Your audiobook is waiting!
Enjoy a free trial on us
$0.00
  • One credit a month to pick any title from our entire premium selection to keep (you’ll use your first credit now).
  • Unlimited listening on select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
  • You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
  • $14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel online anytime.
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
List Price: $19.95
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible’s Conditions Of Use. and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

Sam's Song: The Sam Smith Mystery Series, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 3,214 ratings

Love hurts. For Derwena de Caro, songstress, female icon, and teenage dream, success brought drugs, alcohol, and a philandering boyfriend. It also brought wealth, fame, and a stalker, or so she claimed. And that's where I came in, to investigate the identity of the stalker, little realizing that the trail would lead to murder and a scandal that would make the newspaper headlines for months on end.

Love hurts. For me, Samantha Smith, enquiry agent, love arrived at the end of a fist. First I had to contend with an alcoholic mother who took her frustrations out on me throughout my childhood then my husband, Dan, who regarded domestic violence as an integral part of marriage. But I survived. I obtained a divorce, kept my sense of humor, and retained an air of optimism. I established my business and gained the respect of my peers. However, I was not prepared for Dan when he reentered my life or for the affection showered on me by Dr. Alan Storey, a compassionate and rather handsome psychologist.

Sam's Song. This is the story of a week that changed my life forever.

Read & Listen

Switch between reading the Kindle book & listening to the Audible audiobook with Whispersync for Voice.
Get the Audible audiobook for the reduced price of $7.49 after you buy the Kindle book.
Audible Free Trial
Discover top titles, podcasts, and more on Audible. Try 30 days free.

Product details

Listening Length 5 hours and 43 minutes
Author Hannah Howe
Narrator Suzan Lynn Lorraine
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date July 08, 2015
Publisher Goylake Publishing
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0117VNWDM
Best Sellers Rank #393,196 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#2,346 in Private Investigator Mysteries (Audible Books & Originals)
#11,514 in Women Sleuth Mysteries
#15,835 in Private Investigator Mysteries (Books)

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
3,214 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and well-written. They appreciate the suspenseful mystery with unexpected twists that keep them guessing. The characters are described as rich, colorful, and strong. Readers appreciate the easygoing writing style and the humor, describing it as witty and dark. Many appreciate the character development, describing her as feisty and tough despite her troubled past.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

168 customers mention "Readability"160 positive8 negative

Customers find the story engaging and well-written. They appreciate the balanced pacing and unexpected plot twists. Many describe it as an enjoyable, quick read with rich descriptions and good character development.

"...The quality of descriptions as the story continues is rich: lip twitching into an Elvis Presley smile and meows like a badly tuned violin; enhancing..." Read more

"A fast moving, wise-cracking, largely to formula, Sam Spade-like detective story centered on the shenanigans and goings-on of the entertainment..." Read more

"...There is violence but no drag-you-down drama. The storyline is intriguing with plenty of twists and different scenarios to keep the reader..." Read more

"...There wasn’t anything I could find wrong. The plot was well-developed and advanced at a good pace. The characters were complex and three-dimensional...." Read more

106 customers mention "Mystery content"92 positive14 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful mystery in the book. They find it well-written with enough twists to keep them guessing. Readers describe the book as fast-paced, action-packed, and drama-filled. The story has unexpected moments that keep their interest, and the protagonist is likable enough. Overall, they find the book captivating and entertaining.

"...I couldn’t put it down right up to the clever and satisfying ending that has a nice twist that left me feeling hopeful...." Read more

"...The storyline is intriguing with plenty of twists and different scenarios to keep the reader's interest...." Read more

"...If you love a good murder mystery, with a dash of humor, you need to read this book. I give it my 5 feathers." Read more

"...It’s a gripping story, but at times it’s hard to square a hard-bitten private eye who sneaks into people’s houses with the sniveling mess her ex-..." Read more

81 customers mention "Character development"65 positive16 negative

Customers enjoy the rich, colorful characters and the lovely narrative. They find the characters strong and well-developed with a light touch. The book features a young narrative voice that readers appreciate.

"...But I factored in for the young narrative voice which I believe will go over well with the YA crowd (which is not me, in case you were wondering.)..." Read more

"...Believable characters with distinct personalities and emotional baggage...." Read more

"...The plot was well-developed and advanced at a good pace. The characters were complex and three-dimensional...." Read more

"...I also thought the other characters in the book were well drawn. Sweets is great, as are his mostly bad jokes, and Alan is a rare find...." Read more

65 customers mention "Writing quality"61 positive4 negative

Customers find the writing quality good. They appreciate the nice language, easy reading style, and believable characters. The author does a good job of building complex characters through dialogue that is sharp and humorous at times. The vivid descriptions make the readers feel as if they are part of the story. Overall, customers find the book realistically written.

"...ball-licking alley cat who gets nervous around shouting is too wonderfully written to not comment on...." Read more

"...That said, the craft of the writing itself is rather good, with a good sense of how much each element needs in a scene as far as weighting...." Read more

"...an abused child and an abused wife, and this book did an amazing job of portraying what that does to a person...." Read more

"...The story is written in first person from Sam’s POV. The author does a good job of building Sam’s complex character through dialogue and Sam’s..." Read more

27 customers mention "Humor"27 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it lighthearted, with witty and self-deprecating asides. The characters are colorful and there is no shortage of funny lines. Readers describe the book as creative and fun, with a lovable but flawed protagonist.

