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To Catch a Sinner
1 pages, Audio CD
Published August 18, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Dylan Allen, Blue Box Press, and Tantor Media for the opportunity to listen to an advanced audio copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. **audiobook release date Aug 18, 2026**
I’d seen “To Catch a Sinner” around for a while and was really intrigued by the premise, especially after other ARC readers were talking about it. And let me say, with this being Dylan Allen debut novel, she starts the story off really strong.
The chemistry and banter between Sin and Kwame immediately worked for me. There was spice early on, their attraction felt natural, and their personalities played well against each other. Sin is a little all over the place, but comes with the territory of her career. She is honest, relentless, and navigating her own life while also being an investigative journalist determined to uncover the truth. Kwame, whose cultural background is Ghanaian; he is a criminal prosecutor dealing with grief and a complicated family history, has plenty of his own baggage.
Once we got beyond Kwame reading his mother’s will, the pacing slowed down considerably. There was a lot of dialogue, character development, family history, grief, cultural expectations, and backstory. I enjoyed learning those things, but there was not enough action moving alongside that development.
What initially feels coincidental slowly starts feeling like fate, particularly when Sin realizes her family’s home has a connection to the property Kwame’s mother left him in her will. Add Sin’s investigation into stolen Ghanaian cultural artifacts and a black-market operation that may connect directly to Kwame’s family, and that’s a lot to manage with all the other connections being added.
It felt like the story introduced all of these intriguing notions at the beginning, then asked me to hold onto them for a very long time before something happened again. By the time the suspense really began picking back up, I felt like I was around 65% into the story. That’s a long time to wait when the opening promises something much faster.
Unfortunately, that’s also where the book started losing me. For a romantic suspense, I needed more depth in suspense.
I don’t think the plot itself was boring. I actually think the premise is really good. For me, this was more of a structural and pacing issue. I wanted some of that character development broken up by smaller reveals, danger, investigative discoveries, or moments of tension that kept reminding me there was a larger mystery unfolding.
I also struggled at times with the number of characters being introduced. With a dual-POV story that already has two developed protagonists, introducing a large supporting cast requires really clear transitions and placement. There were moments when I had to replay chapters because I wasn’t completely sure who someone was or how they connected to everything else.
One thing I did appreciate was the cultural layer of the story. Sin and Kwame both are adults who are still navigating parental expectations and family obligations. They’re grown-grown, but that doesn’t automatically remove the influence of family or culture from their decisions. I thought there was something interesting in watching both characters navigate family dynamics.
And then…that cliffhanger. 😩 Now I understand why everyone was talking about it.
Overall, it had strong beginning, an interesting cultural foundation, complicated family dynamics, and a premise with a lot of potential. I just needed the suspense woven more consistently throughout to keep me fully engaged.
I would potentially lean in and read book 2 due to the cliffhanger, but it won’t be an immediate read.
I’d seen “To Catch a Sinner” around for a while and was really intrigued by the premise, especially after other ARC readers were talking about it. And let me say, with this being Dylan Allen debut novel, she starts the story off really strong.
The chemistry and banter between Sin and Kwame immediately worked for me. There was spice early on, their attraction felt natural, and their personalities played well against each other. Sin is a little all over the place, but comes with the territory of her career. She is honest, relentless, and navigating her own life while also being an investigative journalist determined to uncover the truth. Kwame, whose cultural background is Ghanaian; he is a criminal prosecutor dealing with grief and a complicated family history, has plenty of his own baggage.
Once we got beyond Kwame reading his mother’s will, the pacing slowed down considerably. There was a lot of dialogue, character development, family history, grief, cultural expectations, and backstory. I enjoyed learning those things, but there was not enough action moving alongside that development.
What initially feels coincidental slowly starts feeling like fate, particularly when Sin realizes her family’s home has a connection to the property Kwame’s mother left him in her will. Add Sin’s investigation into stolen Ghanaian cultural artifacts and a black-market operation that may connect directly to Kwame’s family, and that’s a lot to manage with all the other connections being added.
It felt like the story introduced all of these intriguing notions at the beginning, then asked me to hold onto them for a very long time before something happened again. By the time the suspense really began picking back up, I felt like I was around 65% into the story. That’s a long time to wait when the opening promises something much faster.
Unfortunately, that’s also where the book started losing me. For a romantic suspense, I needed more depth in suspense.
I don’t think the plot itself was boring. I actually think the premise is really good. For me, this was more of a structural and pacing issue. I wanted some of that character development broken up by smaller reveals, danger, investigative discoveries, or moments of tension that kept reminding me there was a larger mystery unfolding.
I also struggled at times with the number of characters being introduced. With a dual-POV story that already has two developed protagonists, introducing a large supporting cast requires really clear transitions and placement. There were moments when I had to replay chapters because I wasn’t completely sure who someone was or how they connected to everything else.
