New Reviews by Title: E-J

There's a common belief that our mobile phones and devices are listening to us, and in this captivating thriller, the government allows them to do so. Questions on the right to privacy versus protectionism certainly arise. Matt Dillion as Hunter Stevens, Susan Kelechi Watson as Faith Stevens, Matthew Lillard as Tim Cannon, and a full cast bring palpable tension to solving a... Read More

Jensen Olaya masterfully pronounces Filipino words while narrating cynical 17-year-old Lucia's search for community. Lucia dutifully attends her wealthy cousin's traditional Filipino debut but staunchly objects to her mother's expectation that she have one, too. A fancy debut is not her thing. Besides, she doesn't have enough friends to invite. Lucia joins her school's comedy... Read More

Brittany Pressley's engaging performance builds mounting tension and dread as three sisters become trapped in a moneymaking scheme. In Detroit, where the auto industry has long since collapsed and families struggle to make ends meet, Brooke is given an opportunity that's almost too good to be true. She joins her sisters in "The Wheel," a secret group of women who are on a... Read More

Caspian Anderson retired from his secret role as the assassin Elias, but now that his parents have been taken into custody, he finds himself pressed into service again. Graham Halstead's steady, confident narration depicts Caspian's growing concern that his parents are entangled in a potentially deadly web involving the DEA and an assortment of international spies. One of these... Read More

Actor Cynthia Erivo narrates this WICKED prequel about future witch Elphaba's childhood. In the land of Oz, Erivo introduces listeners to precocious Elphie and her missionary family as they travel across the swamps and marshes of Quadling country. Elphie's complex relationship with her disabled sister, Nessarose, and curiosity about the world at large are at the center of this... Read More

Narrator Gail Shalan gives a spirited performance of this ghoulish mystery. Elvira, a half-siren who lives in a trailer park for monsters, is very skeptical of the human world outside it. When they learn that a human detective is on the case of the missing Marfa Monster Festival crown, Elvira and her friends decide to investigate on their own. But more monster residents... Read More

A full cast delivers a gripping listening experience in this fast-paced audio exclusive. Australian journalist Chrissy, a new mom, stumbles upon a photograph linked to a decades-old cold case. In 1980, Michael and Gloria Katzenbach were murdered at a ski resort where Chrissy's neighbor, Linda Calway, worked. Suspense mounts as Chrissy gathers clues to the killer's identity by... Read More

Sean Patrick Hopkins and Adenrele Ojo narrate a compelling addition to the world created by Stephen King in THE STAND. The anthology collects stories set during, after, and long after the events of the iconic novel. Hopkins's steady, engaging narration captures the essence of each story. With his clear enunciation and varied pacing, the different characters and harrowing... Read More

A scientist who breeds rare snails encounters sisters who provide "romance tours" in this audiobook. Set against the backdrop of wartime Ukraine, the complex story defies a simple summary or spoiler-proof description. Saskia Maarleveld delivers the female points of view with quiet intensity. Her nimble pace and sincere tone showcase Reva's solid prose. Max Meyers captures... Read More

Peter Noble does a beautiful job narrating Martin Walker's latest Chief Bruno mystery. His French accent (essential for the Perigord setting) is graceful and trustworthy, and he differentiates personalities convincingly. By this time there are quite a few repeating characters in this series, with as much texture provided by friendships, foodstuffs and how to cook them, and St.... Read More

Almost 30 years after his first visit to Trastevere, author and narrator Mark Radcliffe returns, this time with his wife, Bella, and their Cavapoo, Arlo. Five-year-old Arlo provides a delightful twist to this story with his cheerful dog's-eye perspective of their three-month Roman holiday. Radcliffe's English accent and breezy delivery are charming--but it's his portrayal of... Read More

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw makes this audiobook mystery equal parts thrilling and comforting as she narrates in alternating sassy and hushed tones. In 1964, mystery-and-romance-novel-loving Billie McCadie is one of the last people in Eastport, Maine, to see Gertrude alive after a mysterious man in a fedora comes to town. Soon, Billie starts receiving odd phone calls. Listeners will... Read More

Narrator Kate Coventry creates an energetic and high-pitched voice for the witch Evelyn, who, much to her initial disappointment, has only enough money to get a mystery pet, rather than the pet of her choice. What's more, the pet is inside an egg--so she doesn't know what it is. Coventry captures Evelyn's frustration as she struggles to wait patiently for her egg to hatch. She... Read More

This is a captivating YA supernatural mystery, and the audiobook makes it even more immersive. Set in 1999, the story follows Freddie Gellar, a quirky teen who stumbles into a chilling murder investigation after mistakenly calling the cops on a rival school's party. With prank wars, dark secrets, and an eerie poem tied to a centuries-old curse, the suspense builds quickly,... Read More

Mark Sanderlin is the perfect narrator for this story of a preteen boy who is keeping a huge secret. Sanderlin's tone is young and welcoming, his pace steady, and his enunciation precise. He voices the confusion and impatience of Nathan, who is living with a tremendous secret: He's the son of aliens--and now he's growing a tail! Nine other kids, spread across the country, share... Read More

The people, plants, landscapes, and histories of Hawaii come alive in this collection of short stories. Jennifer Robideau narrates with a light touch and minimal character voices, choosing instead to provide a welcome continuity of tone across the stories. Through her characters' intimate relationships with each other and their home places, Rigg explores the legacy of... Read More

