World’s Bestselling COVID-Dissent Novel Now Available as Audiobook
Unabridged author-narrated edition explores themes of government overreach, civil liberties and civil disobedience
December 15, 2025. Blazing Pine Cone Publishing has released the audiobook adaptation of Much Ado About Corona — the controversial novel that boldly examines the validity and morality of the COVID-19 measures. Narrated by the author, John C.A. Manley, recorded by In Tune Audiobooks, with a cover by Jordan Henderson Fine Art, the 17-hour and 35-minute audiobook is currently available on Audible, with other distributors to follow.
Patrick Corbett, former director/producer for W-5, Beachcombers and Dateline, described the hardcover edition as, "a ripping story of courage, awakening and love (with some good laughs thrown in) all in the time of COVID. As with the truth, you won't want to put Much Ado About Corona down."
As a growing body of research exposes the harms caused by lockdowns, the ineffectiveness of masking, the fraudulent nature of PCR tests and the side-effects of the vaccine, the release of the audiobook edition is most timely.
"Several voice actors auditioned to read the novel," Manley explains, "but I could not find anyone who captured the book's unique mix of gravitas and humour. With plenty of acting experience and having read books to my blind son for the last eighteen years, I ended up hiring myself to narrate all 150,000 words."
Much Ado About Corona has been described as having a unique literary approach, blending an action-driven plot with three-dimensional characters and a subtle undercurrent of philosophy. As Seán ÓLaoire, PhD, author of Setting God Free, says, "Much Ado About Corona's turn of phrase and use of language are beautiful. Even with such a serious topic, the author flavoured it with lots of humour. John Manley is a master storyteller with a great ability to develop his characters — even the novel's villain got to show his soul as well as his pathology."
The audiobook edition will spread this story of courage and non-compliance to the growing audience of audiobook listeners — allowing them to thwart tyranny during their commute to work. Audible is even offering a free copy as part of their trial membership. It is also available for purchase through Amazon (where it ranks 4.8 stars).
Released just in time for Christmas, half of the story takes place in December 2020, during the second round of lockdowns in the small fictional town of Moosehead in Northern Ontario. The novel focuses on an old-fashioned romance between the two main characters, Vince McKnight and Stefanie Müller. Stefanie is a "certified conspiracy theorist" who slowly awakens Vince to the harms of the pandemic measures. But when the local cop pulls out his taser, Stefanie's dystopian premonitions no longer seem so theoretical. And when the restrictions threaten Vince's grandfather, he finds himself going face-to-mask with the emerging police state—forced to choose whether to follow senseless rules or listen to his pounding heart.
Mark Bell, retired NHL hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks, had this to say about the novel: "I absolutely enjoyed Much Ado About Corona from start to finish. I had so many different thoughts and emotions while I read it, good and bad. I really enjoyed the writing style and the humour."
Review copies of the audiobook, ebook or print editions are available to members of the media upon request. John C.A. Manley has appeared in multiple publications, on TV, radio and on numerous podcasts. He has discussed the morality and validity of government health measures, while offering dramatic readings from his novel and behind-the-scenes stories about its making. Interview requests can be made by contacting him at john@blazingpinecone.com or calling (519) 340-7433. You can read more about the novel at MuchAdoAboutCorona.com
