Devi Nair
I rarely DNF audiobooks, but unfortunately this one was a struggle for me and I stopped at about 20%.
The audiobook is narrated by the author, and while I admire the effort, I found the narration difficult to get through. The delivery was nasal and monotone, which made it more grating than calming. I typically listen to audiobooks before bed because they help me unwind, but this one had the opposite effect—I even tried it during the day, and still found it hard to enjoy. A professional narrator might have made a real difference here.
As for the story, it didn’t manage to grab my attention either. Charlotte is meant to be a lifelong detective figure, but beyond being observant, she lacked the intuition and spark I expect in a detective-style character. The pacing felt slow, and I struggled to connect with either the plot or the characters.
I also felt the LGBTQ+ representation came across as forced rather than organically woven into the narrative. Representation works best when it flows naturally, and here it felt more like an add-on than an integral part of the story.
Overall, I couldn’t push past the 20% mark. While this book may work better for other listeners—especially those who are already fans of the author’s style—it wasn’t for me.
I rarely DNF audiobooks, but unfortunately this one was a struggle for me and I stopped at about 20%.
The audiobook is narrated by the author, and while I admire the effort, I found the narration difficult to get through. The delivery was nasal and monotone, which made it more grating than calming. I typically listen to audiobooks before bed because they help me unwind, but this one had the opposite effect—I even tried it during the day, and still found it hard to enjoy. A professional narrator might have made a real difference here.
As for the story, it didn’t manage to grab my attention either. Charlotte is meant to be a lifelong detective figure, but beyond being observant, she lacked the intuition and spark I expect in a detective-style character. The pacing felt slow, and I struggled to connect with either the plot or the characters.
I also felt the LGBTQ+ representation came across as forced rather than organically woven into the narrative. Representation works best when it flows naturally, and here it felt more like an add-on than an integral part of the story.
Overall, I couldn’t push past the 20% mark. While this book may work better for other listeners—especially those who are already fans of the author’s style—it wasn’t for me.