Synthesized voice alert hidden in the book blurb so you might miss it.
I was looking for good mysteries in Hoopla and came across Joan Livingston's book, Chasing the Case. First part of the blurb sounds good. I scan down to look at narrator and there's a name there but only a first name, Mia. I click on the see more for more info on the book and the next paragraph says "This audiobook is narrated using advanced digital voice technology for clear, natural-sounding storytelling. "
For 30 seconds at a time it may sound natural and then it's like the narrator is in the dark struggling to see each word then hurries to make up for lost time. Before a minute into the book you know there's something wrong. It's regular speed, then. stilted. speed. for. each. wordifyoucan see what I mean. I'm glad I didn't pay for this book but I did waste a 'borrow'. Just wanted to warn you that they're really trying hard to push AI narration down our throats. This looks like a regularly published book by Bloodhound Books. There's no indicators like Audible or Apple where it could be Virtual Voice or synthesized person's name. Good luck finding good audiobooks with real live narrators out there.