Susan Dominus narrates her fascinating audiobook about the complexities of sibling dynamics with straightforward authority. Listeners who find themselves pondering assertions on the characteristics of "the middle child" or the leadership acumen of "the oldest daughter" should find this listening experience engaging. Dominus guides listeners through extensive research on... Read More

Miranda Raison's understated performance complements this quietly profound production. When an English couple divorce in 1982, it fractures their young daughter's life in ways she doesn't fully understand or heal from until a complex truth is revealed forty years later. The novel shifts between Dawn's romantic awakening with another woman and traumatic divorce proceedings from... Read More

Nathaniel Priestly ushers listeners into the mind and heart of Sydney Carton, who listeners may remember is the unfortunate protagonist of Charles Dickens's TALE OF TWO CITIES. Author Parry has given Carton a backstory that explains both his uncanny resemblance to Charles Darnay and his dissolution: He was stolen as a toddler by fairies and raised in their Realm. Now Carton is... Read More

Deep-voiced Ivan Sherry performs this convoluted mystery revolving around Herculaneum papyri, unexpected deaths, and prickly academics. History teacher Marcus Sinclair, having inherited a scroll and several million dollars from his Hungarian uncle, attends an academic conference about papyri in Naples, where his scroll is stolen. Sherry ratchets up the tension when a Google... Read More

Escape with narrator Samara MacLaren on a mystical journey filled with magic and dragons in this Celtic-inspired fantasy-romance. Aemyra, a powerfully blessed blacksmith, has been forced to live in hiding while awaiting the current king's death--upon which she can bond with his dragon and take her rightful place on the throne. However, her biggest enemy, Prince Fiorean, an... Read More

"Forensic ornithologist" are two words few people would put together. But they're the focus of this audiobook about a Smithsonian specialist whose vast knowledge of feathers led to solving mysteries surrounding aircraft accidents, murders, and other incidents. Sierra Prasada offers an able narration of this biography of pioneering researcher Roxie Laybourne. Prasada enlivens... Read More

Amy Jensen enthusiastically conveys author Jen Tota McGivney's admiration for Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau. Listeners will discover key lessons from Thoreau's WALDEN reframed for contemporary life. McGivney engages listeners by drawing surprising comparisons between Thoreau and Bruce Springsteen and showing how "Waldenomics" can help individuals balance making a good... Read More

This wonderful novel with its inherent musicality receives a noteworthy performance from Katrina Lenk. Clara, once a world-famous pianist, was badly burned in a fire and no longer plays. When she receives an unexpected inheritance from her despised former teacher, Madame, she's bewildered. The object, a priceless metronome missing since the 1800s, might have belonged to... Read More

Chloe Cannon guides listeners through this exploration of how animals and plants survive wildfires. Cannon's tone is engaging and steady as she maps out the methods nature has developed over time for animals to detect and evade wildfires. In a sensitively handled chapter with a content warning, wildfire deaths, injuries, and recovery methods are discussed. The final chapters... Read More

Katherine Littrell and Eden Gabay present this Covid-era journey aboard the Orient Express, a celebration for Australian cancer survivor Joe Penfield, who is accompanied by his twin sister, Meredith. Spirited descriptions of luxurious decor and dining, along with an international cast, are Christie-esque. It's shocking when a blood-soaked body is found in a locked cabin and,... Read More

When a father disappears one night, a fractured family tries to make peace with what happened. But the discordant echo of that night still haunts them. At a patiently revelatory pace, narrator Eunice Wong portrays the Kang family--Louisa, Anne, and Serk. As the story proceeds with multiple shifts in point of view, Wong expertly voices adolescent caprice, 20-something apathy,... Read More

Narrator Sarah Slimani's stellar characterizations enliven the third installment of the White Space series. Dr. Sunya Song embarks on a deep-space mission to study data from the Baomind, an ancient artificially intelligent construct. It's the opportunity of a lifetime, complete with a scheming ex-girlfriend who is a competing researcher, a surprise visit from her alien wife and... Read More

English novelist Penelope Fitzgerald took a mostly undocumented half-year sojourn to Mexico in the 1950s, and this new story by Jessica Francis Kane is a fictional account of that visit. Cerris Morgan-Moyer narrates as Fitzgerald and her young son become guests of two capricious spinsters who are distant relatives in small-town Fonseca. Their ambiguous invitation implied the... Read More

Audio fans' mouths will water as they listen to the excellent narration of Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. In this novel Isabella Pasternak, a semi-washed-out food writer, reluctantly accepts a new gig to ghostwrite a cookbook for former big-time, always hungover soap star Molly Babcock. The kitchen gets messy, and the relationship equally so. Nothing Isabella tries is good enough.... Read More

This audiobook, narrated by Billie Fulford-Brown and Joshua Riley, brings its story vividly to life. A sweeping romantasy full of magic, rebellion, and heartache, it follows Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson, who are taken from their mining towns as children to train as artisans in Belavere City. When they uncover a devastating truth, their bond shatters, thrusting them onto... Read More

Eleanor Bennett's crisp British accents bring listeners into the intriguing world of Feather, a small creature who lives in a crumbling wall next to a large, encroaching forest. She seems even more miniature as she takes off into unknown lands, seeking Merildun, a stranger who has stolen the spyglass that belongs to her people. Despite the small voice Bennett gives the heroine,... Read More

Two narrators portray Claire as she returns to her hometown. She's still haunted by her sister's murder years earlier. While there, she takes a job on a local farm run by the eccentric Mitchell and his wife, Marcia. After Claire discovers Marcia's hidden diary, she learns of a sinister cult that her sister may have been involved with. Karissa Vacker's talents are on full... Read More

