HALL WAYS AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: I'm smitten with this series (even though I still haven't gotten back to read book two). I love the premise, I love the characters, and author Samantha Larsen knows how to tell a twisty, turny, terrific tale to keep readers guessing from start to finish.
Normally when I read (or read with my ears), I take all kinds of notes about the story. But in listening to A STAGED DEATH, the fourth book in the fabulous A Lady Librarian Mystery series, I wrote nothing down. It was just pure listening enjoyment.
One of the highlights of reading this series is the Author's Note at the end of each book. Larsen separates fact from fiction and shares her dives down research rabbit holes. This is fascinating but also lends an additional air of authenticity to her stories.
In A STAGED DEATH, readers get their armchair travel to 1787 Bath, England, and the theatre, where shenanigans ensue and a plethora of questionable characters are introduced. Larsen excels at writing fully fleshed-out, quirky characters for readers to love, loathe, or laugh about. Lady Catherine, who's been a part of the stories from the beginning, is becoming more and more interesting, and it's fun to watch her throw her power around in a time when many men just weren't having it from females. Catherine's friendship with Tiffany is further cemented in this installment, too, and the leveling is refreshing.
ABOUT THE AUDIOBOOK: The
narrator, Marni Penning, is outstanding. As I mentioned in prior reviews, she truly performs the parts with
delightful voicing of young and old, male and female, nefarious and innocent -- and snooty! She excels at snooty! Her
pacing and delivery are perfect, and the audio is glitch-free. (I listened at
1.1x on the NetGalley app.)
Happily, each installment stands alone, but I recommend starting at the beginning with A Novel Surprise, if for no other reason than to watch the relationship develop between main character Tiffany and bookshop owner & constable Samir. Coming from someone who tends to avoid romance, this is huge. The author manages to sprinkle just enough details of their interactions that we're hooked on seeing these two flourish together -- even if minor things like murders, accusations, and prison seem to put a strain on things.
In case it's not obvious, I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy a marvelous mystery that does its own thing within classic cozy tropes. A STAGED DEATH is the best book yet.
I received the audiobook download via Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and I should have posted on that blog tour; however, LIFE interfered. My sincere apologies to the author and tour host. Visit the tour page for links to other participants' reviews and special features. I loved the book and can't wait to see what's next in this series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
READ MY AUDIOBOOK REVIEW OF BOOK ONE, A NOVEL DISGUISE ON:
GOODREADS, AMAZON, OR AUDIBLE.
CLICK TO READ MY AUDIOBOOK REVIEW OF BOOK THREE, A POETIC POX
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