Soneela Nankani returns to narrate the second installment of the Secret Staircase series. Secret Staircase Construction has completed their first job. Their client is eager to celebrate by hosting a mock séance to expunge all remnants of her ex-husband from her new life. All is going well until his dead body crashes the party. Tempest Raj needs to solve the murder to exonerate her grandfather, who has been arrested for it. Nankani has a quirky cast of characters to portray. She makes good use of subtle accents for Tempest's Indian grandfather and the Japanese mother of a Californian client who is bold and brash. Familiarity with the series is not required--but may be fun.
Pub Date: 2023
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250886637
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Carlotta Brentan skillfully voices all the characters in this audiobook. As Cath goes through her late mother's effects, she discovers two nonrefundable tickets to a fake murder week in a quaint English town. She decides to go alone to discover why her mother wanted her to attend. Brentan demonstrates talent at both English and American accents. During her stay, Cath connects with the other Americans on her team. Brentan injects delightful excitement as the team uncover clues to why she's meant to be there. The sexual tension between Cath and a handsome local gin maker, Dev, is steamy. Brentan's rich tones and precise delivery will engage mystery lovers.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668121405
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Vera Wong is back, bringing with her characters from Sutanto's previous audiobook, along with a host of new suspects and friends. Narrator Eunice Wong turns in another stellar performance, ensuring that this second audiobook featuring the 60-year-old Chinese mother and self-styled super sleuth is just as entertaining and thought-provoking as the first. This time, Vera gets herself involved with the seamy underside of social media influencers while trying to solve what police think is a suicide. Of course, Vera knows better, and, of course, trouble ensues. Eunice Wong's attention to pitch and pacing perfectly re-creates the voices of Vera's original community while fashioning a new set of personalities, young and old, for this darker second "case" in what--if we're lucky--is a new series.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217063864
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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