Dead of Night by Lisa Gray @lisagraywriter @audiobookbrenda @audiobookbrenda.bsky.social @brilliancepublishing #DeadOfNight

the setup…
It’s been six months since bestselling mystery writer Serena Winters’ partner died in a freak accident and has yet to write a single word towards her next novel. Thinking a change of scenery might help, she rents a cliffside home in Seaton Park, located on the California coast. Serena learns upon arrival that the house has an interesting history. The last residents, Bob & Danni Dupree with their ten year old daughter Charlotte, inexplicably vanished overnight thirty years ago and haven’t been seen or heard from since. Serena is inspired by the story and begins looking into it, only to stir up some unwanted resistance that turns sinister.

the heart of the story…
Serena’s writer’s block is unleashed the more she explores the story but she’s also invited some unwelcome attention by person unknown. Email threats and weird stuff happening in the house that spooks her and slowly ramps up to dangerous. Meanwhile, there’s another point of view from someone named Ruby, presenting a dual timeline from 1984. It took a while for the connection to be revealed, which heightened the intrigue.

the narration…
Brenda Scott Wlazol has a warm tone that was well suited for this story. She managed the primary characters nicely and delivered a strong performance.

the bottom line…
There’s a whiff of romance, lots of secrecy and intrigue and a house I probably would have moved out of on day one. I enjoyed how those secrets and Ruby’s connection were slowly revealed, giving me time to assemble clues and develop theories. I got a lot right but it was a little twisty, making me miss some big marks. And that ending…yikes! Well done.

Book Info

• Release Date: March 15, 2025
• Narrator: Brenda Scott Wlazol
• Audio Length: 10 hours
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio

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(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)