mystery/thriller revolving around spies, terrorism, and maternity. This story focuses on a revolving cast of characters, but mainly focuses on Teagan. Teagan, a former successful journalist, starts to want a change and make a difference in the world around her. Teagan then starts a project once she hears of a foreign news story, she then sets off on her adventure to Paris, leaving her husband behind in the states. She is then caught in a terrorist act. Once she is safe from the terrorist act, she is taken to a police station to be questioned, which then slowly becomes an interrogation by our other character, Robert Lexington. Teagan is being questioned because she is the only one that has seen Roman. An upper leader in the terrorist group – in years. Teagan is then recruited by Lexington to help locate Roman (yet another character in the cast). In return for this, Teagan will be exonerated from her legal consequences of her ‘project’ she embarked on.

The New Bad Thing was an enjoyable book, albeit a bit on the average side. The writing in the book is not much different than that in the description. It is very easy to get lost in the plot, and have absolutely no idea what is going on if you don’t pay attention and use a whole bunch of context clues to jump to hopefully a correct conclusion. It did not really feel like the beginning of a series for me, but more of a middle with how out of sorts some of the information is. There is not a whole lot of information given to you from the beginning. Along with the small amount of information, there is not much explanation of why.

Teagan and her husband are trying for a baby again after a miscarriage, despite being told nothing was wrong with them in order to have a baby. There are large themes of miscarriages, baby loss, baby endangerment, etc. This is not mentioned in the synopsis and I feel like it should be so readers can truly know what they are getting into.

The narrator Braden Wright was a great narrator and very clear. However for a book mostly surrounding a woman, it was interesting to have a more masculine voice do the narration.

This story is full of action, as you would expect a Italian mafia thriller/crime book to be. I never was truly captivated by it, but I am usually not a very good ‘suspend my beliefs’ reader when it comes to thrillers. I thought it was a pretty average book overall, nothing amazing to make me think high of it, but nothing really bad to think lowly of it. It was acceptable, but I won’t be continuing on in the series. I think Michael Ebner did a fantastic job with an espionage action, just not the realism or having clear past and present chapters.

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 4*
Writing skill : 4*
Characters : 4*
Plot: 4*
Narration: 5*

Well I just devoured this audiobook in an afternoon. Loved everything about this book, and happy to see there is a second one due to be published later this year.
The narration was the stand out aspect of this ARC, I may have struggled with pronunciations of some of the Italian names and places had I been reading this with my eyes.
Great Introductionto a new series!

This book is an international political thriller with a strong female protagonist. She is having fertility issues and decides to get her mind off the laborious treatments by throwing herself into a cause that turns out to be iffy. Next she is in big trouble with the feds as she is tasked with finding an old friend.
This book is full of surprises and quite thrilling as she fights with all her might to save her little family.
Thanks to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This follows Teagan and Todd they have been trying to make a family together but after so many unsuccessful attempts Teagan decided to go to Paris to get away from it, Leaving Todd to his work. Horribly bad things seem to happen around her and she had to help the FBI find out who this was that attacked her guest and what do they want?

While I do like a good espionage story, this one got a bit convoluted and confusing for me. There was a lot going on. I pushed through as I'd received an ARC of the book from NetGalley and wanted to provide a full review. While there were parts I did enjoy, overall the story didn't grip me as much as I'd hoped.

Very different than what I expected! I will recommend this book often. Lots of ups and downs and twists and turns.

The New Bad Thing by Michael Ebner and narrated by Braden Wright is a belting thriller, packed to the brim with grit and chillingly plausible, a triumph for both author and narrator

This outstanding novel combines action and reflection seamlessly, the FMC Teagan being an endearing character, ,more Ripley-esque than Lara Croft but as dynamic as both

Highly recommended

Thank you to Netgalley, Pen and Picture, the author Michael Ebner and narrator Braden Wright for this incredible ALC. My review is left volntarily and all opinions are my own

Thank you #netgalley , the author and publisher for this advanced copy for my unbiased opinion. I got this as an Audiobook. We follow Teegan and Todd on their journey to conceive while continuing to work. Teagan’s job has her traveling for work and while she is traveling there is a global terrorist group targeting people and Teegan finds she is a target. This start out fast pasted and continued that throughout the story. It ends of a cliff hanger so I really hope I get the next one! I enjoyed this a lot. Had elements of espionage, murder, and action. The narrator did a good job keeping you engaged and listening. I look forward to the next in this series.

The New Bad Thing" by Michael Ember is a novel that delves into the complexities of human nature and the unforeseen consequences of our actions. Set in a contemporary landscape, the book weaves together themes of morality, redemption, and the often-blurred lines between right and wrong.

Ember's writing style is engaging, with a strong narrative drive that keeps readers invested in the story. The characters are well-developed, each with their own distinct personalities and backstories that add depth to the plot. The protagonist's journey is particularly compelling, as they navigate a series of moral dilemmas and personal challenges.

One of the strengths of "The New Bad Thing" is its ability to explore gray areas of ethics and decision-making. Ember does not shy away from presenting difficult situations and leaves much of the interpretation up to the reader, which can lead to thoughtful reflection and discussion.

However, the novel is not without its flaws. Some readers might find the pacing uneven, with certain sections dragging while others feel rushed. Additionally, while the ambiguity of the moral questions posed is a strength, it might also leave some readers feeling unsatisfied with the lack of clear resolution.

Overall, The New Bad Thing" is a thought-provoking read that offers a nuanced exploration of human behavior and ethical complexity. It is well-suited for readers who enjoy character-driven stories and are open to grappling with difficult questions.

I want to start by saying I listened to the audio of this book and you have to truly pay attention. There are a lot of intricate details that are crucial to the plot. There are a lot of people that are important to the conclusion of the story. With that said I found this to be quite entertaining. Teagan finds herself in quite the predicament. I felt it gave conspiracy theory vibes. I love that Teagan was willing to go through great lengths for her family. She becomes a total badass which was a little surprising to me. It is a story that you would never think could happen yet it happened to Teagan. I believe she felt this was as well. I really didn't know who I could trust in her situation. Everyone seemed so shady to me. I can honestly say I did not see the twist coming. This book was way out of my comfort zone however I ended up really enjoying it. Braden Wright was the narrator and I think he did a fantastic job!

Quotes~
Ignorance is not a defense.

Forced mafia connection, double crossed by a government official and action packed! I finished it in 1 day!!

Teagan and Todd have suffered a few miscarriages during their pursuit to start a family, causing her to feel the need to "Win" at something. Feeling unfulfilled with her job she decides to go to dive into the case of enslaved girls by a the terrorist group KIL. Telling Todd that she is going to Portland, she hops on a plane to Paris in an attempt to rescue to the girls.

She finds herself in the middle of a terrorist attack on the hotel she is staying in, After making a phone call, she finds that they are looking for her!

It’s fast paced and intense. I cant wait to read/listen the next instalment.

Ebner wrote in a way that allowed me to be personally invested in Teagan and Todd's story. The voice actor did a good job of switching between characters and ensuring that they had their own identities. This can get lost at times when telling a story in the past and present as well as from multiple character view points.