5+ stars for Arrested Flight (The McLaren Mysteries, #8) by @JoHiestand #audiobook #britishmystery
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  • N. N. Light
    • May 3, 2022
    • 3 min read

5+ stars for Arrested Flight (The McLaren Mysteries, #8) by @JoHiestand #audiobook #britishmystery



Title: Arrested Flight (The McLaren Mysteries, #8)

Author: Jo A. Hiestand

Narrator: Callum Hale

Genre: British Mystery, Mystery


Book Blurb:


Ex-police detective Michael McLaren is determined to have a peaceful holiday after the fiasco of his first attempt at Windermere, so he stops at a bed-and-breakfast in Moorton, a village in Cumbria. But mystery and murder seek him out, and he soon succumbs to the B&B owner’s plea to investigate the year-old death of her daughter’s fiancé, a young musician.


The Lake District parish seems peaceful, but a rival musician’s jealousy and a business partner’s anger boil beneath the façade. Mix that with ‘Barmy Barry’s’ sightings of fairy lights at the castle, references to Uther Pendragon’s return and the secrets in the woods, and McLaren finds his sanity shaky.


When the vicar is attacked and Barry disappears, McLaren sets a trap for the killer. But as it plays out, his concern shifts from the potential capture to praying he and his friend can escape with their lives.


My Review:


Summary –

A restful holiday without talk of murder is all McLaren wants but no such luck in Moorton. Retired detective McLaren is in need of a break, so he finds a bed and breakfast in the village of Moorton. No investigating murders, just a relaxing vacation, is all McLaren craves. No sooner has he gotten comfy in his accommodations when the B&B owner asks for McLaren’s assistance in tracking down her daughter’s fiancé’s murderer. What a conundrum for McLaren. He finally relents but soon discovers a laundry list of subjects and a witness account of fairy lights seen at the castle. As McLaren reaches his limit, he ensnares the killer…or will the killer snuff him out?


Narrator’s overall voice –

Callum Hale is a magnificent narrator, one of the best I’ve heard. His voice creates the imagery needed to follow the story. His soothing British accent works flawlessly for this story.


Does the narrator fit the characters?

Callum uses different dialects for each character which is beneficial while listening. There were many times I would close my eyes and could imagine what was going on. Callum also invokes emotion while reading. I found myself getting carried away into the story.


Narrator’s reading style –

Callum’s reading style is the perfect rhythm, allowing the listener to be fully invested in the story.


Narrator’s impact on reading experience –

Callum makes this one of the best books I’ve listened to. Everything from his pacing to the inflection in his voice to the recreation of the characters to the emotional impact on the listener all combine to make this an outstanding performance.


Narrator’s pacing –

Callum’s pacing is lingering in parts, fast in others, on pace with the natural ebbs and flows of the story. It’s a delightful performance.


Audiobook flow –

The flow of the audiobook is right in line with the pace of the story. I submerged myself in the mystery and thoroughly adored it.


What makes this audiobook unique –

What a brilliant performance by Callum. He becomes McLaren, at least for my imagination.


Would I recommend this audiobook –

YES! It’s such a delightful listen, especially for fans of British mysteries and mysteries.


My Rating: 5+ stars


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Author Biography:


Jo A. Hiestand grew up on regular doses of music, books, and Girl Scout camping. She gravitated toward writing in her post-high school years and finally did something sensible about it, graduating from Webster University with a BA degree in English and departmental honors. She writes two British mystery series—of which two books have garnered the prestigious N.N. Light’s Book Heaven ‘Best Mystery Novel’ two years straight. She also writes two Missouri-based mystery series that are grounded in places associated with her camping haunts. The camping is a thing of the past, for the most part, but the music stayed with her in the form of playing guitar and harpsichord, and singing in a folk group. Jo carves jack o’ lanterns badly; sings loudly; and loves barbecue sauce and ice cream (separately, not together), kilts (especially if men wear them), clouds and stormy skies, and the music of G.F. Handel. You can usually find her pulling mystery plots out of scenery—whether from photographs or the real thing.


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Reviewed by: Mrs. N

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