Mia Hutchinson-Shaw makes this audiobook mystery equal parts thrilling and comforting as she narrates in alternating sassy and hushed tones. In 1964, mystery-and-romance-novel-loving Billie McCadie is one of the last people in Eastport, Maine, to see Gertrude alive after a mysterious man in a fedora comes to town. Soon, Billie starts receiving odd phone calls. Listeners will find themselves immersed in the complicated mystery as Hutchinson-Shaw builds the suspense. The author adds to the experience as she eases listeners in and out of a bygone Maine by narrating her introduction and epilogue. Those looking for 1960s ambiance, diary-like familiarity, and grandparents who consider JELL-O a main food group need look no further.
Pub Date: July 1, 2025
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217076666
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Atherton’s deft performance speedily moves this mystery along toward its intense conclusion.
Kristin Atherton sounds like a full cast in this clever whodunit. A chilling prologue recounts the 1966 death of rock star “Monty” Montrose. Sixty years later, celebrity ghostwriter Lyssa Moore receives a commission to investigate Monty’s life and the questions surrounding her death. Lyssa interviews all those still alive who remember Monty, opening a convoluted can of worms. Since those interviewed are older, their memories are questionable. Finding herself in danger, Lyssa wonders if she’s taken on too much or whether she’s just being paranoid. Atherton is masterful delivering a wide range of voices and accents, keeping the large cast of possible suspects easily identifiable.
Atherton’s deft performance speedily moves this mystery along toward its intense conclusion.Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781511389969
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
A totally entertaining and heartfelt listening experience.
Narrator Elizabeth Wiley is perfectly matched to voice feisty 80-year-old Poppy Montgomery and her new friends from water aerobics class, Ginny and Max. This delightful, humorous crime novel highlights the vulnerability of older people to online scams that exploit their loneliness. When two women die under mysterious circumstances at the retirement home, Poppy commits to protecting Ginny, who is involved with a scheming boyfriend she met on a dating site for older people. Her well-meaning actions result in unexpected chaos. Wiley’s performance of the three friends distinguishes their very different personalities, and she also masterfully portrays the male characters, both young and older. As the plot unfolds, friendships deepen and family relationships mature.
A totally entertaining and heartfelt listening experience.Pub Date: June 9, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 16 mins
DD ISBN: 9781696623292
Publisher: HighBridge
Review Posted Online: Aug. 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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