One thing I did appreciate was the cultural layer of the story. Sin and Kwame both are adults who are still navigating parental expectations and family obligations. They’re grown-grown, but that doesn’t automatically remove the influence of family or culture from their decisions. I thought there was something interesting in watching both characters navigate family dynamics.
And then…that cliffhanger. 😩 Now I understand why everyone was talking about it.
Overall, it had strong beginning, an interesting cultural foundation, complicated family dynamics, and a premise with a lot of potential. I just needed the suspense woven more consistently throughout to keep me fully engaged.
I would potentially lean in and read book 2 due to the cliffhanger, but it won’t be an immediate read.
August 15, 2026
ALC Review
📚 Book Title: To Catch a Sinner
✍️🏽Author: Dylan Allen Writing As Lucy Wilson-Tagoe
🎙️ Narrator(s): Mirron Willis & Soneela Nankani 📕 Format: 🎧 ⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🕑 Quick Take:
Arsinoé “Sin” Sackey is the eldest first-generation daughter of Ghanaian American parents. She was an investigative journalist on the verge of publishing a major story about the return of cultural artifacts to their west African roots he'd story is scooped and she decides to resign from The Times. Meanwhile, a new lead emerges about a artifact heist during transportation to an exhibit and an illegal dealer, but she's struggling to pitch this story to her new media outlet because she's shifting to the Lifestyle section as an advice columnist. Her career transition is complicated further by her fragile relationship.
Kwame Palmer has come back to DC for his mother's will reading but is eager to return to his job as an attorney in LA. Because of his strained relationship with his father, whom he considers a villain, he tries to distance himself from his father's name and influence.
The two meet by chance at Dogon, a Ghanaian restaurant inside The Salamander Hotel. With limited reservations, they choose to dine together, and sparks fly, and what was supposed to be just one night turns into something more. Months later, their paths cross once again, and many connections began to unfold.
✨ Themes
- One Night Stand
- Friends to Lovers
- He Falls First
- Billlionaire
- Romantic Suspsnce
🎭 Narration:
Mirron Willis and Soneela Nankani delivered an excellent narration of this novel, especially in voicing different characters. They effectively kept a tense atmosphere throughout. Moreover, some sections needed distinctive accents for the minor characters, which they executed with great skill.
💭Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed To Catch a Sinner because I really enjoy romantic suspense! The narrative included both historical and cultural references about Ghana and gave insight into the familial and social pressures and expectations faced by first-generation children of immigrant parents amid the promise of the American Dream. There was definitely a sense of looming suspense. At times, I found both Sin and Kwame to be too trusting or naive to be investigative journalists and prosecutors in their late thirties. Nevertheless, this was a great novel, and I can't wait for Book 2 in the Blurred Lines Duet!
Thanks, Tantor Media, for this advanced listener copy.
📚 Book Title: To Catch a Sinner
✍️🏽Author: Dylan Allen Writing As Lucy Wilson-Tagoe
🎙️ Narrator(s): Mirron Willis & Soneela Nankani 📕 Format: 🎧 ⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🕑 Quick Take:
Arsinoé “Sin” Sackey is the eldest first-generation daughter of Ghanaian American parents. She was an investigative journalist on the verge of publishing a major story about the return of cultural artifacts to their west African roots he'd story is scooped and she decides to resign from The Times. Meanwhile, a new lead emerges about a artifact heist during transportation to an exhibit and an illegal dealer, but she's struggling to pitch this story to her new media outlet because she's shifting to the Lifestyle section as an advice columnist. Her career transition is complicated further by her fragile relationship.
Kwame Palmer has come back to DC for his mother's will reading but is eager to return to his job as an attorney in LA. Because of his strained relationship with his father, whom he considers a villain, he tries to distance himself from his father's name and influence.
The two meet by chance at Dogon, a Ghanaian restaurant inside The Salamander Hotel. With limited reservations, they choose to dine together, and sparks fly, and what was supposed to be just one night turns into something more. Months later, their paths cross once again, and many connections began to unfold.
✨ Themes
- One Night Stand
- Friends to Lovers
- He Falls First
- Billlionaire
- Romantic Suspsnce
🎭 Narration:
Mirron Willis and Soneela Nankani delivered an excellent narration of this novel, especially in voicing different characters. They effectively kept a tense atmosphere throughout. Moreover, some sections needed distinctive accents for the minor characters, which they executed with great skill.
💭Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed To Catch a Sinner because I really enjoy romantic suspense! The narrative included both historical and cultural references about Ghana and gave insight into the familial and social pressures and expectations faced by first-generation children of immigrant parents amid the promise of the American Dream. There was definitely a sense of looming suspense. At times, I found both Sin and Kwame to be too trusting or naive to be investigative journalists and prosecutors in their late thirties. Nevertheless, this was a great novel, and I can't wait for Book 2 in the Blurred Lines Duet!
Thanks, Tantor Media, for this advanced listener copy.
