I was asked, as part of Robyn Peterman’s review team, to review the whole of the Good to the Last Death series in their audio format, a task that I undertook with great pleasure. That’s when the “great pleasure” part became a total understatement because I had so, so much fun listening to Daisy, Gram, Gideon, Heather, Jennifer, June, Missy, and all the others come to life!
For the record (pun intended), the first four books of the series all came out at the same time, on 27 April, but I wanted to finish listening to them all before sitting down to write a review of the whole audio series… for now (since the next one, You Light Up my Midlife Crisis, will be released at the same time as the written book, on 28 May, although you will be able to read my review of the upcoming release a few days before launch).
A whole new perspective of sorts
First of all, let it be known that I daily made the mistake I’m telling readers of Robyn Peterman books never to make: reading or listening to one of her books on the public transit. Consequently, I passed for a dummy on a daily basis, laughing like a loon because of Robyn’s hilarious storytelling, but also of Jessica Almasy’s impeccable and perfect narration.
And you know what? I didn’t care! Heck, at least I’m listening with my Air Pods on, and not so everyone can listen, and it’s not Face Time, like I’m seeing so many do nowadays. Nor was I talking loudly. Nope. I was just laughing. Not too loud, since I still have manners (ahem!), but laughing just the same.
For just like the written books, Daisy’s story is laugh-out-loud material. Only difference: it comes with its own voice and offers a new perspective on the books, especially with the ghosts’ voices, which were not at all like I heard them in my head but which, in Almasy’s voice, made so much more sense (and made me laugh so much harder).
My review of It’s a Wonderful Midlife Crisis
My review of Whose Midlife Crisis is it Anyway?
My review of A Most Excellent Midlife Crisis
My review of My Midlife Crisis, My Rules
Jessica Almasy shines as Daisy and the gang
I will admit that I was a little disappointed that, in the end, Robyn Peterman did not narrate her own series, as she had intended to. However, the deception lasted until I started listening to the first book. From the very first couple of sentences, I could hear that Jessica Almasy really was Daisy, in the way I pictured her in the books.
And her talking about the hand in the laundry basket had me laughing even harder than it did in the book!
In other words, I was sold to the narration from the very first scene, and remained so until the very end, laughs and tears and shivers included!
For this series, I couldn’t expect anything else, and Almasy really delivered, from start to finish, Southern accent included!
Treat yourselves
That is the only thing I can say about those books: treat yourselves. You will laugh, you will cry, you will shudder, you will be stuck to the edge of your seats with some scenes. You might end up laughing like a loon in public, but who cares? You will enjoy it and to heck with the others who are not in the know.
This said, for me, they were the perfect rereading material, since I will always read the written books first (and that has nothing to do with my being part of Robyn’s ARC team, it is just who I usually am).
You can find them, and all of Robyn’s audio books, directly on her website.
My verdict
This will come as no surprise, I know, because I have been gushing on the books and the narration since the start of this review.
Five stars all over! ✰✰✰✰✰
Caro's Reads 
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