We have a treat for fans of Golden Age mysteries—TWO Earphones Award-winning historical mysteries starring none other than the “queens of crime”: Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy L. Sayers, and more. Plus, the latest from Anthony Horowitz, a new installment in a favorite series about an amateur sleuth, and a tale of a wedding season gone wrong. This is beach listening at its best.
MARBLE HALL MURDERS
By Anthony Horowitz | Read by Lesley Manville, Tim McMullan
AudioFile Earphones Award
[Harper Audio | 17.5 hrs.]
Talented actors Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan bring drama and rich characterizations to their narration, just as they do in the Masterpiece television adaptations of Horowitz’s series. Though this may be the final installment, ample backstory allows new listeners to jump right in. Manville and McMullan are in perfect step with the intricate plot, a multilayered metafictional mystery filled with twists, anagrams, and clever clues, making this a thoroughly entertaining listen.
THE FOUR QUEENS OF CRIME
By Rosanne Limoncelli | Read by Elizabeth Knowelden
AudioFile Earphones Award
[Random House Audio | 9 hrs.]
Sparkling wit, ingenious plotting, and a superb performance by Elizabeth Knowelden make this debut novel a listening joy. The period’s four most popular mystery novelists, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham, host a fundraising gala. All goes well until the morning after the ball, when Sir Henry is found murdered. The first real-life female detective, DCI Lilian Wyles of Scotland Yard, accepts help from the four writers. Knowelden is outstanding as each “queen” offers her opinion. Delightful listening.
THE QUEENS OF CRIME
By Marie Benedict | Read by Bessie Carter
AudioFile Earphones Award
[Macmillan Audio | 10.5 hrs.]
Keeping track of the wide range of accents of a cast of characters from multiple countries—New Zealand, London, France, and Hungary, to name a few—is a daunting task. English actor Bessie Carter does just that in this enjoyable crumpet of historical fiction. Carter employs her best BBC English for famed mystery author Dorothy L. Sayers, who spearheads the effort to form a secret society of the greatest female crime writers of all time. Determined to secure their status alongside their male counterparts in London’s prestigious Detection Club, the “queens” travel to France to solve a real-life murder.
FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE: Finlay Donovan, Book 5
By Elle Cosimano | Read by Angela Dawe
AudioFile Earphones Award
[Macmillan Audio | 9.25 hrs.]
Angela Dawe brings Finlay Donovan’s comedic crime-solving to life with her narration of the fifth book in this series. When a body is discovered in a neighbor’s backyard and Finlay’s husband is arrested, Finlay and her nanny become involved. The nosy neighbor, Mrs. Heggarty, moves into Finlay’s house and busies herself with her duties as head of the neighborhood watch. Does she know more than she’s admitting? Dawe is simply amazing at creating different personalities with the power of her voice.
A PROPOSAL TO DIE FOR
By Molly Harper | Read by Amanda Ronconi
AudioFile Earphones Award
[Penguin Audio | 11.75 hrs.]
Narrator Amanda Ronconi enlivens the story of Jess Bricker, a wedding proposal orchestrator, as she accompanies Diana, a snobby former classmate, on a pre-bridal retreat. Jess is dragged off to the exclusive Golden Ash resort by Diana, whose “surprise” proposal Jess has been hired to plan. While there, Jess finds two dead bodies and develops a friendship with the owners of the resort, along with Dean, the chef. Ronconi’s dry delivery works perfectly with the story’s snarky dialogue. Listeners will be entertained.
