As this audiobook opens, Charlotte Reed has recently inherited Chapters, a B&B dedicated to literature, from her enigmatic great-aunt, Isabella. As a week dedicated to the theme of mystery author Josephine Tey takes place, Charlotte discovers that one of her guests has alienated everyone at Chapters. Thus, when he is stabbed, listeners have a wealth of characters to suspect. As Suzie Althens performs, she adds depth, especially as the characters discuss the mysteries of Tey and other authors, comparing them to the real-life mystery they are embroiled in. One character Althens portrays particularly well is 70-something Ellen, neighbor to Charlotte and friend to her great-aunt. Althens makes Ellen seem perfectly credible, and delightful.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2020
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An amusing audiobook that works hard to make fun of syrupy holiday romances.
Three narrators perform a funny, irreverent take on a Hallmark-esque Christmas tale. Detectives Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd, who have an enemies-to-lovers dynamic going on, are both assigned to investigate a murder in the quaint town of Christmas—a murder they must solve in order to save the town’s Jingle Bell Jubilee, and their careers. In alternating chapters, Patti Murin deftly performs Holly, who has a penchant for cursing, while Colin Donnell charmingly voices Mark. Angela Dawe pops in with interspersed comments reminding the listener not to take the story too seriously.
An amusing audiobook that works hard to make fun of syrupy holiday romances.Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 18 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250451828
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
A listen with charm, mystery, and well-depicted local color.
This new mystery series opener is set on an island off the coast of Maine. In a girlish, upbeat voice, Carly Robins portrays Audrey Sullivan, a movie publicist who escapes a scandal in LA when she inherits her grandmother’s movie theater on Pine Island. On the night of the theater’s reopening, a dead body is found in the projection booth. Audrey enters amateur sleuth mode, and the hunt is on. The story, implausible at times, has the usual comfortable components: quirky characters; an unloved victim; revealing interviews with suspects; scary chases; small-town secrets; and a likable, deftly presented heroine. Movie aficionados will love the many references to classic lines.
A listen with charm, mystery, and well-depicted local color.Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 44 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668658543
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Nov. 3, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
