Timeless Treasures: Summer

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the premise at first: time travel *and* Salem witch trials *and* a cozy mystery? That’s a lot of genre plates to spin. But *Timeless Treasures: Summer* pulls it off with surprising agility, largely because McLean commits hard to the bit. The story doesn’t waste time hand-wringing over the mechanics of time travel (thank god); Summer’s displacement is treated like a nightmare you can’t wake from, and the audiobook’s brevity works in its favor—no meandering subplots, just a woman racing to outwit a town that’s *convinced* she’s evil. The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, with clues hidden in plain sight (listen for the way Stribling lingers on certain Puritan phrases—they’re not just atmosphere). Stribling’s performance is a masterclass in restraint. She resists the urge to ham up the 17th-century dialogue, which keeps the listen from feeling like a history lesson. Her Summer is relatable—sarcastic but not obnoxious, scared but not paralyzed—and the supporting cast gets distinct vocal textures without slipping into caricature. My only critique? The romantic subplot feels tacked on, like McLean remembered mid-draft that cozies *usually* have a love interest. And while the ending ties up neatly, the time-travel rules are left frustratingly vague (a pet peeve of mine). Still, the audiobook’s production is flawless: no volume spikes, no awkward pauses, and the ambient sounds are used sparingly but effectively. If you love cozies but wish they’d occasionally *bite*, this is your jam—just don’t expect to pause for a bathroom break once the hangman’s noose comes out.