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Crazy as a Loon by Hailey Edwards Narrator: Stephanie Richardson
Series: Yard Birds #1
Published by Tantor Audio on January 30, 2024
Genres: Humor, Mystery, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Length: 4 hours
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Purchase Links: Amazon*Kobo*Chirp
Goodreads
Ellie Gleason has protected the town of Samford, Alabama for decades. It’s not as glamours as her glory days as the WitchLight Hub, but it keeps her active during her golden years.
Life is good.
Well, it’s okay.
Fine.
It be bloodier with a smidge more gore, but retirement is meant to be low-key. It’s not like her fragile bones could handle the strenuous hunt for monsters anymore, even if her current duties are dull as dishwater.
But when her great-nephew shows up on her doorstep in tears—or is he her great-great nephew?—begging for help, Ellie straps on her beloved shotgun, Bam-Bam, and gets the coven back together.
Sure, Betty just had a hip replacement, and Flo would rather flirt than fight, and Ida is busy with her anniversary plans, and Joan is…Joan. But Ellie is certain she can whip the girls into shape in time to defeat the creature preying on kids at a nearby summer camp. She might even have them home in time for dinner.
Also in this series: Dead as a Dodo, Free as a Bird
Crazy as a Loon is book one in the Yard Bird series by Hailey Edwards and narrated by Stephanie Richardson.
The storyline is interesting and I like the idea of bad-ass geriatric witches. It’s a fun start to the series featuring Ellie Gleason, a retired witch. Being retired isn’t as exciting as the good old days in the WitchLight Hub. Our main character Ellie reminisces on the old days and misses them. She’s bored.
Things change when her great nephew shows up on her doorstep with a mystery that needs solving. The tale that unfolds mixes magic, mystery, humor and suspense. It’s a cute and fun listen that flows well and has plenty of action and silly old lady humor.
Besides the mystery we get to see these ladies and their families in their everyday lives. The ladies are busy-bodies. Now we do have a matchmaking scheme going on for Ellie and the pastor. I’m not a fan of this. I don’t like to see them force a love interest on her when she’s not ready to move on and her husband is currently cursed and around, but not (can’t wait to learn more on this.)
Audio: Just around four hours long this audio was fun. The story did a great job of introducing us to the characters and delivered an interesting mystery affecting the children at a local camp. I will say I did have a few issues with the voices in that when I started listening I felt like the ladies were in their 60’s not 80’s. Richardson had wonderful voices for the ladies, they just felt younger than they are in the story. My main issue was at times when all the ladies were together I had trouble figuring out who was talking in the group.
Other reviews have pointed out that this series takes place before Rue, the protagonist in the Black Hat Bureau series, arrives in Samford, Alabama. I will bow to their judgement. I have started the Black Hat Bureau, but have yet to finish it.
Overall, Crazy as a Loon was a fun and quick listen. I plan to listen on.
Rated: 3 Stars
Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on Goodreads (Angela)!
About Stephanie Richardson
Winning first place at a storytelling festival as an 11 year old, I knew I was destined for life behind a microphone. Nearly 20 years later, with a background in theatre, professional vocal training, and teaching I finally began my audiobook journey.
I have a degree in history and editing but also studied some dance and musical theatre in college. I love fruit and vegetable gardening and am often obsessively researching varieties of fruit trees and trying to figure out which part of my backyard I can get away with digging up to plant something new in. Family and children are especially important to me and I spent several years teaching music, swimming, and history to elementary-age kids. Now, I’m a part-time narrator, and full-time mom. While not enjoying a book I can be found playing zoo-keeper to my 6 rambunctious kids, playing nerdy board games, or talking to my plants.
About Hailey Edwards
USA Today best-selling author Hailey Edwards writes about questionable applications of otherwise perfectly good magic, the transformative power of love, the family you choose for yourself, and blowing stuff up. Not necessarily all at once. That could get messy.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
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The cover looks perfect for the title! It sounds like an okay read. Short enough that you could get through it even with your issues. Great review!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2025/02/12/lisa-loves-to-discuss-6-why-do-you-read-book-reviews/
Thanks Lisa for visiting and checking out my review for this audiobook. I’ll be giving the next audio a try and will let everyone know what I think.
Yes, Ellie is Rue’s neighbor, but at this point, Rue hasn’t moved in. You don’t have to have read the Black Hat series to understand this one. That said, I couldn’t get into the series, despite (or because) enjoying the original series a lot. I didn’t continue after the first book, so if you do, I hope you share your reviews.
I picked up the next audiobook in the series. Will see how it goes. The Black Hat is a good series.
She looks like a badass on the cover.
Yes she does. It’s a cute story. I’ll be listening to the next one. Thanks for visiting Mary. Have a great weekend!