Dan John Miller's no-nonsense delivery is fitting for this explosive exposé of U.S. Special Forces units. Harp's audiobook paints a dire picture of power abuses deeply ingrained in the military. Listeners who are familiar with Delta Force or Seal Team 6 are likely to find the reporting here alarming. The title refers to a system of funneling opiates and other drugs onto... Read More

With his seasoned delivery, Richard Poe brings a theatrical maturity to this story of a man who is looking for a huge second chance. Charlie and Vivian once met, fell in love, and married--but it didn't last. They were just too young and struggled with his alcoholism and their mutual immaturity. Forty years later, Charlie reappears, hoping to make amends and rekindle the flame... Read More

Narrator Susan Ericksen returns to this long-running series featuring Lt. Eve Dallas, who solves murders in New York City in the 2060s. This time, a failed artist is murdering street-licensed companions and leaving them outside art establishments, posed as Old Master paintings. Dallas and her partner, Peabody, are called to the scene. Dallas is married to Irish billionaire,... Read More

Narrator Maxwell Glick creates a youthful voice for 12-year-old Jax, who decides to run away and establish his own micronation after being forced to live with his aunt and uncle in Kansas. His new nation is founded on the farmland of the town pariah, Owen, whose brother mysteriously vanished nine years earlier. Glick captures Jax's emotions as he deals with the loss of his... Read More

The year 1963 marked a pivotal turning point in U.S. history, and this audiobook captures its drama and significance in vivid detail. Author and narrator Peniel E. Joseph guides listeners through the era's defining moments and people, including Martin Luther King, Jr., James Baldwin, and Malcolm X; the March on Washington and the assassinations of Medgar Evers and John F.... Read More

Swayam Bhatia helps listeners imagine the feisty spirit of North Indian Simi Singh, a 12-year-old who meets school and field hockey challenges handily. Bhatia reflects Simi's fear when threats come from a prejudiced classmate and the comfort she finds in her loving extended family. Bhatia depicts Simi's personality as her parents' interfaith Sikh-Muslim marriage puts the... Read More

Kristy Cambron's skill as a historical novelist (THE PARIS DRESSMAKER, THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN) shines in this complex story of war, recovery, food, romance, and espionage, expertly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. When Manon Altier signs up for classes at L'Ecole des Trois Gourmandes, she meets Julia Child and begins to confront her own confusing past. Maarleveld switches... Read More

This English translation of a French novella imagines the lives of strangers in an apartment building as described by their neighbor Nathalia in letters to her therapist. Narrator Alex Wyndham embodies the series of characters who tell their stories--or are they all Nathalia revealing herself to her therapist and the listener through first-person fiction? Some of Wyndham's... Read More

Julie Maisey brings verve and well-chosen characterizations to her performance of Griffiths's latest mystery. A departure from Griffiths's successful series featuring archaeologist Ruth Galloway, this new audiobook introduces Ali Dawson and a group of current-day investigators who travel in time. History-oriented instead of science- focused, the story is well researched and... Read More

This immersive audiobook revolves around scents, sensibility, sex, and success. Award-winning narrator Saskia Maarleveld tells the story of Iris, a thirty-five-year-old lighting consultant who is given a unique perfume that transforms her life. Maarleveld captures Iris's metamorphosis from underappreciated designer and rejected lover to a woman who stirs primal desires, exudes... Read More

Familiar faces and voices to viewers of home shopping, Dr. Brent Ridge and his husband, Josh Kilmer-Purcell, are the founders of Beekman 1802, a goat's milk skin-care line. Here, they offer a folksy primer on building a small business despite intense challenges. The introduction and concluding acknowledgments are narrated by the authors, as is an impromptu ad-libbed segment of... Read More

Listeners meet the very French Gabriële Buffet. An accomplished conductor and composer who was educated at the most elite French conservatory, she was way ahead of her time. But she also set her personal talent aside to be a muse for her husband, a Spanish artist. Barrie Kealoha portrays Gabriële as the brilliant artist and intellectual she was during the Belle poque, when... Read More

A full cast brings this graphic novel to life on audio. Author Mike Curato narrates in an innocent tone as AJ, who is new to Seattle and anxious to break into the gay dating scene. When he crashes into a gorgeous drag queen, K, she sweeps him into her "Boy Luck Club." Nicky Endres brings elegance to their portrayal of K, who mothers the group of gay Asian friends while hiding... Read More

Jeannie Sheneman returns to narrate the second installment in the Boneyard Key series. Sophie, a Boneyard Key native and ghost tour guide, is competing with transplant Tristan, who has moved there to establish his own ghost tour business. The two compete over which of them will become the most popular guide, but as the competition becomes more heated, so does their potential... Read More

An unsolved small-town family murder will draw listeners deep into its tangled secrets. Olivia, a ghostwriter who is being professionally ostracized, returns home to collaborate with her estranged father, Vincent, on his true-crime memoir. Vincent's deteriorating health and Olivia's own traumatic childhood complicate the project as they piece together the fragmented events... Read More

Hannah Curtis portrays houseboat dweller Maeve Gardner, who finds a large stash of cash in the bumper alongside the London canal where she's tied up. Soon Maeve's life begins to resemble one of the mysteries she ghostwrites, particularly when her ex-boyfriend shows up dead, floating in the canal. Liam Gerrard brings skilled accents and a lyrical tone to the main narrative,... Read More

