Thank you NetGalley and author for the audio arc!

10/5 stars.

The production quality? Amazing.
I found myself immersed in the story. The narrators did a phenomenal job with their acting
The story itself was intriguing and I found myself questioning if I was right on who the murder actually was. This was truly beautiful performed and written.

this audiobook was SO incredibly fun!! as the resident true crime podcast lover in almost every single friend group ive ever had, this audiobook felt like i was sitting down ready to lock into a huge youtube series about a true crime case!

this is separated so you could listen to each chapter as a podcast episode but honestly i was so sucked into the story that i couldnt help but binge it from start to end in one sitting... this is the definition of messy drama between uni kids turning fatal and really goes to know what some people will really do for love and acceptance.

i will say i did guess the plot twist but it honestly didnt take away the excitement of listening to this audiobook at all - i was truly sat and HAD to listen to every word with bated breath still!

now if anyone is like me and generally cant agree with graphic audios because they speed up their audiobooks and everything ends up being too messy, i can confirm that this one doesnt fall victim to that at all! there was so many fun additions to this over the narration like background sounds (like chattering from groups of people, birdsong and wind outside etc.) and it made everything so gripping! and the narrators??? truly a work of art - everyone had their role and was so locked in that i truly believed every word everyone was saying.
I can say with confidence that I will be checking out this authors future works and the narrators! everything was incredible <3

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would when I started it! I didn't realize this was more of a podcast with episodes rather than an audiobook (though, this definitely translates well into an audiobook!). This was definitely reminiscent of Courtney Summers' work for me.

My notes:
- I felt like the background noise was a big distracting at first but I eventually got used to it. However, I still think it felt a bit loud at the start and during the chapter when we had Daisy's POV of the party.
- LOVED the cast of characters! Such a quality production!
- A super compelling story. I felt like I could tell the twist of whodunit halfway through but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. I especially loved the tiny twist in the epilogue.

So so so fun! I enjoyed the storyline from start to finish and while it was a little difficult to keep track of everything at first, that was simply because I've never read anything like this before and not at all because of the writing. It was super enjoyable and I'd absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a mystery meets romance where the story is unique and unexpected.

Thank you Greta Craig, Victory Editing and NetGalley for this ALC (ARC) opportunity to listen to the full version of The DeMondego Diamond: A Murder Mystery. All opinions are my own.

The DeMondego Diamond: A Murder Mystery follows 6 college friends who are haunted by the ghost of their past as a result of losing one of their beloved friends and the “golden girl” of the group. At first you believe that she is this perfect friend, in the perfect friendship group, but as the story goes on you learn that there are many issues within group, resulting in toxic relationships, untold secrets, forbidden love, and profound longing and yearning.

The story follows a dual timeline in the present and the past, with multiple POVs and a narrator. The author has produced a story with a very lyrical style using the tools of rhythm, musicality, vivid imagery, and emotional resonance, which is captured perfectly by each voice actor. The story leans into Romanticism, especially through characters who choose feeling over logic. The cinematic background audio adds a beautiful layer to the story, adding to the whole overall experience. I recommend wearing your headphones for the most immersive experience.

I absolutely adored listening to this dark academia, murder mystery. It is hauntingly beautiful, and perfect in every way. A 5 star listening experience. I am so glad I requested the ALC as it provoked so many emotions and I genuinely wish I could listen to this again for the first time. There are so many plot twists in this story that I was hooked from episode 1 right through to the end!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!

This was a truly immersive audiobook. It had a full cast, sound effects, background music and everything. An excellent production!

The story itself was tense, mysterious and intriguing. The layered mystery and all the secrets came together in a good way!

The only thing that annoyed me was that the start of each chapter said «you’re listening to… this is an ongoing series». I wish this had been clipped in the final production of the audiobook

This was a very engaging and enticing story. I have only listened to these types of scripted series very sparingly but after this one I am excited to listen to more. This was well thought out, the story and characters were great (if a bit predictable at times). The narrators were excellent and the sound effects were great. Occasionally (I recall when music was playing at parties) the sound was really loud and jolted me a bit but other than that I have no complaints about the sound quality. On the whole this was a fantastic listen and I devoured it in one day. Highly recommend.

Audio ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting listen. I enjoyed all the voices and found the storyline to be intriguing.

I enjoyed that there was background sounds to give it a full immersive listen.

