Three AM. The unit was finally quiet - that dangerous kind of quiet where you're afraid to breathe too loud in case you jinx it. I was deep into charting when I realized I'd been listening to Murder List for almost two hours without actually processing any of my documentation. That's either a sign of a really good audiobook or really bad nursing practice. Probably both.
Julie Garwood does this thing where she mixes romantic suspense with actual thriller elements, and honestly? It's comfort food for my brain after a shift where I've seen too much. The premise hooked me immediately - a self-help guru asks seminar attendees to write down people they'd want gone, and then those people start dying. As someone who's actually worked a code on patients whose families made questionable decisions, I may have mentally drafted my own list once or twice. (I'm kidding. Mostly.)
When the Setup is Better Than the Payoff
Here's the thing about Murder List - the concept is genuinely clever. Regan Hamilton Madison (yes, that's her name, and yes, Garwood commits to it) accidentally leaves her "murder list" behind at this creepy seminar, and suddenly people on that list are turning up dead. The medical details are accurate. Finally. When someone gets killed, they actually die in ways that make anatomical sense. You have no idea how rare that is. I didn't yell at my dashboard once about cause of death, which is basically a standing ovation from me.
But - and this is a big but - some listeners are right that there's not much mystery here. You kind of know what's happening pretty early on. It's less "who's doing this" and more "when will Regan and hot detective Alec Buchanan figure it out." If you're looking for a puzzle box thriller that'll keep you guessing until the last chapter, this isn't it. For that kind of layered mystery, Femicide delivers the complexity I crave when my brain's actually functioning. If you want something that moves fast enough to keep you awake on the drive home but doesn't require you to remember seventeen plot threads? Night shift approved.
Joyce Bean and That Boston Accent
Okay, I need to talk about Joyce Bean's narration. She's genuinely good - clear voice, solid storytelling instincts, handles the comic relief moments with perfect timing. Her differentiation between Regan and her friends is distinct enough that I never got confused about who was talking. The police characters each have their own flavor.
But that Boston accent attempt? I'm not from Boston. Carlos isn't from Boston. Nobody in my immediate circle is from Boston. And even I could tell something was off. It's not terrible enough to ruin the experience, but it pulled me out of the story a few times. Like when someone pronounces a medication name wrong in a medical drama - you notice, you wince, you move on.
More concerning: there are apparently some audio production issues where words get cut off at the beginning or end of tracks. I noticed a few weird transitions but honestly thought it was my Bluetooth acting up. Turns out it might be the recording. Not a dealbreaker, but annoying when you're trying to follow dialogue.
The Romance Element (My Mom Would Love This)
The slow burn between Regan and Alec is exactly what you'd expect from Garwood. He's protective but not overbearing. She's capable but not unrealistically so. Their banter is actually funny - not "trying too hard" funny, but genuinely made me smile during a particularly brutal charting session. Carlos asked why I was smiling at my computer at 4 AM. I blamed the documentation software.
The romantic tension builds at a reasonable pace, though some scenes do drag a bit. Total Control had similar pacing issues with the romance versus thriller balance, though at least that one kept the conspiracy moving. There were moments where I found myself wanting to fast-forward through the "will they/won't they" and get back to the murders. Which is maybe not the reaction Garwood was going for, but there you go.
Perfect for That Post-Shift Decompression
At almost 12 hours, this is a solid commitment - about five round trips from the hospital for me. It's engaging enough to keep you focused but not so complex that missing a few minutes while you're processing the shift ruins everything. The pacing has some lulls, but the central premise keeps pulling you forward.
Who should listen: Anyone who wants romantic suspense that doesn't insult your intelligence. Fans of Garwood's other work (apparently Joyce Bean is considered her best narrator, so start here). People who need something compelling but not devastating after a hard day.
Who should skip: Mystery purists who want to solve the puzzle themselves. Anyone with zero tolerance for accent attempts that don't quite land. If you need your thrillers dark and gritty, this might feel too light.
End of Shift Report
Murder List isn't going to change your life, and it's not trying to. It's a well-constructed romantic thriller with a killer premise - literally - that delivers exactly what it promises. Joyce Bean does solid work despite the Boston thing. The medical stuff is accurate. The romance is satisfying. The murders are appropriately creepy without being gratuitous.
Is it worth a credit? If you're a Garwood fan or love this genre, absolutely. If you're on the fence, maybe wait for a sale or catch it on your streaming service. But for those 3 AM moments when the unit is quiet and you need something to keep your brain occupied without keeping you awake when you finally get home? This is exactly how good escape reading works. Trust me.
