A review by aethena1313
Dude Magnet by Gregory Ashe

5.0

Sometimes the perfect book pops up at the perfect time. Dude Magnet is the distraction from real life that I needed. I was having a dreadful week because Significant Other was on a work trip, the dog was acting bratty without Significant Other around, I was starting to come down with a summer cold, and someone broke the driver's side window of my car and stole my bag with my wallet. Yeah, I was having a dreadful week. Then, the Audible code for Dude Magnet showed up in my email inbox. Suddenly, life was a bit brighter.

As difficult as my week had become, Dash's was a bit worse. Even though this is a cozy mystery series, Gregory Ashe isn't cutting his characters any slack in the emotional torment department. Dash's ex-boyfriend shows up unexpectedly, the plans for the wedding at Hemlock House encounter a snag, Dash stumbles upon a murder, and local law enforcement warns Dash not to interfere with the murder case. The Last Picks gang refuses to be deterred by a warning from law enforcement. Dash's crew of misfits is determined to help him find the real killer. Their antics while trying to solve the murder were a delightful break from real-life drama and put my personal challenges into perspective.

This book is a blast. The characters are charming. The mystery is engrossing, and the narration is spectacular. Every character's voice matches my impression of the individual. Andrew Gibson does a wonderful job of offering a smooth performance that feels like someone is telling me a story rather than just reading a book out loud. If you like cozy mysteries, Scooby Doo cartoons, smoothly performed narration, and an emotionally tormented main character, this is an excellent audio book to listen to.