Narrator Edward A. Mendoza captures the otherworldly mood of this unique story. Selfish 12-year-old Barnaby and his parents spend three weeks packing his grandpa's belongings for a move. Barnaby's relief at getting to stay in an attic room turns to dismay when the spoiled ghost of a man named Maxwell, who died in the 1980s, demands his help with unfinished business. Mendoza... Read More

Sophie Gilbert provides an informed yet approachable delivery of her research on pop culture and how misogyny framed the narrative of commercial feminine empowerment. Listeners who came of age during the late 1990s through the 2000s, or were plugged into the popular cultural moments then, may have vivid memories of Britney Spears at the Video Music Awards, Kim Kardashian on... Read More

Golden Voice narrator Simon Vance returns to deliver the eighth installment of the Millennium series, which began with THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. Author Karin Smirnoff continues to build on the characters and plots she created for her prior addition to the series. Sadly, original series icons Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist are a less prominent part of the story... Read More

Narrators AhDream Smith, Erin Spencer, and Khaya Fraites draw listeners into the lives of three single teenage mothers--Simone, Emory, and Adela. Through alternating perspectives, the narrations capture each character's struggles and hopes as the women navigate pregnancy and motherhood while coming of age in Padua Beach, Florida. Smith conveys Simone's resilience and heartache... Read More

Narrator Michelle H. Lee performs an emotional retelling of Jane Austen's PERSUASION. K-drama actress Anne Lee is caught up in her feelings for fire captain Frederick Nam, even though she left him 10 years ago to pursue acting in Korea. Frederick and Anne, as well as their friends and family in the Los Angeles area, all have distinct voices in conversation. Lee perfectly... Read More

Gwen and her three younger siblings inherit their family home on a sparsely inhabited island after their mother and grandparents die. Narrator Charlie Sanderson creates credible character voices for independent and strong-willed Gwen and her family--petulant Roger, twins Hester and Hazel, and their ineffective but sincere stepfather, Henry. When Esme Laverne is hired to watch... Read More

In a light tone and quick cadence, Kelsey Osgood recounts the stories of seven millennial women who encountered God through different means, faiths, and worship experiences. Chinese American Angela became a Quaker, while Sara, who suffered from the trauma of the Boston Marathon bombing, found healing in evangelicalism. Kate was drawn to the stories and structure of Mormonism.... Read More

What a treat for Godzilla fans--and isn't that just about everyone--a production beautifully performed by Kaipo Schwab. The two stories in this audiobook conjure up unforgettable images of the rampaging monster through the eyes of his victims. The novellas were written by Shigeru Kayama, who wrote the original 1954 Godzilla movie. Schwab flawlessly imbues the characters with... Read More

This haunting collection of stories by Argentinian writer Schweblin is exquisitely written, thoughtfully translated, and narrated by a full cast. Six fine narrators perform works that take the listener to Europe and Argentina, presenting characters in crisis. While all do exceptional work, Alma Cuervo's cadence, eloquent style, and measured delivery of "A Fabulous Animal,"... Read More

Helen Laser is a good narrator, but her skills are not put to full use here. It's 1963, and Barbara Feldman has been processing her husband's sudden death for two years. Now her mother-in-law, Ruth, moves in, disrupting Barbara's attempts to forge a new path and sowing seeds of chaos. This audiobook is fairly predictable in its plot and delivery. There are few surprises, and... Read More

Narrator Lois Chimimba's delightful Scottish brogue adds authenticity to this mystery. Forensic scientist Dr. Claudia Atkins O'Sheil fights upper-class privilege and corruption to get to the truth of a murder case involving the possible wrongful convictions of a couple. Chimimba gives an empathetic tone to Dr. O'Sheil as she realizes how disproven techniques in forensic science... Read More

Narrators Karissa Vacker and Will Watt delight listeners with this ghostly holiday romance. Harriet York isn't exactly Scrooge, so she's baffled about why she's being haunted by Nolan Callahan, the Ghost of Christmas Past. When they explore Harriet's past, both realize they're more connected than they thought, and Nolan begins to hope for a future with Harriet. As the narrators... Read More

Samin Nosrat's warm and encouraging voice guides listeners through various kitchen adventures in these selections from her cookbook GOOD THINGS. The author of SALT FAT ACID HEAT and star of the Netflix series reflects on her struggles with depression and how she cooks now, shares recipes for "small good things" like Olive Oil Fried Bread, and expounds on the joys of eating with... Read More

This romantic young adult audiobook is tenderly narrated by Michael Crouch. After nearly perishing in an accident, Brennan awakens with a new craving for blood and no guidance whatsoever. Super-cute student librarian Cole is happy to keep Brennan's secret as he figures out how to be a vampire. Crouch's talent for authentically conveying characters' emotions creates scenes of... Read More

Robert Fass's performance gives this utterly believable novel the life it deserves. Fictional writer Jed Rosenthal is playing detective--he's curious about why his grandparents, Babs and Lou Rosenthal, and their closest friends, Essee and Irv Kupcinet, suddenly ended a lifelong friendship some years ago. Tracing the two families' histories unveils a series of real events.... Read More

Elena Rey builds sympathy for two characters with an unlikely alliance in this fantasy. She captures the feelings of Graciela Lima, a 12-year-old who is swept into the sea and awakens as a sea spirit a hundred years later. Rey's narration builds the details of this complex undersea realm--complete with creatures of all kinds and purposes. Rey also portrays the blacksmith's son,... Read More

Diver James McGregor is hired for a special job--recovering the wreckage of the GRAVE DESCEND, which recently sank off the coast of Jamaica. He soon realizes something isn't right. When he asks around about what happened, everyone's story is different. Narrator Dion Graham is at his best as he shapes voices for a variety of characters, including those with Jamaican accents.... Read More

