Aunt Dimity and the King's Ransom

I’ll admit, I approached *Aunt Dimity and the King’s Ransom* skeptical that a cozy mystery could hold my attention for six-plus hours—until Christina Moore’s narration pulled me in like the storm that strands Lori. Moore has a knack for balancing the series’ trademark humor with genuine suspense, and her Lori is a standout: sharp but never sarcastic, weary but never whiny. The real delight, though, is how she voices Aunt Dimity’s spectral interjections—like a favorite aunt leaning in to gossip, but with an otherworldly echo that sends a pleasant shiver down your spine. The production is clean, though I wished for slightly more atmospheric sound design (a howling wind here, a creaking floorboard there) to heighten the inn’s gothic vibe. The story itself is a slow burn, but intentionally so. Atherton takes her time letting the mystery unfold, and while the pacing might frustrate listeners craving nonstop action, it’s a feature, not a bug—this is a book about *being* stranded, about the unease of waiting and the way small details (a misplaced key, a guest’s too-knowing smile) can curdle into suspicion. My only critique? The resolution, while satisfying, leans a bit too heavily on a late-stage reveal that feels slightly *deus ex machina* for a series that usually plays fair with clues. Still, Moore’s performance sells it, and the final act’s emotional beats land thanks to her nuanced delivery. If you’re a fan of mysteries that feel like a fireside chat with a ghostly advisor—or if you’ve ever fantasized about solving a puzzle in a storm-battered inn—this is your audiobook. Just maybe don’t listen during a power outage.