★Alering, Alisa. Smothermoss. Recorded Books. Jul. 2024. 8:21 hrs. ISBN 9798892737630. $19.99. SUSPENSE

Sheila and Angie are sisters growing up together in 1980s Appalachia. Despite their shared blood, they could not be more different. At 17, Sheila is the responsible one, caring for the home she shares with her sister and mother, who works long days at the nearby state asylum. Twelve-year-old Angie is always out in nature, fighting off imaginary supernatural beings and creating tarot-like cards she uses for divination. When two women hikers are found beaten to death on the nearby Appalachian Trail, the sisters are drawn into the mystery, eventually realizing that something far more threatening than a murderer looms before them. Though they have often inhabited their own orbits, now their only hope of surviving is to draw strength from each other. Alering’s evocative debut incorporates Appalachian folklore into a complex story about sisterhood and sinister truths. Narrator Susan Bennett gives a stunning performance, perfectly capturing the regional accents and conveying the lyricism of Alering’s lush prose. Bennett’s impeccable pacing ensures listeners will feel the world closing in as the story gains momentum. VERDICT Suspenseful and increasingly claustrophobic, this unique Appalachian gothic is sure to hook horror-minded listeners.—Elyssa Everling

★Bradley, Alan. What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust. Books on Tape. (Flavia de Luce, Bk. 11). Sept. 2024. 9:05 hrs. ISBN 9780593913420. $76. M

Listeners waiting for the new Flavia de Luce historical mystery, a sequel to The Golden Tresses of the Dead, will not be disappointed. This time Flavia is navigating her ever-changing world while solving the murder most foul of a former executioner. The accused is Mrs. Mullet, and the deceased gentleman in question is a former suitor of hers. As Flavia exercises her chemical knowledge of all the best poisons and her Sherlock Holmes–like sense of deductive reasoning, the relationship between her and Undine, “the bane of Buckshaw,” begins to thaw and deepen. Flavia is growing up but has not lost her childlike view of the goings on in her small British world. Narrator Jayne Entwistle brings Flavia forward with her distinctive characterization. The various characters are delineated neatly as Entwistle switches between American GIs and the old hens attending St. Tancred’s “Cluck and Grumble” meeting. Tears will form in listeners’ eyes as Mrs. Mullet’s voice breaks in a moment when her stiff upper lip fails her. Entwistle’s award-winning pronunciation, emphasis, and volume bring to life the myriad citizens of Bishop’s Lacey and their environs. VERDICT Buckshaw and Bishop’s Lacey will entice longtime series followers as well as new audiences who like amateur-sleuth historical mysteries.—Laura Trombley

★Lapena, Shari. What Have You Done? Books on Tape. Jul. 2024. 8:50 hrs. ISBN 9780593908631. $85.50. THRILLER

When a farmer follows a trail of vultures to find them feasting on the body of Diana Brewer, it rocks the small town of Fairhill, VT. Though the teen appeared to be beloved by all, it seems she was preyed on by more vultures than those in the farmer’s field. The possessive boyfriend, the depraved gym teacher, and the voyeuristic customer; as the suspects start piling up, the friends and family Diana left behind are determined to find her killer before they can strike again. Lapena (Everyone Here Is Lying) crafts a compelling psychological thriller full of twists. Narrator January LaVoy reads the third-person limited perspectives of over half a dozen community members connected to Diana in various ways. Barrett Leddy and Jorjeana Marie enhance the atmospheric listen with expressive performances of the first-person perspectives of, respectively, Evan (a friend Diana left behind) and Diana herself, observing the investigation from beyond the grave. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an intricate psychological thriller with a fast pace and multiple perspectives. Recommended for fans of Megan Miranda, Amy Tintera, and Paula Hawkins.—Lauren Hackert

★Penny, Louise. The Grey Wolf. Macmillan Audio. (Chief Inspector Gamache, Bk. 19). Oct. 2024. 14:19 hrs. ISBN 9781250354167. $32.99. M

Penny returns with the pulse-pounding 19th installment in her “Chief Inspector Gamache” series, following A World of Curiosities. The story opens as Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, are enjoying breakfast in their Three Pines garden. Soon, the idyllic picture is shattered by mysterious phone calls, an unsettling break-in, a meeting with a shady stranger, and cryptic clues pointing to an impending disaster of epic proportions. This latest recording features a new narrator, Quebecois actor Jean Brassard, who seems poised to become a fan favorite after taking the reins from talented British narrator Robert Bathurst. Penny pulls out all the stops, and Brassard ably jumps into the fray, capturing tender portraits of Three Pines one moment and, in the next, conveying fraught tension as Gamache and his compatriots fight to save hundreds of thousands of lives. Listeners will be on the edges of their seats as the action reaches a climax, complete with a harrowing gun battle, international intrigue, and danger at the highest levels of government. VERDICT Fans of Penny’s beloved audiobooks can breathe a sigh of relief, for new series narrator Brassard doesn’t miss a step. This latest trip to Three Pines is well worth the price of admission.—Sarah Hashimoto

★Swann, Leonie. Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime. Recorded Books. (Miss Sharp Investigates, Bk. 2). Sept. 2024. tr. from German by Amy Bojang. 10:57 hrs. ISBN 9798892745321. $24.99. M

Former policewoman Agnes Sharp and her eccentric band of housemates and friends can solve any problem, from missing teeth to murder. When the deluge of dead bodies in their little town of Duck End gets to be too much, however, the wily seniors of Sunset Hall set off for a relaxing respite in Cornwall. It doesn’t take long, though, for corpses to start piling up at their scenic retreat as well, and when a road collapses, leaving them completely cut off, Agnes knows they need to solve the murders before they too are counted among the bodies. Swann presents an infectious sequel to The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp, part of the “Miss Sharp Investigates” gentle mystery series. Moira Quirk returns to narrate, giving an expressive and enchanting performance enhanced with perfect comedic timing. She is the perfect plucky match to the quirky characters and their hilarious antics. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a cozy mystery featuring an octogenarian amateur detective and offbeat, amusing characters, including fans of Robert Thorogood, Richard Osman, and Helene Tursten.—Lauren Hackert

★Thorogood, Robert. The Queen of Poisons. Recorded Books. (Marlow Murder Club, Bk. 3). Jun. 2024. 9:09 hrs. ISBN 9781705086247. $19.99. M

Though Suzie hates meetings, she is ever the hustler and so attends a town planning meeting to pitch her idea for a pod hotel. To everyone’s shock, the mayor of Marlow is murdered before the meeting can commence. When detective Tanika Malik learns that Suzie was a witness, she knows it’s only a matter of minutes before Marlow’s trio of murder-minded ladies—Suzie, Judith, and Becks—begin meddling in her investigation, so this time she brings them in as official consultants. Chaos inevitably ensues as the women run around town making dramatic, often erroneous accusations, but they always get it right in the end. Thorogood presents the third installment in his “Marlow Murder Club” cozy mystery series (after Death Comes to Marlow), with the lovable ladies battling foes as varied as mothers-in-law and murderers. Narrator Nicolette McKenzie returns to the series with the silvery senior voice that listeners have loved. Her expressive performance of the amateur detectives’ antics makes for an upbeat, engaging listen. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a cozy British murder mystery full of wit, buoyed by the strength of the characters’ friendships. Recommended for fans of Richard Osman, Laurien Berenson, and Elly Griffiths.—Lauren Hackert