Shadow Witch

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at first—*another* cozy mystery set in a retirement home? But *Shadow Witch* disarmed me within chapters. The premise is deliciously weird: seniors suddenly developing superhuman agility before dropping dead (or being helped along). Lake leans into the uncanny, blending folk-magic realism with a murder plot that feels fresh. The witchy protagonist, whose powers manifest in mundane but clever ways (think tea-leaf visions and *just* enough psychic nudges), avoids the usual Chosen One clichés. She’s pragmatic, funny, and—refreshingly—not the center of a love triangle. Natalie Duke’s performance is a masterclass in tonal whiplash. One minute she’s delivering a droll observation about bingo night, the next she’s whispering a curse with genuine menace. My only gripe? The pacing stumbles slightly in the middle, when the supernatural elements briefly overshadow the murder investigation. And while the ending ties up neatly, a subplot about a missing heirloom feels tacked on for thematic weight it doesn’t earn. Still, the audio production is flawless—no distracting edits or volume jumps—just Duke’s voice pulling you through like a confidant leaning in over tea. If you love your cozies with a side of *what the hell is happening*, this is your next listen.