4.5. I haven’t listened to this genre in a while, but this was so good! The mystery had a great buildup, and I thought the episodic format broke up the story really well while still keeping me invested in what was happening.

The background music and sound effects were occasionally a little too loud, and the final twist felt slightly anticlimactic, especially because some of the characters’ reactions didn’t feel completely realistic. Even so, this was a really well-crafted and entertaining mystery, and I had such a good time listening to it.

The DeMondego Diamond: A Murder Mystery
Violet's Shadow Murder Mysteries
by Greta Craig
with Sophie Terry (Narrator); Dave Greggs (Narrator); Michael Briganti (Narrator); Greta Craig (Narrator); Sophia Radford (Narrator); Isaac Trenton (Narrator); Cindy Xu (Narrator); Sean Finnerty (Narrator); Casey James (Narrator); Lucius Po (Narrator)

I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.

This is a fantastic audiobook/podcast and I highly recommend it!

Trigger warnings: murder, excessive drinking

The narrators were marvelous!!!!

I got addicted to this story right away. It drew me in immediately, and that’s rare for me.

There are different viewpoints shared, but most of the audiobook is narrated by Nora. She’s a master of secrets that craves truth and honesty from others. It’s easy to love her, because she’s a complicated mess just trying to fit in somewhere.

We’ve all been vulnerable and unsure if we would be accepted or if our friends would be our friends if they knew A, B, and C.

This audiobook/podcast revolves mostly around 2 specific time periods. One is the 2 weeks at the end of the senior year at college for a close-knit group of 6 friends and a weekend 8 years later surrounding a wedding.

This has all the fun and mystery of an Agatha Christie book, but there’s no detective Poirot to solve it all.

I promise you that all the answers you will crave will be given to you. Just hang tight and keep listening.

Highly recommend to lovers of mystery and of complicated love stories.

The DeMondego Diamond had me hooked from the start. I loved how the full cast made it feel more like a TV show than an audiobook. Every voice actor brought so much emotion to their character, making the story feel incredibly real. The story flowed smoothly between the past and present, and I never wanted to stop listening. If you enjoy immersive audiobooks with fantastic performances and an addictive story, I definitely recommend this one!

I loved listening to this audiobook! It felt like I was in the background of all the scenes, just watching everything happen in my mind. I also loved that there were different narrators for the characters instead of just one person doing all the voices. It made it feel even more like I was listening to everything actually play out.

I really liked the world building and how all of the characters were tied into the story. It kinda reminded me of How to Get Away with Murder with the mystery and everything going on between the characters. Nora and Beau, one of the FMCs and MMCs, also kinda gave me Tell Me Lies vibes. And then there’s Daisy, another one of the FMCs, who everyone seemed to be obsessed with in some way.

I haven’t picked up a mystery romance in a long time, and I’m glad I listened to this one. It was a 4-star read/listen for me! It’s also a really good audiobook to put on while you’re doing things around the house or driving in the car.

This one comes out August 31st! It has romance, murder, mystery, and a lot of trying to figure out how everyone is connected.

Thank you for the early access to this audiobook!

This was such a fun listen. I binged the whole season in a day and was super into the mystery.

The full cast production and sound design worked really well, and I thought the cast did a solid job bringing everything to life. I also never felt the need to speed it up, which is saying something for me!

The Tell Me Lies comparison totally makes sense. Messy friendships, old secrets, complicated relationships, and plenty of reasons not to trust anyone. I could totally picture it.

The only thing that tripped me up a little was keeping everyone straight at first, especially with both a Ben and a Beau. Once I figured out who was who, though, I was fully along for the ride!

I also loved all the artwork and visual branding around the series. It made the whole thing feel like such a complete little world.

Overall, this was a fun, well produced mystery that I devoured in a day!

"That's what happened. That will always be what happened."

Perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars, Big Little Lies, One of Us is Lying, and Cruel Summer.

3½ stars rounded up. This audio drama kept me entertained and guessing until the last moment.

