Tired of living life on the sidelines, Liv Olsen gave up everything-her job at the #1 podcast series in the country, her apartment, most of her belongings-to launch her own show, Missing or Murdered. Teaming up with her kid stepsister, Camry Lewis, the dynamic duo set out to be the next big thing in true crime. On the program for season one, the sisters’ focus on the case of twenty-three-year-old … twenty-three-year-old Amelia Clark, who vanished ten years ago after an embarrassing video of her went viral. The police found the California native’s car and personal belongings, but the investigation quickly went cold. A decade later, Liv and Camry retrace Amelia’s final steps, unearthing dangerous secrets, lost loves, quirky characters, and a lifetime supply of cinnamon rolls. As funds run low and time runs out, the investigation is complicated by anonymous threats. Threats from someone who doesn’t want Amelia’s story told. Liv and Camry have a lot riding on their Missing or Murdered podcast. Now it’s more important than financial success. They have to know. What happened to Amelia Clark? Stay tuned for episode one: Gone Cold.
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Wow. This was so different from any other books that I have read. I really enjoyed it. I loved the different style the author used, the characters were great. I can’t wait to see what happens with the next case they choose to investigate.
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 the first-person point-of-view, 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.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
Loved this book. Devoured it in less than twenty-four hours!
On a scale of one to five, this new series is a five star winner from the start. Though the main character of Liv Olsen is starting over as so many young female characters are portrayed these days, this series has a fresh feel to it. Liv is joined by her step sister when Liv decides to strike out on her own and starts a podcast series called Missing or Murdered. A connection is made when the investigating detective of a missing person cold case contacts her with the hope of new information due to more attention on the case. Amelia Clark was only 23 when she vanished, leaving her car filled with her belongings. Like she vanished in a puff of smoke, nothing has been seen nor heard from her in 10 years.
Tanks to her stepsister Camry’s aunt, they have six months food and lodging with her while they track down possible information. The characters are well developed and were people I wouldn’t mind spending time with and the mystery was very satisfying with added humor that added to my enjoyment. I hope this series continues – I already have it on my TBR list as soon as the next one is published.
Liv Olsen has spent a few years working on a popular true crime podcast, but now she’s decided to risk everything to start her own, Missing or Murdered. Working with her stepsister, Camry Lewis, she’s identified her first case. Just over ten years ago, Amelia Clark disappeared from Santa Maria, a town on central California’s coast, a week after an embarrassing video of her was posted on YouTube. The trail has long gone cold, but the retired detective who worked the case reached out to Liv, hoping that publicity would bring forward a new clue. As Liv begins to interview people who knew Amelia, she gets more questions than answers. What happen to Amelia all those years ago?
It’s always fun when a mystery opens with something other than a murder, and that’s what we get here. The missing person case was compelling, and it seemed the further I read, the more confusing the case became. However, everything came together for a satisfying solution before it was all over. The characters are charming, and I fell in love with them immediately. I appreciated the character growth we saw here, and I can’t wait to see how these relationships grow in future books. The suspects are just as real and do a great job of confusing us. I did find out character who speaks with a stutter annoying, and there were a couple of scenes I could have done without, but these are both minor issues. On the other hand, I appreciated the book’s humor and found myself laughing several times. This is a delightful debut, and I will definitely be back when the sequel drops.
I am stunned. This is a fantastic mystery. There were laugh out loud moments. There was poignancy and truth. Encased in this story were many issues touched on such as abuse, cyber bullying, intolerance. It showed how all of this affects people in ways that may not have been intentional. The whole journey was beautiful. I really loved it and look forward to the next Podcast Sisters mystery!
This story has a unique storyline. Liv Olsen starts her own podcast of an unsolved murder after being told she didn’t have what it took to do her own podcasting. With her kid stepsister, Camry Lewis, together to go about trying to find out what happened to twenty-three-year-old Amelia Clark, who vanished ten years ago after an embarrassing video of her went viral. There are some odd characters along the way, but there is also someone who doesn’t want the truth to be known as to what happened to Amelia. Can Liv and Camry find the truth or will the threating notes become real? You will have to read the book to find out. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Hidden Gems.
Microphones and Murder earns 5/5 Microphones, of course…Totally Engaging!
Testing! Testing! 1…2…Thrilling! Erin Huss penned a delightful first-in-a-series book combining a cold case with podcasting. She labeled each chapter as an episode adding a clever title (I like chapter titles); she incorporated how podcasts are produced and some tech language I found easy to understand. We are introduced to Liv Olsen who pitched a new podcast series to her boss after receiving some compelling information about a ten-year-old cold case, but she refuses to take “no” as an answer. Liv quits, purchases all the equipment, partners with her younger step-sister, and is determined to create her own podcast, “Missing or Murdered,” with season one titled “Where’s Amelia Clark?” The anniversary of twenty-something Amelia Clark’s disappearance is in two weeks to go, so much has to be revisited and reinterviewed before their first episode can be broadcast. The viral video, dubbed “Aluminum Woman Goes Mad,” brought up questions about Amelia’s state of mind, but to round out the picture there’s taping interviews, mapping out a timeline, getting a sense of her last days…hours, and as promised, presenting it in a thoughtful, fluid manner. But, opening the case in a public forum, reveals Liv and Camry may not be totally prepared. They enlist some friends and family, but are still plagued with limitations, roadblocks, and some perilous moments. The idea of finding the truth is admirable, but is it safe?
Erin Huss’s writing style includes descriptive “world building” and dialogue that does well to set up facts and clues along with illustrating varied personalities. The drama was a compelling and engaging cold case of which I enjoyed: emotions resurfacing, missing or unreliable information, and all the questions arising. I was surprised at, yet loved, the ultimate conclusion. However, it’s the characters created that have strengthen my being a fan of this series. Erin uses a first-person narrative from Liv’s perspective, highlighting her inner thoughts and showing her personal journey from self-deprecating to confidence…although her journey obviously will continue. Liv and Camry have a delightful sister dynamic, despite not being blood relatives. I also enjoyed Hazel’s grandson Oliver, hearing-impaired, with whom Liv can “sign” and…is there a spark? They’re not related…good to know. There’s Hazel ready with a buffet of hardy foods, Liv’s detective brother full of advice, and a plethora of good, bad, and quirky to round out the enjoyable experience. I loved it!
No bonus included. I’m not sure how to connect recipes with podcasting, but Aunt Hazel seems to be all about food and touts the “above the rest” BBQ found in Santa Maria…just saying. Although it in no way effected my enjoyment of the book, one recipe would have been great…Santa Maria Ribs?
Slow start eventually caught me hook, line & sinker
4.5stars
I started this book knowing that I adore the quirky, fun side to author Erin Huss’ s writing and, during the early stages of the story I was a bit disappointed. The story did not take off for me until over the one-third mark when I really started to care where podcast newbie Liv and her quirky sidekick step-sister Camry were heading in their efforts to discover what happened to Amelia Clark ten years earlier to make her suddenly disappear. After that point I just could not put it down. I ended up loving the journey and the outcome, both for long-missing Amelia and for Liv and Camry’s podcasting venture.
Along the way, the sisters interview a slew of suspicious characters who touched Amelia’s last days in town and a crew of supporting sleuths, starting with a sultry-voiced aunt who resembles Mrs. Claus and stuffs them with homemade treats ad nauseum (and yes, nauseum is the perfect word!) The humor is there in the interplay between zany Camry and Liv’s new-found amigos, including a studly YouTube sensation and a stuttering local journalist.
So, hats off to a new Erin Huss cozy mystery series with fun characters not shy about showing their ridiculous side in pursuit of a good podcast .
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.