Bearer of Bad News, Elisabeth Dini
Bearer of Bad News, Elisabeth Dini
List: $26.99 | Sale: $18.89
Club: $13.49

Bearer of Bad News

Author: Elisabeth Dini

Narrator: Carlotta Brentan

Unabridged: 12 hr 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/29/2025

Categories: Fiction, Humorous, Women


Synopsis

A sharply funny and moving debut in which a young woman accepts a job that takes her though the Italian Dolomites and into an international mystery far greater—and more personal—than she could have ever expected.

For someone who hates secrets, Las Vegas hairdresser Lucy Rey is about to be faced with a whole bunch of them. After discovering that her fiancé has been cheating on her with someone from his improv class, she finds herself short on funds and desperate for a change of scenery. Enter a most unusual job opportunity: a Bearer of Bad News.

Sure, it’s a little weird—the job description has few details, and the bad news is more like a vaguely worded threat—but Lucy can’t say no to the perks: an all-expenses-paid trip to the Italian Dolomites, plus a generous bonus if she proves she’s delivered the message. Then she learns that her task is just the tip of the iceberg.

Launched into a world of betrayal and greed involving eighty-year-old secrets, stolen jewels, and a World War II–era mystery, Lucy is in over her head. And she’s connected to her mission in ways she never saw coming.

For fans of Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Kirstin Chen’s Counterfeit, Bearer of Bad News is an exhilarating romp that deftly explores the weight of secrets, the power of friendship, and how, by healing the wounds of the past, we can build a brighter tomorrow.

About Elisabeth Dini

Elisabeth Dini is a lawyer and former prosecutor of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Born in Nevada, she is a graduate of Brandeis University and Stanford Law School. Elisabeth currently lives in the Netherlands with her husband and a bevy of mostly well-adjusted houseplants. Bearer of Bad News is her debut novel.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Angie on May 03, 2025

A really solid debut, a mix of international intrigue, historical fiction, and mystery. Lucy is blindsided by the betrayal of her fiancé Julian, and wants to move away from town but has a big lease to contend with. She definitely doesn’t want to ask her estranged grandmother, a reclusive retired Osc......more

Goodreads review by Bethany on April 07, 2025

4.5⭐️ This was not entirely what I was expecting from the cover, but I really enjoyed it! (Spoiler alert: I cried.) RTC Thanks S&S Audio for the copy!......more

Goodreads review by L on December 18, 2024

A gem of a novel. While it may seem at first glance a lighthearted comedy/mystery about a caper in the Italian Dolomites, this book quickly subverted my expectations with an intricately woven half-century-old tale of heartbreak, resilience, humanity, and what we owe to each other... themes that are......more

Goodreads review by Rachel on May 03, 2025

This is a great debut. At first, I thought it would be like the Finley Donovan series—fun, fast-paced, and full of hijinks—but it turned into something much more. Don’t skip the author’s note—it adds great context. This feels like the start of a series, and I’m looking forward to what the author doe......more

Goodreads review by Maddie on April 13, 2025

I can’t recommend this book enough!! WWII historical drama merged with family drama but with light hearted, comedy. This is such a tangle of genres but the author makes it work so seamlessly. It kept me on my toes, and sucked in to what would happen next.......more