This was so good.
The ambiance was great. It was everything: the music, the voices on the background, the voices of the characters, the crying. Oh my god, it really was such an incredible production. Maybe because it's a "podcast" setting instead of a traditional audiobook. Also the fact that it comes out every week makes it more interesting, kind of like a true crime podcast but fiction, instead of reality (which makes it so much better imo)
The story was so intriguing. Maybe a little slow for me, at least at first, but they are building you into everything that will happen later, letting you know these characters, their lives and how they got to that specific point so it all makes sense.
Saw coming who the killer was, but I didn't see coming the final plot twist.
Overall, really enjoyed this one, especially on the execution of it but also on the story (I was hooked by the 50% mark). Really would recommend checking this one out if you like mystery/thriller stories

A great murder mystery romance. I loved how it was recorded on audio. It was like listening to a play. I really enjoyed it. It’s definitely a whole dunnit and I guessed early on who did do it but it’s still fabulous. It was complicated enough for me. I’d have liked a little more spice but you can’t always get what you want. Loved it.

wow!!
Loved the quality, loved the format and the story which is kind of half book half podcast
I will definitely explore more of Greta Craig

I honestly loveeeeeed this so darn much! I didn’t want to stop listening to the story. I had to know what happened! The narrator’s were bloody amazing as well. The whole production was great, start to finish. I actually NEED this audiobook to be a physical book as well, just so I can keep it.
I will 100% be listening to more productions by Greta.
If you love murder mystery & romantic entanglement then this story is for you!

This is easily one of the best audiobook experiences I’ve ever had, and probably my favourite narrator ever! Her voice is so soft and suits the story perfectly, and the way she reads it almost sounds like poetry. All of the actors were amazing, and the whole thing genuinely felt like I was listening to or watching a movie. I’m a fan!

The production is incredible, you can tell this was written specifically to be an audiobook experience. The added sound effects make it so immersive, and the writing is beautiful and perfectly descriptive. It was addictive from the start, and I was recommending it within 15 minutes!

The story itself was a little predictable for me, but honestly, I didn’t care. The production and overall experience were that good. This is easily in my top two audiobooks I’ve ever listened to, and the fact that it was essentially a one-woman show makes it even more impressive.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an ALC of this book.

This was an interesting concept. I did not know what to expect, but I had a pleasant surprise by the production quality of this audiobook. It was produced along the lines of a graphic audio, where it seemed like a movie in your mind. The story was great and kept you guessing as to who the true murderer was. Very enjoyable and A+ for its production.

Wow that was addicting. The plot was well paced and the writing excellent. I didn't want to have to put it down and listened to it within three days. It's created similar to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder with the Podcast aspect and I am all for it.

I absolutely love this! Couldn't stop listening, finished in one go.
From the beginning it have me cautiva Ted, from the amazing narration, to the heart stopping, weep inducing story. It had my brain going from start to finish trying to figure out the who, but mainly the why... Love that even when you get who it was, it still had your brain engaged and thinking.
The way you get attached to every character, wishing for things to end different, just because you want everyone to have their happy ending. It is a proof of how great every character is written that you are cheering for the "bad guy".

Absolutely a fantastic story. While listening to it, I was wondering if it was a podcast, which it was! Each character was rememberable and nothing was to over powering.

I ate this right up! It was instantly engaging, and I stayed up wayyy too late the first night I started it until I could no longer keep my eyes open. I finished the next day as quickly as I could. The voice actors did an amazing job, and it was a totally immersive experience. It felt like I was watching a movie! Thank you #NetGalley for the audio arc of #TheDeMondegoDiamond

Wow! This production was phenomena, the full cast narration, ambience and sound effects made for such a cozy listening experience. Within the first few minutes the storyline grabbed my interest and I couldn’t put it down. My one tiny complaint is that the characters and writing came off more YA but the content was probably too inappropriate for YA ages. Overall it was still entertaining and I love how everything came together at the end.

This was amazing!!! The full cast was one of the best I’ve ever listened to, the story,…you had no idea what was coming next! It had me second guessing everything. I loved this so so much I hope Greta makes many more like this because it was simply the best!

If you think that the real mystery is the first murder, think again... 🧐
The DeMondego Diamond by Greta Craig is a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ graphic audio series 💚💎🎧
Action starts when six college friends reunite at a wedding - eight years after one was convicted of murdering another. 😨 The dual timeline of this dark academia mystery jumps from a college campus in the American South to the wedding day on the DeMondego estate 8 years later. 🕰️
This story will make you question where do your sympathies lie - with the bubbly star of the show or her convicted murderer. 🤐
I genuinly devoured this audio. 🫠 Production quality is out of this world, VAs' work pulled me in even deeper into the story and I was finished before even realising. 💖
Thanks to the NetGalley team for this ALC.✨

This was such a fun mystery to follow along with, great story! Loved the full cast and loved the music and background, it really set the scene.

