Angie Hickman is the perfect narrator for this series. She is a fabulous Fred (Winnifred Wendy Page), and she handles all the voices and characters beautifully. She is bringing these unique cozy books to audio, doing Mildred Abbott proud.
As for the book, Fred is new to Estes Park, planning to open a bookstore named after her loyal sidekick, Watson. The ‘Cozy Corgi’ was the site of a murder shortly after Fred arrived. Her step-father was exonerated and Fred helped track the killer, but now members of this small close-knit tourist town are wary of the pair. Christmas is just around the corner, and Fred drops into the local toy store to see if she can find gifts for her twin step-sisters’ children.
Fred is greeted by a very handsome man at the store, but her family quickly sets her straight shortly after being enlightened (or hearing the gossip) about Declan, his father Duncan, his wife Daphne, and his brother Dolan. Even if Fred didn’t have her police detective father’s DNA, she wouldn’t be able to miss the family dysfunction. When Fred and her best friend Katie find one of the family dying on the floor, suspicion falls upon the women, particularly Katie, given that she was covered in blood.
Fred would love to get Branson, the gorgeous police officer who fancies her, to help, but he is mysteriously out of town. That leaves Officer Susan Greene investigating the attempted murder. Her animus toward Fred is quickly redirected toward Katie. It is up to Fred to clear Katie’s name and when attempted murder becomes actual murder, her need to stop a killer becomes even more dire.
I enjoy these books, but I must give a special nod to Watson. I was never a Corgi fan, but since I began reading this series, I’ve glanced at a few online videos featuring these charismatic canines . And Watson? Fred wonders whether nature or life made the ‘sourpuss and grump’. Honestly, I don’t care, because his personality is just so precious. I mean, he’s normally tolerant of other Corgis, but Flotsam and Jetson drive him crazy and he actually growls. He’s barely tolerant of most people, but Leo Lopez, the super-hot forest ranger is instantly one of Watson’s favourite people. In the end, though, Fred is his person and, having been the ‘person’ for a rescue of my own, I know it’s the most rewarding position.
So, even though Fred is up to the task of solving the murder, it is her relationship with Watson that I think really makes the book. This is another great listen.