Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted

My Darling Malady, Book 1

By: Briar Somerset

Narrated by: Christopher Tester, Krys Janae

A Victorian Gothic Paranormal Romance Novella by Briar Somerset.

In a town where health is currency and longing is lure, a reluctant investigator and seamstress must uncover whether hunger will anchor a man already slipping into the dark.

Behind the decrepit doors of an infirmary said to offer miraculous cures to London's ailing elite, people are vanishing. Private Investigator and estranged heir to French aristocracy Jacques Valmont is summoned across the channel to sleuth, despite the lingering sickness of his own—one of grief that stirs in his blood and shadows his mind.

Amidst the fog and fever, he finds an unlikely ally in Annie, the quick-witted seamstress working next door to Beecham's Infirmary, whose presence seems to quiet the storm inside him. When she suggests the only way to breach the infirmary's guarded walls is becoming a patient himself, Annie's grandmother warns them both of curses that fester with longing. Unnatural aches that transform a person entirely, if not quelled.

As Jacques nears the truth, desire and dread twist together. Annie may be the last tether holding him to his humanity—or the final thread that unravels it.

©2025 Briar Somerset (P)2025 Briar Somerset

fantastic victorian gothic paranormal romance

📖 Reading how Jacques sees Annie through his eyes. 😍
🎧 Listening to how Jacques sees Annie through his eyes. 🫦🫠

A fantastic immersive experience!

I was not prepared for how I would react to this audio. I had to listen to it all over again a second time, because the first time I could barely listen to anything from all my constant squealing and giggling. From the voices to the emotional storytelling, Krys Janae and Christopher Tester did a phenomenal job on this dark, gothic, paranormal mystery novella.

A Dark, Cinematic Mystery That Shines in Audio

You have to listen to Briar Somerset’s Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted. I experienced this story as an audiobook, and it was absolutely incredible—it genuinely elevated the entire experience. The narrators were a perfect fit for the tone and atmosphere, bringing the characters and the world to life in a way that felt rich, eerie, and completely absorbing.
From the very beginning, the story pulls you in with its dark, unsettling premise. The setting is steeped in a gaslit, gothic atmosphere where wealth equals survival and people vanish without explanation, creating a constant undercurrent of tension. Hearing this world unfold through audio made it feel even more cinematic, like a moody film playing out in real time.
Jacques Valmont, a private investigator haunted by loss, is a fascinating character to follow, and the narration adds so much depth to his emotional state. His dynamic with Annie—the sharp, resourceful seamstress next door—is one of the highlights of the story. Their interactions crackle with quiet chemistry, and the audiobook format makes those moments feel especially intimate and layered.
The pacing is excellent, balancing mystery, suspense, and emotional beats with just the right touch of romance. The audio performance amplifies the stakes and the mood, making it nearly impossible to stop listening once you start.
If you’re a fan of gothic mysteries with real tension, compelling characters, and an immersive atmosphere, the audiobook of Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted is an absolute must. A stunning debut made even better in audio.