2023, AudioFile Earphones Award, Winner

"Dead Man’s Pose: Yoga Mat Mysteries by Susan Rogers and John Roosen is a superb work of crime fiction with a gentle touch of clean romance. The story takes us to Sydney, Australia, where we meet Elaina Williams, a yoga teacher. Elaina is just about to start her yoga class when Mario Vincenzi, Elaina’s yoga student, wants to tell her something important. Elaina suggests that they talk after the session, but at the end of the lesson, she finds Mario dead on his yoga mat. Feeling that she owes it to Mario to find out the cause of his death, Elaina joins forces with Ric, a well-connected professional photographer who is also Elaina’s yoga student. Before long, Elaina and Ric find themselves in a perilous maze of adventures leading them to jaw-dropping discoveries. But will they succeed? As a fan of crime fiction, suspense thrillers, and adventures, I never had a dull moment listening to Dead Man’s Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen. I enjoyed the scenic landscapes of Sydney and the depth to which Susan and John portrayed the characters, making them relatable and memorable. I also enjoyed a taster of Cobra Pose, the second book in the series, thoughtfully included at the end. But most of all I liked the suspenseful plot enhanced by the sophisticated subterfuge of Elaina and Ric’s investigation and how the erudite horizons of the authors translated into a variety of themes, ranging from yoga poses to insights into casino operations and Michelangelo's paintings. All in all, listening to this audiobook was highly rewarding for me as a “reader.” This audiobook was narrated by Rupert Degas, an award-winning British-Australian actor who excelled in the brilliant job of bringing this captivating story to life. The sound quality is excellent, and Rupert’s distinct and well-paced narration is enriched with awesome professional acting that clearly distinguishes the characters by their accents, professional and cultural backgrounds, and emotions. Listening to this audiobook made me feel as if I were watching a film, with the added privilege of the freedom to imagine how the characters looked and felt, aided by Rupert’s top-class performance. I am delighted that Cobra Pose, the second book of the series, is also narrated by Rupert, and I look forward to my reunion with Elaina and Ric." (Olga Markova, Readers’ Favorite)