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Rothaker: A Dark Psychological Suspense Novel

Brooke Walton Series, Book 2

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Rothaker: A Dark Psychological Suspense Novel

By: Jenifer Ruff
Narrated by: Stephanie Dillard
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About this listen

It takes the perfect student to commit the perfect crime.

From USA Today and international best-selling author Jenifer Ruff - a dark thriller.

Medical school at Rothaker University is cutthroat, which is perfect for first-year student Brooke Walton. She thrives on the work and the stress - it’s the people she can do without. Except for Xander Cross, a handsome former college football player who just completed a tour in Afghanistan. Brooke is intrigued by Xander’s troubled past and wants to get to the bottom of his darkest secrets.

But when Brooke’s anatomy partner, Rachael, insists Brooke violated the honor code, all Brooke’s accomplishments and years of hard work are in jeopardy, and she could be expelled from prestigious Rothaker.

Then, Rachael mysteriously disappears.

Desperate for clues, detectives descend on campus to interview everyone: faculty, staff, and students. Only one person is desperate for the truth to stay hidden, and will do whatever it takes to keep it that way.

Warning: This is a dark thriller. Brooke Walton is brilliant, ambitious, and twisted. This is not a cozy mystery, and it is not for everyone.

Rothaker is book two in the Brooke Walton series but can be listened to as a stand-alone.

©2016 Jenifer Ruff (P)2019 Jenifer Ruff Genre Fiction Medical Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Student Thriller

Critic reviews

"A fascinating peek into the mind and machinations of a sociopath.... Absorbing, at times gory thriller featuring an oddly compelling killer 'heroine.'" (Kirkus)

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Still obsessively pursuing her ambition to become a surgeon, Brooke enters the first of her four year academic stay at Rothaker Teaching Hospital. Despite working several shifts leading various exercise cllasses, she has serious debts already accrued from her education so far, with more in prospect to see her through this college. She works hard, is meticulous and very good. But she has to be better than good. She has to be the best if she wants to win the surgery scholarship in her fourth year which will pay off all of her last debts. In this she has two main rivals, chief of whom is the annoying woman, Rachel, beautiful, comlassionate, clever, hard working, outspoken and very much liked by all of her fellow students except one: Brooke. Rachel cannot be allowed to threaten Brooke's future...

The reader is taken inside the mind of the devious Brooke as she navigates the murky waters of achieving her goals. Although and is not a particularly pleasant character, author Jenifer Ruff builds a tension which draws the reader's empathy towards Brooke in much the same way that Patricia Highsmith did for Ripley albeit in a lesser way. Narrator Stephanie Dillard enhances this with her admirable performance, her reading faithfully following the emotional nuances of the text as well a giving good, individual voices to all of the protagonists. Her narration is clear and well intoned also.

An interesting book, the second in this series, which does not depend on acquaintance with book one to succeed. My thanks to the rights holder of Rothaker for freely gifting me with a complimentary copy, at my request, via Audiobook Boom. It is a story, easy and fascinating to read, which reflects the outlook of a talented self obsessed sociopath who truly believes that her person right to succeed will benefit others. Quite mesmeric, and recommended

There are lines you don't cross.

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My usual genre is fantasy and I prefer a male English voice for my narrator, so you can imagine my joy when I found this thriller narrated by an American female absolutely brilliant!!
A great story that draws you in, with an almost Dexter quality too it, read by Stephanie absolutely brilliantly; perfect character differentiation and pacing throughout.
My only gripe is that, although a perfectly balanced story in its own right, I wish I’d read book 1 first as it would have laid out Brooke’s character for me and it this book frequently makes reference to her past antics!
5/5, well deserved!
This is my honest opinion of a free review copy.

Loved it

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Listener received this title free

I enjoyed book one but loved book two (this one). It had you wondering what was going to happen, as you could picture it turning in several different direction, keeping you guessing and on your toes. As you grow to like the characters and at the same time you think will they make it to the end of the story. The author is very good at dropping clues and building up the suspense making it a great thriller. I can't wait to start the next book.
Brooke has made it to medical school despite what happened at Everett Collage and she has promised this learning experience will be different and a challenge that she is quiet capable of coping with. New friends, new boyfriend, new school, new start what could go wrong. Things start off well and she is second in class but for a perfectionist like Brooke second isn't good enough and when one of her class mates stands in her way of getting what she wants, she has no choice but take charge of the situation and handle it her way.
I really like the narrator and think she does an excellent job with all the different voices.

Keeps you on your toes

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