New Reviews: Mystery & Suspense

Edoardo Ballerini is the perfect narrator for this multifaceted story, which revolves around Patch and Saint, two young teens who live in a Missouri town. Their friendship develops over the 25 years following Patch's kidnapping in 1975 and Saint's quest to find him. Ballerini's talent for characterization allows the principals to develop and age. He creates thoroughly... Read More

Jennifer Aquino, Christina Ho, Naomi Mayo, and Kenneth Lee perform this new thriller about two sisters who survived a small plane crash and 12 terrifying weeks in the Washington wilderness. As adults, Fiona and Violet Seng have kept their silence about the horrifying ordeal of their childhood. When their father's former lover comes forward with details, the Seng girls find... Read More

Penelope Rawlins's magnetic performance draws listeners into Tonya Mitchell's gothic thriller. Constance Sullivan is charged with poisoning her husband, a known arsenic eater. Everyone believes she's guilty. At her trial, evidence piles up, and she's shocked when those she trusts lie and testify against her. Revealing the dark side of her marriage only adds fuel to the flames.... Read More

Neill Thorne narrates this quirky thriller with gusto. AA meetings take on a whole different meaning as listeners join a reformed assassin named Mark as he comes closer to receiving his chip marking a year of being murder free. When an unknown assailant attacks him, he is thrust into an adventure that takes him from New York City to Singapore and London. Thorne crafts a... Read More

Golden Voice narrator Kate Reading brings a charming interpretation to this cozy mystery, inviting the listener to sit back and enjoy the intrigue. Reading's vocal control is impressive as she portrays Dorothy Martin, an American, and her British husband, Alan Nesbit. Throughout the ample dialogue, Reading ensures that all the characters remain distinguishable. With a... Read More

Eva Kaminsky had her work cut out for her narrating this very complicated story, which begins with the kidnapping of a young woman named Allie and involves a secret she's not even aware of. Kaminsky gives voice to Allie--and to Anna, a person in Allie's head who is part of the dark secret. Only Grace, who works for an obscure branch of the FDA, is willing to investigate the... Read More

This second novel in the David Blum thriller series is narrated by Dion Graham with the perfect mixture of hope and menace. Interpol agent David Blum must eradicate the latest science experiment being carried out by the evil Global Forces Alliance. This time, the GFA is working with bioacoustics to manufacture sounds that can be used to control human behavior. Graham lends a... Read More

Cindy Kay's narration captures this unique take on a jewelry heist. Her voice masterfully conveys the urgency of Rune Sarasin's dilemma: Should she dump the jewels she has stolen or help find her boyfriend's missing sister? Listeners are drawn into a whirlwind of danger and intrigue. Kay seamlessly transitions between the gritty back alleys of Bangkok and the opulent auction... Read More

This supernatural thriller provides an enjoyable wrinkle in narration. The audiobook doesn't feature a single narrator voicing all characters or a full cast with an individual narrator voicing each character. The members of the ensemble each take a major character and whomever that character interacts with. Rachel Fulginiti shines as Andi Wyndham, who buys a bone pendant that... Read More

Narrator Saskia Maarleveld enlivens the characters in this masterfully crafted window onto the 1950s. While there are murders and other crimes, the focus is the individual stories of the women boarders of Briarwood House in Washington, DC. The novel depicts the realities of the McCarthy era: women's evolving roles, racism, and immigrant challenges. While the recipes sprinkled... Read More

Powerful, enlightening, and entertaining are some of the superlatives that might come to mind as listeners are transported to the world of trial attorney Jack Lee in Virginia in 1968--brought to life by a uniformly outstanding cast. Narrator MacLeod Andrews uses accent, tone, and pace to masterfully portray Lee and the other white male characters. Lee partners with attorney... Read More

George Smiley, the quiet spy with a paunch and an adulterous spouse, is voiced affably by Simon Vance. His friendly approach belies Smiley's steel trap of a mind and reluctance to resort to violence. Vance's mastery of British Isles accents, especially his upper-class inflections, also contributes to le Carré's vivid storytelling. This novel, first published in 1961, is... Read More

Whoopi Goldberg proves to be the perfect voice for John Grisham's fascinating mystery about a haunted island off the coast of Florida settled by escaped enslaved people in the 1700s and now marked for development into a casino resort. She captures the courage and determination of the characters as, each in their own way, they try to save the uninhabited and inhospitable Dark... Read More

Tim Bruce's stylish narration transports listeners to 1920s Scotland as Anty Boisjoly arrives from London to act as a judge in a whiskey competition. When one of the distillers is mysteriously blown up, Anty once again finds himself embroiled in murder and mayhem. Bruce creates a delightfully Wodehousian protagonist in Anty, and his strong characterization results in a fun cast... Read More

