The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen, Read by Michael Gallagher and Rachanee Lumayno

Every Monday through Friday, AudioFile’s editors recommend the best in audiobook listening. We keep our daily episodes short and sweet, with audiobook clips to give you a sample of our featured listens.

Narrators Michael Gallagher and Rachanee Lumayno bring life, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, a whimsical fantasy romance between a demigod zombie-hunting marshal and the beautiful undertaker who infuriates him. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss an audiobook full of alarming magic that also makes for excellent cozy listening.

Lumayno’s compassionate narration of Mercy helps listeners understand her growing appreciation for her solemn task of preparing the dead and her determination to keep her family business afloat. Gallagher’s steady pace and gravelly voice convey the loneliness of Hart, in the wilderness and on the hunt for dangerous drudges. When Hart and Mercy strike up an anonymous correspondence by magical post, listeners will grin as the characters deliver increasingly heartfelt letters to one another.

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