Let me preface this review by saying that if you do not like sound effects and background music in your audiobooks, this particular dramatization is not for you. These things are prevalent in the Graphic Audio dramatization of Clean Sweep and, in my opinion, provide an immersive experience. However, some listeners may find them distracting. I've never been particularly put off by these things in audiobooks, so I greatly enjoyed this listening experience.

Graphic Audio's slogan is 'A Movie in Your Mind' and, I have to say, that is completely accurate. It's like I could see the story come alive in my mind. Soon after I began listening, I decided that this audiobook deserved my full focus, so I began listening after I went to bed each night, which really allowed for maximum immersion in the story.

My experience with the dramatized version of Clean Sweep greatly differed from my listening experience of the original audiobook when I heard it back in 2016. I attribute a great deal of that to the dramatization of the story. I found that it was much easier to focus on the story and that my mind wandered a lot less while listening to the dramatized version. Plus, I always enjoy full cast narrations. On the rare occasions when my mind would wander a bit, the frequent sound effects would pull it back to the story (and scare the sh*t out of my cat 😂), which was an added perk of listening to this version.

I also credit my changed opinion of Clean Sweep to the fact that I'm in a different place in my life now than when I listened before and things can 'hit differently' after a few years, you know? For example, in my original review (linked here), I compared Clean Sweep to the show Supernatural and said that I had never really been able to get into that show either. In 2016, that was true. I had tried several times and failed to get into that show. Fast forward to 2022 and, not only have I completed the entire 16 seasons of Supernatural, but I've also just returned from a Supernatural fan convention (where I met both Jared and Jensen!). See what a difference a few years can make?!

It gave me a good chuckle to see that I had written in my original review: "Unless one day I suddenly become majorly interested in all things alien/paranormal, I don’t think I would particularly gain anything from listening to the rest of the series." Well guess what, 2016 Jess?! You are way into the Paranormal genre now. 👽

All of this makes me want to go back and give things I had previously written off another try. But first, I'm going to be listening to Graphic Audio's dramatized version of Sweep In Peace, the next book in the Innkeeper Chronicles series (linked here).