My first exposure to Neil Turner’s stories, book 1 of the Tony Valenti Thrillers, A House on Liberty Street, was exceptional. The first chapter sets the stage for non-stop escalating action, suspense, and unexpected twists perfectly placed to grab listeners’ attention, like the click of a chambering bullet. Images of the places, characters, and events are built with precise colors and textures. Relatable characters are portrayed throughout with excellent dialogue exchanges.
Tony Valenti is a convincing character stuck picking up the pieces of his messy, convoluted life. When his professional and personal life hit rock bottom, he returned to his family home in suburban Chicago to decide on his best path. When his Italian immigrant father inexplicably shoots a police officer, Tony decides to defend his Papa, who is accused of murder. Planning the defense case, Tony uncovers enough related information on historical activities to make the rats squirm—big time. The ensuing legal showdown exposes secrets and corruption at all local government levels.
Gary Bennett turns this masterfully told story into a perfectly executed audio tale. The characters’ voices perfectly deliver the chills and thrills of A House on Liberty Street. The tonality, pace, and quality are done to prevent the listener from taking too long a break from the edge-of-the-seat wild ride.
If you are new to the stories by Neil Turner, this book will open your eyes and ears to a storyteller you should follow. Fans of well-crafted legal thrillers will seek out the additional books in this series; they are that good. Put this on your books to listen to or, at the very least, read. You won’t regret it.