Ocean Bliss and Grisly Bits

I’ll admit, I approached *Ocean Bliss and Grisly Bits* skeptical of yet another ‘plucky senior solves crimes’ setup, but Donna Doyle won me over by making her protagonists *actually* plucky—not just in spirit, but in their relentless, sometimes reckless methods. Molly Gertrude is the kind of elderly sleuth who’d happily trip a suspect to get answers, and Dora’s exasperated but loyal backup makes their partnership feel lived-in. The mystery itself is cleverly plotted, with red herrings that don’t feel cheap and a reveal that hinges on a delightfully mundane detail (involving seashells, no less). I particularly loved how the coastal setting isn’t just window dressing; the tide schedules and tourist traps become active players in the investigation. Joanna Roddy’s performance is a masterclass in vocal characterization. She nails Molly Gertrude’s clipped, no-nonsense delivery, but it’s her handling of the secondary characters—a smarmy hotel manager, a flustered police officer—that really shines. My only critique? The pacing stumbles slightly in the middle, where a subplot about Dora’s granddaughter feels tacked on, and the audio mixing occasionally makes Molly’s dialogue sound a hair too loud compared to the ambient effects. Still, the final act’s tension, complete with a stormy showdown on the pier, more than makes up for it. If you’re craving a cozy mystery with teeth (and a narrator who could read a grocery list and make it gripping), this is your next listen.