e-ALC, 14:11:15
Narrated by: Lindsey Dorcus
Release Date: January 13, 2026
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio
Read from: January 18-19, 2026
Stand-alone (for now!)
Source: Libro FM (I received this ALC free from the publisher and Libro FM. This did nothing to influence my review!)
Content Warning: Child Abuse, Death of a Parent, Suicide Attempt
For Readers Interested In: Adult, Audio, Contemporary, Cozy, Sparkly Cover, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Books about BooksIn this new romance from USA TODAY bestselling author Letizia Lorini, a crime podcast host must solve a chilling serial killer case while navigating an unexpected romance with her mysterious next-door neighbor.
Scarlett Moore doesn’t do romance.
She’s made a name for herself narrating gritty crime fiction on a local podcast. But when her boss hands her the reins to the network’s romance show, Scarlett finds herself neck-deep in swoony love stories on top of her usual murder plots.
Then someone begins reenacting the chilling crimes she discusses on air, down to the last twisted detail.
Determined to protect her small town, Scarlett launches her own investigation. But the line between reality and fiction blurs even more when Rafael Gray—the brooding bad boy who disappeared five years ago—unexpectedly returns. Suddenly, her life reads like a romance novel filled with every trope she used to mock, with Rafael playing the dangerously irresistible lead.
He’s perfect in every way…except last time, he broke her heart, and now he’s the prime suspect in the string of brutal murders.
Will this be the love story she never saw coming, or is it a killer kind of romance?
*MY THOUGHTS*
Idk what I expected from this book, but it wasn’t this lol It wasn’t a book about books with a podcast and a murder mystery. (I REALLY need to start reading the synopsis LMAO) I thought I would like this fine, but I was not expecting to love it like I did. My love for punny titles definitely worked in my favor this time lol
Ok so the number one thing I loved about this was the mystery! I had so much fun and I did not catch all of this one. I DID know something, but a part of it got me. So much so that I didn’t remember who that person was lol So yeah, if you try to figure it out before the end like I do, let me know if you get it. I need to know if it was me or the writing.
I also liked the plot. I loved the way the killer was copying off some of the plots to the book she had read and talked about on her podcast. It reminded me of that one episode of Castle. Now if this happened in real life, like if someone started doing that based on the thrillers I read and blogged about, I would never blog again lol
Which brings me to the characters. I admired Scarlett for still going doing the podcast and trying to figure out whodunit. I don’t think I would have lol And to be a nobody amateur sleuth with no training on top of that? Yeah no. I think it would end with me just telling my boyfriend to handle it. Which is why Rafael was that guy. We don’t much about him at first, but it’s revealed he’s more involved in everything than he said he was. And with all his tattoos and him protecting her and stuff, I thought he sounded hot. I was glad to know what his role in this one was lol They were so cute together too. And their little family?! I can’t! They were adorable.
This was hella cute and I really enjoyed it. From the books to the romance to the characters to the mystery, I enjoyed it all. I’m not sure if there will be more because of the way it ended, but I hope so. If not, they’re HEA was good enough for me!
Overall, I give this
