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Unlicensed: Season 2
From the creators of Welcome to Night Vale, Alice Isn’t Dead, and Within The Wires comes the return of Unlicensed, their critically acclaimed Audible Original.
Out in the far reaches of Los Angeles County, where the glamor of Hollywood fades into the long empty of the desert, two unlicensed private detectives are about to face a case that is larger and more complicated then any they’ve faced before.
A ghost-hunting influencer disappears in the middle of a live stream. A beekeeper is murdered after telling his friends that he has come across a dangerous secret.
It is up to unlicensed PIs Lou Rosen and Molly Hatch to put together the pieces, as the powerful elite of California try to stop them. Even if they solve the case, can they come out the other side unscathed?
From the dusty citrus groves of Redlands to the wealthy enclaves of Monterey, season two of Unlicensed is the kind of grand California noir they just don’t make anymore.
Out in the far reaches of Los Angeles County, where the glamor of Hollywood fades into the long empty of the desert, two unlicensed private detectives are about to face a case that is larger and more complicated then any they’ve faced before.
A ghost-hunting influencer disappears in the middle of a live stream. A beekeeper is murdered after telling his friends that he has come across a dangerous secret.
It is up to unlicensed PIs Lou Rosen and Molly Hatch to put together the pieces, as the powerful elite of California try to stop them. Even if they solve the case, can they come out the other side unscathed?
From the dusty citrus groves of Redlands to the wealthy enclaves of Monterey, season two of Unlicensed is the kind of grand California noir they just don’t make anymore.
Audible Audio
Published October 31, 2024
3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Fink
21 books2,574 followersJoseph Fink is the creator of the Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn't Dead podcasts, and the author of the New York Times bestselling novels Welcome to Night Vale, It Devours!, and The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home (all written with Jeffrey Cranor) and Alice Isn’t Dead. He is also the author of the children’s novel, The Halloween Moon. He and his wife, Meg Bashwiner have written the memoir, The First Ten Years. They live together in the Hudson River Valley.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 1, 2026
I adore unlicensed private investigators Lou & Molly!
June 16, 2025
Unlicensed
Season 2
By Night Vale Productions
Audible Original
Overview 📝
Listened to Season 1 and loved it. Like Season 1, Audible had this one free so decided why not.
Season 2 is episodic like Season 1 but is arranged like a book that has continuous listening from one episode to the next. Season 2 provides the same textural feel to Season 1. There’s Lou—still an unlicensed investigator getting overflow cases from her licensed investigator friend/presumable ex, Grady—and Molly, the investigator’s assistant, who more or less is the grounding rod keeping Lou based in reality, as she gets pretty spacey and tangential (though in a lot of ways they ground each other).
The Good 😊
1. The voice acting and musical interludes between episodes are a highlight for me of this series. So is the big-picture vignette-oriented narrations that makes one stop, pause, and think about things outside of themselves, like there is more going on in the world beyond our own lives.
2. The episodes are longer and more of them in Season 2.
3. The unlikely personality pairing between Lou and Molly is what makes this story so great. Lou is an older woman (mom figure to Molly) and a super talented investigator that comes across as spacey, almost happy-go-lucky. But she makes shot-out-of-the-dark Sherlock Holmes-esque deductions and follows them up with super thoughtful responses/resolutions.
4. Meanwhile, Molly is a late 20’s ex-alcoholic and divorcée (daughter figure to Lou) who feels she doesn’t have a grasp on any semblance of what she should be doing in life, except for when she’s around Lou. Together, synergized, all of their strengths are brought out and most of their foibles are temporarily forgotten.
5. The “Ghost Hunters” TikTok video side-plot felt like an unnecessary rabbit hole throughout the episodes but, true to Season 1’s rabbit holes, eventually loops back into the main storyline.
6. It was gratifying to see Molly take steps to improve her life, such as with her new beau.
The Meh 🤢
1. Like in Season 1, it took a long time for the main criminal organization to come into focus. I wished they would provide a teaser statement or 5 that would help me concentrate on the details that become important later in the series. Instead, you just have to listen intently to all details irregardless if you think them to be important or not (because some details are not important).
2. The musical interludes were significantly cut back in Season 2. They really had a searching but upbeat vibe to the show.
Final Thoughts 🤔
The show ended very nicely. More than one surprise ending. The Parting Words, like a certain part of each episode, makes you stop and think about the big picture. Can’t wait for Season 3.
4 Stars ⭐️
Season 2
By Night Vale Productions
Audible Original
Overview 📝
Listened to Season 1 and loved it. Like Season 1, Audible had this one free so decided why not.
