Water Town by Maia Ross – That’s What I’m Talking About…

Audiobook review: Water Town by Maia Ross

I find myself enjoying the Beaver Island Mysteries more with each book. Water Town, the fourth book in this delightful cozy mystery series, opens about one month after the conclusion of the third title. It’s been a fairly quiet and low-key month, with Violet figuring out how to run her company remotely and Irma preparing her gardens for the annual show. However, things go sideways when a dead body is discovered on the golf course, Chief Pickle is on leave, and someone may be trying to hurt Violet.

Like the previous stories, Water Town is an entertaining blend of whodunit and personal stories of the two protagonists. Ross does an excellent job spinning a story and sprinkling it with clues without leading readers astray with blatant red herrings. Irma’s good friend Geraldine needs help when her new boyfriend’s nephew is discovered dead and her son is the primary suspect. Violet and Irma use their strengths and experience to piece together the clues while sussing out the truth. I appreciate that Irma, Violet, and Julian together consider all of the possibilities. They think of things even I didn’t consider. It’s a pet peeve when characters in a mystery miss obvious connections, so their thoughtfulness made me happy.

What makes this series so wonderful are the two main characters Violet and Irma. They continue to grow closer and deepen their friendship, which is more like a mother – daughter connection, filling emotional gaps each has in her life. This time around, Irma has to face real fear when Violet is hospitalized. Irma realizes she’s not infallible but that she’s safe expressing her emotions – her fear for Violet after finding her unconscious – and how no one was going to use her emotions against her. Meanwhile, Violet is starting to discover what truly makes her happy while embracing Irma’s outdoor living and falling for Julian.

Narration: 

Balm: Using a slight British accent, Balm narrates Irma’s first person POV with a deepish and slightly raspy voice fitting for the ex-spy. Balm slightly adjusts the dialogue for most characters. She tends to be a little higher pitched for females, and softer and lower for males. She adjusts appropriately for mood and emotion. As I’ve mentioned in my previous reviews, I really enjoy her voice for Irma, but I do not care for her Violet. While it can come off young and whiny, it’s starting to grow on me. Balm also seems to struggle with the other younger characters and those with straight Canadian/American accents. Characters of the same gender, regardless of age, tend to sound the same.

Burchard: Burchard uses an upbeat, energetic voice for the first person POV of Violet. The “non-accented” voice is fitting for 40-something, workaholic Violet. Burchard also does a lovely British accent for Irma. Burchard successfully alters dialogue for gender, age, and ethnicity, making each character unique enough to distinguish from one another.

I continue to enjoy this series immensely and look forward to more adventures for Irma and Violet.

My Ratings
Story: A
Narration:
Balm: B-
Burchard: B+

Jen

About the Book:

A floating palace, an unruly appliance, and a killer on the loose….