August 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the advanced listening copy of this book. I was a lucky paperback winner and hadn’t started it yet, so I was excited to listen too! This was my first Dylan Allen/Lucy Wilson-Tagoe read. The cover caught my eye right away. The Blurred Lines Duet is a must read; I’m ready for book 2!
"If the mountain won't come to me, I will go to her.” ❤️
The narrators, Mirron Willis and Soneela Nankani, are seasoned and exceptional. Both narrators are engaging and warm. I love the grounded tone of both of them as eldest siblings. Both were capable of witty banter but also emotional depth. Soneela was very expressive and great at balancing both Sin and Kwame. Mirron was so smooth, velvety, and soulful. He had a way of brining an intense quietness at just the right time for just the right amount of time.
Began this one for the suspense and high stakes investigation, stayed for the cultural identity and romance. The “will they won’t they” beyond their first encounter was sooo good! Kwame and Sin had such great chemistry. Their attraction felt genuine and unrushed. Their conversations were my favorite part! Besides their romance, the suspense kept me on my toes - I was living for every secret. My only complaint is leaving us on a cliffhanger!
"If the mountain won't come to me, I will go to her.” ❤️
The narrators, Mirron Willis and Soneela Nankani, are seasoned and exceptional. Both narrators are engaging and warm. I love the grounded tone of both of them as eldest siblings. Both were capable of witty banter but also emotional depth. Soneela was very expressive and great at balancing both Sin and Kwame. Mirron was so smooth, velvety, and soulful. He had a way of brining an intense quietness at just the right time for just the right amount of time.
Began this one for the suspense and high stakes investigation, stayed for the cultural identity and romance. The “will they won’t they” beyond their first encounter was sooo good! Kwame and Sin had such great chemistry. Their attraction felt genuine and unrushed. Their conversations were my favorite part! Besides their romance, the suspense kept me on my toes - I was living for every secret. My only complaint is leaving us on a cliffhanger!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed the mix of romance and mystery in To Catch a Sinner! At its core, this story is about identity, family, and choosing your own path. If you know what it’s like to feel the pressure of your parents when it comes to the choices you make, this one will definitely hit.
Kwame and Sin come from completely different backgrounds, but they’re both carrying similar pressures and expectations from their families. I really enjoyed their romance and watching that connection grow. Sin was easily my favorite. I loved her character, her independence, and the passion she had for her work.
The hunt Sin is on slowly starts unraveling so much, and I loved seeing how everything was intertwined. The mystery wasn’t quite as prominent as the romance, but I was here for it. It added that extra layer to the story and kept me wanting to figure out how everything connected.
The audio was also really well done. The accents were perfect and added so much to the characters and story.
Kwame and Sin come from completely different backgrounds, but they’re both carrying similar pressures and expectations from their families. I really enjoyed their romance and watching that connection grow. Sin was easily my favorite. I loved her character, her independence, and the passion she had for her work.
The hunt Sin is on slowly starts unraveling so much, and I loved seeing how everything was intertwined. The mystery wasn’t quite as prominent as the romance, but I was here for it. It added that extra layer to the story and kept me wanting to figure out how everything connected.
The audio was also really well done. The accents were perfect and added so much to the characters and story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was lucky to receive the ARC last year in another format, which I believe was from an earlier draft. I wasn’t expecting a cliffhanger, but I was completely drawn into how the pieces came together for Kwame and Sin—their complicated family, the DMV shoutouts, their career goals, the art theft mystery, the morally gray choices, their relationship. However, the audio version didn’t work for me. The female narrator didn’t capture Sin’s vibe or that of her family. She’s clearly talented, but I couldn’t feel the connection between her performance and the characters. The male narrator didn’t come across as a cool, virile man; instead, he felt more like an elder statesman who occasionally says something shocking. I’d recommend reading another format, and if cliffhangers aren’t your thing, maybe wait until the second book is out.
August 21, 2026
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for early access to this ALC.
I enjoyed this book for the storyline. It kept me invested and waiting for what’s next. My draw back was the narration at times. I enjoyed the accents but sometimes the normal characters’ voice came off whiny especially the female narrator.
I would purchase this book but would most likely skip on purchasing the audiobook. But one thing I need to know when the next book is dropping cause that ending 🤯
I enjoyed this book for the storyline. It kept me invested and waiting for what’s next. My draw back was the narration at times. I enjoyed the accents but sometimes the normal characters’ voice came off whiny especially the female narrator.
I would purchase this book but would most likely skip on purchasing the audiobook. But one thing I need to know when the next book is dropping cause that ending 🤯
August 30, 2026
I love books set in the DMV. I was completely drawn in by the story of Sin and Kwame and their complicated family dynamics. I need book two STAT!
September 1, 2026
4.75 ⭐️ // 5 🎧
I don’t know what to do while waiting for the next one! 😭
I don’t know what to do while waiting for the next one! 😭
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews