Audiobook Review: The Date by T.H. Murdock
The Date
Author: T.H. Murdock
Narrator: Rory Barnett
Published: July 1, 2026
Audiobook: 10 hours 18 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: July 19-25, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Book Description:
What would you do if your first date ended in murder?
A year ago, after a perfect date, Miles Deverill was charged with murder. The handsome young actor became front-page news when he was accused of killing Caira Kennedy, a social worker he had just met that night.
Now acquitted, Miles can’t escape the past. He tries to rebuild his life, but journalists won’t leave him alone. And then the threatening messages start—in Caira’s own voice: This is not over. Is she still alive or is someone playing a twisted game?
Desperate to escape, Miles joins friends on a remote road trip. But deep in an isolated forest, one of their group is murdered. Someone close to Miles knows exactly what happened on his date—and this time he has to face the truth. Guilty or innocent, there is nowhere left to run…
Jessica’s Review:
The premise is intriguing and starts off with many things that I enjoy including multiple povs! We have Miles who a year ago had a first date and after that date, Caira was found dead. The trial proceeds and we get snippets of that, (which I was all about that trial!). Miles is found not guilty, this is not a spoiler as this story focuses after the trial with Miles trying to move on. But Miles has a stalker! Or is it Caira??? Because Miles is getting emails in Caira’s voice and she’s dead. Or is she????
Miles joins his sister and a couple of friends and they head to New Zealand. They meet up with two other young ladies and they all go on a road trip in an RV. But things go downhill fast and one of them is murdered. Two murders around Miles? Who is responsible?
Overall, The Date was a decent read. The last act of the story could have been improved upon, along with who the killer was and their motive. It just didn’t work for me. This was a debut novel and I would be willing to read Murdock again. And he has another novel coming out in October and a third scheduled for release in March at this time. I enjoyed the narrator, Rory Barnett. He did a good job.
Many thanks to the publisher for granting me a copy to listen to and review!
Audiobook Review: Spies, Lies & Alibis by Natalie Walters
Spies, Lies, & Alibis
Author: Natalie Walters
Narrators:
Andrew Eiden
Dominique Salvacion
Published: May 19, 2026
Audiobook: 10 hours 13 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: June 17-25, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
They were each other’s first love. Now they might be each other’s last hope.
Cybil Langford has spent years hiding behind her polished, professional facade as the executive assistant to a powerful real estate mogul, where she’s perfectly positioned to collect intel on her boss’s criminal network. But when her mission leads her into the path of Lorenzo Ramirez—a ruthless crime boss with deadly plans—she’ll need every ounce of cunning and charm to stay one step ahead.
Then he walks back into her life.
Ben Bradley is deep undercover for the FBI, living under an alias, as a financial advisor with a reputation for helping the wealthy and corrupt launder their money. His target? Lorenzo Ramirez, a dangerous crime boss with his hands in everything from smuggling to murder. But when a familiar face from his past suddenly reappears, things get…complicated.
The last time Cybil saw Ben, he was an annoying prankster—and her first crush. The last time Ben saw Cybil, she stole a piece of his heart. Neither expected to run into each other at a high-stakes fundraising gala where crime, corruption, and undercover agendas collide. Now, they’re both keeping dangerous secrets–and working dangerously close to blowing each other’s cover.
Forced to work together to stop a catastrophic deal that could arm America’s enemies, Cybil and Ben must face ruthless criminals, hidden agendas, and the ghosts of their past. Trust is a luxury they can’t afford—but love? That just might be their undoing.
The intel is classified. The trust is fragile. And their covers are one lie away from blowing wide open.
Jessica’s Review:
This was a fun read! It seems like Spies, Lies, & Alibis is being marketed as a no spice romance, but the romance is on the back burner as the story is all about the mystery and spy centered. For me it was reminiscent of the 1994 film True Lies with Arnold Scharzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis, except our ‘book couple’ are not married. They knew each other as kids, and what’s worse: They recognize each other! What’s wrong with running into an old school pal? Well see, Ben is an undercover FBI agent and has been this way for 18 months! Now he has to worry about his job and Cybil ruining his cover. Cybil also has secrets as she is a spy and Ben is trying to figure out if she is actually a ‘bad guy’ or not! As a side character we get Ben’s entertaining grandmother who you can’t help but love and adore! She should have her own spinoff novel, I would listen that one!
We have dual narrations for Ben and Cybil, so we get both of their perspectives and pasts. And their past feelings for each other! This no spice novel has humor to it as well which makes it clean and entertaining read. It’s a book you don’t have to worry about passengers accidentally hearing something they shouldn’t!
Andrew Eiden and Dominique Salvacion were the narrators and did a good job. Eiden’s voice was unique for me, so I had to get used to his voice. But once I did both narrators kept the story entertaining.
This was Walters first novel for me and since I enjoyed it, I will be looking at what else she has written.
Thanks to the publisher for having the audio available on NetGalley!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Publication Day Review: Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews
Road Trip
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
Published: TODAY, June 2, 2026
Audiobook: 14 hours 59 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: May 6-17, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Pack your bags for a summer journey shaped by family secrets, long-buried history, and charming men with Irish accents.
Maeve and Therese Dunigan haven’t spoken in years. Raised under the same roof in Savannah, the two sisters could not be more opposite—Maeve the rule follower, Therese the unapologetic rebel. But when their mother’s death pulls them back together, they inherit more than just grief: a mysterious painting that may be worth millions…if it’s real.
Determined to uncover the truth—and desperately in need of the money—the sisters set out on a journey to Ireland, tracing their family’s roots and the origins of the portrait. What begins as a search for answers soon becomes something deeper—a reckoning with the past, as they uncover secrets that span generations and reshape everything they thought they knew about their family.
With tensions simmering, the two hit the road and find themselves on twisty lanes, in colorful villages, at local pubs, and with handsome men whose gift of the gab is surpassed only by their charm.
Can Maeve and Therese actually survive the journey without killing each other? Join Mary Kay Andrews on a road trip that will entertain you for miles.
Jessica’s Review:
Mary Kay Andrews is back after two years with a new summer beach read, and I was beyond ready for it! Bonus points for having Kathleen McInerney narrate and most of the novel taking place in Ireland! Listening to this made me want to go revisit the Emerald Isle!
Now this is not your typical MKA beach read to start the summer. It’s a mystery with family history in it! It was intriguing to see what direction the story was going to go in. It was still very enjoyable!
We have sisters Maeve and Therese who are estranged, and total opposites! They come together after the death of their mother and discover that a painting they grew up looking at may just be worth millions! But to do that they must travel from Savannah to the other side of the world: Ireland. Along the way they learn more about their family history, each other, and some they have romance of course! The novel has a colorful cast of Irish characters, including an English Cocker Spaniel named Sinead O’Cocker.
Kathleen McInerney is always superb, but she even got the Irish accents as well. Whenever I see her name attached to a book, I have to listen to it. If McInerney narrates it, you know its going to improve on an already good novel!
Having been to Ireland and Northern Ireland in 2007, as I listened to the novel I had fond memories of my trip there with my aunt and of course Road Trip makes me want to go back. MKA’s novels always have so much fun in them and I was so happy to be able to listen to an advanced copy. MKA is a favorite and an auto read of mine.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Here are a few pictures from my Ireland Trip back in 2007:
At Blarney Castle
With my Aunt!
Having a pint of Guinness in an Irish pub! (and I did drink the whole thing!)
At the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland
