A Stab in the Dark by Suzannah Rowntree

A Stab in the Dark

Gaslamp heist meets Phantom’s deadly shadow

Narrated byKylie Stewart
Length8h50m
Release dateApril 29, 2025
LanguageEnglish
★★★★☆ 4.7 (1,505 ratings)

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Quick Facts

AuthorSuzannah Rowntree
NarratorKylie Stewart
Runtime8h50m
PublishedApril 29, 2025
Rating★★★★☆ 4.7 / 5 (1,505 ratings)
CategoriesScience Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Gaslamp, Historical
FormatAudiobook (Digital)
PlatformAudible

About This Audiobook

*A Stab in the Dark* isn’t your grandmother’s opera-house mystery—it’s a razor-sharp gaslamp fantasy where the backstage politics are as cutthroat as the murder weapon. Suzannah Rowntree drops us into a Paris Opera dripping with gothic opulence and back-alley deals, where Miss Dark’s crew of lovable misfits must navigate a murder investigation while dodging aristocratic blackmail, cursed props, and a tenor whose ghost *refuses* to stay dead. The real magic? Rowntree’s knack for blending wit with genuine stakes—this isn’t just a whodunit, but a *why-dunit*, where every character’s motives are as layered as the Opera’s velvet curtains.

Kylie Stewart’s narration is the audiobook’s secret weapon: her Miss Dark is a deliciously dry counterpoint to the melodrama, delivering deadpan quips with the timing of a stand-up comic, while her voicing of the flamboyant opera divas and gruff stagehands makes the cast feel like a troupe you’d pay to watch *off* the page. The production leans into the gaslamp aesthetic with subtle ambient cues—distant aria snippets, the creak of stage machinery—that immerse without overwhelming. What sets this apart from typical fantasy mysteries is its *rhythm*: Rowntree’s prose has the pace of a heist flick, and Stewart’s performance matches it beat for beat, making this a listen that’s as propulsive as it is atmospheric.

Tags: gaslamp fantasy heistwitty female protagonistoperatic dark fantasyfast-paced mystery with humorimmersive audiobook narrationPhantom-of-the-Opera but make it queer

Why Listen to A Stab in the Dark?

  • Expert narration by Kylie Stewart brings every character and scene to life across 8h50m of immersive audio.
  • Highly rated at 4.7 stars by 1,505 listeners.
  • Free with your Audible trial — keep the audiobook forever even if you cancel.
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Editor's Review ★★★★☆

AudioBook Atlas

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the ‘murder at the opera’ premise—how many ways can you spin *Phantom*? But *A Stab in the Dark* disarms you in the first chapter with its sheer *fun*. Miss Dark isn’t a brooding detective; she’s a pragmatic, newly minted wealthy woman who’d rather not get stabbed (again), and her crew’s banter crackles with the energy of a team that’s been through hell and still likes each other. The murder mystery is tight, but the real joy is the worldbuilding: Rowntree’s Paris Opera feels lived-in, from the backstage superstitions to the way the aristocracy’s corruption seeps into the wings like stage blood. Kylie Stewart’s narration is a masterclass in tonal balance. She nails Miss Dark’s sardonic humor—think a Victorian Jessica Jones—without letting it overshadow the darker moments, like the genuinely eerie scenes with the tenor’s ghost. My only critique? The pacing stumbles slightly in the middle when the crew’s internal debates drag, and Stewart’s French accents (while commendable) occasionally veer into caricature. But the finale—complete with a heist-within-a-heist and a twist that recontextualizes the entire murder—more than makes up for it. If you love your fantasy with wit, style, and a body count, this is your next listen. Just don’t start it before bed unless you’re okay with opera ghosts haunting your dreams.

Download: A Stab in the Dark

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A Stab in the Dark by Suzannah Rowntree is an immersive listening experience. Performed by Kylie Stewart with a runtime of 8h50m, you can start with a free trial that you can cancel at any time. The audiobook remains yours forever, even if you end the trial.