Two booksellers, gregarious Molly and reserved Emma, discover a treasure trove of books about the occult when they meet at an estate sale in this cozy, narrated with straightforward clarity by Janet Metzger. The mystery moves around a bit among a host of seemingly unconnected characters and events that are held together by Metzger's understated tone and unhurried pacing. The budding attraction between Molly and Emma provides a welcome turn from discussions of satanism and witchcraft. The chapters each begin with the title, author, and physical details of an occult book, a device that is sometimes interesting and sometimes an unwelcome interruption of the action. A thorough description of a card catalog for those who have never seen one provides an amusing note on changing times.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2024
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: Spoken Realms
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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