The DeMondego Diamond: A Murder Mystery is a ten episode podcast that has been turned into an audiobook. This fabulous mystery has it all-obsession, suspense, murder, intrigue, found family, friendship, a dual timeline-in a dark academia setting. The story revolves around six friends in college. Beau, Ben and Daisy have known each other since childhood. Daisy and Caroline are roommates and then Nora joins them. Ben, Beau and Jasper share the upstairs portion of the same house. Ben and Nora are dating. Beau and Caroline are “seeing each other”. Feelings are convoluted here-unrequited crushes, obsession. After a party one weekend, Daisy falls from the clock tower in town. Was it an accident or murder? Who is guilty? Who’s convicted? Will we ever know the truth? Fast forward eight years to a wedding and answers.
The duet multicast performance was beyond extraordinary. Dave Greggs was fantastic as charming, somewhat arrogant/entitled Beau. Sophie Terry was magnificent as sweet, kind, lonely, determined Nora. Michael Brigant was superb as compassionate, sweet, loving Ben. Sophia Radford was spectacular as friendly, naive Daisy. Her Southern accent was perfect. Isaac Trenton was delightful as considerate law student Jasper. Cindy Xu was terrific as entitled, unhappy, jealous Caroline. Sean Finnerty was perfect as Eben Wisp-Beau’s curious relative. Casey James was splendid as Ms. Beaufort-Southern accent and all. Lucius Po was amazing as the policeman and Nora’s father. Millie Telman was absolutely brilliant as young Daisy. Greta Craig-marvellous writer, director, producer, sound designer, mixer and general narrator for the series. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook.
Thanks to Greta Craig and NetGalley for this ALC.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Story 5 stars Narration 5 stars

I absolutely loved this story!! The whole production was made like a graphic audiobook with a whole cast for all the different characters. Though the acting was a bit cringey at times, the dialogue actually felt very realistic and easy to follow. I was hooked on every episode, never feeling bored, constantly wanting to know what happens next!! This was so good and I have no one to talk about it with 😩

Thank you to the creator and NetGalley for an ALC for me to listen and review.


I left this review on Apple Podcasts (but unable to share the link directly to that review). The review is under the name chelhun15. If there are any issues, please reach out.

This was sooooo so good!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for a chance to listen to The DeMondego Diamond: A Murder Mystery audio ARC/ARL

Wow. This left me GAGGEDD. Honestly I didn’t think I would binge it this hard. I went in to this completely blind. I was lucky to be approved on NetGalley and I’m so happy I requested this.
Off the bat I kinda loved it. It gave me graphic audiobook vibes because it is one! The music, the sound effects and everyone’s casting was amazing. Once you knew, you did expect some stuff to happen but honestly, to me I didn’t in some way. I was left wanting more and more and could not get enough of not knowing the answers!! Everyone’s performance was amazing. I felt every emotion everyone put in to it and how the story just swayed you. I really ate this up. Hard. I LOVED IT. The ending left me honestly empty. Like I kinda didn’t want it to end. I cried for everyone. I did not expect this to make me cry. You know what this kinda felt like? Pretty Little Liars. A whole ass season of PLL. It was great. I loved this. Can’t wait for more of Greta Craig!!

I did not want it to end! I have already gone to find the first season to listen to. This felt so nostalgic. It took me back to being a kid when we used to listen to theatrical radio presentations.

The actors all did such a wonderful job bringing their characters to life. I loved the music chosen to end and begin each episode, as well as the sound effects throughout.

The story followed very smoothly and really held my attention. I enjoyed picking up the little crumbs left here and there and trying to solve the mystery along the way.

I will absolutely be listening to seasons to come!

Loved the podcast feel to this audio. The story had me hooked I couldn't stop listening. The sound effects and different voices really step the audio apart from others.

I really enjoyed this one, mostly because the audio production was fantastic. Having a full cast makes such a huge difference with a mystery—it felt way more like listening to an audio drama than someone just reading a book to me.

​The background sound effects were a really nice touch, too. They weren't overwhelming, just enough ambient noise to make the atmosphere feel real and pull you into the scene. On top of that, the world-building was super solid and gave the whole plot a great backdrop.

​Not quite a full 5 stars for me just because they writing seemed a little to much YA for me but overall it was a super entertaining listen. Highly recommend if you like immersive, full-cast audiobooks!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for the chance to listen and review this gem!

