The Risk Audiobook – Mindf*ck Series, Book 1

I listened to The Risk during a stormy Oregon night, rain pelting the windows and my nerves already thrumming with anticipation—a perfect soundtrack for this darkly addictive audiobook. I’d heard the Mindfck series described as “Dexter meets Criminal Minds,” but nothing prepared me for just how quickly S.T. Abby’s first installment would dig its claws into me. As someone who loves complex antiheroes and morally gray territory, Lana Myers was a revelation—and a little bit of a personal obsession by chapter three.

Lana isn’t your typical “damaged but dazzling” heroine. Instead, she’s calm, methodical, terrifyingly clever—her pain isn’t baggage so much as fuel propelling her mission for vengeance. What drew me in most is that S.T. Abby writes Lana not as broken or pitiable, but as purposeful and utterly formidable; I found myself uncomfortably rooting for her even when the lines blurred between justice and brutality. There are moments where you wonder if you should recoil—but then remember what was taken from Lana ten years ago…and somehow every slash of her retribution feels like some twisted form of catharsis.

Enter Logan Bennett: golden-boy FBI profiler with earnest eyes (well rendered through T.J. Clark’s narration) and an unsettling knack for seeing beneath facades—just never quite enough to recognize what’s right under his nose. His chapters pulse with conflict: he senses something off about Lana, yet can’t help falling deeper into connection with her—a dynamic that hooked me completely! This isn’t a gentle romance; it crackles with secrets and red flags that you know spell disaster, yet the chemistry is magnetic.

What makes this listen stand out is the dual narration: Marie Hawkins absolutely embodies Lana—her delivery is smooth yet steely, infusing each line with dangerous intent even in quiet moments (I got chills more than once). T.J. Clark brings sincerity to Logan without making him naive; his vulnerability felt authentic rather than forced or foolish. Their interplay gives the whole story a cinematic edge—I could practically hear their tension reverberate through my headphones.

Stylistically, The Risk moves at lightning speed: short chapters propel you relentlessly forward (ideal if you’re impatient like I am). It demands attention—at one point I had to pause while cooking just because my heart was racing too fast! The writing sometimes leans into melodrama or tropey phrasing (“kissing while covered in blood energy”), which won’t be everyone’s taste—but honestly? It works here because everything about this book operates at 110%.

As someone who usually draws clear lines between good and evil in fiction—and life—I found myself thinking about justice differently after spending time in Lana’s world: Is revenge ever justified? Can love survive such monstrous secrets? While some may find elements disturbing (seriously: heed content warnings on violence/trauma), I appreciated that The Risk never shies away from darkness or tries to tidy up its characters’ edges.

If there were any drawbacks, perhaps it’s how compulsive listening comes at the expense of sleep—or maybe it’s that it left me desperate for Book 2 immediately! But truly, few audiobooks have grabbed hold of me so viscerally or made moral ambiguity feel so seductive.

In sum: The Risk is fierce fun for anyone craving something wild, wickedly romantic—and deeply unafraid of sharp teeth behind red lipstick. Just don’t expect peace of mind when you press play!