Lady Killer

by Tommy O'Haver, Fred Armisen (Narrator), Nelson Ascencio (Narrator)

Welcome aboard the S.S. Avila Star, where the drinks are strong, the gossip is stronger, and murder is on the menu.

When model Honey Stapleton embarks on a romantic Caribbean cruise to save her marriage, the last thing she expects is to stumble upon a dead body.

Armed with wit, determination, and a fabulous mink coat, Honey finds herself playing detective alongside mysterious and handsome investigator, Ref Morales. As they navigate through a colorful cast of suspects—including her own husband Weaver—Honey discovers that everyone on board has something to hide, and it will be up to her to catch the killer—and keep from getting murdered herself.

From New York to Havana, “Lady Killer” serves up delicious twists, romantic tension, and a heroine whose sharp instincts match her impeccable taste.

Starring a remarkable ensemble including Fred Armisen, Hugh Dancy, Nelson Ascencio, Adam Shapiro, Scott Thompson, Jesse Garcia, Julia Sweeney, Ari Graynor, Sasheer Zamata, Margaret Cho, and Erika Hernandez as Honey.

Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery, Fiction, Murder Mystery

Audible Audio

Published December 4, 2025

Reviews

[Lanie J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This kind of felt like a mix of a few other books I’ve read. Still good I just read a lot so I thought it was a little predictable

[Allisa DeRungs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great short mystery!! Really enjoyed the characters, setting and narration

[Emily Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I always love a good audio with a ton of narrators !! This one didn’t disappoint. At parts though I had to turn the volume up
Loud because the sound some how changed. But I enjoyed. It’s always the red scarf 🧣

[Toni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audible.com freebie from the catalog.

Will I remember this story, nope

Was it the worst out there, nope.

Was it fun to listen to and required no brain cells being abused, yes.

[Patti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quirky. A bit mindless

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short story is an Audible Original and is listed in the Plus Catalog for free now. I wanted to like this one because it is in the style of the old gumshoe detectives. The story was interesting and entertaining. However, the volume for the various scenes and characters was atrocious. I had to keep turning it up and then down. And goodness help me if the scene was too long and I forgot that I had turned the volume up…blow my eardrums.

[Trina Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was pure fun. Not a serious or heavy mystery — a stylish, chaotic, vibes-first cozy that’s meant to entertain more than impress with complexity.

The audiobook format completely elevates the story. The full cast, ship acoustics, and sound effects made it feel like a vintage radio drama rather than a traditional audiobook, and I was fully immersed the entire time.

Honey Stapleton is a fashionable, impulsive amateur sleuth who is often wrong but impossible not to root for. The mystery has plot holes and loose threads, but the pacing is tight, the atmosphere is great, and I had a genuinely good time listening. Huge bonus that this is included with Audible — I only wish it existed in paperback because I’d buy a trophy copy instantly.

Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Plot: ⭐⭐⭐½

Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

World / Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Structure: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5)

One-Word Summary: Delightful

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super quick listen about a 1930s murder mystery on a cruise ship. Honey discovers a body, but then it goes missing and no one believes her, so she tries to solve it with the help of an insurance detective. The multiple narrators and sound effects were pretty good for a free audible original. The volume did change a couple of times, but I didn’t have too much of a problem. A lot of crazy happens in a short period, but It gave me the vibes of like a murder on the orient express kind of mystery.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick, fun, fully-dramatized story about the cruise from hell where dead bodies keep turning up around every corner. The voice acting was top notch and the characters were enjoyable. The mystery starts out strong, but I feel that the heroine sort of stumbled into the solution by accident. When the villain has to give a little monologue that gives all the details of the crime, I think it takes something away from the investigator.

[Bridget Thomas (Cruisingthroughpages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very short and simple listen. A typical murder mystery and not really anything I haven’t read before, but the narration was very good so that kept it interesting. Some parts were very loud and others almost too quiet though so I had to constantly adjust the volume and that was rather annoying.
Overall it was a quick a decent little story that will keep you intrigued enough to want to know who did it.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this. Yes. Please.
The sound engineering and pacing was perfect.
It features so many things I love!

Hard boiled humor, an amateur sleuth, female fatale and an undercover private detective.

This noir old fashioned radio production with a modern twist is fantastic fun. I really hope it becomes a series with many more cases with Honey & Ref teaming up to solve crime!

[𝜗𝜚₊˚ʚ𝑅𝓊𝑒’𝓈 𝒞𝑜𝓇𝓃𝑒𝓇ɞ ೃ࿔*:･ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This certainly wasn’t a bad book but it wasn’t the best thriller I’ve read 😭
✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 2.5 ☆

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　
I loved the sound effects in the audiobook but the plot felt so unrealistic and all over the place.
✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　

[Shan]

Entertaining full cast type audiobook about a murder or two on a cruise ship. I'm not rating it because I fell asleep while listening; for the same reason I can't comment on the mystery or its solution. I enjoyed the parts I actually heard. It would be a good accompaniment to a drive or a bit of housework or gardening.

[Sarah Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook on Audible and found it an enjoyable listen. I wasn’t surprised by the ending but I did enjoy seeing all the twists and turns the main character went through. I did appreciate at the end that the main character didn’t just jump into another romantic relationship. One of my favorite parts was Ms. B with her gossipy, gun-totting attitude lol.

[RB · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story had potential as a whodunit, but it came across as scattered, not to mention I experienced the characters' voices as unduly contrived.

[Nikelle Hollender · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun light listen, with nice murder mystery vibes. Fun voices too! Kind of predictable but a nice time.

[Erin Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick listen.

[Larissa Ogurkiewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a good short murder mystery novella

[Citasix · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was entertaining enough, but comically dense af at times. FMC epiphany that she wants a divorce and then that she wants to hook up with hottie PI in less than 24 hrs? 🙄

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehh interesting

[Chelsi Ulrich · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not super pleased with this book. Idk it was corny and i basically disliked every person in this book.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little mystery on a 1930's cruise ship.

[☆KT☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked all the different narrations, and the music.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was a 2, but I listened to this as an Audible with multiple voices and found the performance very enjoyable. I just wished for a more complicated Agatha Christie type of plot.

[Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun to listen to.

[Evee Floyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

clue vibes liked. weirdly separated from husband quickly

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun murder mystery!!!

[Roderic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even for free, probably not worth your time to even listen at 1.7 speed, avoid

[Tonya Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read that I'd give a 2.5 ⭐️ that I rounded

[Shannon Ferguson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It tried. It had potential. It flopped. The audiobook director must’ve said, “Make your laughs as annoying as possible to differentiate the characters.”