Death Can Be Habit-Forming

John Pickett Mysteries, Book 11

By: Sheri Cobb South

Narrated by: Joel Froomkin

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Having resigned his position at Bow Street in disgrace (at least in his own mind) and failed in his attempt to establish himself as a private agent, John Pickett toils away at a tedious job as a clerk in the city. When he is approached by a man wishing to hire him to extract a young lady being held against her will at an asylum for opium-eaters, Pickett jumps at the chance to prove himself, and has a very reluctant Julia commit him to the institution as a patient. But nothing at the Larches is exactly as it seems, and while getting in may be easy, getting out may be another matter entirely….

©2021 Sheri Cobb South (P)2022 Sheri Cobb South

"A rather delicate matter."

At the suggestion of his wife and encouragement of his Magistrate friend, John Pickett had advertised him self as a free lance investigator after resigning from the Bow Street Runners. But the applications for his services were not just slow to follow, they were non existent and John was forced by financial restraints to take an office job which he hated. Until, out of the blue, a gentleman requested that he investigate a house where, for a very large fee, opium addicts could be admitted, to be treated for their
problems, a place where, he said, his friend had recently died and the sister, of whom he was obviously more than slightly fond, was now being restrained with no contact from him allowed. Despite Julia's concerns, Pickett accepts the job.

These Regency stories following the career of the humble John Pickett, rescued from street thievery to marriage into a class way an over his origins is simply delightful a and the investigated crimes, at a time when there was little policing, are fascinating to encounter. Narrator Joel Froomkin has become Pickett over the course of this eleven part series, his slightly stilted performance perfect for the setting. I have listened to, and very much enjoyed, this series (almost) from the beginning and can recommend them to all who enjoy stories set in past times as well as detective story enthusiasts who are less addicted to forensic solutions.

My thanks to the rights holder of Death Can Be Habit Forming, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. A delicious series and I look forward to book 12.

Keep Writing

Can't wait for the next installment. Don't stop now! Please let us hear about the baby.

Cobb and Froomkin Do It AGAIN

After 10 books, I thought I'd heard it all, but author Sheri Cobb South has written a mystery adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat for the majority of the book! Bravo!

John Pickett finds himself on his first case as a private investigator for 'delicate' matters. He's off to rescue a damsel in distress, but things aren't quite as they appear in more ways than one.

As I hinted in the headline for this review, I adore the team of Sheri Cobb South and Joel Froomkin. Froomkin's storytelling is top-notch. I wouldn't be surprised if book 11 earns him another earphones award. He had me hooked from page one. And, (bonus) he made outdoor Spring clean-up fly by!

I was given a copy of this audiobook from the author. My review is freely offered with lots of 'hurrah'. Thank you for the listening pleasure.

Mature Content: None

A Wonderful Unique Series

John Pickett is so creative and unique among the many historical romances I’ve read. The writing is so entertaining and the lead characters so engaging. I hope this series continues for years to come.

The best!

Can’t wait for the next book! Keep writing Ms. Cobb! Many of us await impatiently!

I love John Pickett stories

I am always amazed by how much I fall in love with the adventures of John Pickett. This book starts out with Julia still pregnant with their first child and John still working for the accounting firm. Oh, and his half-brother has come to live with them. John soon finds himself no longer employed by the accounting firm and off he goes on another adventure. This one deals with the dreaded Poppy Opium. I so enjoyed this audiobook that Joel Froomkin reads. Joel has become the voice of John Pickett for me. I want to thank the author of the ARC but this review is all my own opinion.

Fantastically Sinister Investigation

My goodness this book was hard to put down! Julia is nearing her confinement and John is struggling in a job he hates, and he only took it because of lack of people responding to his advertisements for discrete investigations. His first customer approaches him with a rescue request for a young lady being held against her will at a private asylum for people with an opium addiction. Pickett's plan to infiltrate it by having Julia admit him as a patient is unnerving to her, but trying to be supportive with his first case she allows it, only after all he assures her it would only take him 2 or 3 days...

As with each book in the series this one too can stand alone but they are so much richer when read in order. This is one of my favorite series to binge reread. The characters are very relatable, likeable and the books are so well written with mysteries that keep you guessing, that these books become "Habit-Forming" to the point that my high school age children (boys and a girl) are also addicted to the series.

The narrator does an absolutely wonderful job with the characters voices, accents and the acting is all so seamless. He really makes this a must listen to book.

Parents- PG13- middle grade and up read
Language: none that I remember
Violence: normal to genre - nothing overly graphic
Sexual Content- kissing, married couple references/thoughts to bedroom activities but nothing detailed

—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

different than usual

hope, hopelessness, addiction, scam, family, family-dynamics, 1820s, London, class-consciousness, rescue, suspense, despair, mystery, forced-isolation, lies*****

Opium den or private asylum treatment for addiction?
At the beginning, John is somewhat despondent because he has no new assignments since leaving the Bow Street Runners. Despite his pregnant wife's fears, he takes on a case involving a young woman whose brother has been scammed into believing that a rather unsavory asylum can help her. Instead, John is lead to and sent to the depths of despair, including becoming to opium himself! The portrait of situational depression and opioid addiction as all too realistically presented.
Joel Froomkin continues to be the voice actor extraordinaire who is character interpreter and the very essence of John Pickett.
I won this audio in a giveaway!

Be careful John!

This is the 11th book in the John Pickett Mystery series. I have read these books out of order and each one stands alone.

John Pickett has resigned from Bow Street and is attempting to start his own investigation business. When someone finally answered his advertisement and he immediately takes on the client. The case has him investigating a women being held prisoner in a drug rehabilitation institute for opium addicts. In order to find out what is happening inside the rehab center, he has Julia commit him to the institution as a patient. Things go very, very wrong!

This was possibly the most intriguing story of all the John Pickett books. I can't wait to see how the story of John, Julia, Kit, and the new baby develops and am eagerly awaiting the next book.

I highly recommend this great mystery series, The narrator, Joel Froomkin, is absolutely fabulous and it sounds like a full cast production! I was gifted a copy of this audiobook at my request in exchange for an honest review.

very very slow and predictable

had to jump ahead, could not take the super-slow pace. Narration OK and consistent.