Gail Shalan narrates this psychological suspense featuring five aspiring authors who are participating in a writing retreat held at an isolated mansion in the Adirondacks. The five attendees are all women under 30, though they seem younger. The leader of the retreat is Roza Vallo, a renowned feminist horror writer much admired by the young writers. Shalan gives Roza, who is Hungarian by birth, a voice that sometimes sounds warm and sometimes sinister. The story is told by Alex, who hopes the month-long retreat will overcome her writer's block. It does just that but in a way that is terrifying. The plot includes secret passages, underground dungeons, mind-altering drugs, odd sexual undertones, and murder. Shalan makes each writer distinctive and interesting.
Pub Date: Feb. 21, 2023
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797151762
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Halstead handles moments of unease with restraint as Nicholas gets closer to the truth.
Graham Halstead delivers a hair-raising performance in this classic whodunit, which takes place on the remote tip of Cape Cod. Halstead makes the most of a familiar setup as Nicholas, a ghostwriter, arrives during the holidays to help a famous writer finish a book. Halstead gives the various guests and family members distinct vocal identities, which helps the listener clarify their relationships and competing motives. He plays up the raucousness in scene after scene, including the drunken evening that ends in two deaths. Halstead then switches to a measured pace that allows suspicion to build gradually as Nicholas gathers clues.
Halstead handles moments of unease with restraint as Nicholas gets closer to the truth.Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 3 hrs, 34 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063433694
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2026
Howard maintains tight suspense until the very end.
Florence Howard gives this period mystery a poised, atmospheric performance that suits its glittering, dangerous setting. On the opening night of a grand hotel in 1926 London, Diana Gold welcomes an eclectic crowd while awaiting two influential figures from her past. Howard creates a confident, commanding persona for Diana, with subtle undertones that suggest unease. Howard ratchets up the tension when a guest is discovered dead. Howard plays up the whodunit staples as the celebration turns into a search for answers when hidden motives emerge among those gathered. She distinguishes the vast cast through changes in cadence and vocal texture, keeping the listener grounded. Her pacing gathers momentum as revelations surface and suspicion jumps between the guests and staff.
Howard maintains tight suspense until the very end.Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 10 mins
DD ISBN: 9781488237980
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 13, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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