Will Patton narrates this entry in the long-running Dave Robicheaux series. This installment focuses on Dave's partner and friend, Clete Purcel. Clete and Dave work to stop a drug-smuggling operation that is moving a dangerous new drug. Patton's gravelly intonation suits Clete; he brings the war veteran to life, capturing his emotional core. Every sentence and conversation is... Read More

Fans may be disappointed that this is Maisie Dobbs's final adventure, but they will appreciate the tender way the various characters' closing stories are treated. Narrator Orlagh Cassidy masterfully conveys the returning characters, Maisie's extended family, and the newly introduced individuals, male and female, young and old. Cassidy's talented use of accents lends credibility... Read More

Narrator Johnathan McClain creates a motley crew of memorable personalities that make this thriller compelling listening. The central character is Hardy "Hardly" Reed, a drifter who works in a run-down amusement park with an assortment of losers. When Hardly sees a mother with children who appear to have been abused at the DMV, he sets out to learn who they are and rescue them.... Read More

With her portfolio of British accents, narrator Janine Birkett brings Vera Stanhope to life, along with her team and the other characters in the eleventh book in this series. Birkett's voice for Vera perfectly conveys her rough-edged persona, now somewhat mellowed by the recent death of her former team member, Holly. With Cleeves's masterful descriptions and Birkett's ability... Read More

Jessica Clarke narrates this story told by three foster sisters. When a dead body is discovered under their childhood home, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia must confront their past. Each explores her memories of their makeshift family, which was led by the demanding Miss Fairchild. Clarke delivers this winding story as a masterful blend of suspense, drama, and emotional depth. Her... Read More

The separate elements of this audio thriller sound standard-issue, but Megan Miranda grips you from the opening scene and never lets up. Hazel comes home to small-town North Carolina for her beloved father's memorial. Her brothers are both cops, as was their dad. The whole force would be at the gathering except that an old car has just surfaced in the drought-low water of the... Read More

The spirited, engaging voice of narrator Bronwen Price takes listeners back to Edinburgh, Scotland, where a detective duo is solving a very personal cold case in the late Victorian period. In the fifth adventure of the Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe crime-solving team, Angus is searching for the person who murdered his mother 30 years earlier. Uninvited but undeterred,... Read More

Charming and engaging, Zara Ramm's voice adds joy and humor to the narration of this delightful British cozy mystery. When the ladies who run the Charity Shop Detective Agency learn that a woman has been murdered at their local dog show, they decide to take on the case. Ramm's assortment of accents and voices brings both familiarity and uniqueness to the listening experience.... Read More

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini once again invites listeners into the lives of retired legendary spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon and a host of familiar characters. Allon is asked by an acquaintance to unofficially assist in the investigation of an art history professor's brutal murder in Cornwall. With the talented Ballerini as a guide, listeners follow the fast-paced plot from... Read More

Narrator Kurt Kanazawa nimbly delivers the melodic Hawaiian words and names that are central to this police procedural. Detective Kawika Wong leads the hunt for a serial killer who leaves victims in a beautiful Honolulu park. Wong has a gut feeling that the case isn't what it seems. Kanazawa's voice sounds a bit youthful for the veteran officer, but he does well delivering the... Read More

Bill, a pleasant but sarcastic limo driver in Silicon Valley, reliably delivered clients to their destinations without incident for years--until a mysterious passenger, Mrs. DeLong, put him in the crosshairs of the Chinese, the FBI, and patent trolls. Scott Brick differentiates all these characters and smoothly depicts frenetic scenes. His delivery of the technical banter among... Read More

Listeners will be drawn into this atmospheric and compelling historical mystery. In 1895, Oxford University student Toby is murdered--and his close friends know that one of them must have done it. Jem is one of these "Seven Wonders," and ten years later, with his life falling apart, he sets out to solve the mystery once and for all. As the story moves back and forth in time,... Read More

This audiobook features Captain Haven Kayd, who returns to the U.S. after breaking out of an Afghan prison camp. Once back, he faces more struggles and dilemmas. His wife has moved on, and his daughter has been dealing with his "death" for years. The story takes a dramatic twist when Kayd uses the dark web to find out the truth about what happened to him in Afghanistan--and its... Read More

The narration of this mystery begins with Susan Bennett's introduction of Rose, who enrolls in the memoir-writing camp at which her daughter, Jules, drowned. How could Jules have drowned when she was afraid of the water? Bennett performs from Rose's perspective, projecting her discomfort with writing, her need to hide her name and agenda, and her growing suspicion about what... Read More

It's impossible to go wrong with this Audible Original, which teams up award-winning author Don Winslow and four-time Oscar nominee Ed Harris. Harris puts the growl in gruff Richard Dietrich while unreeling the last case of the washed-up NYPD homicide detective. This once-great, now alcoholic cop should have just phoned it in until reaching his pension. But in the summer of... Read More

