Sunnyside Retired Witches Community Cozy Mysteries, Books 4-6

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about a cozy mystery series set in a retirement home for witches—would it lean too cutesy? Too slow? *Sunnyside* Books 4-6 proved me wrong within the first hour. Paula Lester has a knack for writing characters who feel like real people (albeit ones who might hex you for stealing their dessert), and the mysteries here are satisfyingly twisty without requiring a flowchart to follow. The standout? Book 5’s whodunit, which weaves in a cold case with emotional weight, proving cozies can pack a punch. Ashley Music’s narration is the secret sauce. She nails Zoey’s exasperated-but-affectionate tone, and her voicing of the djinn, Malik, is *chef’s kiss*—equal parts smug and charming. That said, the production isn’t flawless: a few audio edits are noticeable (a sudden volume dip in Book 6’s climax pulled me out of the moment), and the demon character’s growl can veer into cartoonish territory. Still, the pacing is brisk, the humor lands, and the found-family dynamics give the series soul. My only real critique? I wanted *more*—especially from the clairvoyant, whose subplot in Book 4 felt underdeveloped. But if you’re craving a cozy with bite, wit, and a narrator who makes you feel like you’re gossiping with old friends, this is a winner. Just maybe don’t listen while driving—you’ll laugh too hard at the one-liners.