Ms. Renfield and the Inheritance Trap was an absolute delight. Equal parts paranormal romance, mystery, and humor, this book hooked me from the very first chapter. The banter between the characters was fantastic, the chemistry was undeniable, and the blend of vampire lore with serial-killer hunting made for a unique and entertaining read.

If you enjoy witty heroines, morally gray vampires, forced proximity, and a romance filled with tension and heart, this one belongs on your TBR. I couldn't put it down and found myself smiling throughout the entire story.

A fun, addictive, and thoroughly entertaining 5-star read.

Book 1 of the Immortal Boss Series
A fun fresh twist on a classic story and I was completely here for it.
Harriet inherits servitude to a centuries old vampire and strikes a deal: she’ll manage his affairs if he only feeds on serial killers. So now they’re hunting killers together and the slow burn developing between them while interviewing suspects?? So good.
The concept of only feeding on those who deserve it was such a clever angle and the partnership between Harriet and Alexandru carries the whole book. Low spice but the tension is absolutely there.
Shoutout to narrators Benjamin Sands and Candace Fitzgerald who both did a fantastic job and really added to the overall experience.
Cannot wait to continue this series!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc audiobook!!

A fun fantasy listen, a quirky twist on the Renfield/Dracula story with an intriguing mystery to boot. As our new to job, tech savvy, Ms Renfield drags her 1000yr old 'boss' fully into the 21st century.

Well written, excellently narrated and certainly leaving me curious for the next instalment.

#MsRenfieldandtheInheritanceTrap by #AnnikaMartin is a fun cozy small town paranormal mystery where a vampire is inherited by a woman who uses him to help solve a string of wedding disasters in time to feed the culprit to the vampire before he chooses an innocent or someone she cares about. Performed wonderfully by Candace Fitzgerald & Benjamin Sands on audio. Thank you #CinnamonCrane & #NetGalley for the opportunity to review the e-audio ALC. #BookSky

I am invested in this series now. Ms. Renfield and the Inheritance Trap surprised me with how hooked I was on this book. While the middle dragged a little, I remained invested and wanted to continue the series. I am happy that this is the first book in the series and the second book has a title. I was able to immerse myself in this book thanks to KU. The romance between Alexandru and Harriet was good and I liked that it wasn't the main focus. 

The audiobook is dual narrated by Candace Fitzgerald, Benjamin Sands. They both did a good job; their presentations were easy to follow and understand. I listened at 2x speed.

I couldn't put this down. At first, the negotiations between Harriet and Alexandru kept me riveted. But then I got invested in the mystery (not my usual genre), and I had to know what would happen next. Also, I loved the banter and chemistry. The author promised that this book had the same vibe as her beloved Billionaires of Manhattan series; I was skeptical, but she fully delivered on that promise. I can't wait for more of Harriet and Alexandru because I have a lot of questions about mysteries from their pasts.
The narrators did a great job with the characters and the quirky humor.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve loved Annika Martin for years. When I saw the audiobook for a new series, I knew I had to listen. And I was NOT disappointed.

I love a good spreadsheet, and thought the HR “I can fix him” attitude with Harriet was hilarious. Definitely the wit and humor that Martin is known for, and I loved that shining through in a paranormal/cozy fantasy type setting. It was like the best of my book worlds.

I was expecting some spice because of Martin’s previous work, but the most we got was a palm kiss. But honestly the banter and the yearning were well done and spice wasn’t needed.

I listened to the audiobook and want to shout out the narrators- Candace Fitzgerald and Benjamin Sands did a phenomenal job bringing the story to life.

Thank you so much to Annika Martin, Cinnamon Crane, and NetGalley for letting me listen to an ALC of Ms. Renfield and the Inheritance Trap. All thoughts are my own, and I hope to see Harriet and Alexandru again soon.

This audiobook is a total hoot to listen to!!!!! If I was not laughing over the antics that Harriet and Alexandru find themselves in due to miscommunication/misunderstanding or just flat out twisting words to get one on each other, then I was smiling at the sweet accidental moments and the denial of feelings that may or may not be growing for each other the more time they spend together. From Harriet's trip to Karsovia for an unexpected inheritance that ends up in a contract to be the new "Renfield" to Alexandru's relocation to Ohio (but still in a creepy castle!), it was a wild and fun ride!

