Fearful Fortunes and Terrible Tarot

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at the idea of *another* cozy mystery with a witchy protagonist—until Alfhild Daemonne started snarking her way through tarot readings and dead bodies. Wycherley’s writing hooks you with its blend of folksy charm and genuine tension, but it’s Kim Bretton’s narration that sells it. She nails Alfhild’s world-weary pragmatism, making even the most outlandish plot twists (and there are a few) feel grounded. The production quality is crisp, with no distracting edits, though I did wish for a touch more atmospheric sound design during the tarot scenes—they’re central to the plot, and a subtle card-shuffling effect or distant wind could’ve heightened the unease. The pacing is where this audiobook shines: tight enough to keep you engaged during a commute, but with enough breathing room to savor the dry humor and red herrings. My only real critique is the villain’s reveal, which leans a bit too hard on a last-minute info dump. Still, the journey there is so enjoyable—full of sharp one-liners, a lovably grumpy familiar (the raven, Moth, steals every scene), and a mystery that actually uses its supernatural elements—that it’s easy to forgive. If you’re tired of cozies where the magic feels tacked on, or if you just want a mystery with a narrator who could read a grocery list and make it compelling, this is a winner. Just don’t blame me if you start side-eyeing your own tarot deck afterward.