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July 2025 Earphones Award Winners

The award is given by AudioFile to truly exceptional titles that excel in narrative voice and style, characterizations, suitability to audio, and enhancement of the text.



THE DEVILS

THE DEVILS

Earphones Award Winner

by Joe Abercrombie | Read by Steven Pacey

Macmillan Audio
Fantasy

Steven Pacey's range of voices perfectly serves this fantasy audiobook with a large cast of characters. Brother Diaz is tasked by the pope to escort the newfound princess across the continent, along with a protective force composed of murderers and monsters. As the story shifts perspectives, Pacey adjusts his tone, cadence, and pacing. Alex was a gutter thief before becoming a... Read More

THE FRENCH WINEMAKER'S DAUGHTER

THE FRENCH WINEMAKER'S DAUGHTER

Earphones Award Winner

by Loretta Ellsworth | Read by Caroline Hewitt

Harper Audio
Historical Fiction

Caroline Hewitt's superb narration takes listeners on a powerfully emotional journey in this dual-timeline audiobook. In 1942, as German officers arrive at their French countryside home, 7-year-old Martine is hidden in a cabinet by her Jewish father with a valuable bottle of wine. Alone on the streets, Martine is brought to an abbey by Sister Ada, who is hiding her own secret.... Read More

KNAVE OF DIAMONDS

KNAVE OF DIAMONDS

Earphones Award Winner

by Laurie R. King | Read by Amy Scanlon, Steven Crossley, Jefferson Mays

Recorded Books
Mystery & Suspense

Mary Russell's favorite uncle, Jake, turns up at her door after many years of absence. Mary finds herself caught between loyalties to her world-famous husband, Sherlock Holmes, and her ne'er-do-well uncle. Topnotch performances in alternate sections by Amy Scanlon, Steven Crossley and Jefferson Mays make King's latest Russell/Holmes outing sound like a full-cast audiobook. An... Read More

THE NAMES

THE NAMES

Earphones Award Winner

by Florence Knapp | Read by Dervia Kirwan

Penguin Audio
Fiction

Dervla Kirwan delivers a stunning performance of Knapp's powerful novel about the weight of choice, the search for identity, and the complexities of family. Her buttery voice creates a striking paradox--soothing and steady yet cut by the cruelty and sharpness of this story about Cora and the three narratives that unfold around the different names she gives her baby boy. Kirwan... Read More

THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS

THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS

Earphones Award Winner

by John Buchan | Read by Rupert Degas

Naxos AudioBooks
Classics

London-born actor Rupert Degas brings his enticingly warm voice and an edge-of-your-seat intensity to his performance of John Buchan's famously propulsive spy thriller. Adapted many times, including by Alfred Hitchcock, the 1915 novel centers on mining engineer Richard Hannay, who hears of an international assassination plot and then must flee London when he becomes a murder... Read More

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