The DeMondego Diamond was such an addictive listen! The narration was beautiful and really brought the story and its characters to life. The pacing was quick and engaging, with the kind of momentum that makes you want to keep listening... almost like getting caught up in one of those viral stories you tell yourself you'll listen “just one more” of.

I really enjoyed the characters, and while I found the mystery and its twist fairly predictable, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.

And ahhh that ending! It made me teary-eyed, which I absolutely appreciate. I love endings that manage to leave an emotional impact, even after the mystery itself has been solved.

Overall, a fun, fast-paced, character-driven mystery with a wonderful narration and an ending that stayed with me...

The DeMondego Diamond: A Murder Mystery completely drew me into its eerie, atmospheric world. Originally created as a ten-episode podcast and now available as an audiobook, this was such an immersive listening experience. It combines dark academia, murder, secrets, complicated friendships, obsession, romance, and a dual timeline in a way that kept me wondering what really happened right up until the end.

At the center of the story is a group of six college friends whose lives become permanently changed after Daisy falls from the town's clock tower following a party. Was she pushed? Did she fall? Who had a reason to want her dead? And why do so many things about that night refuse to add up?

The group itself is far from the perfect circle of friends they initially appear to be. Beau, Ben, and Daisy have been close since childhood, while Daisy and Caroline share a room. Nora eventually becomes part of their circle, and Ben and Nora are in a relationship. Beau and Caroline have their own complicated arrangement, while Ben, Beau, and Jasper live together upstairs in the same house.

As the story unfolds, it's obvious that there are feelings beneath the surface that nobody is dealing with properly. Crushes aren't always returned, relationships aren't always what they seem, and some attachments become dangerously obsessive. The more I learned about these characters, the more I realized that Daisy's death couldn't simply be separated from the tangled relationships surrounding her.

I especially enjoyed the way the narrative moves between the past and eight years later. The earlier timeline slowly gives us pieces of the friendships and events leading up to Daisy's death, while the present-day story brings everyone back together around a wedding. That structure worked beautifully because each timeline adds another layer to the mystery.

The story also has a wonderfully haunting literary quality. There is a strong sense of Romanticism throughout, particularly in the way emotions, longing, passion, and obsession can overpower rational thinking. The writing feels almost musical at times, and the vivid descriptions created such a strong visual atmosphere that I could picture the settings and characters unfolding around me.

The production was phenomenal.

The full cast made this audiobook feel much more like a performed drama than a standard narration. Dave Greggs captured Beau's charming but privileged personality perfectly, while Sophie Terry brought warmth, determination, and vulnerability to Nora. Michael Brigant was wonderful as Ben, giving him a genuinely caring presence, and Sophia Radford made Daisy feel wonderfully innocent and approachable. Her Southern accent was especially well done.

I also really enjoyed Isaac Trenton as Jasper, Cindy Xu as Caroline, and Sean Finnerty as Eben Wisp. Casey James gave Ms. Beaufort a fantastic Southern voice, while Lucius Po was excellent as the policeman and Nora's father. Millie Telman was wonderful as young Daisy.

And Greta Craig deserves so much credit for bringing the entire production together as writer, director, producer, sound designer, mixer, and narrator. The cinematic soundscape added another dimension to the story without overwhelming the performances. I would absolutely recommend listening with headphones because the additional audio details make the atmosphere even more effective.

What I loved most was how the mystery isn't simply about discovering who caused Daisy's death. It's also about uncovering who these people really were beneath the surface. Friendships become toxic, secrets remain buried, forbidden feelings complicate everything, and the supposedly perfect "golden girl" turns out to have a much more complicated place within the group.

By the time the story reaches the present-day timeline, I was just as invested in the characters and their unresolved history as I was in finding the truth behind Daisy's death.

Dark, haunting, beautifully performed, and wonderfully atmospheric, The DeMondego Diamond: A Murder Mystery was a fantastic audiobook experience for me. The combination of the mystery, dual timeline, emotional complexity, dark academia setting, and exceptional multicast narration made this one incredibly easy to get lost in.

Definitely one I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys atmospheric murder mysteries where the secrets surrounding the characters are just as important as the crime itself.

The full cast and sound effects were soooo good! The combination made me feel like I was right there in the book, experiencing everything alongside the characters.

