In this cozy mystery listeners gain insight into the life of the first female Episcopal priest to serve in Apple Springs in Northern California. When Hope Taylor shows up for her first day on the job, she finds the murdered body of the meanest man in town and decides to channel her inner Trixie Belden to identify the killer. Jennifer Jill Araya helps listeners find Hope highly relatable and sympathetic, more like a friend than a stereotypical stiff and reserved church leader. Araya also gives life to the members of the community, in particular a drug-addled former professional singer who grew up in Apple Springs but affects a Southern belle persona, complete with a thick drawl.
Pub Date: Jan. 12, 2021
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781662070440
Publisher: Dreamscape
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: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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