Caffeinated Reviewer

Fair Market Value by Hailey Edwards is the first audiobook in her newest series, The Body Shop. Narrated by Candace Joice, I was immediately drawn to the body shop and necromancer, Mary Frances Talbot, aka Frankie. Dead vampires and an ex boyfriend turned police delivered an intense first listen.

Forgot to feed your goldfish before your untimely demise? Need to jot down a will? Say a goodbye? See the Grand Canyon? Then come visit us at The Body Shop, where unfinished business is our business.

Mary Frances Talbot—Frankie—is a necromancer, probably. Hard to say since she never met her parents. She can see the dead, talk to the dead, and a few other things that aren’t strictly legal. It’s fine. No worries. As long as she doesn’t get caught.

The whole not getting caught thing was going well until Samuel Harrow blew back into town wearing a Savannah Police Department uniform. He might be a witch, but he hates magic. He’s not a fan of Frankie either. Which explains why he’s her ex.

When Frankie’s less than legal side gigs result in dead vampires, she knows she’s in trouble. Big trouble. And that’s before Harrow offers to help. With him waving a Get Out of Jail Free card in her face, Frankie doesn’t have much choice but to accept.

But that doesn’t mean she has to forgive. She’ll certainly never forget him breaking her heart or turning her over to the police or... Yeah. They were doomed from the start. Something tells her this investigation will be too.

I first read The Beginner’s Guide to Necromancy series by Edwards, so I was delighted to discover the Body Shop series is set in the same world. However, you do not need to have read that series to appreciate the world-building and mythology in this one.

Mary Frances Talbot, aka Frankie, runs the Body Shop and takes care of her siblings. Frankie is a necromancer. At least she thinks so. She can communicate and see the dead and manipulate spirits. Her body shop offers the dearly departed a chance to tie up loose ends, but borrowing a body. Is it legal? Not totally, which is why things go sideways when a vampire is killed by a departed in one of her rentals. When she becomes a suspect, things become complicated. Her ex-boyfriend is back and part of the Savannah police department. Will he turn her in? He seems to ask for her assistance. But can he be trusted? The tale that unfolds hooked me.

I adored Frankie, who seems to carry all the responsibility on her shoulders. She desperately wants to clear her name and find the killer. Frankie’s siblings, Matty and Josie, also have unique talents. They were both likeable and the family unit felt genuine. I look forward to learning more. Hailey did a great job of filling in backstory and introducing the secondary characters and their connections to us.

We also meet Carter, who is quite the character. Frankie connects with him, creating a little triangle vibe in the romance department. We shall see. It is clear there is something between her and her annoying ex-Harrow. I have a feeling we don’t know his full story.

The mystery was interesting with spooky moments, gods and more. Edwards is a master storyteller, and this did not disappoint. The next audiobook, Amber Gambler, releases in March but is available in ebook now. Edwards mixes heartfelt moments, snark and humor into her stories to balance out the darker aspects, allowing me to connect with the world and characters.

Candance Joice narrates this series and offered a wide range of male and female voices that suited the characters and enhanced the overall story. I recommend listening and plan to continue the series on audio.

Amazon* | Audible

About Hailey Edwards

Hailey Edwards writes about questionable applications of otherwise perfectly good magic, the transformative power of love, the family you choose for yourself, and blowing stuff up. Not necessarily all at once. That could get messy. She lives in Alabama with her husband, their daughter, and a herd of dachshunds.

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About Candace Joice

Candace Joice has been devoted to storytelling since she was a child—first as an avid reader, next as a movie watcher, and finally in her first stage role as a duckling. Today, whether on a stage, in front of a camera, or behind a microphone, she relishes the singular experience of collaborating with a writer's words. With a master's degree in theater and ten years of regional theater credits as an actor and director, Candace draws from a wealth of experience to immerse listeners in compelling storytelling. Onstage, she has played characters as diverse as Elizabeth Bennett and Eddie Van Halen. She's just as versatile in her booth, jumping smoothly from the depth and vulnerability of literary fiction to the many character voices of genre novels, to the focus and authority of nonfiction. And when she's not in her booth or on stage? You'll probably find her playing with her dog or baking bread, macarons, pies, and cakes!

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2024 Audiobook Challenge

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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