"...And although it starts out in a light-hearted classic style the themes aren’t all peaches and cream: Sam’s finances are in shambles and she’s hardly..." Read more

"...not least, while many of the jokes didn’t exactly land, some were hilarious, and once again, I imagine the brand of humor will go over better with..." Read more

"...It’s also a mystery that includes touches of humor and possible romance, although Sam seems to go out of her way to drive the romance away...." Read more

"This story has its moments. Unexpected, funny, grim, and interesting. I’d read another by Howe, just to see if she can tell another tale as well." Read more

23 customers mention "Strength"20 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's protagonist witty and strong despite her troubled past. They describe her as vulnerable yet tough, quick on her feet, and courageous. The story is well-crafted and cohesive, with good character development.

"...When the story starts off, we see Sam as a tough capable woman...." Read more

"...She has been making her way out of victimhood and becoming stronger every day, and that’s even more clear by the end of the book...." Read more

"...Sam was not a cliche 'vulnerable' girl she was tough and fought bravely against the inner demons which shaped who she was...." Read more

"...For me, this was a solid five star read...." Read more

22 customers mention "Plot"18 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the plot. They find it engaging with a murder mystery and nice twists and turns. The story explores domestic violence and its effects on the main character. Readers appreciate the realistic portrayal of an abusive relationship.

"...Howe did an awesome job portraying an abusive relationship...." Read more

"...She did and met a kind man who tries to understand her. Murder solved, bad people unveiled and she can concentrate on the rest of her life...." Read more

"...Not to graphic, no over the top violence, or sex. The story was believable. I liked it...." Read more

"...The book is professionally edited with few if any errors, the plot is suspenseful and the overall story is truly engaging...." Read more

15 customers mention "Intelligence"12 positive3 negative

Customers find the book intelligent and well-written. They appreciate the clever and satisfying ending. The characters are described as smart and beautiful, yet insecure. The plot is suspenseful, with few errors and handled issues like domestic abuse and self-worth effectively.

"...I couldn’t put it down right up to the clever and satisfying ending that has a nice twist that left me feeling hopeful...." Read more

"...exactly what I needed now, a novel that is fun and chill, yet also sophisticated and action-driven...." Read more

"...The book is professionally edited with few if any errors, the plot is suspenseful and the overall story is truly engaging...." Read more

"...This is a quick and easy book to read but it is complex and takes the reader into places unknown...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2016
    Sam’s Song (Book 1) by Hannah Howe is a delightfully infectious read that I started and finished in one day. I love the way Howe starts the book and from the first line I’m invested in the nail biting protagonist, Samantha Smith, with the refurbished computer and battered second-hand desk. When the cane & fedora carrying Milton Vaughn-Urquhart enters the scene on behalf of his client the writing is terrific. He’s there representing the pop diva Derwena de Caro (with a boyfriend named Woody), who is being stalked. Or is she? Vaughn-Urquhart and Sam are involved in introductions when another character enters the scene and here’s where I nearly spat my coffee onto my kindle. Marlow the ball-licking alley cat who gets nervous around shouting is too wonderfully written to not comment on. The quality of descriptions as the story continues is rich: lip twitching into an Elvis Presley smile and meows like a badly tuned violin; enhancing the enjoyment of the read. And although it starts out in a light-hearted classic style the themes aren’t all peaches and cream: Sam’s finances are in shambles and she’s hardly meeting the bills; she lives with the baggage of an alcoholic mother and wondering who her father is and if he’s even alive; and she’s got serious problems with an abusive (psychologically and physically) ex who won’t leave her alone. Sam’s real, she runs deep, and her joking comes across as a coping mechanism that reads sometimes funny but once the story deepens the jocular turns pathetic and we feel for our wounded, yet independent protagonist, the mark of great writing. Sam’s character exposes her underbelly when she goes to interview her client’s psychologist. It is there when he asks her how she became a detective that she opens up; and in doing so, so does my heart. I love Sam’s character and the others authentically interjected into the storyline to help propel the story along, involving a near drug overdose, murder, a surprise unexpected ending and death. Much of the details of what happens have been covered in other reviews and I don’t want to put any spoilers here. What’s important for me to add here is, on a day when I was in need of something interesting to occupy my mind this really good read kept me company. I couldn’t put it down right up to the clever and satisfying ending that has a nice twist that left me feeling hopeful. I look forward to more from the very talented Hannah Howe.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2016
    A fast moving, wise-cracking, largely to formula, Sam Spade-like detective story centered on the shenanigans and goings-on of the entertainment industry. Particularly one overwrought starlet who is being stalked. She is temperamental, high strung, often infantile, demanding, entitled, self-centered, often hysterical—the starlet, not our detective. In short, the off-the-rack Hollywood type. Sammy, who heads her own one-person detective agency is flat-broke and would hire her cat if her cat could pay her. In no position to turn down a case, even one as far removed from reality as this one, she soldiers on through a list of suspects, informants, and Hollywood types that will actually make you’re glad you’re NOT rich and successful. Through it all—she is hit on, practically mauled, disrespected, endangered—our heroine retains not only her sense of humor but possibly is the only one in the book with any sense of personal detachment from her own madness, and perhaps any enlightened self-awareness at all. I’ll say it: I like her.