It's 1970s Los Angeles, and detective Easy Rawlins's life is slow and laid-back, but he feels an underlying restlessness. Narrator Michael Boatman deftly portrays this ennui but soon shifts into hero mode. A missing person case involving a woman with a troubled past falls into his hands, and a tense and twisting plot unfolds. Easy's secretary is now a novice detective, and his... Read More

Narrator Imani Jade Powers shines in this compelling debut novel. Set in the summer of 1999, the story focuses on Rachel Fiske, a recent high school graduate. After friend and family drama, Rachel is sent to Greenwich, Connecticut, to spend the summer with her wealthy aunt and uncle and their young daughter. Powers captures Rachel's thoughts--her fears, immaturity, and... Read More

The truly frightening Brothers Grimm story about an evil witch who devours children is made even more sinister as interpreted by Stephen King. This 30-minute audiobook, narrated by King himself, isn't a bedtime story for children, but rather a horror story for adults. King may not have the performing skills of an actor, but his earnest delivery makes up for it. His narration is... Read More

Dion Graham's lilting West African accent for Boubacar, the down-on-his-luck, trouble-always-finds-him detective in this dark story of broken dreams and third-world intrigue, is nothing short of mesmerizing. Graham's noir-style tone invites the listener into the back alleys, political corruption, and heart-pounding violence of this audiobook's surreal postcolonial dystopia.... Read More

Golden Voice Cassandra Campbell gives a splendid performance of this historical fiction audiobook with a touch of romance. In the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, Harvey Houses, with their all-female waitstaffs, offered excellent employment opportunities for women in their restaurants at train stations in the southwestern U.S. This novel revolves around two new... Read More

Christopher Ryan Brandt adds to the energy of this wild tale of two investigators, a meth-addicted hog, and a fringe group of women wielding hatchets. Hap and Leonard are ready to trade investigative work for the good life when a single mother stumbles into their office, begging for help with the hog that lives next door to her. When the hog's owners are found dead, it slowly... Read More

Kelsey Navarro Foster and Aaron Shedlock charm listeners with this magical witchy romance. Leona Sherwood's family is the most powerful in all of Witchingdom, and she's next in line to lead the family. However, on a girls' trip to Vegas she does the unthinkable when she falls for--and marries--Erik Svensen, the son of her family's sworn enemy. Now, she wants a divorce, but he... Read More

Narrator George Newbern's warm, conversational tone reflects the author's empathy for fellow headache sufferers. Tom Zeller Jr. argues that the headache is a common yet misunderstood malady that doesn't get enough funding for medical research. Often, it isn't taken seriously--as shown in the common expression "just a headache." Newbern is patient, and his phrasing is always... Read More

Before she became a famous poet, Maya Angelou was a dancer, singer, actor, activist, magazine writer and editor, and a university administrator. This audio version of her fourth memoir covers her life from 1957 to 1962, roughly from the time of her move to New York City--where she met, among others, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X--and then to Accra, Ghana. The story is... Read More

This bittersweet, immersive audiobook unites King with Rebecca Lowman, one of our finest narrative voices. Lowman is at her shape-shifting best as she matches her tone, pace, and timing to each character. The protagonist, who begins the novel in her final days at college, becomes an author. Called "Jordan" by her two brilliant friends, Sam and Yash, she reveals the story of a... Read More

Jennifer Pickens narrates this darkly unique retelling of "Snow White." Anja is an expert on poisons who regularly drinks small doses of them in her quest to find cures. The king is desperate to prevent his daughter, Snow, from dying, and summons Anja to prevent it. Pickens adjusts her approach appropriately for several characters: Anja is depicted with straightforward... Read More

Narrator Mike Zuzel captures these stories about Olympic athletes-- some well known, others not--who went above and beyond in heroic or sacrificial gestures in their careers. Zuzel's deep voice is consistent and calming. He narrates clearly with restrained enthusiasm. The stories that emerge are interesting and include accounts of track athlete Peter Norman and his famed 1968... Read More

Michael Puttonen narrates this nonfiction work on the 1980 prison riot at the Penitentiary of New Mexico. The story recounts the prison's history and describes its bleak location, as well as the longstanding apathy and abuse that led to the bloody skirmish that killed both inmates and guards. The story focuses on two brothers: Gary, a nonviolent first offender who was... Read More

Sophie Amoss's narration elevates an uneven story into a more engaging experience. Struggling graduate student Dorothe Bartleby must pass her final exam in the Magic program, but when she's required to combine digital technology with spells, disaster results. Amoss's performance brings clarity and rhythm to the text, grounding its twee and meandering tone with precise pacing... Read More

Nicholas Boulton's narration makes L.P. Hartley's discursive novel about difficult class relations and thwarted love more involving than it might otherwise be. He gives each character a distinctive voice, ably indicating gender and class. Most engaging is the main character, Leadbitter, a tough WWI vet, brawler, misogynist, and chauffeur for hire, who has a gravelly voice and a... Read More

A young history professor at a private college, Daphne Ouverture, becomes entangled in the murder investigation of a fellow faculty member when pictures of her are found on the victim's phone. Jasmin Walker's enjoyable narration portrays Daphne's lighthearted approach to the challenges she faces as a young woman of color in academia. The story becomes tense when Daphne is... Read More

Voicing multiple characters with little apparent effort, Golden Voice Nicholas Boulton keeps the listener engaged with this comedy of manners and mores in academia in 1972. The setting is a college in southeast England, where Professor Howard Kirk has come to teach sociology and, we learn, engage in intellectual jousting with colleagues while seducing his students. Throwing... Read More

