Miss Wolcott's Ghost

I’ll admit, I was skeptical when Gamache’s latest case leaned into the supernatural—Louise Penny usually keeps her mysteries grounded in human evil, not ghostly apparitions. But *Miss Wolcott’s Ghost* won me over by blending the uncanny with the undeniable. The narrator’s performance is a standout, particularly in their ability to switch between Gamache’s gruff authority and the quiet dread of a witness recounting something they can’t explain. The audiobook’s sound design deserves praise, too; the way silence is used to amplify unease is downright cinematic. That said, the ghostly elements don’t quite land as strongly as Penny’s usual psychological depth. Some of the spectral encounters feel like afterthoughts, shoehorned in to justify the title. The pacing also stumbles in the middle act, where the investigation meanders before the final act delivers the gut punch it promises. Still, the conclusion is so devastatingly satisfying that minor stumbles fade fast. If you’re a fan of the series, this is a must-listen; if you’re new to Penny, it’s a compelling (if uneven) introduction to her darkest world yet.