This is Audiobook Fanatic’s first listen to novelist and short story writer Laura Kelly Robb.
Laila Harrow, resident of a Florida condo complex and prominent member of the Laguna Shores Research Club, is shocked to discover that her beloved neighbour and fellow club member, Billie Farmer, has died suddenly after leaving Laila a distressing voicemail. Billie Farmer was the mastermind of the Research Club and was assisting Laila in cataloguing the famous Florida Highwaymen paintings, a project that would eventually bring Laila great notoriety in the art world. After Billie is found dead and her condo is in shambles, the police begin interrogating the residents and club members. Laila is determined to solve the mystery of Billie’s death and is keen on investigating the sales of stolen Highwaymen paintings in the area. Without realizing it, Laila suddenly becomes the centre point of a very dangerous game.
Review
The storyline is extremely unique and includes some very eclectic characters. Unfortunately, in the first half, there were a few too many scenes and dialogue sequences that didn’t advance the plot and could have been edited out to make for a more compelling listen. On the contrary, the second half of the novel is full of important revelations, captivating dialogue, and fast-paced scenes that create a good amount of suspense. Without giving anything away, it’s worth mentioning that the ending of the novel will definitely spark interesting discussion amongst listeners and could potentially lead to an exciting sequel!
Narrator Amanda Friday delivers an upbeat performance with some impressive dramatic flair towards the end, making the audiobook an enjoyable and easy listen. The biggest asset of this book is that it’s definitely not your run-of-the-mill (mystery) storyline that’s been recycled over and over. Anyone who has a shared passion for art collections and twisty murder mysteries will especially enjoy this one!
