Song of the Chimney Sweep

De: Tamatha Cain

Narrado por: Tamatha Cain

Love is a song played on repeat…

A cryptic blog post leads cold case podcasters Melody and Dorian on a twisty journey back in time to uncover the mysterious story of a forgotten missing woman. In 1969 near the Florida/Georgia Line, idealistic young Betty Langdon and fast-rising R&B singer Dominicus Owens begin an irresistible but dangerous interracial romance that ends under mysterious, heartbreaking circumstances.

Betty is forced to return to her rural home to care for her manipulative mother, while Dominicus goes on to mega-stardom with his band The Downtown Sound. She follows his skyrocketing career from behind the front desk of a dying highway motel--until one day decades later, she disappears.

Now, a popular true crime podcast produced by college friends Melody Hinterson and Dorian Santos takes on the cold case of a missing local woman. The duo’s carefully-balanced workplace dynamic is weirdly off-kilter lately, but they can't take their eyes off the investigation as the intriguing new story suddenly boosts the show into the national spotlight.

When the investigation uncovers the missing woman's diaries full of family secrets and the local legend of a fortune hidden in an old chimney somewhere in town, the truth behind the podcast's mystery becomes personal, and Melody must make life-changing choices before the final episode airs.

But who owns the rights to a secret?

©2022 Tamatha Cain (P)2025 Tamatha Cain

I'm listening again

What a great story and what a lovely voice. I'm listening again because I forgot to set the sleep timer a couple times and missed chunks. There are 3 different story lines and it gets confusing when you miss something important. The author does a great job with different voices, and her singing voice is top notch. The story is well written, realistic, and very uplifting.

Amazing storyteller!!

What a fantastic story. I can't wait to listen to more from this author.

A heartfelt and gripping historical mystery

This story took me completely by surprise. I expected a mellow historical fiction, perhaps a class struggle with racial undertones. It was so much more than that.

The story is told in dual timelines, alternating between Betty’s life from the 1970s onward and the present day, where two true crime podcasters investigate her disappearance. The timelines complement each other seamlessly. Betty's story is told with subtlety and nuance, at times heart-rending, at times making you smile through tears. Meanwhile, the investigation keeps you guessing and propels you through the story.

The writing is infused with humor and warmth, delivered in immersive, musical prose by the author, who is also a musician. The details about Florida’s landscape, history, and architecture made me feel as if I were physically part of the story across time and space.

I am not the biggest fan of cozy mysteries, but this one was so well-paced, layered, and intricately plotted that I was hooked. I binged the last four hours of the book because I had to know what happened. It is the kind of mystery where you think you have it figured out, but there is always another layer waiting to be uncovered.

I will definitely be on the lookout for more stories from this author.

Multifaceted story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters are multilayered and the interesting conveyance of a podcast depicted through audio added extra rhythm to this audiobook. The narration is clear and concise and Cain's own pleasant voice carries the music of the manuscript. Intriguing mystery, complex situations, and enjoyable twists.