While listeners will miss his unmistakable voice, this assembly of David McCullough's shorter uncollected pieces offers illuminating glimpses of the popular historian's work habits and methods. Commemorative speeches, his PARIS REVIEW interview, and his reflections on writing about Harry Truman, Abigail Adams, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Panama Canal remind listeners of... Read More

Ramona Master and Noah B. Perez dazzle listeners in this steamy holiday romance. Valencia is ready to let loose at a holiday dance party after calling it quits with her cheating ex. However, the last thing she expects is to run into Gideon, her high school archnemesis, for whom she experiences an instant steamy attraction. They make a pact to spend 12 days together--but will it... Read More

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw's narration of the first book in this cozy mystery series is delightful. She brings a warm, engaging tone to the story of Prairie Nightingale, a divorced homemaker with two daughters. Her neighbors might call her a busybody, but Prairie's insatiable curiosity drives her to investigate when her neighbor, popular mom and entrepreneur Lisa Radcliffe, goes... Read More

Narrators Kelsey Navarro Foster and Tim Paige have strong chemistry in this fun paranormal romance. Witches Azrael and Victoria, childhood friends, run into each other after Victoria investigates buying a tea shop that Azrael's parents used to own. During their exchange, they accidentally summon undead spirits and must find a way to save their town before a devil consumes it.... Read More

Helen Laser gives a satisfying performance of a story that seems like the two sides of a vinyl album. On side A, it's the summer of 1989. Ten-year-old Suzanne joins her rocker father on tour with his band. The tour ends with a shocking event. On the B side, Suzanne is 30 years older, married to Rob, and living a quiet suburban life--until she decides to hit the road to learn... Read More

Jeremy Bobb transports listeners to Russia during the early days of the invasion of Ukraine as Detective Arkady Renko investigates the brutal murder of a Russian minister of defense. Bobb's strong narration, which is marked by authentic-sounding pronunciation and excellent timing, provides the perfect backdrop for this contemporary thriller, which exudes a distinct atmosphere... Read More

This contemporary gothic novel is narrated by Helen Laser. After a breakup and an upsetting incident at work, Cassie retreats to her hometown, where she reconnects with her high school friend, Eli, whose wife, Beth, has just passed away. Eli is immediately drawn to Cassie, and they marry quickly. But Cassie, who struggles with OCD, isn't a good fit for the life Beth left... Read More

Lead narrator Colleen Delany takes on the lion's share of this full-cast dramatization of the second half of Book 3 of the Crescent City series. Plucky, talented Bryce Quinlan, portrayed by Kit Swann, wields a sword and a long knife against evil yet agile foes, including the godlike Asteri, who have conquered her world. Bryce and her warrior husband, Hunt Athalar, voiced by... Read More

Greg Tremblay's wholehearted narration provides listeners with the perfect mystery companion for a summer weekend. When a group of college friends gather at a seaside home, one of them disappears. Little do they know that someone is watching them from the nearby marsh. Each character is given their own voice--except for the narrator, who retains Tremblay's somber baritone. His... Read More

Journalist Amy Larocca narrates with quick pacing that works well with this fast-moving kaleidoscope of observations and insights about today's self-care craze. Her performance has a street-smart quality that's not inappropriate, given the aggressive marketing and snake-oil claims proffered by today's health and beauty marketers. The pervasiveness of ads, images, and expert... Read More

Satire isn't easy to write or to perform. Both the author and the narrator succeed notably in this funny, trenchant debut novel. William DeMeritt uses all his acting skills plus a strong narrative delivery to portray the wide cast of characters who live in this audiobook. He convincingly inhabits the hyperactive mind of Anders, a 15-year-old Tom Sawyer-like youth with a talent... Read More

In Book 2 of this series, Annie's plans to nestle into her newly inherited country mansion are interrupted by the murder of a fortune teller. Alexandra Dowling provides a contemporary no-nonsense voice for Annie, who is determined to understand the victim's puzzling last message and how it relates to the suspicious death of her own great-aunt. Flashback chapters that take place... Read More

Masterfully narrated by Gabra Zackman, Arnold's debut mash-up of CLUE and HOUSE OF HORRORS pits seven authors of horror books against the late but still legendary horror icon Mortimer Queen. In order to leave the Queen mansion, they must solve six riddles, one in each room before proceeding to the next. If they don't solve each one in time or they guess incorrectly, one of them... Read More

In this audiobook, Kate Marvel describes her work in the field of climate science. Courtney Patterson's intelligent, well-developed narration sets the tone for the author's predictions about the world the next generation will encounter--as forecast by predictive scientific models. Patterson's edifying and confident style is an apt complement to the author's accounts of the... Read More

An ensemble of experienced narrators combine their talents to portray the passengers and crew on a billionaire's superyacht as a death onboard turns fragile relationships into mistrust. Each narrator clearly defines their character, highlighting varied personality traits. The result is a cast of delightfully unlikable individuals. The multiple narrators enhance the listening... Read More

Alma Cuervo's polished narration is perfect for this unconventional, dreamlike tale blending folklore and fantasy, seamlessly translated from Spanish. Listeners are drawn into the final day of Bernadeta's life, which takes place in a remote farmhouse in the rugged Guilleries mountains of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. As she lies dying, the voices of her female ancestors,... Read More