Anthony Lee narrates his debut novel, the first in a series. Dr. Mark Lin, an internist working at a hospital, becomes the target of a hacker named Doctor Lucifer. Lucifer hacks into Lin's patient records and changes medication orders--with potentially fatal results. To protect his patients and himself, Lin must work with hospital IT personnel to stop Lucifer. Lee clearly... Read More

Thanks to Golden Voice narrator Grover Gardner, listeners will once more get to accompany irascible attorney Andy Carpenter, who reluctantly agrees to defend a mass murderer as a favor to his formidable colleague Marcus Clark. Gardner brings Andy and the supporting cast to life, including his wife, Laura; digital genius, Sam and his quirky crew; and gruff Marcus. Fans will be... Read More

In this exhilarating audiobook, brought to life by Michael Boatman's exceptional narration, Addison McKellar learns that her husband, Dean, has vanished. She seeks the help of legendary PI Porter Hayes. Hayes soon uncovers far more about Addison's husband than even his wife has ever known, including the revelation that Dean's identity is fake. Boatman delivers a stand-out... Read More

Pearl Hewitt narrates this story of intrigue and treachery set in 1923 among the British upper classes. Spies Dora and Rex attend the engagement party of Prince Bertie and Elizabeth, only to find themselves embroiled in a murder. When it looks like their good friend is the only suspect, Dora and Rex set out to find the identity of the real killer. The investigation takes them... Read More

Piper Goodeve and Aaron Shedlock offer fun performances in this light mystery. Alyssa is dragged into a tarot reading as part of a fortieth-birthday celebration. Afterward, she finds herself in the company of spirits. She enlists her neighbor, Nick, a handsome detective, for help, and together they stumble through a paranormal adventure. Goodeve and Shedlock have a great... Read More

Narrator Helen Laser breathes life into this convoluted murder mystery involving reclusive writer Sebastian Trapp, who is dying; his blended family; the long ago disappearance of his first wife and son; and Nicky Hunter, who is hired to write the dying man's life story. Little does Nicky know that she'll become entangled in Sebastian's story, which overflows with allusions to... Read More

Narrator Scott Brick delivers for fans of Crichton and Patterson. Based on research and notes left behind by Crichton, who died in 2008, Patterson and Brick combine their talents to finish the story and create characters driven to the edge to save the world. Brick's smooth and empathetic performance conveys the chills and thrills surrounding a volcano on the Big Island of... Read More

Elizabeth Evans masterfully voices successful crime novelist Eleanor Dash, listeners' new best friend, who gossips about all of the people and craziness around her. Dash's behind-the-scenes insights on writing and publishing, along with her plot notes for her next book, add depth and humor to this story. She even challenges listeners to identify the murderer before the big... Read More

Narrator Brittany Pressley takes listeners through this fast-paced thriller about a unique reality show in which contestants face real and lasting consequences for their past mistakes. Under the direction of an assistant posing as the show's host, five desperate contestants arrive at a secluded Northern California estate, where they will compete to win 10 million dollars.... Read More

Karen Cass narrates this charming novel. Penny and Josephine Williamson are invited to Paris--accompanied by their grand-nephew, Archie--to receive the Légion d'honneur for their service in WWII. Throughout the story they reminisce over their wartime adventures. The women are in their 90s, but Cass makes it clear that they are feisty, a little quirky, and still game for any... Read More

David Aaron Baker's compelling performance is precise and full of verve in Preston's latest thriller, which is reminiscent of Michael Crichton's JURASSIC PARK. Baker portrays Agent Cash's cool composure as she investigates a grisly double murder at the Erebus Resort. Baker then morphs into the clipped Australian accent of Erebus's head of security, who explains that the resort... Read More

With his amazing portfolio of voices, Michael Boatman draws listeners into PI Easy Rawlins's world in 1970s Los Angeles. Mosley's writing paired with Boatman's narration once again delivers a sociological tableau that keeps listeners engaged throughout. Rawlins accepts a missing-person case from his client, the alluring Amethystine Stoller. As Rawlins attempts to find her... Read More

Fans of the Longmire series will find much to enjoy in this twentieth installment. Narrator George Guidall masterfully portrays Sheriff Walt Longmire; his best friend, Henry; and all the characters, male and female, returning and new. Listeners are transported back to 1964, when Walt and Henry, post-college and newly enlisted in the military, embark on a road trip. Car troubles... Read More

Narrators Almarie Guerra and Feodor Chin reunite to bring the second installment in the Daniela Vega series to life. FBI agent Dani Vega emerges as a female counterpart to author Lee Child's hero Jack Reacher--savvy, justice driven, and a military-trained fighting machine. The narrative delves into Vega's past, recounting the haunting discovery of her father's murder when she... Read More

