The Misery Merchant

I’ll admit, I started *The Misery Merchant* skeptical—another missing girl thriller in a sea of them? But Reese’s sharp writing and Floyd’s magnetic narration pulled me in within the first chapter. The story follows Detective Alex Landon as he chases a predator who’s always one step ahead, and the tension is relentless. Reese doesn’t waste time on fluff; every scene drips with dread, and the villain’s taunts are chillingly personal. Floyd’s performance is the cherry on top—his voice is the perfect mix of exhausted professionalism and simmering rage, making Landon feel like a real person, not just a plot device. That said, the pacing stumbles slightly in the middle act. Some scenes drag just enough to break the momentum, and the identity of the killer is telegraphed a beat too early for my taste. Still, the payoff is worth it. The audiobook’s production is top-notch, with clear audio and no distracting background noise, ensuring you’re immersed in the horror. By the final act, I was white-knuckling my phone, desperate to know if Landon would save his victim—or if the killer’s game would claim another soul. If you love your thrillers dark, fast-paced, and narrated by someone who sounds like they’ve seen too much, this one’s for you.