Microphones and Murder (A Podcasting Sisters Mystery, #1) by Erin Huss

Microphones and Murder by Erin Huss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Liv Olsen was working on the number one true-crime podcast program in the nation, Cold in America, when she learned about the 10-year-old missing person’s case of Amelia “Millie” Clark. Based on this case, she pitched the idea of a new podcast, Missing or Murdered, to her Cold in America boss who not only turned her down flat but added insult to injury by scoffing at the idea of Liv as the host. With hurt pride and feelings, Liv quits her job and goes all-in to bring her dream to fruition, taking her younger step-sister, Camry Lewis, along as her assistant.

Camry has relatives in Santa Maria, where Amelia Clark had lived, and she sets up a home base for their investigation and interviews at her Great Aunt Hazel’s home which eases the strain on Liv’s minuscule operating budget and delights Aunt Hazel. Her life had been quiet since her husband passed away and as she learns more about the girls’ project she enlists the help of her grandson, Oliver Lewis, who is a successful YouTuber with over 5 million subscribers to his channel.

Together, the four start looking into Amelia’s disappearance with their first step being to interview the original detective on the case. Now retired, he is anxious to see that his only open case is resolved. When one clue after another results in dead ends and Amelia’s father changes his mind about the podcast reinvigorating interest in his daughter’s disappearance, Liv worries that the podcast she has staked everything on is going down in flames.

Microphones and Murder is the first book in the new A Podcasting Sisters Mystery series by seasoned author Erin Huss. The premise of the true-crime podcast is timely and exciting, and her characters are engaging. The story is told in first-person, from Liv’s perspective, and her inner voice is witty, fun, and entertaining. I liked that Liv’s character, although competent and confident, also has a very real vulnerability as she second guesses her decision to go out on her own and follow her dream. Step-sister Camry is young, flirty, and sassy, with her own vulnerabilities as well. I felt the mystery was sound and Liv’s investigation made sense. I’ll definitely be reading more of this author’s work. I recommend this book to cozy mystery readers that like young, savvy, female protagonists.

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