Listeners are thrust into a high-stakes thriller that begins with the placement of a frantic middle-of-the-night phone call. Andi Arndt expertly conveys Dana's panic as she summons her best friend, Jo, to help dispose of her husband's dead body. Hillary Huber, as Jo, imparts a steady, no-nonsense tone as she learns of the hidden abuse Jo's husband has inflicted upon her over... Read More

Narrator Chloe Davies delivers the second audiobook in the DC Morgan series. Seven contestants find themselves in the mountains of Wales for what they've been told is a "Survivor"-like TV show. They quickly discover that the premise of the show, called "Exposed," is to uncover the deepest, darkest secret of each person involved. When a contestant goes missing, Detective Ffion... Read More

Peter Ganim narrates this whodunit set in a picturesque coastal town in Maine. When a teenager is found dead at a historic reenactment village, the town's inexperienced detective struggles to investigate calmly--especially because his own daughter was friends with the victim. Ganim's clean articulation and brisk pace keep the listener engaged even through the grisly... Read More

From the start, Emily Joyce gives captivating portrayals of the many characters in this mystery. Initially, her pace is pretty slow and engaging as she allows listeners to get to know the main characters. She eventually picks up the pace that is necessary to deliver the rather involved and slow-moving plot with grace and aplomb. Her depictions of interloping friends who show... Read More

This fast-moving story is about a couple of ex-journalists who take on a "simple" job in Havana. Timothy Andrés Pabon perfectly fits his narration to the tone of the work. Coming in at a scant 85 minutes, the audio features clever dialogue between the journalists and their Cuban contacts. George and Joe are rightfully angry because they were laid off by their newspaper in a... Read More

In this audiobook Mary Williams is on the brink of destitution. She's lost her job and custody of her child, and is facing losing her home, too. When she reads an unusual advert from Eric, it appears to be the solution to her troubles. But, actually, Mary's situation is going to get much worse. Julia Atwood narrates the story from Mary's point of view, skillfully creating a... Read More

Narrator Lisa Larsen brings to life a 29-year-old long-distance runner named Riley as she returns to the rural community where she grew up. Once there, she reconnects with her eccentric family as she battles an unknown illness. When her almost-twin, Ethan, is arrested for the murder of his fiancée, Riley sets out to uncover the identity of the real killer. Larsen's strong... Read More

After years of narrating novels by Alex Finlay, Stephen Hunter, and Don Winslow, narrator Jon Lindstrom has decided to craft his own thriller, one that highlights his flinty, resonant voice and draws from his years of Hollywood acting experience. The result is an entertaining, often violent, addition to the L.A. noir genre. The plot is familiar--a washed-up B-List former star,... Read More

This stellar cast of narrators captures the temperament of each character in this mystery. When Beth's mother dies, her last words are a warning: "Don't trust . . ." Beth is left grieving and wondering whom not to trust. Then her estranged brother and sister return home for the first time since their father's unexpected disappearance years ago. The story flows quickly as the... Read More

Texas-born and raised, narrator Michael Crouch draws on his roots to bring the title character of this audiobook to life. In mournful tones, Tolly Driver recounts the events of the summer of 1989, when a peanut-infused Coke nearly kills him (he's allergic) and ultimately triggers a gruesome revenge rampage against the bullies who forced it on him. Crouch makes sure listeners... Read More

George Newbern and Johnathan McClain narrate this story of heroism, blackmail, and secrets. When a high school teacher named Richard, portrayed by Newbern, thwarts an attempted school massacre, he ends up in the spotlight. The publicity catches the attention of a former student who accuses him of abuse and blackmails him. While attempting to clear his name, Richard uncovers... Read More

Paul Dateh, Helen Laser, and John Pirhalla guide listeners through the multiple subplots and settings of this mystery. The story begins in Leavenworth, Kansas, with high school basketball star Ryan Richardson and his girlfriend, Alison. While parked on Lover's Lane they're attacked, and Alison and her car disappear. Listeners rejoin Ryan five years later while he's on a law... Read More

Catherine Ho narrates the first book in the Magical Fortune Cookie series. Felicity Jin wants to create delicious pastries like her mother; she decides her specialty will be scrumptious fortune cookies. When a very specific fortune she writes leads to a customer's death behind her bakery, she is accused of murder, and she and a friend must clear her name. Ho navigates listeners... Read More

Jasmine Blackborow narrates this mystery involving disappearances and murders in 1877 London. Strong-willed, independent Minnie Ward and ex-police detective Albert Easterbrook investigate seemingly random men who are dying by strangulation, suffocation, and poison. Digging deeper reveals they were all involved in the Trafalgar Theater tragedy that occurred 12 years earlier and... Read More

