Better late than never!
Seven months after receiving this one and only editorial review for my author-narrated audiobook of Chained Birds, I am finally posting it in its entirety. I’m extremely pleased to immortalize this review by AudioBookReviewer.com, even though the reviewer wasn’t so fond of the book’s political aspect. That is the reason, I suspect, for the four-star rating.
But hey, I’ve heard that from a number of readers, and everyone’s entitled to their own opinion—I asked for it, after all! Besides, what I cared about most from this January 2025 review (that still appears on my re-launched Amazon page) was this reviewer’s take on my performance and delivery, which I was incredibly nervous about as a first-time narrator. And whew! I passed the test!
As I noted in a post reflecting upon my book launch, I couldn’t have turned out this terrific audiobook product without the help and expertise of my highly skilled sound engineer, Jeff King, at Baker Sound Studios in Philadelphia. Jeff expertly guided me throughout the exhaustive and exhilarating process of recording the book over a week in August 2024. His direction was always spot-on, reliably noting if my voice started to trail off or, I was losing engagement with the story. And his sound mixing is second-to-none. Jeff is the reason Chained Birds is a pleasant book to listen to, and I will return to his studio next year to record my next true crime book, The Jacklighter: Murder, Secrets, and the Hunt for Truth in Small-Town Pennsylvania. (I do have to finish writing the book first 😂)
(Continue reading to learn how you can read a free sneak peek of The Jacklighter.)
AudioBookReviewer.com’s full review of Chained Birds
Carla Conti describes the efforts she and her two friends made to advocate for federal prison inmate Kevin Sanders. She details the friendships, horrible conditions, abuse, and the criminal justice system and political failures during their journey to advocate and help repair the broken system.
The author, Carla Conti, offers an eye-opening expose of the many failures in the justice system by detailing each encounter, step, and setback completely and vividly. She reveals in great detail the personal, physical, and emotional drain each suffered throughout the process as well as the level of frustration and fear. The dialogue was rich and authentic, allowing the listener to become fully immersed in the narrative. She connected the cover to the theme of the storyline and the personal relationships beautifully. The sections about the election were a bit surprising as it did not seem to hold a prevalent place in the Kevin Sanders narrative. This felt a bit like venting and justification for being mad at a friend who drew her into this situation.
As the narrator, Carla Conti did an excellent job of speaking clearly and maintaining a steady delivery. Her smooth flow, deliberate pauses, and sighs effectively conveyed the emotions felt by each character. She presented the narrative in a captivating style.
This is a fascinating and revealing narrative about the prison system, gangs, and varying levels of corruption. I found the book compelling and interesting but struggled to write this review due to Ms. Conti’s political rant. While the past decade has vividly exposed political corruption, her deep dive would have been more impactful if she had connected it more directly to the root causes of corruption within the judicial system.
There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook. It was clear and crisp.
How to read a sneak peek of The Jacklighter
Fun fact: I not only re-launched Chained Birds as an indie author, but I’ve re-launched my free newsletter on Substack, where I’m offering an exclusive preview of The Jacklighter to all subscribers. Come check it out and join us as a Friend of the Flock, for my true crime insights, exclusive book updates, and indie publishing confessions 😱
1. 🔗📩 Join my Substack newsletter, CRIMEMOIR CONFIDENTIAL👇
2. Read The Jacklighter preview at the end of Chained Birds‘ new edition
All editions of the re-launched Chained Birds: A Crimemoir contain The Jacklighter preview, including the audiobook, with a new recording at the end 🥳
‼️ Please note! As of this post date of Aug. 21, 2025, the Chained Birds audiobook is in the process of being distributed through Voices by INAudio. It’s expected to reach platforms like Spotify, Audible/Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, libraries, and a ton of other places in the next few weeks. I’m keeping track of all the retail links on this page … thanks for your patience 🙏
Carla Conti is an award-winning true crime journalist, storyteller, and prison reform advocate. Her debut book, Chained Birds: A Crimemoir, won multiple 2025 national book awards, including 1st Place in True Crime from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Winner in True Crime from the Indie Reader Discovery Awards, Silver in True Crime from the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), and a 1st Place Nellie Bly Journalism award from the Chanticleer International Book Awards. Carla lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, who tolerates her true crime habit.
