Strangers in Budapest
Book Review - Strangers in Budapest by Jessica Keener
Annie and Will moved to Budapest to start fresh with their newly adopted son. Eight months after they moved, friends back in the United States ask them to check in on an elderly man, Edward Weiss. He is a fiercely private man, but comes to confide in Annie that he is in Budapest to exact revenge on his son-in-law who Edward claims killed his daughter. Edward seeks Annie's help in finding his son-in-law who happens to be a man who is assisting as a translator in a business transaction Will is a part of. Is the man keeping close tabs on Edward's acquaintances or was it just coincidence? Was Edward's daughter really murdered or is this a grieving father's need to blame someone for her death?
I did NOT see the ending of this book coming. Things escalate quickly and bam! a twist that changes the direction of the book and the ending to their story. My favorite part of this book was the beautiful writing and the descriptions of the city of Budapest - it made me want to visit the city and see the river that divides it into the Buda side and the Pest side. I would love to see the architecture and the historic sites.
Rarely do I have a strong dislike for a character, but Annie was infuriating. She acted recklessly and she was a bit naive. There were many opportunities for her to change the course of direction which would have led to a better outcome. She was constantly warned by her husband to not get involved with Edward's private matters. Even Edward cautioned her against getting involved. But Annie was a bit of a meddler and she just couldn't mind her own business.
Due to time constraints, I listened to part of this book via Audible. I thought Amy Landon, the narrator, did a wonderful job performing this book. There were a few of her male voices that weren't as strong, but she had several different characters to perform and it is difficult to change your voice for each one. Overall, I was very satisfied with her performance and would definitely listen to other books narrated by her.
Stay tuned on Thursday - I'm interview the author of Strangers in Budapest, Jessica Keener!
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