Season 2 is episodic like Season 1 but is arranged like a book that has continuous listening from one episode to the next. Season 2 provides the same textural feel to Season 1. There’s Lou—still an unlicensed investigator getting overflow cases from her licensed investigator friend/presumable ex, Grady—and Molly, the investigator’s assistant, who more or less is the grounding rod keeping Lou based in reality, as she gets pretty spacey and tangential (though in a lot of ways they ground each other).
The Good 😊
1. The voice acting and musical interludes between episodes are a highlight for me of this series. So is the big-picture vignette-oriented narrations that makes one stop, pause, and think about things outside of themselves, like there is more going on in the world beyond our own lives.
2. The episodes are longer and more of them in Season 2.
3. The unlikely personality pairing between Lou and Molly is what makes this story so great. Lou is an older woman (mom figure to Molly) and a super talented investigator that comes across as spacey, almost happy-go-lucky. But she makes shot-out-of-the-dark Sherlock Holmes-esque deductions and follows them up with super thoughtful responses/resolutions.
4. Meanwhile, Molly is a late 20’s ex-alcoholic and divorcée (daughter figure to Lou) who feels she doesn’t have a grasp on any semblance of what she should be doing in life, except for when she’s around Lou. Together, synergized, all of their strengths are brought out and most of their foibles are temporarily forgotten.
5. The “Ghost Hunters” TikTok video side-plot felt like an unnecessary rabbit hole throughout the episodes but, true to Season 1’s rabbit holes, eventually loops back into the main storyline.
6. It was gratifying to see Molly take steps to improve her life, such as with her new beau.
The Meh 🤢
1. Like in Season 1, it took a long time for the main criminal organization to come into focus. I wished they would provide a teaser statement or 5 that would help me concentrate on the details that become important later in the series. Instead, you just have to listen intently to all details irregardless if you think them to be important or not (because some details are not important).
2. The musical interludes were significantly cut back in Season 2. They really had a searching but upbeat vibe to the show.
Final Thoughts 🤔
The show ended very nicely. More than one surprise ending. The Parting Words, like a certain part of each episode, makes you stop and think about the big picture. Can’t wait for Season 3.
4 Stars ⭐️
September 16, 2025
I'm really enjoying the Unlicensed series on Audible, from the creators of Welcome to Nightvale!
I love the main characters, I adore the narration style and music, and really appreciate how the writers lay out all the clues to the mysteries subtly throughout each season.
My only grievance is that this show pushes the woke agenda HARD. Especially on the anti-police, anti-institutions, and pro-immigration fronts... as well as the whole land rights recognition type stuff (it's set in California and the narrator keeps harping back to how the land was stolen).
Anywho, it's fairly preachy in many regards. But the storytelling is good enough that I'm willing to overlook that.
I love the main characters, I adore the narration style and music, and really appreciate how the writers lay out all the clues to the mysteries subtly throughout each season.
My only grievance is that this show pushes the woke agenda HARD. Especially on the anti-police, anti-institutions, and pro-immigration fronts... as well as the whole land rights recognition type stuff (it's set in California and the narrator keeps harping back to how the land was stolen).
Anywho, it's fairly preachy in many regards. But the storytelling is good enough that I'm willing to overlook that.
September 20, 2025
The second season of Unlicensed picks up six months after the events of the first. Lou spent some time in jail and has a court case looming over her head. While trying to avoid thinking about how the Govenor is trying to get revenge on her, she falls down a TikTok rabbit hole. Eventually she stumbles upon the case of a missing ghost hunter. Meanwhile, she and Molly are looking into the death of an itinerant bee keeper.
Once again they are pitted against the rich and powerful as the authors throw twist after twist at the pair. While a little reminiscent of the previous season, this is still a fun mystery.
Once again they are pitted against the rich and powerful as the authors throw twist after twist at the pair. While a little reminiscent of the previous season, this is still a fun mystery.
July 30, 2025
Unlicensed: Season 2 delivers a truly excellent listening experience, weaving a complex narrative that expertly ties together its various threads by the conclusion. The creators have crafted a masterful story where seemingly disparate elements coalesce into a satisfying whole, leaving the listener with a sense of clarity and appreciation for the intricate plotting. This season builds to a rewarding finish, making the journey worthwhile for those who enjoy a story where every piece ultimately finds its place.
May 12, 2025
Really good. I'm in love with Lou & Molly, no doubt. I always feel like they do a great job of giving me (the listener) all the clues so I can figure it out myself, but manage the story in such a way that I'm still surprised and delighted over revelations. This isnt a style of narration I'm used to and it's really grown on me
October 9, 2025
4.5 stars - a great story well-told, as usual!
July 16, 2025
I love these characters, and I was so happy to have them back.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews