Gina Rae Mitchell

The Axe by Linda Griffin

A virtual book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.

Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me with the information for this tour.

Quick Summary

The Axe by Linda Griffin is a gripping thriller that will captivate fans of twisty mysteries and dark suspense, particularly those who enjoy exploring the complexities of trauma, relationships, and the blurred lines between truth and deception.

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The Axe by Linda Griffin [Audiobook Review ~ Author Interview ~ $25 Starbucks Gift card] #CrimeThriller #MurderMystery #iReadBookTours @LindaGriffinAuthor @WildRosePress

Book Details

The Axe by Linda Griffin
Published by The Wild Rose Press on 09/27/2023
Genres: Adult Fiction 18+
Format: Audiobook, eBook
Pages: 66

Sweethearts Eric Leidheldt and Desiree Chauveau are spending a weekend at his uncle's cabin when they encounter two strangers cutting wood. Eric is knocked unconscious, and Desi is viciously attacked.

The following day two police officers come to their apartment to arrest Desi. Her assailants are dead, murdered with an axe, and her fingerprints are on it. She confesses—but is she really guilty?

Eric is determined to stand by her, but the physical and emotional effects of the attack severely challenge their relationship.

Content Rating: PG-13. A few f-words. Sexual violence & murder that is not depicted but is described by the victim (not explicitly) may trigger some listeners.

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Purchase Links for The Axe

Sale

The Axe

• Audible Audiobook
• Linda Griffin (Author) - Eric Priessman (Narrator)
• English (Publication Language)
• 07/08/2024 (Publication Date) - Linda Griffin (Publisher)

$6.95 −$0.87 $6.08

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Kindle Edition

If the above link does not route you to your country’s Amazon page for The Axe, please let me know, and I’ll gladly get you a link.

Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount from their share, and every penny helps support this blog.

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The Axe Audiobook Trailer

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My thoughts on The Axe

From the very first words, this audiobook had me hitting the pause button. The opening was so intense that I was genuinely unsure if I was the right reader for this tale.

But just a few minutes later, there I was, pressing play again. I couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d heard. I had to know more.

Linda Griffin has packed a meaningful, suspense-filled story into this short listen (or read, if that’s more your style). It’s incredible how she fits such a gripping tale into a novella. The narrative grabs you immediately, and the tension doesn’t stop until the end.

Were there moments when I had to pause and collect myself? Oh, absolutely! Some scenes were so intense I needed a breather to let me catch my breath. But each pause only made me more eager to jump back in. The suspense is brilliantly done, and the plot twists kept me on my toes.

Would I skip even a second of this thriller? Absolutely NOT! Every moment was worth it. The writing is masterful, pulling you in and not letting go. Griffin’s talent for creating atmosphere is evident in every chapter. The characters feel real, and the stakes are high.

The narrator was spot on. Their voice added a layer of tension and intrigue, making the audiobook even more immersive. It’s like the narration and Griffin’s storytelling were made for each other.

If you’re worried about content, trust your instincts. I’m a bit of a squeamish reader myself, and yet, I couldn’t put this book down. Despite my initial doubts, the story’s pull was too strong to resist. It’s a genre-bending novella that blends crime and thriller with a psychological depth that’s hard to find.

Ultimately, The Axe by Linda Griffin is a powerful, suspenseful read that will keep you hooked. Whether you listen or read, this story is unforgettable. Don’t be surprised if you need to catch your breath, only to dive right back in.

I have reviewed several Linda Griffin stories over the years. Each is special in its own way, but The Axe is probably the most powerful book she’s written yet.

I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

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I love to read books through my  Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription. 

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About Linda Griffin

Linda Griffin:

I was born and raised in San Diego, California, and earned a BA in English from San Diego State University and an MLS from UCLA. I began my career as a reference and collection development librarian in the Art and Music Section of the San Diego Public Library and then transferred to the Literature and Languages Section, where I had the pleasure of managing the Central Library’s Fiction collection and initiating fiction order lists for the entire library system. Although I also enjoy reading biography, memoir, and history, fiction remains my first love. In addition to the three R’s—reading, writing, and research—I enjoy Scrabble, movies, and travel.

