Lady Justice and the Mystery Mansion

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at the ‘cursed mansion’ premise—until about 10 minutes in, when Walt’s deadpan reaction to a ghostly encounter had me laughing out loud. Thornhill’s writing thrives on this contrast: the absurdity of the supernatural colliding with Walt and Maggie’s no-nonsense pragmatism. The mystery itself is lightweight but clever, with clues hidden in architectural quirks and small-town gossip. I appreciated that the ‘curse’ isn’t just window dressing; it ties into the mansion’s history in ways that feel organic, not forced. George Kuch’s narration is a masterclass in *less is more*. His Walt isn’t a dramatic hero—he’s a guy who sounds like he’d rather be napping, which makes his exasperation at the mansion’s antics all the funnier. That said, the female voices (especially Maggie) occasionally veer into caricature, and the pacing drags slightly during the renovation details. Still, the audiobook’s short runtime works in its favor; it’s the perfect palette cleanser between heavier listens. My only real gripe? The ending wraps up *too* neatly—even for a cozy. But if you’re craving a mystery that’s equal parts spooky and silly, with a narrator who sounds like he’s smirking through every line, this is your ticket.