I really enjoyed the story and was intrigued enough to finish it in one sitting! That’s always a good sign for me. 😂

My only wish is that the characters had a little more depth. I would have loved to connect with them more and get to know them on a deeper level.

Overall, a fun and immersive listen that definitely kept me hooked!

I did not expect to love this as much as I did.

The DeMondego Diamond gave me exactly what I want from a murder mystery: enough information to actually investigate alongside the story. I could catch clues, build theories, change suspects, get some things right, get other things very wrong, and then watch all of those seemingly small details click into place.

And the best part? It played fair.

There were multiple moments where I noticed something that seemed oddly specific, filed it away, and later discovered that YES—it mattered. That made solving pieces of the mystery incredibly satisfying without making the larger mystery predictable.

There is a LOT happening here: two timelines, an old murder, a present-day murder, a complicated conviction, a diamond, years of secrets, and one spectacularly messy group of former college friends. Somehow, none of it felt chaotic. The past timeline continually gave new context to the present, and the complicated romantic dynamics weren’t just drama thrown on top—they affected loyalties, motives, grief, secrets, and how everyone remembered what happened.

Jasper was probably my favorite character, but honestly, this worked because everything worked together.

And then there’s the audiobook.

Full cast. Cinematic sound design. Eleven credited performers. This could have been an auditory hostage situation. 😂 Instead? 10/10. No notes. Give me more.

The production added atmosphere without overwhelming the story, the characters remained easy to distinguish, and even the episode structure contributed to the feeling that I was listening to something cinematic rather than a traditional audiobook.

I also really appreciated the content warnings provided before individual episodes. There are some heavier subjects throughout this story, and rather than trying to create my own incomplete list here, I’d recommend listening to those episode-specific warnings as you go.

And the ending?

Perfect for this story.

Will every reader agree with me? Probably not. Do I care? Nope. 😂 It landed exactly the way I wanted it to.

This wasn’t just a mystery that surprised me. It let me play. And that is so much more fun.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing an advance listening copy.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC!
The DeMondego Diamond review - 3⭐️ 0🌶️ 4.5🎧

Tell Me Lies meets Agatha Christie in this murder mystery featuring a full-cast narration, and whilst it isn't a GraphicAudio production, it features atmospheric sound effects and music to give it a full cinematic soundscape. All the narrators did such an incredible job, with Michael Briganti and Greta herself (the author) being my favourite of the 6; even more so when I realised that Greta narrated, directed, produced and mixed the entire audio herself!

Six college friends reunite eight years after one of them was convicted of murdering another. We jump between their time in college and the present day at a wedding, slowly revealing what happened eight years ago, while the identity of the killer remains a mystery throughout.

I did unfortunately guess the killer from the very start (this is unfortunately a recurring theme with me, rather than a criticism of the writing!), but even so, I really enjoyed watching everything unfold and slowly piecing together what had happened in the lead-up to the night of the murder through the flashbacks.
The audio production was incredible, even compared to some GraphicAudio I've listened to; the sound effects and music really added to the overall atmosphere! I did sometimes struggle to distinguish between the narrators and would have liked clearer indications when we were shifting between timeframes, but other than that, it was so well done.

Overall, a solid murder mystery with amazing audio, especially good if you want some nostalgic 'whodunit' energy or are missing the chaos of the Tell Me Lies friend group!

Thank you Greta Craig & Victory Editing for a copy of this audiobook♥️

The story follows six college friends who are haunted by an event in the past. It was so easy to listen to with the amazing production quality complete with background noise.

Highly enjoyable and entertaining with twists and turns along the way

Recommended

Many thanks to NetGalley, Victoria Editing NetGalley Co-op and Greta Craig for my Audio ARC of The DeMondego Diamond A Murder Mystery in return for an honest review.

This was amazing! I went in blind and ended up absolutely loving it. Thank you for thr opportunity!

The graphic audiobook was amazing, sound effects, and casting were all incredible. Everyone’s performances made me feel every emotion, and I was constantly dying to know what would happen next. Even when I thought I knew what was coming, I still wasn’t prepared.

The ending honestly left me empty because I wasn’t ready for it to end. My heart hurt for everyone 😩

Mystery, twists, secrets, and constantly needing answers. I loved it. I can’t wait for more from Greta Craig!