Is it a bit crazy? Totally. But is it entertaining, light (despite the hunt for at least one of what seems to be many serial killers that seem to be residing in Harriet's hometown in Ohio of all places. At least it gives Alexandru plenty of opportunities to feed, as long as Harriet can crack the cases and find those killers. It was fun to compare hunting methods, as Harriet is so into the details and figuring out the proof while Alexandru is all close enough and if it wasn't this suspect, then it just means an extra meal for him! Their first case is hilarious and while it was solved, there are some nice eerie mysteries that hit at a merry series continuing for a while longer and I am so happy about that!

A great audiobook with Candace Fitzgerald and Benjamin Sands doing a fantastic job of bringing Harriet and Alexandru to life and their adventures in not so boring Ohio as assistant and immortal boss! Though I suspect that might not stay that way for long! lol

Many thanks to NetGalley and Cinnamon Crane for giving me the chance to discover this fun series! I can't wait to find out what happens next for those two!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Special thanks to #NetGalley for the audiobook arc!
This was such a fun and unexpectedly clever listen—a dark, genre-blending mix of vampire fantasy and cozy mystery structure. The premise alone hooked me: a reluctant heroine forced to manage a centuries-old vampire, striking a deal to direct his hunger toward serial killers. It’s equal parts witty and morally tense.
The audiobook narration really elevated the story. The narrator captured the protagonist’s dry, practical tone perfectly, balancing humor with underlying anxiety. Alexandru’s voice came through with the right amount of arrogance and danger, adding depth to his character and making their dynamic even more engaging.
The story itself feels like a cozy mystery turned dark—case-by-case investigations paired with ethical gray areas and constant tension. I especially enjoyed the “modern Miss Scarlet” vibe of the protagonist, using intelligence and organization instead of brute force.
If you enjoy morally complex characters, supernatural elements, and a touch of dark humor, this is a great audiobook pick. The narration makes it easy to get pulled into the story, and the character dynamics keep you listening.

This fantastic and funny novel and a new take on cozy mysteries - think Dracula meets cozy mystery. The lead character, Ms. Reinfield, really resonated with me. She loves data, making data out of chaos, spunky, and clever. Her dynamics with Alexandro - especially her tricks - was fantastic. I look forward to reading the next books in the series.

✨ From the moment I met the witty, fierce heroine, I was hooked, her sharp mind and fiery spirit make for such a delightful combination. And Alexandru? A centuries-old vampire with a commanding presence and a mysterious allure that keeps you guessing at every turn. 💕

The story is a perfect blend of suspense, humor, and a touch of romance, set against the eerie yet enchanting backdrop of a Carpathian castle. 🏰🌙 I loved how their banter sparkled with tension, all while they hunted serial killers together. Their fake (or is it?) partnership is full of playful sparks and undeniable chemistry, making every page a thrill. 💥💕

What truly captivated me was the way the story balances dark, gripping mystery with moments of genuine tenderness and sass. The heroine’s clever spreadsheets and quick wit bring such a fresh, feminine energy to the supernatural world. 🖤 And the question of whether Alexandru sees her as just his helper, or something much more, kept me on the edge of my seat! 🔥🖤

This book is a charming, thrilling ride full of danger, humor, and a dash of forbidden heat. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who loves a fierce heroine, a brooding vampire, and a story packed with secrets and suspense. Prepare to fall under its spell, you’ll be captivated from start to finish! 💫💕

When Harriet inherits a duty from her late father, she expects a house or some savings, but instead, she inherits a supernatural "overlord."
This is an old-world vampire named Alexandru who is as stuck in his ways as he is charmingly difficult.

What ensues is a delightful exercise in unlikely workplace comedy and amateur sleuthing as Harriet navigates the bizarre task of managing a vampire who refuses to modernize and has a persistent habit of trying to eat the locals.

While the audiobook is often categorized as a romance, the series leans heavily into its mystery roots. It is a true slow-burn where the chemistry between the protagonists evolves through subtle, earned moments that keep the listener anticipating what might happen next.
​
Alexandru is easily the highlight of the production. His struggle to adapt to modern life and his delightful confusion regarding Harriet’s attempts to modernize him provide consistent humor.

