Helen Lloyd provides an excellent portrayal of Berit Gardner, the author turned sleuth who is the heroine in this new Swedish mystery series. Berit is only one of a cast of eccentric characters in the rundown village of Great Diddling. After an explosion in the library of a manor house kills a local man, Berit ends up taking part in running a book-and-murder festival designed to bring tourists--and an influx of revenue--to the village. As each local's story is revealed, the festival takes on a madcap tone, resulting in fun and mayhem for all. Lloyd's voices and inflections bring life to each of the quirky characters, providing a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.
Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781666668353
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Jesse Vilinsky gives a vibrant performance of this delightful cozy mystery featuring a fun romance. Emersyn, who is caring for her young niece after her brother's death, is struggling to keep afloat financially after being swindled by her ex-boyfriend, Hoffman. Emersyn's natural warmth and intelligence come through in Vilinsky's narration as she creates a fictitious detective agency to scare Hoffman into returning the money. Through her efforts she meets the charming Wyatt, whose deep voice and infectious mischievousness convince Emersyn to let him help. When Emersyn's 80-year-old neighbor is accused of murdering their building super, the fictitious agency is hired to investigate. Vilinksy creates an atmospheric listen full of heart, romantic spark, and found family.
Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217159048
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Chef Paul Delamare is back for a second helping of mystery in this action-packed adventure. Narrator Sebastian Humphreys brings sparkle to his portrayal of the perpetually down-on-his-luck chef whose house has just been flooded when he receives an invitation from an old friend. After joining Parisian socialite Xéra on her honeymoon cruise across the Atlantic in a superyacht, Paul stumbles upon the scene of a tragic death and realizes he may be trapped at sea with a murderer. Humphreys hits just the right notes as the chef, emphasizing his knack for putting clues together and his hilarious outrage when his investigation goes sideways. Humphreys deftly juggles the accents and affectations of the passengers and yacht crew, strongly delineating each character.
Pub Date: Dec. 16, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798899739194
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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