Elisabeth Rodgers narrates with tasteful objectivity yet infuses this engrossing audiobook with all the emotion it deserves. Sounding more like a novel than a true-crime story, this account of the lives of four University of Idaho students before their horrific murders reveals a group of popular young people who enjoyed partying, were part of loving families, and were naïve... Read More

Narrator Ashley J. Hobbs brings vibrancy to this audiobook about the family you build with the people who know you best. Raised by her grandfather, Aaliyah craves a connection with her real parents, who left her as a toddler. When she secretly contacts her mother on Facebook, it sets off a string of events. Hobbs voices Aaliyah as a whip-smart but emotionally fragile young... Read More

Jayne Entwistle shows remarkable vocal versatility in this fantasy audiobook featuring Jack the Ripper and Medusa. While volunteering for the Salvation Army in New York City in 1888, Tabitha and her headstrong roommate, Pearl, attempt to help a woman escape from the brothel where she's forced to work. Entwistle narrates these segments in a generic American accent, a New York... Read More

In this poignant, fragmented memoir, poet and novelist Hala Alyan reflects on her journey to motherhood through surrogacy. She narrates with an emotional intensity that matches the intimacy of the prose, her voice sometimes scratchy with grief, sometimes full of love. The memoir unfolds in a series of nonlinear moments and memories--of her marriage, her college years in Beirut,... Read More

Ray Bradbury's collection of 18 interconnected stories is a beloved classic. In "The Long Rain," Prentice Onayemi captures the brooding madness of a group of astronauts who are stranded in the terminal storms of Venus. In "The Rocket," Ari Fliakos delivers the absurd humor of a destitute father who decides that it's better for his children to watch a "simulated illusion" than... Read More

Narrator Cynthia Farrell's strong and steady voice engages listeners as she vocalizes iconic photographer Imogen Cunningham's passion for capturing the world with her art. A childhood love of picture books evolves into a talent for drawing and painting, and eventually Imogen discovers an affinity for photography. Taking pictures allows her to capture the world as she views it... Read More

Fiona Shaw's inviting narration captures the humor and intrigue of this delightful new Thursday Murder Club mystery. The retirees are busy with their own lives--especially Joyce, who's helping to plan her daughter's wedding. However, when Nick, the best man, tells Elizabeth that someone is trying to kill him and then disappears, the sleuths are on the case. Shaw gives the... Read More

Hillary Huber's steady narration enhances this biography of the unlikely phenomenon that was Victoria Woodhull. Born in rural Ohio in 1838 to a con man and a spiritualist, Woodhull went from rags to riches twice and married thrice while reinventing herself during a long life. She was a spiritualist, a Christian, a free-love proponent, a stockbroker, a suffrage supporter, a... Read More

In the first installment of The Siren Mage romantasy series, narrator Ell Potter transports listeners to a land of myth and magic. After her siren powers emerge, Imogen begs Theodore, a king who is visiting for her engagement celebration, to rescue her from certain death. Forging a blood bond for their safety, the two wrestle with their feelings for each other and the... Read More

Intended for children, this audiobook contains tough truths for listeners of all ages. Derrick Barnes introduces his story with an author's note imbued with empathy and resolve, telling listeners that he sees its fictional main character as the embodiment of his sons. At age 13, Henson Blayze is a football idol in his small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi. He loves his dad,... Read More

Narrator Diana Bustelo brings this travel memoir to life in a tone that adds depth and warmth. The audiobook recalls author Ursula Pike's experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador when she was in her late 20s. A member of the North American Karuk Tribe, Pike hopes to connect with Ecuador's Indigenous people. Yet, arriving from the U.S. with a degree in economics, she... Read More

Narrator Ali Stroker introduces teen listeners to Bliss, a high school influencer who is tackling misconceptions about wheelchair users. Stroker ensures that Bliss is seen beyond her disability through her exuberant broadcasts to her many social media followers. Lainey, voiced by Nora Hunter, is one of them. Hunter chronicles Lainey's increasing isolation as her brother moves... Read More

Amelia Hugh's narration adds emotional depth to this dark fantasy audiobook. Harmony is a poor young woman whose life spirals into chaos when her best friend is discovered at the scene of a murdered king. Hunted by a sorcerer who raises the dead and drawn into the intrigue surrounding the king's enigmatic brother, Harmony must navigate a brewing revolution, long hidden secrets,... Read More

Sophie Amoss narrates this intriguing mystery set primarily onboard the International Space Station. Though Commander Lucy Poplasky had mused about making her mark during her mission, she never dreamed she'd find herself investigating sabotage. After an ammonia leak threatens the station's crew, Lucy must discover whether it was caused by their Russian counterparts or by a... Read More

Golden Voice Edoardo Ballerini narrates art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon's latest adventure, set largely in Italy and the Vatican. Ballerini's lyrical pronunciation of Italian proper names and places showcases the beauty of the Italian language. Listeners are swept into the intrigue surrounding the discovery and loss of a Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece, a situation that places... Read More

A mind-control expert examines the coercive and subtle ways people can be made to adopt distorted thinking that works against their own interests and free will. Describing examples like the brainwashing of Korean War prisoners and cults that distort personalities, Rebecca Lemov explains that these corruptions of self-interest and autonomy almost always follow a pattern of... Read More

Sneha Mathan's mellifluous voice draws listeners into this lyrical rumination on what it means to be an intelligent woman of a certain age. Fifty-five and disabled, an Indian feminist sociology professor with two divorces behind her decides she's tired of being alone. She's ready to meet someone and marry again. She decides to hold a "swayamvar," an ancient Hindu ritual in... Read More

