Audiobook review: Vitamin Sea by Maia Ross
Taking a much needed vacation, Violet is staying with long-time acquaintance Irma at her beautiful home on the wealthy summer vacation spot of Beaver Island, located in Lake Ontario, a couple hours outside of Toronto. When the nephew of her good friend is shot during a jewelry store robbery, retired-spy Irma feels compelled to solve the crime in order to keep her friends safe. Able to solve puzzles and take apart tech, Violet is drawn into the mystery in order to help Irma and her friends.
Vitamin Sea is an enjoyable mystery. There is a great balance between Irma’s vigilant crime fighting, Violet’s real-world problems, and the deepening relationship between the pair. Having both main character’s view points provides the balance and gives readers a well-rounded perspective of the situation.
Irma is a mystery solving ex-spy who loves life and is trying to enjoy retirement. I love that she cannot turn off her years of working as a British spy. Violet is a bit more down-to-earth, an introvert that is dealing with relatable issues. She’s about living her life and trying to keep up with Irma. Violet helps Irma because she likes solving problems, but she’s not solving the crimes per se. I enjoyed following the pair as they piece together the puzzle, and there are clues if you are sharp enough to catch them all.
Irma and Violet, a generation apart in age, developed an acquaintance when Violet was a teen and danced for the Beaver Island Dance Company. We aren’t privy to how close the pair remained after that summer, but I don’t get the feeling they are close friends. Each is gaining something from spending time together now. Violet is opening up to new experiences and Irma is developing trust in others. Their developing friendship with one another and other residents on the island gives the story a heart.
Narration: Balm: Using a slight British accent, Balm narrates Irma’s first person POV with a deepish and slightly raspy voice fitting for the ex-spy. Giving a partially-voiced reading, she adjusts the dialogue for most characters, albeit just enough to know different characters are speaking. She tends to be a little higher pitched for females, and softer and lower for males. She adjusts appropriately for mood and emotion. That said I do not like her voice for Violet, which comes of whiny. Balm also seems to struggle with the other younger characters and those with straight Canadian/American accents. Burchard: Burchard uses an upbeat, energetic voice for the first person POV of Violet. The “non-accented” voice is fitting for 40-something, workaholic Violet. Burchard also does a lovely British accent for Irma. Burchard successfully alters dialogue for gender, age, and ethnicity, making each character unique enough to distinguish from one another.
Overall, I throughly enjoyed Vitamin Sea and meeting Irma and Violet. The story is a solid start to the series. I found the set up and execution of the mystery exciting and interesting. I like that the book also deals with friendships, trust, and a human connection component.
My Ratings
Story: B
Narration:
Balm: C+
Burchard: B
NOTE: There is a short novelette prequel to the series available as a free download for signing up for the author’s newsletter: https://www.maiarossbooks.com
Jen
About the Book:
What happens when a retired intelligence agent has to join forces with a nerdy GenX couch potato?
Freshly minted retiree Irma Abercrombie wasn’t looking for drama when she invited Violet Blackheart—an engineer with a serious vitamin D deficiency—for a visit at her island home. But after an armed robbery in town goes terribly wrong, they get pulled into an island intrigue: Was it a simple snatch and grab, or are there other forces at work? And if Irma’s so retired, why is there a dead guy in her driveway?
Irma’s hands might be deadly weapons, but she’s all thumbs when it comes to computer problems. Next, she has to figure out how to convince Violet to investigate a technology puzzle that might have been masterminded by someone with a taste for murder.
Violet embraces a budding cupcake addiction and day-drinking, while Irma grapples with a bomb threat and wonders how she ended up with a pug as a sidekick…and whether Violet’s hiding a few secrets of her own. Irma’s headed for a showdown on a luxurious island estate, and she has every intention of dragging Violet along for the ride.
Irma Abercrombie wants to save the world.
Violet Blackheart just wants to survive her vacation.
Author: Maia Ross
Narrators: Petrea Burchard, Deborah Balm
Series: Beaver Island Mysteries #1
Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Audiobook Release Date: November 25, 2025
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Length: 8 hrs 30 min
Source: Publisher
Audio Speed: 1.35x