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, Mystery Thriller, 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

[Brandon Gilbert · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a disjointed mess. Don’t bother.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short and quick audiobook. I honestly would have liked to see how this book would have been if it was longer and had more detail and longer storyline/plot. I gave it 3 stars because I did enjoy it even though it was really short. There were times that specific parts seemed cringe and could have been done better. Again, would have liked to see what this book would have been like being longer.

[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 🧣

[A Literary Autopsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listening to this audiobook was a pleasant way to pass the time. The story is clear and keeps you interested in what happens next. The narrators do a good job of making the characters feel real, which helps keep the mystery moving along at a nice, steady pace.
The plot is easy to follow and has a good amount of suspense. While it doesn't have many huge surprises or deep emotional moments, it is well-written and holds your attention from start to finish. It is a solid choice if you are looking for a simple, entertaining thriller to listen to while you go about your day. It does its job well without being too complicated.

[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

[Alex LaBat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO FUN! I lost track of who was who a time or two but I got it together by the end (I think). I hope there are more of these! There’s a full cast, sounds like a movie.

[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.

[Cindy Solberg]

Just a quick fluff murder mystery. Predictably but fun when I just wanted something to listen to while working at my desk.

[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

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook Lady Killer by Tommy Oheaver, and unfortunately it just didn’t work for me. While the concept had promise and I was intrigued going in, the execution fell flat. The pacing felt slow and uneven, which made it hard to stay engaged in audio format.

I struggled to connect with the characters, and many of their actions felt unrealistic or underdeveloped. The storyline itself became predictable, and the suspense I was hoping for never really materialized. Listening to it felt more like something I needed to finish rather than wanted to finish.

Overall, this audiobook wasn’t for me. It may appeal to listeners who enjoy this style of storytelling, but it missed the mark and didn’t hold my attention.

[Jenn A · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars
Audio book

Overall, this was so much fun! The banter between the characters kept me fully engaged and laughing along the way. The who done it mystery gave all the twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end.

The only reason this wasn't a full 4 stars was the quality of the recording. The parts that were simply story telling by the main narrator were perfect. However, when the story would switch over to conversations between the characters, I was having to adjust the volume way up to hear what was happening and then quickly turn down the volume when the main narrator came back so she wasn't screaming in my ears.
If you are looking for something fun and quick I would definitely recommend giving this one a go.

[Ginny Muse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great full audio cast on this short audible original (set up in ‘episodes.’) I guess that’s why I gave this a try. And it sounded interesting- investigating a murder about a cruise.
Some aspects of the story are interesting in a ‘who done it’ kind of way. But the characters and their behavior are weird and icky (cheating) - along with murder and maybe robbery. Too many characters for such a short story. So it’s not great. But still entertaining enough for what it is. It gives radio drama vibes with a simple set up to solve a crime.

[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.

[Angela Verry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast-paced cozy mysteries are my jam when I want something fun, light, and impossible to put down! 🕵️‍♀️📚✨ This one kept the story moving with quick twists, clever clues, and just enough suspense to keep me guessing without being too intense. 🔍💨 The cozy elements made it feel comfortable and charming, while the pacing made it super easy to fly through. ☕🏡💛

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Killer hooked me right away with its blend of dark humor, sharp tension, and that slightly unhinged energy I love in a crime story book that feels. It’s the kind of like it’s winking chaotic situations at you while dragging you into increasingly, and I was absolutely here for it.

What me was the tone really worked for—fast, clever, and just self-aware enough to make the violence feel stylish rather than heavy. The Honey is messy in the best way: confident one moment, and always entertaining, spiraling the next to follow. I found myself rooting for her and Ref even when I probably shouldn’t have, which is exactly the flavor of morally gray I enjoy.

The narrators were wonderful offering a variety of voices and inflections that gave depth to all of the characters.

A witty, darkly playful murder romp with bite—perfect for their crime stories readers who like, and impossible stylish, chaotic to put down.

[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