Murder at Church Key Road

Falls Run Series

By: Catherine Waltan

Narrated by: Janice McNally

Length: 2 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Sarah Whitcomb thought a new life in Falls Run was the medicine she needed to fully recover from a near-fatal car accident. She moves to a simple home on a plot of land she bought years prior. Who knew that the land at the end of Church Key Road where the little trailer sat would be a coveted piece of property in what has become a bougie part of the small, old–some say haunted–town?

Sarah has healed pretty well on the outside. It’s the inside that has been forever changed. She sees and hears things that just aren’t there. They can’t be. It bothers her. Turns out, it’s the stuff right in front of her face that she totally misses that perhaps she should be most worried about.

On the first day in Falls Run, Sarah meets her first friend who becomes her right away pet, Charlotte, a little black cat with a special ability. She meets her new physical therapist, a woman who just isn’t from this world, who has a different take on Sarah’s visions. And then there’s the devilishly handsome real estate agent Raleigh Wolfe, who would love it if Sarah sold, but he seems just as content if she stays.

It’s a good thing Sarah makes friends fast in Falls Run, because she has enemies. And when one of Falls Run’s own turns up dead–a little too dead, and a little too close to Sarah–Sarah draws on everything she has to save everything that’s dear, and figure out who commit the murder on Church Key Road.

©2022 Catherine Waltan (P)2022 Catherine Waltan

A quick tale

~Disclaimer: I received a free audiobook copy of this book. ~

A quick tale

I honestly couldn’t get into this. Our MC isn’t that believable. At one point, she is acting like seeing things isn’t normal, and later with no explanation, she is accepting new age stuff as just reality.

Then everything just happens rapid fire. It would make more sense to spread it out, but 97 pages isn’t enough time to build up the hateful neighbor, the neighborhood drama, the potential romance etc. It just feels like a bunch of pages are missing. It doesn’t feel cozy cause things just happen out of nowhere, but on the other hand not much happens to justify the mystery part of cozy. The murder happens 70% of the way in, 73 pages, into a 97 page book. Everything is too abrupt.

There also isn't a sense of time passing. I have no idea how long it took for things to happen.

Unfortunately, I found Janice McNally’s narration not to add much to the story. I may have been better served to read it on my own. It is on KU after all.

Fun, Quick Cozy Mystery

This was a quick, delightful cozy mystery with a touch of a paranormal twist. Sarah Whitcomb is recovering from a horrific auto accident which left her with physical limitations. She moves to land she bought years ago in the small Appalachian town of Falls Run. Unfortunately, she has a couple of nasty neighbors, a shady realtor, a talking cat, ghosts, and a witch among other interesting characters. When there is a death on the road, things get even more interesting.

The plot was engaging and well-written for the most part. There was a little too much, “he said” telling what happened instead of describing what happened. The characters were interesting and enjoyable.

The narrator, Janice McNally did an adequate job. She was a little stilted at times but overall she was enjoyable to listen to,, I recommend this book if you are looking for a quick listen.

***I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my own, unbiased, review.***

Cute cozy mustery

Enjoyed the story. Easy to listen to and keeps your attention. I listened to the next book right after I finished this one.