Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove Narrator: Gail Shalan
Published by Macmillan Audio on February 17, 2026
Source: NetGalley
Genres: Mystery, Paranormal
Length: 10 hrs 21 mins
Pages: 336
Format: Audiobook
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Come for the memories. Stay for the murder...
Little North Island, off the coast of Maine, is so beautiful it could be a postcard. Organist Willow Stone cherishes her memories of childhood summers spent on the island with her godmother Sue... even though her visits ended abruptly, and she hasn't seen or heard from her godmother in over fifteen years. Until a letter from Sue—and word of Sue’s death—brings Willow back to the picturesque island.
The islanders rarely mention Sue without also bringing up Cameron House, and the controversy around Sue’s unexpected inheritance of the sprawling mansion. When Willow overhears someone threatening the next heir to the property, she starts to question whether Sue’s death was really an accident, and can’t help but wonder whether someone on this sleepy island is willing to stop at nothing—even murder—to claim Cameron House for their own.
Through Willow’s eyes, as well as those of others on the island, a mystery unfolds that keeps drawing Willow back to Cameron House and the very real ghosts that walk its corridors.
I am not an organist at heart, but I have played the organ for churches in the past. I think Murder Will Out might be the first book I’ve read with a main character who is an organist, which of course grabbed my attention. Willow is a grad student/organist who comes back to Little North Island, Maine for her semi-estranged godmother, Sue’s, funeral. Of course, it turns out Sue was murdered, the island and Sue’s house are haunted, and no one wants Willow poking her nose into the island’s secrets.
Willow is not, at least at first, a great lead. She’s quiet, afraid of confrontation, and easily intimidated. She does grow and become more confident both in herself and the people around her. I like her, but not as much as I wanted to. Most of the story is told from Willow’s point of view, but once in a while we gets pieces from another person’s outlook, which was a little odd.
The small town setting is wonderful and the ghosts are a nice addition. The story moved along at a decent pace, although feel like there was a bit more repetition than necessary. While I didn’t see one twist coming, it makes total sense, especially if this might become a series. The other surprises were a little obvious, but maybe they were supposed to be?
I listened to the audio and the narrator did a good job. Her tone fit the story and she managed to give all the characters, living and dead, their own voice and personality. I could see this becoming a series, and if it does, I would probably pick the next one up. Hopefully, by then, both Willow and the author will have their feet under them a little more securely.
About Jennifer K. Breedlove
Jennifer K. Breedlove is a Chicago area musician and writer, with degrees in piano, choral conducting, and theology. She is on the music faculty at Loyola University in Chicago and serves as an assistant conductor for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Jennifer has worked as a church musician, educator, and editor and is a prolific composer of choral music; her compositions, as well as her nonfiction books and articles, are available through several major publishers.
A frequent visitor to Downeast Maine since childhood, she has an enduring affection for the wild beauty of the coastal islands and the warmth of the people who make their homes there. Her debut novel, Murder Will Out, won the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award, and was also a finalist for the Killer Nashville Claymore award.
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