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Unlicensed  By  cover art

Unlicensed

By: Joseph Fink,Jeffrey Cranor
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Episodes
  • Trailer
    Oct 20 2022
    From Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, creators of the genre defining fiction podcast Welcome to Night Vale, comes the new LA noire Unlicensed, starring Molly Quinn, Lusia Strus, and T.L Thompson. Unlicensed follows Molly Hatch (Quinn), recently divorced, two years sober, and completely lost on where to go next in her life. On a whim she answers an ad for an assistant to a PI, traveling to an unpromising strip mall on Citrus Avenue in Azusa, CA, where she meets Lou Rosen (Strus). Lou is a brilliant detective, but she’s also a completely disorganized mess, both in her physical space and within her own mind. She loses evidence, forgets what she’s already figured out, and she hasn’t even gotten it together to get her PI license. Working illegally in the outskirts of Los Angeles, where the cul-de-sacs and strip malls sprawl into the desert, the only clients she can get are those who either can't afford anyone else or have cases that are too marginal for licensed PIs or the police to bother with. When a teenage girl pleads for Lou and Molly to take the strangest case of their career, they find themselves involved in something much bigger than they were prepared for. This unlikely pair, with no resources and no back-up, follow a trail of seemingly unconnected cases, which leads them to a ransom, a murder, a mysterious wellness center, and a conspiracy that might go all the way to the governor. Featuring guest appearances by Jason Segel, Janet Varney, James Urbaniak, Cecil Baldwin, Jasika Nicole, Mara Wilson, and more, Unlicensed is a deeply-human, captivating thriller set in the most uncool neighborhoods of America’s coolest city.
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    1 min
  • The Detective of Citrus Ave
    Nov 10 2022
    I’m here about the ad? Assistant to a PI?
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    30 mins
  • Lost Boy Found
    Nov 10 2022
    The boy who came back is not the boy who left. The boy in my house is not my brother.
    Show more Show less
    32 mins

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An unlikely detective duo unearths a conspiracy in overlooked town

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About the Creator

Jeffery Cranor is a novelist and playwright. He co-created the podcasts Welcome to Night Vale, Within the Wires and Unlicensed. He lives in New York's Hudson River Valley.

About the Creator

Joseph Fink is the creator of the podcasts Welcome to Night Vale, Alice Isn't Dead and Unlicensed, and the New York Times bestselling author of Welcome to Night Vale, It Devours!, and The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home (all written with Jeffrey Cranor), and Alice Isn’t Dead. He is also the author of the middle-grade novel, The Halloween Moon. He and his wife, Meg Bashwiner, have written the memoir The First Ten Years. They live together in the Hudson River Valley and Los Angeles.

Featured Article: Best of the Year—The 15 Best Fiction Listens of 2022


To say it’s a challenge to select the top fiction listens of the year (and this year especially!) is an understatement. But as hard as it is, it’s an even greater honor for our team to be able to listen deeply to so many amazing stories and then highlight the best of the best to you. Fiction is a big category—one that includes everything from epic family sagas to clever short stories, from historical fiction to near-future speculative works.

What listeners say about Unlicensed

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  • Overall
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Make more

I got the free trial just for this show but I'm willing to purchase membership if another season comes out. Really good stuff 👏

6 people found this helpful

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Just perfect

This is a tale of an unlikely pairing. Each is lovable but struggling. The story is engaging and filled with many twists. The ending makes your heart soar. I hope there will be sequels. Please let there be sequels.

6 people found this helpful

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entertaining story and great performance

I really like it when the different characters are voices by different people - esp when they do a good job. There are some sound effects but not too many and not too loud to that they distract from the goings on in the store. The quirky characters make listening fun.
Each episode has little mini-events happening that help us to learn more about the characters. I'm about halfway through the available episodes and am looking forward to discovering how the whole thing is going to tie together. I can kinda see where they're going but it's not obvious and it'll be an interesting journey.

note: I saw on a previous review someone was complaining about politics being involved, as if the author was trying to convince listeners to believe a certain way. That person must be very sensitive because it's a real stretch to call any part of this political. Random brush fires are bad; abusing the restrictions put in place to conserve water is bad. that's not political, it's common sense. Further, the author in no way lectures or soapboxes about this topic. It's just an event that happens.
I just think it's sad that some people are so hyper-sensitive that they give an author a lower review because of their own issues, perceived slights and political beliefs, while ignoring what the author actually says.

5 people found this helpful

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Refreshing, Quirky & Unexpected

A detective who finds the facts and sets their own standard of law. All the mystery buffs should give this a spin.

5 people found this helpful

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Somewhere in the Los Angeles Basin ...

Somewhere in the Los Angeles Basin... a wonderful story emerges. Great writing and production makes it impossible to not listen to every word. Smart. funny, well done.

4 people found this helpful

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This Story sucks you right into the mystery!

Everything about this podcast is absolutely amazing. Joseph Fink and Jeffery Cranor's writing is so creative, crazy, fun, and unexpected. I loved being pulled into the PI world and listening to it all swirl together in the end. 100 stars!

3 people found this helpful

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Love it🖤

These guys are gems. I love everything they do. if you live this and haven't listened to welcome to night Vale, you should.

3 people found this helpful

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Thirsty for more!

