UKULELE OF DEATH Fran and Ken Stein, Book 1

With a mixture of spunk and quirkiness, narrator Cara Swingline brings Fran and Ken Stein to life in this lighthearted mystery series. Working as private investigators who help clients find their birth parents, the siblings search for a missing ukulele that could lead to a client's father. The deep, throaty voice Swingline gives to Ken unintentionally makes him sound obtuse. But Swingline's natural delivery of Fran's witty inner dialogue and snarky comments helps ground the story. Aunt Margie has a calming voice, and Richard Mankiewicz, an NYPD cop who is courting Fran, sounds appropriately matter-of-fact. This is a lighthearted, quick, and enjoyable listen. The slightly nonlinear plot is not overly suspenseful, but listeners are rewarded with a satisfying ending. E.P. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2023]