BURNT ENDS

Narrator Alyssa Appleton takes charge of this offbeat mystery with her confident portrayal of Oxy-addicted PI Tori Swenson. The action takes place in Kansas City, where Tori is investigating a murder at her estranged family's barbecue business. The off-center plot teeters between a traditional whodunit, a cozy, and a culinary mystery à la KNIVES OUT. Sprinkled on top of this mix are a few red herrings and plenty of Topo Chico, Tori's other addiction. Vegans may not appreciate phrasing such as "He raised the meat mountain to his mouth," but perhaps they can relate to a PI nauseated by the smell of smoked meat. Put on your paper bib and follow the action as Tori proves that meat is murder. R.W.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2024]