The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden

A Laetitia Rodd Mystery, Book 3

By: Kate Saunders

Narrated by: Sasha Higgins

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

In the spring of 1853, Private Detective Laetitia Rodd receives a delicate request from a retired actor, whose days on the stage were ended by a theatre fire 10 years before. His great friend, and the man he rescued from the fire, Thomas Transome, has decided to leave his wife, who now needs assistance in securing a worthy settlement. Though Mrs. Rodd is reluctant to get involved with the scandalous world of the theatre, she cannot turn away the woman in need. She agrees to take the case.

But what starts out as a simple matter of negotiation becomes complicated when a body is discovered in the burnt husk of the old theatre. Soon Mrs. Rodd finds herself embroiled in family politics, rivalries that put the Capulets and Montagues to shame, and betrayals on a Shakespearean scale. Mrs. Rodd will need all her investigative powers, not to mention her famous discretion, to solve the case before tragedy strikes once more.

©2021 Kate Saunders (P)2021 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Unfortunate casting

The narrator’s girlish voice and gushing delivery was all wrong for Mrs. Rodd. And there was too little variation for the other characters. Made it difficult to stay engaged with the story.

Great Book

This was a very interesting story line. I didn’t like the narrator. All the male characters and the female characters sound a like. The other two books narrators did a better job.

Great story -- and defending the narrator

First, I thought Sasha Higgens a very talented narrator. She had good expression, tone, and feel for the story. I hope she reads often. She is very gifted. The problem is that her voice sounds like a young woman. A great book is not simply a really good narrator, it's the right voice for the character. The young-sounding voice of Mrs. Dodd did not fit. Perhaps that seems more true because the previous narrator set the standard for the voice of a mature Mrs. Dodd.

The cozy mystery with Mrs. Dodd is a good story, the joy comes in the journey of the story. There were a few early comments that led me to guess where it was going. That did not diminish the story. Interesting characters, twists, surprises, and all with great flow. It was a journey with a theme. We all are who we are for reasons. Perhaps Mrs. Dodd might even say that is why the scriptures she loves say to judge not.

Changed reader

I was disappointed they changed the reader of this series from the previous woman.

Missing More Mature Mrs. Rodd

I’m afraid I agree with the other reviews regarding the disappointment of the new narrator. I thought the narrator was just fine as far as narrators go, but her more youthful voice changed the feel of the story altogether. I LIKED Leticia Todd’s more mature age. I feel it’s integral to her character. The change made me feel as though we lost Mrs. Rodd altogether, and I very much missed her. Regarding the story, I found it to be less compelling than the first two, which were excellent. However, I hope the author keeps the series going, because I’m still a fan.

Good story, needs better sound mixing

I enjoy these books by Saunders. This is a delightful continuation of the series. However, the obvious sound dubbing is distracting. The actor inserts assumed corrections and the sound quality is different enough that it distracts from the experience. I feel like audible needs more quality control.

So Disappointing!

I was appalled right from hearing the first paragraph of this performance, especially since I thoroughly enjoyed the first two presentations of Kate Saunder's Leticia Rodd stories.
The choice of narrator for this third novel, Sasha Higgins, ruined the story for me. Her voice, cadence and lack of expression are totally wrong for the character of Leticia Rodd. Her voice moves between that of a simpering child and a sniping fishwife! Her interpretation of the characters caused them to be limpid and virtually indistinguishable from one another. She destroys Saunders' careful construction.
I will be sure to avoid any future works that have Sasha Higgins as the performer.

New narrator very disappointing

This third book was much harder for me to stay “in to” the new narrator is not nearly as good at keeping my attention and I frequently found myself replaying blocks because my mind had wandered

Poor selection of reader

The young lady who read this book did a fine job, but she was obviously too young for the part. It felt like a young 20 something reading the part of a much older middle aged woman. We’ve listened to the other 2 Kate Saunders books, and there is a striking difference between the performances.

New narrator isn't well suited

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, but this new narrator just doesn't fit this series. I usually can adjust to a new voice in a series but the protagonist in these books is a lady "of a certain age" (mid 50s) and the new voice is just too youthful. I did get past it by pretending that the protagonist's niece or great niece was reading the book to me, but I still was bothered enough to write this review. (to be clear, the new narrator is quite competent, just too young for THIS series)
Still worth listening for the nice sense of time & place & the complex characters - I especially appreciate how the main characters are capable of changing their opinions based on compassion & experiences. I hope there are more books, but with an older female voice reading, please and thank you.