In the last of the Under Suspicion audiobooks, narrator January LaVoy introduces listeners to the perfect family: Sara and Richard Harrington and their twin sons. The story begins with a flashback to the eve of the twins' college graduation party. Before the party ends, Sara and Richard are shot to death, and the twins are suspects--but are never charged. Fast-forward to the... Read More

Susan Duerden completes the Maggie Hope series with a strong performance as the intrepid heroine takes on a frightening mission, meeting up again with Coco Chanel, the French fashion designer and Nazi collaborator. British concerns about the Germans acquiring a fission bomb lead Maggie to Madrid, where danger lurks around every corner and double agents will stop at nothing to... Read More

James Cameron Stewart's masterful performance whisks listeners into a postapocalyptic world shrouded in buried secrets and impending mayhem. There's a haunting quality in his portrayal of the villagers on an idyllic island that is run by three scientists and inhabited by 122 survivors of a deadly fog. Stewart's expressive voice conveys the villagers' bewilderment and growing... Read More

Tanya Eby returns for the third audiobook in the Pies Before Guys mystery series, featuring Daisy, a beloved baker. Many think Daisy's pies are magical--not realizing they literally are. Daisy's magic does more than make people feel good: It makes her pie business thrive and allows her to help women in domestic abuse situations. When her newest client goes missing, Daisy... Read More

Nina Wadia's stylish narration brings to life private investigators Natalka and Edwin, along with Natalka's partner, Benedict, as they set out to uncover the truth behind three suspicious deaths. Each victim was a writer who attended a writer's retreat in the quiet English town of Battle. Wadia creates wonderfully believable characters, including feisty Natalka, with her strong... Read More

Adjoa Andoh's remarkable skills of characterization and pacing are on full display in this reissue of le Carré's novel of espionage and manipulation in the Middle East. When a naïve English actress, Charlie, agrees to work undercover for an Israeli spy to identify a Palestinian terrorist, she is co-opted by morally ambiguous people on both sides. Andoh gives Charlie a light,... Read More

Adjoa Andoh, a Shakespearean-trained actress and Golden Voice, is a great choice to narrate this James Bond classic. Andoh scales back the superhero image associated with the bombastic Bond films and returns 007 to his literary roots, dry and elegant. The second in the Ian Fleming series takes Bond on an underworld journey to Jamaica via New York City as he tracks Mr. Big, a... Read More

Jessica Matten, a Canadian actor of Red River Métis and Cree heritage, deftly narrates the ninth installment in this series, drawing from her role as Officer Bernadette Manuelito in the DARK WINDS streaming series. Matten skillfully conveys the full range of emotions of the characters, young and old, illuminating the complex dynamics of family relationships. Former tribal... Read More

In this suspenseful thriller, Helen Laser narrates with the grit required to authentically portray Lee Ellerin, a New York city reporter turned private investigator. She's hired by the mother of Amanda, a pregnant college student who attempted suicide under suspicious circumstances and is in a coma. Marli Watson sensitively portrays Amanda in the past as she describes how she... Read More

Stina Nielsen's melodious voice and elegant performing style work well for this autobiographical novel. She narrates with understanding and emulates the main character's musical musings. Her tone and timbre are just right for Jodie Rattler, the singer-songwriter who has luck in her career but challenges in her love and family lives. The references to twentieth-century music... Read More

Narrator Stina Nielsen's soft tones are a gentle respite from this complex, sometimes vicious, murder mystery set in Sweden. The second case for Detectives Charlotte von Klint and Per Berg begins with a bomb in a public square, followed by a series of robberies, then a drowned woman in the river, then another and another, all seemingly disconnected--but are they? Throughout,... Read More

Narrator Santino Fontana delivers Riley Sager's trademark psychological suspense. It's 1994; in a picture-perfect neighborhood, 10-year-old Ethan and his best friend, Billy, camp out in Ethan's backyard. The night will tragically be remembered as the night Billy was taken from the tent while his best friend slept beside him. Thirty years later, Ethan reluctantly returns to his... Read More

January LaVoy provides a multilayered portrayal of Leah Fox and the tragedy that shapes her life. Leah and her younger brother are on vacation at their grandmother's home in Appalachia when her parents are murdered. Gifted with second sight, Thea "witnesses" the crime and is able to put the killer in jail. LaVoy reveals the devastation felt by the family. Years pass, and Leah... Read More

Two booksellers, gregarious Molly and reserved Emma, discover a treasure trove of books about the occult when they meet at an estate sale in this cozy, narrated with straightforward clarity by Janet Metzger. The mystery moves around a bit among a host of seemingly unconnected characters and events that are held together by Metzger's understated tone and unhurried pacing. The... Read More