Harriet serves as an essential counterbalance to his personality, as her grounded nature and quick-thinking intelligence offer a sharp, humorous contrast to his dated, bombastic worldview.

As my first time listening to Annika’s work, I was immediately struck by her ability to weave together such a unique blend of fun and heart. I loved that Harriet simply got on with it when she was forced to manage his affairs, fearlessly making herself indispensable so she could "force" him to agree to only drink the blood of serial killers.
​
The audio production by Benjamin Sanda and Candace Fitzgerald is stellar. They lean into the quirky, gothic atmosphere while perfectly capturing the dry humor and growing chemistry between the leads. Their performances bring an intimacy to the story that makes the wait for the next installment feel even more intense.

The very light romance, adorable side characters, and quirky wedding-disaster mystery made this a very enjoyable listen that I devoured in a day.

It is an incredibly charming start to the series, and after such an impressive introduction, I am certain I will be exploring more of Annika’s books in the near future.

This was so fun and camp! I loveeeee Annika Martin's billionaires series because it is truly some of the most comedic writing you will find so I am pleased to say that this was also very humorous while adding in the fun twist of solving a mystery!

We open with Harriet who is summoned to a small European country to collect her inheritance from the father she never knew. As anyone who could use a little extra cash would, she books the flight and shows up at the ancient castle her father apparently lived in. What she doesn't realize is that her inheritance comes in the form of eternal servitude to Alexandru the immortal vampire, as all of her paternal ancestors have been cursed to do for centuries. Kind of unfortunate news for a small town Ohio girl. Finding a loophole in her "agreement" Alexandru, she heads back to Ohio. Not to be outmaneuvered, Alexandru follows Harriet back to her small town filled with her loved ones. To Harriet's horror, she realizes that that means he will feed on and kill innocent people in her community. Her solution? Convince Alexandru to help her investigate the strange unexplainable deaths that have been occurring in her area. If they can find the serial killer in the month before Alexandru has to feed again, she can ensure that only someone who deserves it is killed.

The mystery aspect was really fun and kept me guessing the entire time. All of the community members were eclectic and fun. Alexandru and Harriet's immense distaste growing to begrudging respect (well...sort of lol) as they worked together to get to the bottom of the case was very well done. And of course Alexandru's denial over the fact that he is coming to care for a RENFIELD (the horror) is so funny. I really enjoyed this and definitely want to pick up the next one!

4 1/2 stars
Harriet grew up with her mother and grandmother, all she knew about her father is that after a chancer meeting with her mom he left. Then when she was older Harriet tracked him down. What she encountered was odd and left her more puzzled than before meeting him. Now years later Harriet gets notice her father has died. This news doesn't really affect Harriet, her father didn't want a relationship with her and he got his wish.

Finding out she is in her father's will and the clause is she must be present for the reading would be something Harriet ignores but the shop her mother and grandmother love so much is having a hard time and Harriet knows money could help the family who has loved and raised her. So Harriet agree's and travels across the world to see what her absent father has left her.

What Harriet finds is nothing she could imagine. Her father is dead but everything else is a lie, and Harriet also has siblings. And maybe most importantly they are all in danger unless Harriet agree's to her father's boss's stipulations. Which are crazy. With no other option Harriet agree's to take over her father's job but Harriet isn't an originally person and makes stipulations of her own. Thinking she has won Harriet soon finds that her boss won't give up that easily. If that isn't enough Harriet is sure someone in her home town is a serial killer. But Harriet may have a solution for that as well.

This was a really good book. I love the stories premise and I loved the authors writing style. Harriet is a great character and Alexandru her new boss was a wonderful character from the past thrown into the present by Harriet which made for great storylines. The entire idea of this book was so fun and such a great idea. There is a lot left open in this book however this is book one so we know there is more to come. I can't wait to see what happens in book two and three.

I love how this book progressed but there is so much more to come. I will say the villain story at the beginning seemed a little far fetched but the author pulled it all together and made it really work together. I love the relationship between Alexandru and Harriet and this is one I really can't wait to see where it will all go in the next two book. This really was a great read and one highly recommend. I had it on my TBR list so I was so excited to get am ARC.

