A Fire at the Exhibition

I devoured A Fire at the Exhibition in one sitting, and I'm still reeling from the ride. Elizabeth Knowelden's narration is phenomenal – she's got a knack for evoking the period setting without ever feeling too on-the-nose. Her portrayals of Lady Hardcastle and Flo are particularly impressive, capturing their complex friendship and banter with ease. The story itself is a masterclass in pacing, expertly ratcheting up the tension from a seemingly idyllic village setting to a heart-pounding climax. One of my only quibbles is that the supporting cast could use a bit more development – I had trouble keeping track of some of the smaller characters, particularly the various suspects in the mystery. Still, this is a minor complaint in an otherwise outstanding audiobook.