This Regency-era mystery will baffle and delight listeners. In a soothing, self-assured voice, Allie Rose portrays a headstrong duchess who struggles to clear her husband's name when he is found drenched in blood beside the murdered body of an opera singer. Audrey, the attractive Duchess of Fournier, knows her gentle, intellectual husband, who is homosexual, is innocent despite... Read More

Narrator Daniel York Loh sounds refined and reserved as academic Lao She in this atmospheric twist on the cases of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Lao admiringly recounts the feats of Judge Dee Ren Jie, who is investigating a series of murders of Chinese men in 1920s London--murders the police seem uninterested in solving. Dee has a prodigious intellect and advanced fighting... Read More

Simon Vance's finely calibrated narration makes this little-known George Smiley novel of special interest. Here le Carré tries his hand at a spy-free English mystery triggered when a faculty wife at the elite Carne School writes a panicky letter to Ailsa Brimley claiming her husband is planning to kill her. Miss Brimley asks her old war-time colleague Smiley for advice. Smiley... Read More

This audio adventure will appeal to listeners who enjoy mysteries, romance, and suspense, especially those who are familiar with Jane Austen's characters. Two seasoned voice artists, Brittany Pressley and Max Roll, present a story that begins with an American woman sneaking away from a tour of a British stately home and literally falling into the arms of the handsome lord of... Read More

Pearl Hewitt narrates the first episode in this new, highly entertaining mystery series set in the upper echelons of 1920s London society. Aristocratic Lady Dorothy shows up in the drawing rooms of the elite as the glamorous femme fatale Dora Laurent. When Dora's lover, Freddie, is murdered, she proceeds to investigate and to catch the criminals. She is joined by Reginald... Read More

Stacy Gonzalez portrays 15-year-old mbar as she navigates life with her father, a gangster. They are traveling across Argentina, hunting for the person who murdered her father's partner. Gonzalez creates a sassy, likable teen in mbar, highlighting her self-confidence and self-doubt, both of which are part of her charm. Gonzalez also rises to the challenge of portraying the wide... Read More

Mignon G. Eberhart was a popular mystery writer in the era between the world wars. Narrator Ann Richardson shares a Nebraska background with the author and brings authenticity to the production. Her sincere all-American voice chronicles a house party in a remote hunting lodge in the Sand Hills region of Nebraska. Business partners and friends join the young hostess and her... Read More

AudioFile Golden Voice Soneela Nankani immerses listeners in 1920s India on the eve of a visit from Edward, Prince of Wales. This third installment in the Bangalore Detectives Club series is rife with intrigue, politics, and the fight for autonomy--for women, for the lower classes, and for India itself. Nankani's brisk, distinctly voiced performance is riveting as she expertly... Read More

Jack Reacher is a man on the move, traveling light, whose destination is unknown. In this short story, Scott Brick doesn't disappoint, portraying Reacher as a tough ex-military loner who only wants to right wrongs and set the world straight. Here we meet Reacher in Texas after he hitches a ride to a tiny nowhere town filled with--what else?--trouble. Brick keeps the pace moving... Read More

Sandy Rustin's voice is just right for youthful PI Annie McIntyre as she deals with discovery after shocking discovery in a dusty Texas town. In Garnett everyone knows everyone--and their secrets. After a conversation with friends about nature or nurture, Annie is approached by Clint Marshall, an adoptee, who asks her to identify his biological parents. Using Ancestry.com and... Read More

Cindy Kay amplifies the drama in this Japanese thriller with her steely voice. It's 1979, and Yoriko Shindo is kidnapped despite her attempt to fight off her attackers. She finds herself forced into working for an arm of the yakuza--she has to serve as the driver for the daughter of the brutal boss. Kay shifts between the gravelly-voiced henchmen and the sharp, critical voice... Read More

Brian Troxell navigates this gritty story of Nelson "Nails" McKenna, a backwoods enforcer for McFalls County's crime boss. All is well for Nails until one night in a grimy roadhouse he stands up to some villains who are abusing Dallas, a fun-loving young woman--and he goes too far. With empathy and style, Troxell allows a sense of desperation into his delivery when there's a... Read More

George Guidall's sonorous delivery is dramatic yet soothing as marine biologist Doc Ford encounters another deep-sea adventure. This time, a Russian diplomat disappears while Doc is tagging sharks in South Africa. Doc returns to Florida just in time to face gangsters and a Category 5 hurricane. Guidall navigates the murderous characters, twisty plot, authentic dialogue, and... Read More

Narrator Susan Dalian squanders a golden opportunity for a standout performance in this unique audio mystery. Dalian is perfunctory in voicing historical preservationist Kenetria Nash, who is trapped with a killer on a remote Hudson island. Ken's dissociative identity disorder takes center stage, but Dalian fails to create any vocal distinction among the cast of diverse... Read More

