Once Upon a Crime

by Brynn Kelly, Chase Brown (Narrator), Rebekkah Ross (Narrator)

She’s a librarian. He’s a movie star. Someone wants them dead.

Lana Fleming’s sister has vanished from the set of TV’s hottest show, and no one seems to care. Desperate for answers, Lana sneaks in as an extra, only to get stranded with Griffin Hart, an A-list action star with a reputation for good abs and bad decisions.

Though Griffin didn’t expect to be cast as a librarian’s sidekick in a real-life thriller, he’s weirdly into it—and into her. Even more unsettling—she sees right through his playboy persona. But their meet-cute soon turns deadly when they uncover a Hollywood scandal for the ages.

Caught in a high-stakes cliffhanger, it’s up to the leading man and his unlikely love interest to save the day, defeat the bad guys and maybe—just maybe—earn their own happy ending.

Lights. Camera. Run for your life.

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary, Crime, Rom Com

11 pages, Audible Audio

Published March 6, 2025

About the author

RITA-winner Brynn Kelly is a romantic suspense author, an award-winning journalist and copy editor, a soccer mom, and a theater nerd. She pens lighthearted romantic suspense audiobooks for Audible Originals, including YOU ONLY DIE TWICE, A MURDER TO REMEMBER, ONCE UPON A CRIME and SOME LIKE IT LETHAL, and is the author of the multiple award-winning DECEPTION ISLAND series of gritty romantic thrillers, available in ebook, print and audio. Find her on Instagram @writerbron or Facebook @brynnkellyauthor.

Reviews

[starryeyedjen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. I don’t always have the best luck with the created for Audible titles, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no audible credits left so I took a punt with this audiobook because it was free 🤷‍♀️

It was actually a really enjoyable read. The FMC is a librarian and has memorised the Dewey Decimal numbers for relevant books relating to her situation. Usually when she’s panicking she recites these numbers to herself, but during the story, random books she’s read and things and she’s learned actually come in handy.

The unlikely relationship between the FMC and MMC is really endearing and even though they know each other for less than a week over the duration, it felt natural.

There were more twists and turns to this story than a rollercoaster, and as much as the plot wasn’t massively believable, it was so audacious I could see it actually happening 🤣

This was an entertaining and surprisingly well written book and I’m glad I listened to it. As the MMC Griffin would say, it ends up being a book full of “kick ass librarians”, and who wouldn’t want to read a book like that?

[ShradS · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was... Predictable but twisty enough that I enjoyed it.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute and heartwarming! I didn’t realize this was closed door but I loved that about this story. I loved the characters and the emotion that was explored throughout reading this. I loved that there was a mystery along with the romance. I didn’t expect the ending but was pleasantly surprised.

Overall, this was precious and I enjoyed listening to this book. Highly recommend this if you want something quick, funny, and heartwarming. 💕

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This definitely needed some more thrills for a romantic suspense story. Even the final showdown was fairly meh. Some of the characters were over the top at times. I enjoyed both of the narrators though.

[Cecelia Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this. The plot twists were great. It was fun and an easy read. I'll definitely be looking for more from Brynn Kelly.

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story 3.25 stars. Narration 4 stars.
This was a cute rom-com/mystery. Lana has taken a job as an extra on the film her sister had been working on when she disappeared. They are in a canyon or something similar and when the crew breaks for the weekend she hides so she can do some sleuthing on her own. Meanwhile the mmc (one of the most famous actors in the world) has missed his ride back to town. Alone in the canyon, the two meet up(not on purpose)and end up working together. There’s good characters in this book and some scary moments, but it really is mainly a romance. For the most part I did like the listen. However, about a third of the way into the story it slowed down, so I found that a bit hard to get through. The whole last third had a lot more action and things happening so I liked that part a lot. And even better, I didn’t figure the mystery out, except one smaller part. Always a plus for me. Narration was good.

[ania | hellishreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first mistake I made was, obviously, picking an audible only audiobook – I assume the quality of those audiobooks are less than stellar. Not that Once Upon a Crime is the worst book I’ve read in a long while (I’m looking at you Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden) but it sure wasn’t amazing.

Once Upon a Crime is a predictable romcom that resembles Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in the sense that someone is trying to find a missing person in Hollywood and shit goes down – and in this case, a whole lot of shit goes down. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with THIS MANY PLOTS happening all at once.

