by Jenn McKinlay ; read by Allyson Ryan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2020
Listeners will share Lindsey and Sully's consternation as, a mere two weeks before their wedding, they learn they have accidentally invited the whole of Briar Creek to the ceremony instead of the 30 guests they'd planned. Narrator Allyson Ryan cultivates a strong sense of empathy among listeners as they quickly identify with Lindsey's anxiety over the details of her big day. Then, as Lindsey thinks she has faced all she can handle, she and Sully discover the murdered body of Steve Briggs, the justice of the peace who was supposed to preside over their ceremony. As the couple frantically looks for someone to take Steve's place, Ryan makes characters of all backgrounds come alive with excellent voices and accents, and a range of energy.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2020
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Uzma Jalaluddin ; read by Deepti Gupta ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2026
This unique, engaging detective, combined with Gupta’s lovely voice, offers hours of exceptional listening.
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
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Deepti Gupta’s performance channels the charm and wit of Kausar Khan in this second Detective Aunty episode. After Kausar moved to Toronto to clear her daughter of a murder accusation, she decided to stay to be near her family. When the body of a friend of Kausar's granddaughter is found, the death is labeled a drug-related suicide, but Kausar believes it’s murder. After much digging, it appears Qasim’s death is linked to the death of Kausar’s son, Ali, 20 years earlier. As Kausar investigates, Gupta delivers her canny logic and keen observations, her enjoyment of many cups of chai, and her Muslim faith. Gupta expresses the story’s tense mother-daughter relationships as well as its reaffirming, deep ties of love.
This unique, engaging detective, combined with Gupta’s lovely voice, offers hours of exceptional listening.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 56 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063435049
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
by Mark Pryor ; read by Todd McLaren ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2026
As the clues accumulate, McLaren maintains the momentum.
Todd McLaren narrates with a steady, controlled delivery that supports this police procedural full of mounting tension. Hugo, a former federal profiler who now runs a bookshop in Paris, is pulled back into investigative work when a threatening message targets an executive at a luxury confectionery company. McLaren shapes Hugo’s perspective with measured phrasing that reflects his analytical thinking and professional habits. He gives secondary characters distinct vocal patterns through shifts in tempo and emphasis, allowing conversations to unfold at a quick pace while keeping listeners engaged, and he smoothly transitions between interviews, discoveries, and reflection.
As the clues accumulate, McLaren maintains the momentum.Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798318551444
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2026
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