Audiobook – Carol's Notebook

Death on the Night Train to Verona by Benedict Brown

September 25, 2026September 24, 2026 by CarolNo Comments

It's 1929 and Christopher and his grandfather, Lord Edgington, are touring the continent. They're taking the night train from Rome to Verona, but no one will be getting any sleep after the famous actress, Geraldine de la Forge, is found killed in her sleeping compartment. I love the 20s setting with its Golden Age touches. The characters, both returning and new, are given full personalities with strengths and flaws. The clues were well placed and it's a good puzzle. I tend to enjoy most of Benedict Brown's mysteries....

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite

September 24, 2026September 24, 2026 by CarolNo Comments

Murder by Memory is trying to be Miss Marple but as a professional detective in space. While it doesn't quite deliver on that promise, it is enjoyable. I wish the story was a little longer. At only 100 pages, we get to know the world and the characters, but not as well as I would like. Dorothy Gentleman is a good character and I found the way the generational shipped worked interesting. The sci fi is pretty light, not heavy on technical jargon. The mystery was well done and I appreciate that it tied into the science fiction aspects of the book....

Veil of Lies by Helena Marchmont

September 22, 2026September 22, 2026 by CarolNo Comments

I like the Bunburry series for car rides. Each episode is under four hours long, which makes it perfect to listen to the way of up the lake or a meeting and back. This time around Alfie and Emma are planning their wedding - well, Alfie's doing most of the planning. Of course, nothing ever goes quite as planned and one of the wedding planner's staff is found dead. Of course, the Bunburry triangle gets involved. It's a quick listen. The returning characters are fun to catch up with and the new ones are developed well. I would like a bit more Oscar, but that's just me. The mystery is wrapped up well. I'll definitely listen to the next one....

Sprinkles and Sea Serpents by Danielle Garrett

September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 by CarolNo Comments

Sprinkles and Sea Serpents is a fun book. Ella. our main character, has an interesting power - everyone in Winterspell Lake has some kind of magic, even if others are a bit leery of it. She's a former journalist, so the mystery of the missing women grabs her attention. I liked Ella for the most part, but she made some not great decisions. The mystery itself was good enough. I wasn't surprised by who the bad guy was, but there some unanswered questions at the end that will almost definitely come up in the next. I liked romantic interest, too. I thought they worked well together. I'll probably read #1.5 around Christmas....

How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin

September 16, 2026September 16, 2026 by CarolNo Comments

The mystery was good and I enjoyed the mix of murder and art. I don't love London as a setting as much as Castle Knoll, but I get it. Annie's relationship with her parents is a mess. As is her whatever is going on with Detective Crane. I like that's we're sticking with the fortunes as our connecting point. I enjoyed the dual timelines, but maybe prefer the people and events of the 60s over the current time period....

Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran

September 2, 2026September 2, 2026 by CarolNo Comments

Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead is not my typical mystery read. The problem is simple enough. Her client, Leon, wants her to find his Uncle Vic, an assistant district attorney who disappeared during Hurricane Katrina. But Claire is not a conventional detective, Vic was not always a nice guy, and New Orleans is suffering from post-traumatic-stress disorder. Claire follows Jacques Silette and his manual, Détection. It's about recognizing clues not finding them, about allowing connections to reveal themselves. Claire is guided by the typical interviews and clues, but also visions, dreams, and drug-induced states. It's slower moving for a mystery and we get bits and pieces of her background and what brought her to where she is now, both mentally and physically. New Orleans is a character in and of itself. Katrina has devastated the city and recovery is slow. It's a dark violent place for the people Claire interacts with, but it's also where they belong. It's engrossing...