The Essence of Malice

Narrator Alison Larkin deftly delivers the French, English, and Italian accents, speech patterns, and personalities in this elegant mystery. It's 1933 when Amory Ames and her husband, Milo, receive a desperate summons from his childhood nanny, Madame Nanette. Larkin portrays Amory as sweet yet gutsy, Milo sounds worldly and cocky, and Madame Nanette sounds like the quintessential nanny. The lighthearted tone changes as Madame Nanette reveals her fear that her employer, renowned parfumier Helios Belanger, has been murdered. She enlists the couple to find his killer. Listeners will accompany them to Parisian nightclubs, parties, and restaurants; learn about making perfume; and question myriad suspects. A clever conclusion adds satisfaction with this mystery. S.G.B. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine