WORDHUNTER

Narrator Jeremy Carlisle Parker perfectly portrays Maggie Moore in this quirky, clever mystery. Maggie, a graduate student in forensic linguistics with a complicated history, is unique. Tattooed, pierced, and foulmouthed, she diagrams sentences for fun. Parker captures all of these characteristics, and listeners will find themselves charmed. Maggie, a genius when it comes to language and puzzles, is asked by police in rural Florida to decipher messages from a stalker. Her success leads them to ask for her help with a kidnapping, but the case hits close to home. Engaging themes include questionable policing tactics, socioeconomic diversity, and how our histories shape our presents. Listeners will ultimately find themselves rooting for Maggie. K.S.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2024]