Talk to Me

Talk to Me is the first instalment in the Switchboard Duet series by Heather Long.

Talk to Me tells the story of a young woman with a knack for everything hacking and intelligence. Five years ago, she went completely off the grid and works anonymously from her basement, remotely assisting her clients. Our FMC, Patch, suddenly goes missing and three strangers, our MMCs, band together to find her. This book is mysterious, action-packed and tense with a hint of romance.

When I read the blurb of this book, it was a no-brainer! The concept of our FMC being totally anonymous was so exciting, and I figured that Patch would develop her relationships with Locke, Remy, and McQuade without them knowing who she is or where she is. We got a glimpse of this at the beginning of the book — the part I enjoyed most was when Patch was communicating with the MMCs over the phone, this was when the flirting and chemistry felt the most realistic and genuine.

Patch being kidnapped felt like it came out of the blue, and the sudden shift in tone confused me. This type of event was something I was expecting towards the end of the book, leaving the readers on a cliffhanger, especially with the knowledge that there is a second book in the series. I felt like I hadn't connected with Patch, nor the MMCs, enough to become invested in a sudden rescue mission. It is clear that Patch has been working with Locke, Remy, and McQuade long enough but there isn't a clear indication of how well she knows them. She is also very quick to brush off their flirtatious advances, so the sudden romance feels off.

I found the pacing to be incredibly slow, especially in the second half of the book. I was invested enough to want to see Patch rescued, but what follows felt like filler to me.

I won't be eager to read the next book, but I liked the plot enough to keep it in mind for the future.