I absolutely loved this story but the end left me wanting more. I hope there will be another season to this.

3 people found this helpful

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Great show

This audio drama had more authentic humanity than any other fiction podcast I’ve listened to yet. Wonderfully scripted and acted, I for once found myself more interested in the characters and dynamics than the mystery itself which was also quite good.

3 people found this helpful

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Fantastically wonderful.

What a great podcast. An excellent story. Some funny, some real, some fantastical, all grand! Excellent work.

2 people found this helpful

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  • India
  • 02-25-23

Mystery done right

I love a good mystery but often find that they're given away too early by misplaced foreshadowing that ends up being a big neon sign of "THIS IS WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING". I didn't find this at all with this show, there were plenty of hints that things weren't quite what they seemed but they didn't give away the solution.
The story sunk it's hooks into me immediately and I enjoyed the style of switching narration (and therefore perspective on the events) and the voice actors did an incredible job of making the characters feel real. The relationship between the two main characters is interesting in its own right as well.
I'd really recommend this show to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries and unexpected twists.
My one very minor critique is Kayleigh, who I understand is only a side character in the grand scheme of things. She just seemed too 2D, an eldest daughter shouldered with all that responsibility and no cracks in her armour to show for it. Being forced to be a mother figure as a child takes a toll and I don't see that acknowledged anywhere. Anyway this review is too long and I understand why they didn't explore her much.
Please listen to the show!! It's fun and interesting and you won't be disappointed

1 person found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 05-26-23

expertly crafted

The storytellers from nightvale presents are top notch as always. If you're familiar with Welcome to nightvale, this isn't that at all. But you'll hear a lot of familiar voices.
This podcast listens like a well crafted audiobook, I couldn't put it down. Its twists and turns are lovely and Molly as one of the main characters is very refreshing. I loved her. And I loved Lou. I'm gonna miss them ❤

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  • Anonymous User
  • 05-23-23

Well worth a listen

Fresh, fun, thrilling and incredibly acted. Made me fall in love with mystery (and with stories about unlikely pairs) all over again. I only wish there was more! It would be wonderful to have a sequel.

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 05-06-23

fantastic

I loved this and couldn't stop listening. One of those shows that can make you laugh out loud and bite your lip with fear for the characters. More please.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 05-06-23

Really worth a listen

I loved the character voices in this! Not only is the writing for each very distinct, the voice actors do an amazing job too, so the end result is extremely enjoyable. Also, the way things came back from the very first episode throughout the season was great,though I don't want to spoil too much here 😁

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  • Clara
  • 03-27-23

Accidentally listened to 12 in a row

I didn't expect to love this, I usually dont like audio drama or books with multiple switching narrators. It got me like a slow burn- I'll just listen to one more, im liking this.- Then suddenly its 5.53am, I havent slept and I'm facing the utter disappointment of having no more episodes.

Can't wait for more, Molly and Lou feel like old friends

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  • Nothx
  • 03-16-23

Annoyingly Great

I saw there were only a dozen episodes, and was determined to pace myself. Two days later, I want season 2. Amazingly performed, amazingly written.

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  • Jakub
  • 03-05-23

pulls you in!

i love of joseph fink’s and jeffrey cranor’s and NV shows but this shows off just how good they are. creative storytelling, fascinating and loveable characters but most of all - just a great old fashioned l.ay noir detective story! only 4eps in but i already want a s2

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  • Anonymous User
  • 02-25-23

A beautiful neo-noir for your listening pleasure.

For lovers of novels and films like Inherent Vice and Chinatown this is an audible gem - well-written and well-paced, with incredible music by Disparition and amazing voice acting. Clearly, it deserves to be continued. I can imagine these two characters on their journey towards - towards what? maybe freedom and a license - perhaps for as many episodes as Philip Marlowe.

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  • Anela Anne
  • 02-13-23

Pretty good

Not sure why the 2 main narrators had the same names as the characters. Good little adventure mysteries following a main plot sort of resolved in the end, not a happy enough ending though. I like the underdog to win big.

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  • ash
  • 04-06-23

10’s across the board

A fantastic story, interesting and well written.
Sometimes touching and often funny.
Terrific casting and stellar voice acting. Great sound design is the cherry on top.
All killer, no filler & an absolute joy to listen to.

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  • Jo
  • 02-27-23

Love the nightvale team 💕

i would love another season, especially with more episodes which would let the ending be teased out more. Molly's acting was a bit too flat for me and had no chemistry w Lou but enjoyed the rest of the cast.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 01-02-23

the wtnv team do it again!!!!

this is another fantastic production from the wtnv crew. Joseph Fink and Jeffery Craynor have used the money from audible presents to bring in some phenomenal voice talent to bring the world of unlicensed to life. and what a vividly crafted world it is! The narrator who sets the scene is given some wonderful material with which to explore the LA setting and the two protagonists also have such rich and contrasting voices both in sound and script. I'm only a few episodes deep and am sure I've found a new favourite series to recommend to anyone who will listen to me! 10/10

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 12-05-22

Love it

This is the best podcast I’ve ever heard. We need a season 2 please. I love this.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 11-21-22

well written, keeps you guessing

Nightvale Presents never fails to surprise, delight, and always makes you think outside the realms of possibility.