Witch and Famous

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at the idea of *another* witchy amateur sleuth—until Josie Way bumbled her way into my good graces within the first 20 minutes. What sets *Witch and Famous* apart is how grounded it feels, even with magic in the mix. Josie isn’t some chosen one; she’s a woman in her 40s who’s just realized she can (sort of) do spells, and her reactions—equal parts awe and exasperation—are relentlessly relatable. The murder plot, tied to a washed-up action star filming in town, could’ve veered into caricature, but Sanders keeps it sharp by making the victim’s flaws feel human, not just villainous. The whodunit unfolds with satisfying clues, though I docked half a point for a mid-book lull where Josie’s magical training drags a touch. Rebecca Mitchell’s performance is a masterclass in tonal balance. Her Josie sounds like the friend who’d text you at 2 a.m. to rant about her weird day, and her handling of the supporting cast—especially the insufferable movie star and Josie’s no-nonsense best friend��adds layers the text alone might miss. The production is clean, though I wished for slightly more atmospheric sound design during the magical scenes (a faint *whoosh* here or there wouldn’t have hurt). Still, the audiobook’s strength lies in its voice, both literally and narratively. It’s the rare cozy that doesn’t shy away from bite, where the humor lands because the stakes feel real. If you love mysteries with heart, a dash of snark, and a protagonist who’s as flawed as she is funny, this is your next listen—just don’t blame me if you start side-eyeing your own small-town neighbors afterward.