*Thank you Netgalley and Cinnamon Crane for this ARC

This book was super fun! Going to give it a solid 4 stars. I loved the banter between Alexandru and Harriet. Very much like a modern day Dracula sort of story where Alexandru’s (Dracula) servant, Mr. Renfield, dies and a family curse, unbeknownst to Harriet altogether, has forced her into servitude as one of the late Mr. Renfield’s successors. But Harriet isn’t having it. She will do the work on her own terms, much to the immense frustration of Alexandru. By coincidence, her “employment” with Alexandru comes at the same time as a series of escalating seemingly random wedding accidents. Harriet is the only one who sees them as anything but. With the agreement in place that Alexandru will only hunt for his blood with Harriet, they go on the prowl for this budding serial killer. Alexandru is medieval, demanding, massively wealthy, and a known killer. Harriet is confident, tenacious, headstrong, and intelligent. The slowest of burns, like there’s a budding romance in here I think, but no explicit romantic scenes. Just an all around good time!! Recommend if you want a good cozy vampire story!

🦇🖤 Ms. Renfield and the Inheritance Trap 🖤🦇

I wasn't prepared for how much I was going to love this campy paranormal story! ✨

I had so much fun with the characters and the overall vibe of the story.

And now I desperately need the next book in the series ASAP because I am not ready to leave these characters behind! 😭🖤

🔎 What to Expect
• Paranormal Mystery
• Vampire MMC
• Forced Proximity
• Murder Investigation
• Morally Gray MC
_ _ _ _

🎧 Audio Score: 5 Stars
📅 Pub Date: November 29, 2025
Thank you to Cinnamon Crane and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

If you want a silly but entertaining read that borrows small bits from Dracula, this is absolutely that.

The idea of Renfield being a family in service to a vampire over hundreds of years works really well and introduced a great juxtaposition between old world vampire vibes and modern America.

I appreciated that the vampire wasn't named Dracula though as that would have been far too on the nose. This way, it is a whole new story with completely different characters, which work well together and are definitely going to be super slowburn.

The addition of a serial killer targeting weddings is genuinely so stupid but works so well. It introduces some fairly low-stakes action to keep the plot going, develop the characters' relationship and provide a great overview of the town and the people who will be featuring in future books.

I also enjoy the larger mystery that has yet to be solved, it's this, the slowburn romance and the humour that will keep me coming back for the rest of the books in the series.

Ms. Renfield and the Inheritance Trap (Immortal Boss, book 1 of 4) by Annika Martin

Cozy Paranormal Mystery with a budding romance
🎧 9hrs 25 min 
Available now in all formats, including KU
 
A "who done it" vampire vs underling style minus the eating of flies
This isn't Dracula, this is Alexandru, but he is just as arrogant and expects nothing but undying loyalty and servitude from his underlings. Well, the apple fell a bit further from the tree because Harriett may technically be a Renfield, but she was raised a Morgan, and the females in her family raised her to be independent. The only thing she inherited from her deadbeat dad is her infatuation with spreadsheets and organization, at which she excels. 

When she gets a mysterious fancy letter from her sperm donor's estate after his death, she reluctantly travels to a remote castle in the Carpathian Mountains. Her family business needs the money, and if he left her something substantial, it's the least she can do for the women who raised her. When she arrives however, the only thing she inherited was her father's old position. A slave assistant to an annoyingly handsome but arrogant vampire. When she tricks him into allowing her to "work" for him remotely (meaning back home and not this creepy ancient castle), she thinks she won. Until he follows her to her hometown, and the only way she can get him to not randomly drain the local population, they make a deal. She gets to continue working "remote" and have her true crime itch scratched by investigating local deaths and convincing him to munch on bad guys. If she cannot find a suitable replacement for his normal monthly meals, someone innocent could be his next meal. 
This was an interesting spin on the old take of the weird vampire sidekick Renfield, with some snarky banter and a vampire that is slowly and reluctantly feeling more than just expected labor for Ms. Renfield. I'm diving into book 2, Ms. Renfield and the Deadly Puzzle, now to see what happens next with this unlikely duo. 

This book is part of the Immortal Boss series, a paranormal small-town low-spice mystery series. For my friends who are not fans of spice but like murder mysteries and snarky banter, this is for you ❤ Also, a quick, easy read.
 
Thank you to NetGalley, Cinnamon Crane, and the author for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I am absolutely invested in this series. I loved this story a lot and cannot wait to read more! Off to buy book two!