Four on the Floor

I’ll admit, I picked this up skeptical that a mystery centered around a vintage Chevy could sustain my interest for seven-plus hours. But *Four on the Floor* won me over with its oddball charm and a protagonist who’s equal parts Columbo and *American Pickers* host. Jeff Talbot isn’t your typical cozy sleuth—he’s got the FBI pedigree, sure, but his real superpower is reading people the way he reads a car’s history by its dings and dents. When he and his butler (yes, *butler*—a delightfully dry foil named Reginald) arrive to collect the restored woodie only to find four dead men instead, the story kicks into gear with a mix of procedural precision and small-town eccentricity. Samuel E. Hoke’s narration is a masterclass in understated charisma. He doesn’t overplay Jeff’s gruffness or Reginald’s British primness; instead, he lets the dialogue’s natural wit shine. The production is clean, though I’ll dock it half a point for a few awkward pauses during transitional scenes—nothing deal-breaking, but noticeable if you’re listening closely. My bigger critique? The middle act sags slightly under the weight of *too* many red herrings. Morgan’s love for classic cars occasionally steers the plot into detours about engine specs or auction lore that, while fun, test the patience of listeners here for the murder. Still, the payoff—a twist that hinges on both automotive trivia *and* human folly—makes it worth the ride. If you’re craving a cozy with teeth, a narrator who doesn’t annoy, and a mystery that’s as much about *why* as *whodunit*, this one’s got the horsepower.