My earliest ambition was to be a “book maker” and I wrote my first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” with a plot stolen from a comic book, at the age of six. I broke into print in college with a story in the San Diego State University literary journal, The Phoenix, but most of my magazine publications came after I left the library to spend more time on my writing

My stories have been published in numerous journals, including Eclectica, Thema Literary Journal, The Binnacle, The Nassau Review, Orbis, and Avalon Literary Review, and in the anthologies Short Story America, Vol. 2, The Captive and the Dead, and Australia Burns. Four stories, including one as yet unpublished, received honorable mention in the Short Story America Prize for Short Fiction contests.

Member of RWA and Authors Guild

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Twitter

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Author Interview

Do you remember the first story you ever read and the impact it had on you?                              

I’ll never forget it! I believe the title was Fun with Dick and Jane, the elementary school reader. I loved it (or the joy of reading) so much that I read it aloud to everyone in the house, including two captive kittens, one under each arm, and then I read it backwards! I dedicated The Rebound Effect to Dick and Jane.

How did you start your writing career?                

I borrowed a plot device from a Little Lulu comic book to create my first story, “Judy and the Fairies.” I don’t think I’d even learned cursive yet. My first publication was in the San Diego State University literary magazine, The Phoenix, when I was 19.

How did you find the motivation to write your first book?                                                          

I had been writing stories for many years when I wrote my first book-length work, Trace and Margie: A Novel of the 1860s, when I was sixteen. It was 87,000 handwritten words, some of it in pencil, and heavily influenced by TV westerns. It was unpublishable and probably unreadable. Motivation wasn’t a problem—you couldn’t stop me!

Tell us about your journey with The Axe.                                                           

The trigger was a single line spoken by one character, and it all flowed from there. I didn’t imagine the story would be Wild Rose Press material and wouldn’t have submitted it to them, as they prefer upbeat romances. But I knew the opening was strong and entered it in the Hooked on A Book Competition, which judges how well the first 500 words hook the reader.

It placed second, and two of the judges asked to see the complete manuscript. One of them happened to be Morena Stamm of the Wild Rose Press. Next thing I knew it had been contracted for their Mystery line. It was published as an e-book in September 2023 and as an audiobook from ACX in July 2024.

What is your next project?                                                                                                   

 I recently signed my tenth contract with the Wild Rose Press, for Morgan’s Landing, a small-town mystery about a detective searching for a missing teenager. I have the audio rights to my Wild Rose Press books and am producing them through ACX. Eric Priessman, the wonderful narrator of The Axe, has done the same for my sweet 20^th century historical romance Bridges. If all goes well, it will be released this month.

Do you read your book reviews?                                                                                           

 I read them but try not to take them too seriously. As Richard P. Brickner pointed out, a novel is just a drink of water to a reader, even though it’s an ocean to the author.

Thanks for spending some time with us today, Linda. Good luck with your tour.

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Giveaway!

Please visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win!

Official Tour Page for The Axe

Full Tour Schedule:

Jan 13– Liese’s Blog – audiobook spotlight
Jan 13– Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s – audiobook review / giveaway
Jan 15 – FUONLYKNEW – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 16– Book Corner News and Reviews – audiobook review / giveaway
Jan 21 – China Sorrows – audiobook review / giveaway
Jan 22 – Books R US – audiobook review / giveaway
Jan 22– Gina Rae Mitchell – audiobook review / author interview / giveaway
Jan 23 – @Leannebookstagram – audiobook review
Jan 28 – Faith and Books – audiobook review / giveaway
Jan 29 – @AshleyLynnReads – audiobook review / giveaway
Jan 29 – @beastreader – audiobook review / giveaway
Jan 30 – Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review / giveaway
Jan 31 – Cover Lover Book Review – audiobook spotlight / giveaway
Jan 31 – Bigreadersite – audiobook review
TBD – Miranda’s Bookscape – audiobook review / author interview / giveaway

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My above links should take you to your home country’s Amazon page. If not, please try the links below.

Audible.ca ~ Audible.au ~ Audible.uk ~ Apple

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Book Title: The Axe by Linda Griffin
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 66 pages (1 hour, 46 minutes)
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Publisher: ACX (ebook edition by The Wild Rose Press)
Release date: July 2024 (ebook edition September 2023)
Tour dates: Jan 13 to Jan 31, 2025
Content Rating: PG-13. A few f-words. Sexual violence that is not depicted but is described by the victim (not explicitly) may trigger some listeners. ​

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