Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
You Can Tell Me by Melinda Leigh Narrator: Mandy Figueroa
Series: Olivia Cruz #1
Published by Brilliance Audio on May 12, 2026
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 10 hours, 28 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz’s horrific kidnapping, she’s scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Olivia knows Zoe would never stand her up—not today.
Zoe’s husband, who claims she never came home the night before, has reported her missing. But marital conflicts make the police suspect she has left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. The police aren’t looking for Zoe, so Olivia begins her own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps, she finds Zoe’s phone and a text with one chilling Run.
I didn’t realize how connected Can You Tell Me was to other series I have read by Melinda Leigh. Her books are always enjoyable but this upped the pleasure for me.  It is directly connected to the Morgan Dane series where the last book Save Your Breath is the foundation of the main character here, Olivia Cruz.
Olivia is a true crime writer. Her long time friend (15 years) Zoe disappears and it’s eerily like the feeling of when Olivia herself was abducted 3 years ago. With the help of Lincoln Sharp, she hunts for Zoe. Zoe does a true crime podcast. They investigate her business partner, her husband and her cases. Eventually, they are led to things in her past.
During this, Olivia’s niece is roofied and that becomes another investigation. Lance helps with this one, along with Lincoln. The niece is very shaken. She ends up in the hospital and then stays with Olivia, helping look for Zoe.
The trail to Zoe is one of bloody fights and dead people. Someone is after her. Olivia and Lincoln end up in danger from her pursuer and a flooding rainstorm.  It’s exciting and dangerous. I look forward to the next book, I Know Your Secret in September 2027.
Narration:
The narrator is new to me and does not seem to have too many titles yet.  Her voice was pleasant and appropriate. I don’t know if it is the narrator or the production but the pacing was something I didn’t like. Maybe it’s called something different. It was a sentence – pause – sentence – pause. Every pause disrupted the flow. The narration added to the emotional tone. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Melinda Leigh
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker. A life-long lover of books, she started writing as a way to preserve her sanity while raising her kids. Over the next few years, she learned a few things about writing a book. The process was much more fun than analyzing financial statements, and she decided to turn her hobby into a career. Melinda’s debut novel, SHE CAN RUN, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. She is a RITA® Award Finalist and has earned three Daphne du Maurier Award nominations, two Silver Falchion Awards, and a Golden Leaf.
Melinda holds a 2nd degree belt in Kenpo Karate. She’s dabbled in Arnis stick fighting, studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and taught women’s self-defense. She lives in a messy house in the suburbs with her husband, two kids, a couple of shelter dogs and two rescue cats who clearly run the show. With such a pleasant life, she has no explanation for the sometimes dark and disturbing nature of her imagination.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 26-Audio
- 26-COYER
Glad you loved the story but that narration issue has me troubled. I’ve got this on audio. Great review, Anne💜
The book is really good. I’ll be interested to hear what you think about the narration. It’s worst right at the start, then I guess I got used to it.
I was especially excited about this one b/c I knew she was a minor character in the Morgan Dane series. Loved it and look forward to the next, too.
yes I didn’t realize they were connected but I loved it. I might read rather than listen though.
That’s awesome – I love little easter egg surprises like that. Too bad you have to wait so long for the next book!
yes I’m looking forward to more in this series.
I’ve enjoyed this author but not as much as her sometimes writing partner Kendra Elliot. Bummer about the narration,
Oh I love her books too. This would be a higher rating but the narration did throw me a bit.
Dangerous!!!
There’s bad ones out there.