Quick Summary: A hauntingly romantic mystery/suspense novel

My Review: The DeMondego Diamond: A Murder Mystery by Greta Craig is associated with Violet's Shadow Murder Mysteries series. The audiobook is scheduled for release on 8/24/26.

About the Book: "Six college friends reunite at a wedding—eight years after one was convicted of murdering another. When a second friend is murdered, questions arise as to whether the real killer went to prison."

In My Own Words: Fractured memories, opportunistic manipulations, and the dark side of love & loyalty forever taint the lives of a group of friends. Who is innocent? Who is guilty? Will the truth ever be revealed?

About the Characters: This cast of characters was perfect for this type of story! Friends, family, and everything in between defined them. They cared for each other and bled for each other. Lines were crossed and became blurry, even as they each tried to find a clear path forward for themselves. I loved the unexpected twists and turns that the relationships took; it made for a textured journey.

About the Conflict: The conflict arc in this book involved the seven deadly sins...minus a couple, to be sure. Pride, greed, envy/jealousy, lust, and wrath were totally evident. This combination guaranteed a hit, and I loved it! The fact that these dark elements showed up amongst such a close-knit friend group in the way that they did made this tragic NA drama a MDK thriller.

About the Audiobook: This audiobook was narrated by Greta Craig, Dave Greggs, Sophie Terry, Michael Briganti, Sophia Radford, Isaac Trenton, Cindy Xu, Sean Finnerty, Casey James, Lucius Po, and Millie Telman. This incredible team had me in its clutches. I was so completely captivated by the story and the delivery that I am already planning to have another listening experience sooner rather than later. In truth, this presentation was so dynamic that it made me feel like I felt when Thanos did the snap. (If you know, you know.)

My Final Say: The DeMondego Diamond was deliciously disturbing. It was messy and morose.

The problematic connections, the dual timeline, the dark academia setting, the questions that went on right up until the end and beyond, the lives, the loss - it was bloody brilliant. (This is the way!)

All I want to know is when, where, and how I can get my hands on every single audiobook volume in this series. To say I am hooked is an understatement.

*** A Special Nod: I loved the way the DeMondego diamond played out in the story. It was its own unassuming, yet deeply ominous character. It represented everything we needed to know. Facets, settings, and symbolism, oh my! ***

Other: Readers who enjoy whodunits, elite college murder mysteries, and tragedy-romance dramas will love this.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA/A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Level: 🌀🖤💎
Format: 🎧
Narration: +
Series: Yes
Cover: +
Title: +

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to an ALC of this work of fiction in exchange for an honest critique. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am grateful for the opportunity to review it. I look forward to acquainting myself with more audiobook releases in this series.

💎🔪 THE DEMONDEGO DIAMOND by Greta Craig 🔪💎

Okay… this audiobook completely caught me off guard! 👀
I went into this one completely blind and honestly? I’m SO glad I did because this audiobook had me in a chokehold.
I started listening and suddenly it was “just one more chapter”… except there was no stopping. 😂 I absolutely BINGED this!
And the production?! 10/10. 🎧
The music. The sound effects. The full cast. EVERYTHING.
It felt like I was watching the mystery play out rather than listening to an audiobook, and I was completely sucked in.
I kept thinking okay, I KNOW what’s happening now…
NOPE. 😂
The more answers I wanted, the more questions I had, and honestly? I was LOVING every second of it.
Every narrator absolutely delivered . The performances were so good, and I could feel every emotion they brought to their characters.
Twisty. Suspenseful. Addictive.
Completely consumed me.
I didn’t just listen to this one…
I CONSUMED IT. 😮‍💨💎🔪
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review

This was such a cool audiobook!

I personally hate graphic audio versions of audiobooks, but this was the perfect balance of narration with ambience! The full cast was so helpful in distinguishing between all the main characters, especially with their accents and voice acting. I don't think a regular audiobook with a single narrator would have been able to do this book justice!

The book content itself felt more on the YA side, and it wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, but for the right audience (Tell Me Lies or Frieda Mcfadden fans), I think this book would be perfect.

Thank you to the publisher for approving me to listen to this ALC of this audiobook with a multi cast of narrators. Including : Sophie Terry (Narrator); Dave Greggs (Narrator); Michael Briganti (Narrator); Greta Craig (Narrator); Sophia Radford (Narrator); Isaac Trenton (Narrator); Cindy Xu (Narrator); Sean Finnerty (Narrator); Casey James (Narrator); Lucius Po (Narrator)


I forgot how murde mystery novels always suck me into their stories. I believe in the teaser blurb from the author/publisher this is a mix of pretty in liars and (something else) but mostly like Pretty little liars. It took me a bit to listen to this but I enjoyed every minute trying to remember what happened hat senior year of college of 6 friends. One is no longer with us and the other goes to prison for their murder, but after some many years later another friend dies. Did the real killer get justice and go the prison?