For an audiobook that’s, what, 10 hours, there’s a plotline for every single thing imaginable. Missing sister? Check. Romancing a superstar? Check. Weird ass stalkers? Check. Hippie Communes? Check. Kidnapping? Check – and well, there’s a lot more spoilery things happening but can I just say the casting couch twist is goddamn insane.

There was no need for ALL of this and with so many things happening, not only did the characters forget Lana’s sister was missing, I also forgot that was the whole premise of the book. It’s not great, but it’s also not god awful but I’ll admit my listening experience was probably better because it was at 2x speed and I was playing The Sims 4 at the same time.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride. Thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns. I think the ratings are way too critical on this because it definitely deserves a higher rating than it has. Go listen to this if you haven’t already.

[Ive180 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ for pure fun escapism!

[Madeleine Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3// Audiobook // Pretty cheesy, but i was entertained and it was easy enough to follow at work! Only thing that annoyed me is they’re both so “quirky” they’re “different” lol but otherwise super cute and easy!

[Ascher Alchier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it absolutely loved all the drama!
The character detail! Omg the character Mama....loved it all.

[BrookeC · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up!
Wow! I’m glad I took a chance on this free Audible book. I loved Griffin, Lana and Lana’s parents! The narration was 5 stars and the way the dual POV was written was very well done. So much I loved about this story and a few laugh out loud moments. It does have some language but it fits well with the situations…not like they were thrown in there just to have some cuss words. Totally recommend this audiobook!

[Kaylan Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

20 out of 10!! It was so good! No bad language & spice level was like a .5! It was such a good mystery! It is read in third person so that took some time to get used to bc I don’t normally read books like that but it was still great! It also has both of the main characters sides of the story which are my favorite!

[Nicole P · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was genuinely a cute book and a little bit predictable. But it reminded me of a great Netflix original show. I thought the drama was intriguing and I actually liked the character quirks in this one. Overall, it was really fun to listen to.(also who doesn’t love a librarian hero and a slight emphasis on Greek mythology.)

There is a little bit of language, and the spice is closed door, which I did appreciate

[Casey DeMoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an alright story. It had its moments where I wanted to keep listening and then there were moments that I wasn’t interested or it didn’t keep my attention. It also is only available on audible and I usually like to follow along in a physical copy or on kindle. I still thought the story was good and the twist was alright too. I would recommend.

[Nicole Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute romance with a mystery & twists. Worth the listen and was entertained

[Dani Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. MMC no one cares you’re famous and FMC you kinda need to grow a pair

[Lynnsey Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars that I could've rounded up or down but decided to round down because it was just ridiculous. But in a mostly fun way! The quirky librarian thing was too much for me, and I did not find the constant Dewey decimal system references cute. But the mystery was entertaining (though wildly farfetched), and by the end I was locked in to see how it all played out!

[Abigail Cossette Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really fun. likable characters, twisty plot, basically friendship p*rn as the MCs get to know each other and are kind to each other and give each other grace.
closed door, but some emotionally decadent kisses.
this will likely be a multi read story for me.

[Casey ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the most cliche romance I’ve ever read, but man that ending was great. Or maybe it’s just that I finished it in the last 10 minutes of an eight hour flight after a week of traveling… either way, it’s cute, fluffy, and has a murder plot, so I recommend it.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8/5⭐️ super cute and fun book with a sprinkle of mystery!! .5/5🌶️

[Megs: Knee Wall Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, mystery, twists, enjoyable listen

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read w Audible. Rounded up to 3.0. Too much like “Notting Hill” but without the charm & too long as well

[Courtney M Laughery · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun!

[Edwina · Rating 5 out of 5]

ughhhhh I love this mannnnnnn… and mysteries.

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book draaaaagged. And Lana’s “quirkiness” was cringey and annoying. Pass.

I was interested in the crime/mystery aspect of the story, so I continued to listen. Had it not been for that, I would have given up pretty early on.

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love myself a good plot twist but this is so YA and all over the place nevertheless very entertaining

[Megan McCarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story! I had so much fun trying to stay ahead of each twist and turn! I never suspected the perp and was delightfully confused the whole way!

[Elin Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once Upon a Crime should be a movie. While a rom-com at heart there's a mystery to solve, loads of action and its hilarious. There are some colorful characters that give this story so much life. This book was a blast.