Murder at Rochester Park

I’ll admit, I approached *Murder at Rochester Park* with skepticism—another upper-crust murder? But within 20 minutes, Alex Lee’s narration had me hooked, particularly his rendering of Evelyn Christie, whose voice drips with the kind of wit that makes you snort-laugh on the subway. Lee’s ability to shift between the stiff formality of the aristocrats and the weary exasperation of the servants is what sells the audiobook. The production is clean, with no jarring edits, though I did wish for a touch more atmospheric sound design (a crackling fireplace, perhaps?) to deepen the immersion. The story’s strength lies in its characters, not its plot twists. Coles writes dialogue that *sings*—the barbed exchanges between Elise and her new in-laws are worth the price of admission alone. That said, the mystery itself is serviceable but not groundbreaking; the solution hinges on a reveal that feels slightly undercooked compared to the rich social dynamics. And while the 5-hour runtime keeps things tight, the final act rushes a bit, as if Coles suddenly remembered she needed to wrap up the whodunit. Still, the audiobook’s charm is in its details: the way Tommy’s PTSD is handled with quiet dignity, the way a single raised eyebrow from Lee can convey volumes. If you love mysteries where the real crime is bad manners, this is a gem. Just don’t expect Agatha Christie-level misdirection—expect something sharper, and far more human.