Narrator Matthew Lloyd Davies brings his considerable talent to one of Graham Greene's best-known novels. James Wormold, a vacuum cleaner retailer, invents a spy ring in order to cover his daughter's extravagances. Davies manipulates accents, vocal tones, and pitch ranges to bring the characters to life. He enhances the novel's dark (sometimes very dark) humor, as well. The... Read More

Chicago private detective V.I. Warshawski is once again delivered vividly to fans of this mystery series. Emotionally recovering from her devastating last case, V.I. has traveled to Kansas for a relaxing weekend to watch a college basketball game. But when a young woman disappears, she is reluctantly drawn into a complex web of suspicious circumstances involving the local drug... Read More

Billie Fulford-Brown's performance makes Claudia Gray's third venture into Austenland first-rate listening. Having previously revealed the killers of Mr. Wickham and the late Mrs. Willoughby, Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney are summoned to Rosings Park, where several attempts have been made on Lady Catherine De Bourgh's life. Both their fathers agree to accompany them, but... Read More

This intensely interesting spy novel by WASHINGTON POST foreign affairs columnist David Ignatius makes for a gripping audiobook. The setup: Volkov, a mathematically gifted, socially awkward Russian student doing graduate work in Beijing in the '90s, falls for a lively American girl. She abruptly dumps him and disappears. (But why?) Decades later, the world's balance of power... Read More

This stirring audiobook makes a strong argument for narrator consistency. Once again Henry Leyva narrates the adventures of Doiron's Mike Bowditch. So it's little wonder that Leyva sounds so comfortable when voicing Mike and his close circle of friends and relatives. This outing is especially trying for the veteran Maine game warden as he attempts to track down a ruthless but... Read More

Narrator Dion Graham transports listeners to mid-twentieth-century Harlem and a nation on the brink of an apocalyptic race war. Graham's nuanced performance ensures that the story's disturbing subject matter has its intended impact without sensationalizing it. He injects a satirical inflection into his voice in some scenes, which helps neutralize some of the shocking language... Read More

In this audiobook, former detective Marlitt Kaplan finds herself investigating the apparent suicide of a college student. She faces two challenges: She has no official authority, and she has to fight rumors about whether the student had an affair with a popular professor who teaches German. Saskia Maarleveld handles the narration well, shaping the introspective tone of... Read More

Megan Tusing brings home this timely story about American intolerance in a time of war. She perfectly portrays reporter Anne Lemire, who is assigned to dispel unfounded rumors in Boston in the weeks before the U.S. enters WWII. Many of the events in the story resonate with current events, in particular, people objecting to involving America in a European war. Lemire is aided in... Read More

This eight-part podcast is wonderfully produced and offers a handful of actors woven in and out of a riveting and well-paced story. After a novelist calls a locksmith to open a safe, things get a bit scary--for both of them. The story intertwines the fantastical into the plot. A lot of attention has been paid to the audio details--background noises, sirens, punches, phone... Read More

This audiobook is in the tradition of the hard-boiled detective story. It's told with contemporary twists by the highly effective Evan Sibley. Sibley introduces former seminarian Xavier "Priest" Priestly, who is now a private investigator, and his formidable sidekick, Dusty Queen. The action-packed plot involves the disappearance of a young woman, the murder of a pimp, the... Read More

Jonathan Davis digs deep into his narration toolbox in this atmospheric audiobook set in 1939. As the world prepares for war, displaced European Jews attempt a departure to parts unknown. Davis employs a stoic tone when describing Kristallnacht, the beatings, and the rounding up of family members. When the disparate citizens gather on a last-chance trip to Shanghai, Davis... Read More

Josh Bloomberg's narration is a fine match of text and voice. The tumultuous events that took place in Kyiv/Kiev during the Russian Civil War (1917-1922) are interwoven throughout this exciting historical mystery by Kurkov, who has been called Ukraine's most celebrated novelist. The story concerns a young engineer turned police detective named Samson Kolechko and his... Read More

In this audio mystery, listeners follow the adventures of Kit--wife, mother, devout Christian, and dedicated detective--as she investigates criminal acts in late Victorian London. The marvelously theatrical voice of Nan McNamara animates Kit, as well as a whole cast of characters, ranging from a baby to a cruel murderer who runs an opium ring. The plot is rather improbable but... Read More

Kirsten Potter narrates the fourth mystery featuring Greer Hogan, reference librarian and archivist. In this installment, she has returned to New York City to catalog a magician's estate, including his rare book collection. But her personal mission is to identify her husband Dan's killer. She and a magician named Grim poke into hidden cupboards and locked rooms. Potter ensures... Read More

