Dukes Prefer Blondes

I’ll admit I was skeptical of another 'feisty historical heroine' trope, but Clara Fairfax won me over with her no-nonsense attitude and secret love of puzzles. Kate Reading’s narration is a masterclass in subtle emotional shifts—she transitions seamlessly from Clara’s exasperated eye-rolls to the thrumming tension of a midnight chase through foggy alleyways. The pacing falters slightly in the third act, where a subplot involving a missing child feels rushed, but the core romance between Clara and her gruff, observant love interest simmers with potential. Chase’s dialogue crackles, and Reading’s pacing lets every insult and innuendo land. The production quality is pristine, though the music cues at chapter breaks feel oddly modern for the setting. Overall, it’s a fun, feminist-leaning take on the period romance—perfect for listeners who crave a heroine who’s more than a pretty face.