The poet and critic Terrance Hayes named Patricia Smith the most important and interesting Black poet writing today. He didn't mention, however, the excellence of her performance of her work. This audiobook brings together her most recent poetry and a selection of older poems, giving the listener a fine idea of her career so far. Both the poems and Smith's readings are full of... Read More

Narrator Mark Deakins provides appropriately measured enthusiasm for Mark Synnott's account of sailing his 47-foot boat, POLAR SUN, through the Northwest Passage. Synnott funds his plans by selling the idea of searching for nineteenth-century explorer Sir John Franklin's tomb to National Geographic, among others. The author alternates between his own nautical adventure and the... Read More

R.C. Bray's narration transforms this Machine War prequel into a visceral audio experience. Bray distinguishes Tyron Red, Sergeant Rodriguez, and Corporal Pepper with subtly varied tones and inflections, making each character instantly recognizable. Action scenes resonate through precise timing and tonal variation, while exposition is clear and digestible. The stark contrast... Read More

Renata Friedman gives a glorious narration of this satisfying audiobook, which is part slow-burn romance and part heartwarming family story. After her grandmother's death, 28-year-old Seattle project manager Mallory is bequeathed her grandparents' Florida home on the condition that she help care for her "Gramps." Friedman captures the humor in Mallory's reluctance to leave her... Read More

Listeners will enjoy the short, magical adventure of young Cala and her family during the night of Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead). While they all begin to gather in the cemetery to remember loved ones and friends who have passed on, it's clear that Cala is apprehensive and scared, especially now that her grandfather has died. At some point, she's separated from her family and... Read More

Shakira Shute delivers a performance perfectly matching the emotional tone of this romance novel. Amelia, a driven professional who is healing from a breakup, encounters Jude, a charismatic and possessive billionaire, during a visit to a luxury spa. What appears to be a spontaneous connection quickly reveals itself to be a carefully orchestrated encounter. As their relationship... Read More

This dark story of a plausible future has a propulsive plot and intriguing characters. Suzy Jackson delivers it with wonder, as well as good timing, tempo, and tone. The end-times plot is set at the world's last zoo, which is housed on Alcatraz Island. Here a billionaire has collected some of the last animals on the planet, which has been stricken with a fungal pandemic. The... Read More

This delightful second-chance romance takes place in sunlit Italy. After a disastrous public proposal, Ramin escapes abroad, only to bump into Noah, his high school crush and now a divorced dad traveling with his family. Their reunion blossoms into a heartfelt, spicy romance that's as much about rediscovery as it is about love. Narrators Corvin King and Vikas Adam bring warmth... Read More

Kristen DiMercurio, Cindy Kay, and Mark Bramhall perform this story of a decrepit mansion that is haunted by the wrathful ghost of a long-dead Hollywood legend and her greatest foe. When Ronnie buys a broken-down mansion following the death of her brother, she expects to find bad wiring in the basement, not a shrine to the actress Venita Rost and not ghosts. DiMercurio keeps... Read More

Author and narrator Jeff Burgess offers a straightforward, somewhat simplistic discussion of his evolving career and leadership interests in a candid, humorous, asynchronous series of anecdotes. An underachiever in his early 20s, Burgess heeded his parents' advice and diligently worked his way up from salesman in a computer parts warehouse to CEO of his own multimillion-dollar... Read More

An American journalist whose grandparents were Sicilian-born offers a delightful collection of observations and insights about the Italian way of life. Based on her family's traditions and her colorful travels throughout Italy, this audiobook provides a deeply satisfying picture of Italians: their lack of urgency, love of conversation and eating, and habit of living in balance... Read More

Rima Ahmed, a BBC Radio presenter, delivers a warm and resonant performance of this rich collection of stories about food and family. Ahmed's regional English accent adds curiosity and vitality to Shahnaz Ahsan's memoir, which spans her diverse family history and travels across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Ahmed infuses a balance of quiet awe and trepidation into the author's... Read More

A'Lelia Bundles narrates her biography of her great-grandmother, A'Lelia Walker, with pride. A'Lelia Walker was the daughter of the first wealthy African American woman, Madam C.J. Walker, who created a Black hair-care empire long before the Civil Rights movement. Bundles projects the excitement of the historical period in which A'Lelia--stubborn and loyal to a fault--set out... Read More

Though the author's history of childhood sexual abuse, poverty, a father's betrayal, a crippling motorcycle accident, and a chronic pain condition is daunting to hear, Amberly Lago's resilient approach to these tragedies and beguiling narration make this a joyful audiobook. With her quiet strength and warm voice, she sounds familiar, matter-of-fact, and inviting--like an old... Read More

Susan Orlean, a NEW YORKER columnist and one of the early writers to bring inventiveness into creative nonfiction, shows her perfect sense of timing in both the writing and the narration of her memoir. Using the same thoughtful detail and pithy wit she's known for, Orlean now turns the lens inward, discussing her life and her extraordinary relationship with the creative... Read More

The author's youthful tone and timbre, as well as her audible devotion to her profession, give added energy to the fresh ideas she offers about aging joyfully. A tireless researcher and teacher, the gerontologist presents the empowering research she's produced that glows with promise. She says a long lifespan and good health mean little if you're miserable and joyless during... Read More

Narrators Samantha Cook and Connor Crais deliver this romance novel featuring Charlotte Kendall and billionaire Jared Sterling. Sparks fly between them when they attend a wedding. Then they discover their one-night stand has led to an unplanned pregnancy. Jared wants to be in Charlotte's life, but her life is complicated. She has twin daughters, who are given youthful,... Read More