The Unraveling of Violeta Bell Audiobook By C. R. Corwin cover art

The Unraveling of Violeta Bell

A Morgue Mama Mystery

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The Unraveling of Violeta Bell

By: C. R. Corwin
Narrated by: Lorna Raver
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Maddy Sprowls, newspaper librarian for the Hannawa Herald-Union, prefers to stay in the newspaper morgue and do her job. But one Saturday, she sees four elderly women get out of a taxicab at a garage sale. She figures that those women must hire that cabby every week to drive them from garage sale to garage sale, and wouldn't that make a great feature story for the paper?

Shortly after the story runs, one of the four women, retired antiques dealer Violeta Bell, is murdered. Maddy wants no part of the investigation, but before she knows it, she's on another of her infamous snoopathons.

Was it bargains they were hunting or something else?

©2008 2008 by C.R. Corwin (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Mystery Fiction Witty Feel-Good Suspense

Critic reviews

"Irascible, fearless and unapologetic, Maddy is a heroine cozy fans will embrace." ( Publishers Weekly)
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If you could sum up The Unraveling of Violeta Bell in three words, what would they be?

Light, fun, mystery

Who was your favorite character and why?

Violetta's brother, 'the Prince'. I can't explain why without spoilers - let's just say he gets to know the victim better after her death.

Any additional comments?

This is no great novel, but is good fun. A female protagonist in her 60s is past giving a darn about what other people think, but cares very much about getting justice for a woman she never knew.

A little fun from a savvy old gal

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The shrill, bleating, sarcastic voice of the main female character was just too much. The character stated she was 69 years old. I am 64 and have many friends in their 60's and 70's. None of them sounds like the shrewish portrayal here. I know the reader was capable of a pleasant, low, soothing voice because she used it for other parts of the book. Horrible to listen to.

Arghh! The narration! Ouch! Hard on the ears!

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This is a good story with a good plot, lots of humor, a bit predictable, but fun. What bothers me is the reader whose voice belongs to a cartoon version of a fuddy duddy old fart. I know many women in their late sixties and none have this old fashioned tone. I believe that his book would have more weight if we could imagine a smart, older woman and not an Xtreme Ms Marple.

Most old ladies sound younger than this one!

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Enjoy this series! Morgue Mama is a fun character to envelope yourself in while doing daily chores, or relaxing in the evening to clear your mind. Written with perfect balance of humor and suspense, performance couldn't be more spot on if I imagined her speaking in my own mind while reading. That is so important for me in an audible book.

The Unraveling of Violetta Bell: A Morgue Mama Boo

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This is light reading with a simple story line. Maddy Sprouls is the crotchety newspaper librarian in the prerequisite small town full of the usual eccentric characters with secrets to hide. A murder ensues. Maddy solves it. End of story.

It's a good book for light reading, very light.

Nicf little cosy. Not much more.

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