NONE WITHOUT SIN

Narrators Rob Shapiro and Lisa Larsen superbly introduce this First State mystery, which takes place in Delaware. Listeners meet kleptomaniac/Episcopalian minister Candice Miller and grieving widower/journalist Brian Wilder at the murder scene of a shady real estate tycoon. Shapiro and Larsen's renderings of Miller and Wilder, including their contrasting perspectives, are appealing and relatable. Equally captivating is Detective Mike Flanagan, who wisely (or unwisely) allows the pair into the crime scene, which reveals loaves of bread left on each body, an act that is reminiscent of a Victorian-era tradition in which "sin eaters" consume bread to absolve the deceased's sins. The audio format keeps listeners engrossed with the diverse and agreeable characters, plausible suspects, amusing banter, and lively local color. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2023]