Audiobook Review: Drama Cruise (Nicky and Noah Mystery #3) by Joe Cosentino

Theater professors and couple, Nicky Abbondanza and Noah Oliver, are going overboard as usual, but this time on an Alaskan cruise, where dead college theater professors are popping up everywhere, from the swimming pool to the captain's table. Further complicating matters are Nicky's and Noah's parents as surprise cruise passengers, and Nicky's assignment to direct a murder mystery dinner theater show onboard ship. Nicky and Noah will need to use their drama skills to figure out who is bringing the curtain down on vacationers, before it is lights out for the handsome couple. You will be applauding and shouting bravo for Joe Cosentino's fast-paced, ribald, edge-of-your-seat, entertaining, third novel in this delightful series. Curtain up and ship ahoy!

Narrator: Brad Enright
Listening Length: 5 hours and 56 minutes

Reviewer: Shee Reader

The story is consistent to the series, with comic exaggeration, snippy asides and plenty of ‘nudge nudge, wink wink’ humour. The characters are largely overdone and hilarious caricatures, but the overstatement of their physical attributes grated in the end.

The presence of Noah and Nicky’s parents on board ship was very funny, and the reader is included in the journey by many asides. If this were a movie, it would be slapstick with many straight to camera moments. The humour and fun are obvious and accessible.

The Nicky and Noah mystery series has made me laugh, and really appreciate the author’s sharp wit, political asides and awareness of stereotypes, and this book was similar. What I found less fun and at times very uncomfortable was the inclusion of a trans character, who other characters in the book constantly mis-gender and the constant reference to, and use of the character’s dead-name. Good LGBT fiction should promote inclusivity and positive representation, and there were moments in this book that made me cringe.

Brad Enright’s narration was fun, bouncy and sassy. His characterisation was super, though some of the accents were a little inconsistent. His voice is easy to listen to and perfect for the comedy herein.

I was given a free copy of the audio book in exchange for an honest review.