So, again I love who dun it’s and will re-listen to this just like my Agatha Christie’s I have marked as faves.

This was a great dark academia murder mystery read. It wasn’t too long and is a good standalone.
I really like the graphic audio of this story - the birds chirping, background noise of people chatting etc really helped it feel immersive but it wasn’t overdone or distracting.
The team of narrators were great and really brought the individual characters to life and helped me differentiate between the friends.
The chapters being individual podcasts episodes was interesting but it had adapted really well. They were a good length too.
The story was a great murder mystery. I was able to guess one small twist but there were some others I really was surprised by! Overall I really enjoyed and will be looking into more of Gretas stories!
Thank you so much to #NetGalley and #GretaMedia #GretaCraig for the early review opportunity

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

The DeMondego Diamond
Greta Craig

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I absolutely loved this production of this audio book murder mystery which had me gripped from start to finish.

This was not just your standard audio book listen - there was a full cast of narrators and with the intermittent music and sound effects too, this really immersed you into the storyline - especially as I listened through headphones which helped transport me away to the estate with everyone.

I loved that we got to know a little a little each of the characters and met them interacting together initially.
This helped us to really look at the dynamics of the group and this definitely got me making my own theories once one of the group dies!

We follow this then over a dual timeline almost as we skip to a future - a time after the death - and looks back at the events that ran up to now as well as exploring the event itself and the statements that followed.

This kept me guessing right to the end a d I loved how the storyline unfolded gradually, revealing snippets bit by bit - just enough to start doubting everything we thought we knew, but still not quite the whole story.
As the threads all come together, the ending still came as a surprise to me but was definitely satisfying.

I loved the storyline and the diverse cast of characters and this was definitely enhanced by the amazing narrators and production.
It felt like I was watching this play out in my head as I listened and I really felt like if connected with each of the characters.

I couldn't put this down, I went to bed with my headphones on and read late into the early hours to get this finished and to find out all the answers.

A brilliant first read by this author and definitely one to watch out for in the future.
I'd also love to listen to more audio productions from this author.
Such a great concept and an amazing quick read.



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

✨ALC review✨

5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
No spice
5🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧

The DeMondego Diamond was a fun read with lots of twists and secrets that kept me on my toes the entire time. Just when I thought I'd figured it out something new would come about - although the ending was a bit predictable I still enjoyed it.

The story follows a group of 6 friends whose life was forever altered one night after their friend, Daisy, died and their friend Ben goes to jail for essentially pushing her off the clocktower. However, the events from that night have always remained a mystery and Nora's never been fully convinced that Ben was responsible for Daisy's death. Did he really push her? Or was there someone else there that night? Slowly, secrets start to unfold from the events that lead to that night 8 years ago and Nora is determined to find them out what truly happened.

The ending was somewhat predictable, BUT there was a part that left me SHOCKED! I wasn't expecting the slight twist and dare I say, I applauded the FMC.

The full cast narration and sound effects were brilliant, the narrators did a phenomenal job keeping me immersed and capturing the feelings reflected by the characters. The sound effects never once bothered me, if anything they added more depth to the story.

Overall, if you're in the mood for a fast paced, murder mystery with great narration and sound effects then do yourself a favor and pick this one up! I would definitely continue to listen to any future audiobooks from this author.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Netgalley for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

🗝️Dark academia
🗝️Dual timeline
🗝️Whoddunit
🗝️Secrets and betrayals

Thank you Netgalley and Greta for the early listening copy of DeMondego diamond! I really enjoyed the full cast however the background music was a little overpowering at times. Throughout the whole audiobook, I was second guessing what I thought was happening and was kept on my toes.

I enjoyed the full cast of this story and how it made it immersive.

The story drew me in with the murder of Daisy and then Ben was convicted of it. Some of their friends weren’t sure if he really committed the murder. It was a twisty story that made me second guess if I believed Ben did it or if someone else did.

I highly recommend this book and believe that if you like immersive stories and murder mysteries then you’ll like this one.