The Formations

A Natural Mystery

By: Kate Baldwin

Narrated by: Monica Buch

What begins with scholastic curiosity quickly pulls Jane into a web of psychedelic visions, questionable romance, and murder.

It’s 2020, and Jane, a scientific illustrator, has just moved to the woods in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin. After volunteering to foster a troubled shelter dog, Jane and her new pup, Bumbershoot, stumble upon unusual hexagon-shaped mushrooms on the bark of oak trees. Jane follows her scientific instincts to investigate further, but suspicious trespassers at night and vandalism spell danger. Isolated and solitary, Jane is making risky decisions in a vacuum. Her neighbor is handsome and appealing, but what is going on in his shed at night? When she sees a dead body in the woods, Jane realizes her nosy inquiry may have gone too far. Will her relentless curiosity about the natural world help her solve the mystery of these growths, or will her meddling lead her deeper into jeopardy?

The Formations is a murder mystery with a biological puzzle. The audiobook includes nature sounds.

©2023 Kate Baldwin (P)2023 Kate Baldwin

Unique & refreshing mystery!

The protagonist is a delightfully unaffected young woman who effortlessly understands and explains the woods around her. The mystery and the narration are novel.
I only wish it was longer.

Fun story, wonderful audio storytelling

Quick and fun mystery novella about a woman in the pandemic discovering strange phenomena in the woods behind her home. The audiobook was especially delightful as it included sounds from the wildlife species mentioned throughout the story.

Immersive story with great sound effects

What a wonderful listen! The audiobook has sound effects that really enhance the experience with bird calls, thunderstorms and many other moments described in the text. The mystery kept me guessing until the end. I'd definitely recommend this!