The Murders in Great Diddling

Swedish novelist Bivald (The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend) fills this cozy mystery, the first in a series, with unabashed bibliophilia. The village of Great Diddling seems idyllic to Berit Gardner, an expat Swedish writer with several modest literary hits to her name and a London agent pressuring her for the next book, just as her inspiration has fled. Though Great Diddling lacks the seaside vistas that attract visitors to the rest of Cornwall, it’s overflowing with characters, from the suspiciously overqualified head of the tourism board to the lady of the local manor whose every room is carpeted in books that Berit is sure will ignite her own creativity. First, though, she’s got to figure out who lit the fuse in a most unidyllic—and lethal—explosion. As Berit investigates, audiobook narrator Helen Lloyd captures her motivations: justice for the villagers she’s come to know, combined with a craftswoman’s interest in stories. Lloyd also produces accents (including Cornish), and distinct voices of every age, gender, and disposition for an engrossing listen to match the text.