The Mystery Writer

Theo Benton quits law school in Australia and arrives at her brother’s door in Kansas, hoping to stay with him while she finishes writing her novel. She gets a side gig at a nearby café, where she becomes involved with a well-known author who provides advice and guidance but refuses to give her manuscript to his literary agent. When he fails to show up at the café one day, Theo goes to his home and finds his body. Then the literary agent of the deceased contacts Theo, informing her that the author sent the manuscript after all. The police try to pin the murder on Theo and then on her brother Gus, although the evidence is circumstantial and probably planted. Blackmail, mysterious disappearances, and a criminal network ensue as the stakes become ever higher. Though narrator Katherine Littrell provides excellent character voices, listeners may tire of frustratingly naive Theo. Even so, other characters entertain, including family members of the private detective, who are prepping for the apocalypse.