    I was between a 3 and a 4 on this one but ultimately rounded up to a 4, and here’s why. True, there were a few too many clichés like “beggars can’t be choosers.” And true, in a very competitive, overly-written genre, this book did not rise that far above the norm, or middle of the pack. But I factored in for the young narrative voice which I believe will go over well with the YA crowd (which is not me, in case you were wondering.) And also, if this is a first novel by a young novelist, it most definitely deserves a solid 4 just for what an accomplishment that reflects. Last but not least, while many of the jokes didn’t exactly land, some were hilarious, and once again, I imagine the brand of humor will go over better with the YA crowd. The characters are more often than not caricatures, and I would like to have seen them fleshed out better. That said, the craft of the writing itself is rather good, with a good sense of how much each element needs in a scene as far as weighting. With the possible exception of character descriptions, which often go on for several paragraphs. With the realization that the series will likely get better as it goes along and as the writer hits her stride, I would be willing to give other installments a try. Call me a sucker for comedic mysteries, but it’s one of my favorite sub-genres.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2018
    Domestic violence triggers

    Entertaining. This stand-alone is easy to follow and difficult to put down. There is violence but no drag-you-down drama.

    The storyline is intriguing with plenty of twists and different scenarios to keep the reader's interest.

    Believable characters with distinct personalities and emotional baggage. Thought-provoking dialogue, especially with the domestic violence scenes.

    One scene has Sam spitting out a tooth, but no one ever notices nor does she need to get it taken care of.

    No desire to re-read this story. I am interested in other works by this author.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Julie Whitley
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic read
    Reviewed in Canada on November 14, 2018
    I am thoroughly entranced with Sam Smith and her detective agency. She has a snide sense of humour that had me chuckling and her adventures to catch a killer kept me happily turning the pages. I can’t wait to read more of Sam’s adventures! I highly recommend this story.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars This was the first kindle book of its kind that I read, and though I had misgivings at first (at all self publishing) I was delighted to learn that the quality of writing here is up to any ''normal' publishing standard. He book was a page turner and I liked the (not too) hard boiled style. Loved some of the characters... they grow on you.
    Reviewed in India on April 25, 2019
    Pacy and quite in the real world. Some of the tropes were tried ones, and I won't be a spoiler here, but - on the whole - it all held together and was a worthwhile read.
  • Marty Langenberg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
    Reviewed in Australia on May 10, 2022
    Hannah knows what she's doing. Great characters all round with a very believable protagonist. She has a lot to prove, especially to herself. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. She's tough!
  • IAN D MOORE
    5.0 out of 5 stars As much a diary of Sam as an engaging sleuth thriller - easy, gripping read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2016
    I'm a fan of detective thrillers, though this one took me somewhere that other's I've read didn't.

    In first person POV, this reads more like Sam's diary than anything else. I loved her voice, the author's voice in her persona. There were times when I laughed out loud at her predicaments, about the thoughts running through her subconscious mind - likewise there were times when I'd happily have jumped headlong into the pages to give Dan, her ex-husband, the kicking he so richly deserved.It is good writing to be able to make a reader feel for a character and I couldn't help but do so for our intrepid sleuth, Sam.

    From the first few pages I began to admire Hannah's talent for creating a personality within a fictional character, a personality that even the most hardened of people would struggle not to warm to. The remaining cast, from the conceited Derwena, would-be superstar singer, to the supporting roles in the form of Woody, appropriately nicknamed, Nerd, again aptly assigned and of course Milton - another character who leaps from the pages, I found very well portrayed.

    The storyline begins with us chasing imaginary stalkers in the mind of a very mixed up pop star. Our star bounces between the realms of real and hallucinated on a regular basis, prone to drink and drugs to get her through what she believes is a stressful life - she should try living mine!! Hehehe. Moving swiftly on... It isn't too long before we find ourselves dragged into something far more sinister involving some very powerful and influential people and I liked the direction the story took.

    I found the intervention of the good Dr. Alan Storey, psychologist and all round nice guy, as good a way as any to give much-needed relief to our poor downtrodden heroine, I'm curious now to read the next in the series to see if that particular relationship flourishes. The standard of writing in this novel I found to be brilliant, the editing and formatting, along with incidences of comical purple prose, perfectly placed. Thoroughly enjoyed this read and I'll admit that Hannah Howe's style in this book has earned her another fan of her work. I have the next book in the title on my kindle already, I bought two at the same time. Looking forward to that when its turn comes around on my TBR again - Well done, Hannah!
  • Barbara
    3.0 out of 5 stars Avid Reader
    Reviewed in Italy on May 3, 2017
    It was a reasonably good mystery although it did lose itself a lot in the main character's personal life. No doubt that will be carried through to subsequent novels.