Homicide and Hot Tubs

About This Audiobook

Annabel Chase’s *Homicide and Hot Tubs* delivers a breezy yet twisty supernatural mystery that’s equal parts clever and campy. Eloise Worthington, our accidental immortal, stumbles into a body in a hot tub—because of course she does—and must navigate the absurdly high stakes of a retirement community where the elderly have some serious secrets. The humor is sharp, the stakes feel real (mostly), and the world-building is a delightful mess of ghostly bureaucracy and over-the-hill shenanigans. If you’ve ever wanted a detective story where the clues are hidden in bingo tournaments and the alibis involve questionable margaritas, this is your audiobook. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue crackles, and the supernatural elements are just weird enough to keep you guessing without feeling like a genre bait-and-switch.

What really sells it, though, is Traci Odom’s narration. She nails the tonal whiplash between dry wit and genuine tension, her voice shifting seamlessly from Eloise’s deadpan sarcasm to the frazzled urgency of a ghostly informant. The production quality is top-notch—no muffled dialogue, no jarring cuts—just a smooth, immersive listen that makes the absurd feel grounded. Even when the plot leans into predictability, Odom’s performance keeps it engaging, like a friend telling you a wild story over drinks. It’s not high literature, but it’s exactly the kind of guilty pleasure that sneaks up on you and refuses to let go."

"review": "I went into *Homicide and Hot Tubs* expecting a light, maybe forgettable cozy mystery with a supernatural twist. What I got was a surprisingly addictive listen that balanced humor, heart, and just enough murder to keep me hooked. Traci Odom’s narration is the star here—she gives Eloise a voice that’s dry but never cynical, and she sells even the goofiest plot twists with such conviction that I didn’t question the logic for a second. The pacing is relentless, with just enough time between clues to let you feel clever before dropping another red herring in your lap. That said, the mystery itself isn’t groundbreaking; the solution feels a tad too tidy, and the supernatural rules are more squishy than strictly defined. A few too many characters blur together, too.

But the charm of this book outweighs its flaws. The setting—a retirement community with a dark underbelly—is a fresh twist on the amateur sleuth trope, and the hot tub murder is the kind of bizarre detail that makes the story memorable. Odom’s performance elevates everything; she doesn’t just read the lines, she *performs* them, giving each character a distinct cadence and personality. The audiobook clocks in at under six hours, which is perfect for a mystery that’s more about the journey than the destination. If you’re in the mood for something fun, fast, and a little bit weird, this is a solid pick. Just don’t expect Agatha Christie levels of deduction—this is more about the vibes than the clues."

"tags": ["cozy mystery audiobook