Well Chilled, Case 1: Savoie to Provence (Wine Dark Mysteries)

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the runtime—how much mystery can you pack into two hours? Turns out, *a lot*, if you’re Kate Fitzroy. *Well Chilled* is the audiobook equivalent of a perfectly chilled blanc de blancs: effervescent, slightly acidic, and over before you’re ready. Eve’s investigation into the Savoie dynasty’s dirty laundry unfolds like a masterclass in economic storytelling. No filler scenes of her sipping wine and describing the view (though, god, I wish—give me *one* indulgent sunset metaphor). Instead, we get dialogue so sharp it could debone a poularde, and a protagonist who’s equal parts charming and ruthless. When she corners a suspect with a casual, *“You’re lying, but your Pinot isn’t,”* I actually laughed out loud. Rosalind Ashford’s performance is the audiobook’s secret ingredient. She nails Eve’s wit without overplaying the sarcasm, and her French pronunciations (a make-or-break moment in these settings) are flawless—no cringe-worthy *“zree”* for *“trois”*. My only critique? The pacing *almost* feels too brisk in the final act. A 30-second pause after a major reveal would’ve let the tension breathe, but instead, we barrel ahead like a tipsy guest at a dégustation. And while the sound design is subtly effective, I wanted *more*—the occasional distant hum of a harvest machine or the echo of footsteps in a stone cellar would’ve deepened the immersion. Still, these are quibbles. For listeners who crave mysteries with bite, not bluster, *Well Chilled* delivers a vintage worth savoring—just don’t blame me if you start side-eyeing your own family’s wine collection afterward.