The last party A novel

Mackintosh's (Hostage) new "DC Morgan" series blasts off with this whodunit set in the North Wales village of Cwm Coed, Detective Constable Ffion Morgan's hometown. Morgan's relationship with Leo Brody, the Cheshire Constabulary detective sent to help with the investigation, gets off to a hilariously awkward start when, examining the body of murder victim Rhys Lloyd, the two realize they just had a one-night stand, with both using fake names. Lloyd, local bad boy who made it big as an opera singer, was unpopular with the Welsh villagers after financing luxury vacation lodges on the English side of Mirror Lake. When his body washes up during the annual New Year's Day polar plunge on the Welsh side of the lake, suspects abound--many with connections to Morgan. Narrator Chloe Angharad Davies has few audiobook credits to her name, but her virtuoso performance suggests that she is a narrator to watch. Davies masterfully alters her vocal range and pacing to depict the diverse cast of characters, and her Welsh accents are positively musical. VERDICT Mystery fans will adore Mackintosh's wonderfully quirky characters in this white-knuckle thriller; expect many holds on the next series installment, with hopes it will be narrated by Davies.--Beth Farrell