Audiobook Review: A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris

A Longer Fall
Author: Charlaine Harris
Narrator: Eva Kaminsky
Series: Gunny Rose (Book 2)
Publication: Gallery / Saga Press (January 14, 2020); Recorded Books
Length: 316 p.; 8 hours and 8 minutes

Description: #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris returns with “a gripping, twisty-turny, thrill ride of a read" (Karin Slaughter) in which Lizbeth is hired onto a new crew, transporting a crate into Dixie, the self-exiled southeast territory of the former United States. What the crate contains is something so powerful, that forces from across three territories want to possess it.

In this second thrilling installment of the Gunnie Rose series, Lizbeth Rose is hired onto a new crew for a seemingly easy protection job. She is tasked with transporting a crate into Dixie, just about the last part of the former United States of America she wants to visit. But what seemed like a straightforward job turns into a massacre as the crate is stolen. Up against a wall in Dixie, where social norms have stepped back into the last century, Lizbeth has to go undercover with an old friend to retrieve the crate as what’s inside can spark a rebellion, if she can get it back in time.

"Another winning series from a sure-bet author” (Booklist) Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse mysteries and Midnight, Texas trilogy) is at her best here, building the world of this alternate history of the United States, where magic is an acknowledged but despised power.

My Thoughts: This second book in the Gunnie Rose series finds Lizbeth working with a new crew and bringing a crate into Dixie. When their train car is bombed and attacked by people who want the case, Lizbeth manages to save it. However, one of the crew is dead and the rest including Lizbeth are injured. 

The case is stolen and the crew member guarding it has his throat cut. Lizbeth doesn't know what to do since only the leader knew who their client was but the reappearance of Eli Savarov gives her a direction to follow.

Eli was sent on this mission because he is under suspicion in the NRE. The fact that his father was a traitor to the tsar makes all of the rest of the family look suspicious. Eli is also searching for the missing crate since the HRE had sent it to support the efforts of Negroes to get more independence.

Dixie has regressed since the United States broke up. Segregation is back in full force and the lot of Negroes is not good. Lizbeth knew this because her best friend Galillee had fled Dixie to Texoma after being raped by the white man who employed her family. Lizbeth wants to see Galilee's parents to let them know how she died and to show them a picture of Galillee's new grandchild.

Lizbeth also finds that the mores of Dixie don't approve of a single, independent woman dressed in denim trousers and carrying guns. She and Eli pose as husband and wife to try to get around this, but the grigori are not very popular in Dixie either. 

This story is filled with action and intrigue. There are lots of plot twists and many characters of undetermined loyalties. All Lizbeth and Eli can do is trust in each other even though Lizbeth knows Eli isn't telling her everything. 

I liked the way the relationship grew between Eli and Lizbeth. I also liked the realistic way Lizbeth looked at the relationship. She knew it couldn't last since their lives were in two very different places. 

This is the second book in a four-book series. I'm eager to read the next for Lizbeth's further adventures. 

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.