Elmira Rahim narrates a story about the exceptional power of friendship, love, and faith, set during the turbulent period of the Spanish Inquisition. As the inevitable fall of Granada looms, Fatima and Hassan, a royal concubine and the palace mapmaker, flee in an attempt to save themselves from the clutches of the Inquisition. While there are some slight pacing issues, Rahim... Read More

Narrator Oliver Wyman has the difficult task of engaging listeners with this audiobook's grim tidings on climate change and pending social collapse. The sobering introduction, read by the author, renowned environmentalist Bill McKibben, warns listeners not to expect unwarranted hope. While McKibben is cautiously optimistic about renewable energy and the power of the people,... Read More

There is an appropriate gravitas to James Naughton's fine performance of this ambitious audiobook. Lopez's far-reaching self-proclaimed "autobiographical reflection" crosses broad swaths of time and boldly travels the world, and Naughton provides excellent navigation throughout this expansive recording. His patient, capable voice steers the listener through shifts not only in... Read More

The mosaic of American experiences is expertly captured by an ensemble reading of Pulitzer Prize winner Lalami's superb new novel. Moroccan-American Nora is summoned to her family home in the California desert after the hit-and-run death of her beloved father. The tragedy resonates among a circle of people: Nora; her mother and sister; Efrain, an illegal Mexican immigrant who... Read More

Will Damron narrates James Beard Award-winning food journalist Matt Goulding's audiobook with energy, poise, and precision. The decision to emulate rather than imitate the myriad Italian accents adds to the enjoyment of this audiobook. All the Italians speak with the same intonation. This choice lets the author's American voice ring true and focuses on the essence of the work:... Read More

Resolved: Writer Candice Carty-Williams is the writer of her generation; Queenie, its character; and Shvorne Marks, its voice. Marks gives a power performance as millennial Queenie, and Brits of various origins and accents: Pakistan, Uganda, Jamaica, and all the UK. You'd listen to Marks read web code, she voices this audiobook so magnetically. To wit: Queenie's group-texts... Read More

A star performance by Kyf Brewer and Orlagh Cassidy should push this audiobook to the top of every thriller fan's must list. As a result of being hit on the head, Amos Decker, portrayed by Brewer, can remember everything that ever happened to him, complete with emotions. Brewer owns Decker's intensity. He gives the character great focus and a steely resolve to find out whether... Read More

Narrator Steven Weber is the perfect match for this thriller, which blends plot twists and suspense in equal portions. Simon and Ingrid Greene, a successful and apparently perfect couple, find their lives falling apart in the most dramatic of ways when their drug-addicted daughter disappears after dropping out of college. With seeming ease, Weber voices the cast of characters,... Read More

Like her lively writing, Ruth Reichl's performance is inviting and engaging. Reichl's latest memoir is a juicy account of her decade as the editor in chief of the fabled culinary magazine GOURMET. Her fans will be happy to discover that, once again, she narrates her own work, and new listeners are in for a treat. Her clear affection for her co-workers, her passion for food and... Read More

Narrator Jim Frangione keeps the vampire magic going with Murhder's story. Estranged from the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Murhder's vain attempts to rescue vampires from human experimentation fall short until he meets Dr. Sarah Watkins, who has the same goal. Amid a large cast of characters and shifting storylines, Frangione focuses attention on Murhder as an empathetic hero who... Read More

Two narrators deliver the dual perspectives of Nadya, a Kalyazi cleric capable of casting spells, and Serefin, high prince of Tranavia and an immensely powerful blood mage. Tristan Morris captures Serefin's lighthearted charm and Russian-inspired accent, but Natasha Soudek steals the show as Nadya. While running from Serefin and his soldiers, Nadya reluctantly allies herself... Read More

Narrator Suzanne Toren's mature pitch and thoughtful phrasing are perfect for this memoir-like review of the various ways women transition into their later years. Her sensitive interpretation of this nuanced writing will make many listeners feel like they are being invited into the author's life as they hear her intelligent observations and advice. The 71-year-old psychology... Read More