One mysterious mansion. Two rival journalists. Three weeks to uncover the story—and love—of a lifetime. Don’t miss this unforgettable romantic comedy performed by Phillipa Soo and John Cho!

Obituary writer Nadine Barbault doesn’t mind being called “Lady Death.” It suits the ice queen persona she’s cultivated to survive the fast-paced Toronto Herald. So when Nadine learns that famous (and reclusive) author Dot Voline has died, she doesn’t hesitate to run the obituary … only to discover that Dot is very much alive.

Nadine’s screw-up has brought Wesley Chen of the rival Spear no end of joy—she’s been a thorn in his extremely ambitious side for years. But the renewed interest in Dot also surfaces chatter about a mysterious past scandal. Intrigued, Wes goes to the source to learn more—only to discover Nadine had the exact same idea … and the infuriating woman isn’t willing to respect dibs. Typical.

At first, Dot refuses to speak to either of the squabbling pair, but then they receive an unusual request—work together, and Dot will share everything. The offer seems too good to be true … and of course, it is: in a bitter twist of irony, Dot dies for real before she can finish recounting her story. Not all is lost, however. The estate’s executor allows Wes and Nadine access to Dot’s sprawling wonderland of a mansion for three weeks to find their answer. That’s three weeks of working together … three weeks of endless sweltering in tight spaces … three weeks of learning there could be something more between them than a desire to win at any cost.

And maybe, just maybe, under the rubble of all those could-have-beens they’ll uncover more than the secret of Dot Voline’s long-ago scandal—and Lady Death will finally embrace what she’s wanted from life all along.

Lily Chu’s Audible Originals have become an annual treat for me. Drop Dead is her fourth audiobook, and once again, it’s a hit!

Smart and entertaining, Drop Dead features main characters who are ambitious rivals forced to work together to solve an irresistible mystery. Nadine and Wes met years ago in college, and since their very first journalism class together, they’ve been fierce competitors.

But now, ten years later, neither has quite the stellar career they’d expected. Nadine was a hotshot political reporter at The Herald, until death threats rattled her enough to make her ask for a safer beat, at least until she gets her nerve back. She’s the recently appointed obituary editor, mainly working from pre-written copy about noteworthy people. It’s not exciting… but it does keep the trolls away.

Meanwhile, Wes longs to join the investigative team over at The Spear, but instead, he’s passed over in favor of an obnoxious bro-type, and writes lifestyle pieces on topics such as perfect picnic pairings. It’s… nice, but definitely not what he wants to do.

After Nadine mistakenly publishes an obit for Dot Voline, a leading light in Canada’s literary world, her credibility is shot and she’s reassigned into an even less challenging position. She’s determined to redeem herself and tries to get an interview with Dot by showing up at her mansion’s gate, only to find Wes there, eager to capitalize on Nadine’s mistake and perhaps find a great story of his own.

Because amidst the furor over the obituary for an author who isn’t actually dead, there’s a tantalizing hint of something more — a few comments on the original obituary wondered why there was no mention of the old scandal tied to Dot’s first book. But neither Nadine nor Wes can find any online references to a scandal, and both sense that this could be the key to a breakout investigative piece with the potential to revitalize their careers.

Dot Valine is in her later years, clearly not well, but without having lost a bit of her eccentricity and flair. She eventually invites them in after a series of challenges and grants them small interviews, always hinting at something more to come. Her mansion is huge and over-the-top, with treasures and collectibles and oddities around every corner. Nadine and Wes plan to take advantage of every moment Dot will grant them, but sadly, after just a few weeks, they’re informed by her nephew that Dot has passed away — for real this time.

Still, their quest for a story isn’t over. Dot has stipulated that they can continue to have access to her home to try to get to the truth. The clock is ticking — the nephew can only give them three weeks, and then the mansion will be sold. To take full advantage of their limited time, Nadine and Wes decide to move into the mansion and work around the clock. Sure, neither loves the idea of having to spend so much time together, but it’s their only shot at uncovering the story that Dot so clearly wanted told.

What ensues is a good old-fashioned treasure hunt, practically a locked room mystery. No, they’re not literally locked in — but to fulfill their quest, they spend every moment in Dot’s mansion, poring through boxes of old papers, closets full of ballgowns, shelves of knickknacks and antiques and old books. They don’t know what they’re looking for, but they hope they’ll recognize what’s important once they find it.

The search is clever and the mystery around Dot’s secrets is intriguing. We don’t truly know what she’s hiding at the start. There are hints of an old political scandal, but nothing in Dot’s online presence or traceable history connects her in any way to politics. Still, she’s a larger than life character, and each new piece of writing that Nadine and Wes discover shows yet another facet of Dot’s personality.

As for Wes and Nadine’s rivalry and surface-level dislike, it’s obviously only a matter of time before the dynamic changes. Because as combative as they are toward one another, there’s also a grudging respect — after all, they were always the top two, battling for number one — as well as an even more reluctant attraction. Working together nonstop in such close proximity, they’re finally forced to hash out their differences and acknowledge that they’re enjoying this joint quest. Eventually, a budding friendship turns into more, and a surprisingly sweet romance begins to blossom.

Drop Dead gets off to a somewhat slow start, as we learn about Nadine and Wes’s stalled careers and challenging family dynamics. Once Dot Voline enters the picture, the plot comes into sharper focus. The search for Dot’s secrets is the driving storyline of this book, with the romantic elements built around the main mystery plotline.

Both elements work well. The deeper Wes and Nadine get into the dusty recesses of Dot’s mansion, the more fun their quest becomes. Clues come in unexpected forms, and seemingly stray notes or old clippings tantalize — Dot has intentionally sprinkled these clues throughout her home without leaving a road map to find them. As the pair unearth more clues, they become even more determined to see Dot’s quest through to the end and bring to light the story she wanted shared upon her death.

The love story is also engaging. Intimate scenes occur off the page, but we do see the flirtation and chemistry build, and it’s clear that the sparks are emotional as well as physical. I really appreciated how the author manages the characters’ realizations about their dynamics, as well as the way they hash out their past differences and figure out how to work together.

Finally, I’ll mention that for Nadine especially, Dot had an important lesson to teach. Through her time with Dot herself and then with the mementos Dot leaves for her to find, Nadine learns to start looking beyond the basics of a bio to understand a person’s impact, and finds purpose in writing stories that truly show who people are and why they matter. This aspect of Drop Dead is heart-warming without becoming saccharine — Nadine’s personal journey over the course of the story is delightful to see.

As with Lily Chu’s previous audiobooks, Drop Dead is narrated by the very talented Phillipa Soo, this time joined by co-narrator John Cho. They’re wonderful at voicing the characters and showing their humor and intelligence, as well as the great banter between them.

Drop Dead is currently available only through Audible. Her three previous novels were released the same way, and then released in paperback about a year later. I’ve loved each of Lily Chu’s audiobooks — The Comeback and The Stand-In are still my favorites, but Drop Dead is terrific as well. Don’t miss it!