Scott Brick ratchets up the tension and lays on the pathos in this fast-paced political thriller. Iles's take on the age of Trump and the threat of another Civil War features Penn Cage, from his acclaimed Natchez Burning trilogy. The former prosecutor, now mayor of Natchez, Mississippi, becomes entangled in the third-party presidential campaign of war hero Robert E. Lee White,... Read More

Hannah Cabell's narration keeps this audiobook from being just another teen-slasher movie treatment. One night before college graduation, library assistant Davey invites six acquaintances to lock themselves in the library's rare book room overnight to perform an ancient ritual that is meant to rid them of their fear of death. And there will be drugs. LSD, specifically. Faye... Read More

Swedish Detectives Joona Linna and Saga Bauer team up to catch a methodical killer who is sending riddles about the victims. The late Saul Reichlin, born in South Africa, narrates with an almost regal tone. His pacing is solid, slowing to describe the killer's careful steps with the victims but quickening to capture Saga's frustration on the chase. Reichlin projects Joona... Read More

Steven Weber returns to narrate the twelfth installment in Coben's Myron Bolitar series. Sports agent Myron is contacted by the FBI when the DNA of a previous client, Greg Downing, is found at a murder scene. But Greg is dead--or at least that's the last Myron knew. With his partner, Win, Myron sets out to discover if Greg is truly dead and how his DNA has now shown up. With... Read More

When Gabriella Farnsworth moves to London from Australia in the early 1960s to locate her long-lost father, she takes a position issuing parking tickets. Katherine Littrell provides a perky and believable portrayal of the gutsy Gabriella, accent and all, as she defends herself against offended ticketees daily. But when she uncovers two dead bodies on her route, she realizes her... Read More

Golden Voice narrator Rupert Degas transports listeners to Tasmania in the third installment of this series. Yoga teacher Elaina; her love interest, Ric; and their quirky friends head to the island for fishing, yoga demonstrations, and Ric's investigation of a haunting past disaster. Two potential assassins pursue Ric, and the whole crew stumbles into a human trafficking... Read More

Hannah Vanderheide perfectly brings Lila Dalton to life in a world in which nothing is what it seems. Lila wakes up to find herself in a courtroom without any memory of who she is or why she's there. Slowly, she discovers it's 1996, and she's a lawyer on a remote British island who is defending a far-right activist accused of a bomb attack that resulted in multiple deaths.... Read More

Christine Lakin captures Ellery Wainwright's unsteady state of mind so effectively that the tension in this mystery builds exponentially. Ellery finds herself alone at an exotic Big Sur resort after her husband leaves her. As she struggles through her major life change, she finds herself embroiled in a possible murder. When a major storm rolls in, the guests are cut off from... Read More

January LaVoy's narration highlights all the drama in this corporate thriller with finesse. Her dynamic performance brings Caitlin Levy, newest associate at the tech start-up Aurora, to life. When a colleague goes missing during the firm's fancy retreat, Caitlin must weigh her impressive salary against the company's hidden politics. LaVoy's skillful pacing and intonation... Read More

Narrator Dara Brown's performance--full of foreboding--will have listeners questioning everything in this twisty thriller. Rookie PI Bailey Meadows goes undercover at an isolated Topanga Canyon writing retreat to find a missing woman. Brown channels Bailey's anxiety as she navigates the harsh landscape and tight-lipped canyon community. Bailey must also investigate her host,... Read More

An ensemble of outstanding narrators breathes terror into this stand-alone thriller focused on the disappearance of college student Nina Fraser. When Nina fails to return home from a vacation with her boyfriend, Simon Jordan, the stories, lies, and the demonic use of social media create a dark hole that listeners will fall into. Listeners hear from each of the main characters... Read More

Joniece Abbott-Pratt gives a dramatic performance of this flawed but interesting social issue drama. Her remarkably beautiful voice makes a sympathetic vehicle for the heroine, Deena Wood, a young, Black lawyer who has come home to Brunswick, Georgia, to nurse her wounds after a series of personal disasters. Deena's growing obsession with an old man's strange disappearance... Read More

Listeners join a group of friends at a birthday party who are discussing the murder of a fellow inhabitant of their peaceful Massachusetts town. When one of the partygoers is later discovered murdered, the story is told from the point of view of each character. As they do so, secrets and lies are revealed. The use of varied perspectives is complemented by the use of multiple... Read More

This audiobook quickly evolves into an eerie thriller, thanks to the extraordinary dialogue performed with precision by Paul Sparks. The story centers on Myra Larkin, who one evening befriends a young man claiming to be Mickey Mantle. That same evening, a triple homicide occurs nearby, which affects 13-year-old Myra and the entire Larkin family for decades. Sparks is an ideal... Read More