I Shot You Babe

I went into *I Shot You Babe* expecting a quirky mystery with teeth, and Leslie Langtry absolutely delivered. Coney Bombay is the kind of protagonist you don’t just root for—you *want* to be around, even if he’s casually dropping bodies in the name of philosophy. The carnival setting is a stroke of genius; it’s brimming with colorful characters, shady backstories, and that creeping sense of unease you get when you realize a murder might’ve happened *under the big top*. Langtry’s writing is tight, her humor dark but never forced, and her ability to juggle multiple plot threads without ever feeling cluttered is impressive. Steve Marvel’s narration is the icing on the cake. His delivery of Coney’s internal monologue—equal parts sardonic and self-aware—is pitch-perfect, and he has a real talent for making even the most absurd moments feel grounded. That said, Marvel’s performance occasionally stumbles when navigating the carnival’s chaotic energy, with some crowd scenes feeling a tad muddled. The production itself is clean, but the final third of the book suffers from a slightly rushed pace, which makes a few climactic moments feel overcrowded. Still, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise stellar listen. If you love cozy mysteries with a side of chaos—and don’t mind a protagonist who knits between hits—this one’s for you.