The White Priory Murders

John Telfer’s narration is the secret weapon of this audiobook. His Merrivale is a force of nature—a man who bellows, cajoles, and occasionally collapses into exhausted muttering, all while unraveling a plot that feels like a cross between a drawing-room farce and a locked-room conundrum. Telfer nails the rhythm of Dickson’s dialogue, especially the snappy exchanges between Merrivale and Bennett, which crackle with personality. He doesn’t just read the lines; he *performs* them, and it’s impossible not to get swept up in the caustic energy of their dynamic. That said, the supporting cast occasionally gets shortchanged—Tait’s Hollywood diva affectations felt a touch too broad, and some minor characters blurred together in a way that made it hard to track suspects. The pacing is where this book stumbles a bit. The first act drags as Dickson sets the scene, and the middle meanders through a few too many dinner-party discussions that could’ve been tightened. But once the bodies start piling up (and they do, in classic Dickson fashion), the momentum kicks in hard. The production quality is solid—no distracting audio glitches or muffled delivery—but the real star is Telfer’s ability to make even the most convoluted deductions feel engaging. If you like your mysteries with a side of hammy theatrics and a detective who’s equal parts genius and grouch, this is a satisfying listen. Just don’t expect subtlety; this is a book that wears its ingenuity on its sleeve.