Nine Lives: A Lily Dale Mystery
By: Wendy Corsi Staub
Narrated by: Melanie Ewbank
Series: Lily Dale Mysteries, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs
Release date: 10-27-15
Publisher: Crooked Lane
Genre: Cozy, Mystery, Psychic, Woman Sleuth
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
Publisher's Summary
After the death of her husband, Bella Jordan and her son need a fresh start. But on their way to stay with family in Chicago, they stop in Lily Dale, New York, and a storm forces them to spend the night.
Brimming with kooky psychics and mediums, Lily Dale is just the kind of quirky little town Bella's late husband always talked about settling down in. So when the local hotelier, Leona, passes away, Bella agrees to step in and help temporarily. The longer she and Max stay there, the more Lily Dale starts to feel like home.
But for Bella, finding a home means finding danger, too. Leona was murdered, and it's up to Bella to track down the killer before her sanctuary comes crashing down in Staub's warm and witty new series debut.
©2015 Wendi Corsi Staub (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Review: By: Wendy Corsi Staub
Narrated by: Melanie Ewbank
Series: Lily Dale Mysteries, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs
Release date: 10-27-15
Publisher: Crooked Lane
Genre: Cozy, Mystery, Psychic, Woman Sleuth
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
Publisher's Summary
After the death of her husband, Bella Jordan and her son need a fresh start. But on their way to stay with family in Chicago, they stop in Lily Dale, New York, and a storm forces them to spend the night.
Brimming with kooky psychics and mediums, Lily Dale is just the kind of quirky little town Bella's late husband always talked about settling down in. So when the local hotelier, Leona, passes away, Bella agrees to step in and help temporarily. The longer she and Max stay there, the more Lily Dale starts to feel like home.
But for Bella, finding a home means finding danger, too. Leona was murdered, and it's up to Bella to track down the killer before her sanctuary comes crashing down in Staub's warm and witty new series debut.
©2015 Wendi Corsi Staub (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Bella has struggled financially after losing her husband to expensive illness and then her job. Her landlord gave her notice, so she is leaving her family home with her five year old son, Max. She isn’t happy to be headed to Chicago to stay with her unpleasant, judgmental mother-in-law. She has little money so plans to camp out each night. The first night, she sees a sign for a campground that puts her in the direction of Lily Dale, New York. A storm and broken down car have her spending the night at an inn whose owner recently died. The neighbor convinces Bella to stay on and take care of the Inn, at least until the car is fixed, although she is implying that Bella is supposed to be in Lily Dale.
Bella soon learns that the town is full of psychics and mediums who profess to speak to spirits. She isn’t quick to believe the avid seers but even her son, Max, is starting to make predictions. Bella is caught between wanting to get out of town and wanting to find a home that is positive for Max and herself. Could Lily Dale be such a home? But it seems she is in danger if she can’t figure out who killed the previous owner.
I enjoyed the quirky community of Lily Dale. Bella doesn’t’ fit in as a psychic, but she does have pretty good instincts and the place grows on her. I enjoyed Max getting to make friends and a few possible future romantic friends for Bella too. I read Wendy Staub years ago and thought that I recalled she provided sound romantic suspense. I enjoyed this lighter mystery and I plan to listen to more in the series. I recommend it to cozy mystery fans who like psychic elements.
Audio Notes: I found the narration by Melanie Ewbank perfectly fine. Her voice seemed to match Bella’s character and nature. The audio made it an easy listen for me.
Source: May 2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Alphabet goals.