New Reviews by Title: K-O

This dramatic audiobook chronicles the first months that followed the opening month of WWI, a history memorably depicted in Barbara Tuchman's THE GUNS OF AUGUST. This narrative describes the struggle that then unfolded in Flanders. Narrator Paul Boehmer has the range and stamina needed for so vast and bloody a tale. One hero emerges, King Albert of Belgium. Albert's valiant... Read More

Tune your ear to a rap beat and prepare for a great listen. It's 1999, and Pernell, a failing high school student, uses a pen recorder to capture his thoughts for posterity in case the Y2K hysteria is true and civilization collapses. Author and narrator Idris Goodwin showcases the personalities of Pernell's caring parents and friends, as well as an antagonistic teacher, through... Read More

Narrator Lorelei King masterfully voices the second entry in this series. Recovery Agent Gabriella Rose commits to getting her ex-husband's cousin out of trouble by traveling the globe to retrieve missing art and antiquities. With her ex, Rafer Jones, Rose confronts lots of villains. The plot stretches believability, but listeners seeking a fun romp filled with colorful, and... Read More

This audiobook written and read by award-winning journalist Sara Kehaulani Goo is the story of her family's property on the east side of Maui, which was given to them in 1848 by the King of Hawai'i. They never developed the land but continue to be committed to protecting their ownership. As the value of the land has increased, the taxes have risen, and it's become increasingly... Read More

Narrator Gerard Doyle fully embodies all the characters in this historical adventure, which includes a splash of social commentary. A 19th-century teenaged aristocrat, Andrew, flees his unhappy English family, renouncing an ill-gotten inheritance to seek freedom as an ordinary sailor. The fast-paced story of his life on the high seas is told by a diverse cast of characters,... Read More

Narrator Joy Regullano captures the voice of 11-year-old Lila Clement, who reluctantly travels to Ohio with her family after her estranged grandfather's death. Her parents must settle his estate, which includes the mysterious inn Grandpa Clem owned. Soon after Lila and her brother arrive, strange occurrences begin, and Lila starts seeing ghosts. Terrified yet curious, she... Read More

In the second installment of the Echo Archives series, Moira Quirk grounds listeners in the human side of a fantastical adventure. Kembral Thorne is navigating a new relationship with the sly thief Rika Nonesuch. Drawn to a mysterious island, they become embroiled in a locked-room mystery involving the reading of a will and cursed relics. To defeat the creatures responsible,... Read More

Eileen Stevens narrates this slow-paced audiobook based on a true story. In 1956, sweet Midwesterner Carolyn Banks rents her great-aunts' eerie mansion on New York's Upper East Side. Unbeknownst to her, it's inhabited by familial ghosts, including her audacious Great-Aunt Snug. When Alfred Hitchcock and some of his actor friends have a party there in hopes of a ghostly... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld narrates this first installment of a new fantasy trilogy called Kingdom of Oak and Steel. Holt Hawley, an outcast soldier, is sent on a mission to find the last member of the Vigilant order, Enelda Drake. In addition, a boy has been kidnapped from a locked room, and if he's not recovered, a war will ensue. Hawley and Enelda confront corrupt soldiers and... Read More

Golden Voice narrator Dominic Hoffman narrates his own short story collection with a vocal swagger. His rambling tales, which sound like fever dreams, hook the listener right away. Hoffman's deep, steady voice complements his wily main characters, mostly Black men who are doing their best to navigate an uncertain world. Hoffman is a seasoned actor, and his narration has a... Read More

Listeners will thoroughly enjoy this warm performance by Deanna Anthony. After a grave misunderstanding relating to her position with the Ryser corporation, Lauryn is transferred to its charity department back in her hometown of Greenstead, the town Ryser ran into the ground. She tries to get her old job back, but when she's given the opportunity to work on charity projects... Read More

Narrators M.K. Blackwood and Will Damron give hilarious and heartfelt performances in this contemporary romance. Avery has always been attracted to her brother's best friend, Henry. When they both become stranded on a deserted island, she decides it might be time to give in to that long, lingering attraction. But falling in love is definitely not her intention. Blackwood's... Read More

This audio gem from Indigenous authors features stories in which elders offer guidance to young Native Americans. Various Native voices introduce listeners to Sandy June's Frybread Drive-In, known as SJ's, which magically opens whenever a teen faces a social challenge--for example, fitting in. An elder cooks while listening to the teen's concerns and offers advice. In "Kathy's... Read More

Narrators Sena Bryer, Lisa Flanagan, and Marisa Calin enliven the characters of Jamie, a young witch, and her mother, Serena, along with the text in a mysterious 300-year-old book that weaves through this queer fantasy audiobook. In the present, Jamie, a New England graduate school student who is studying literature and is secretly a witch, has a lot on her plate. She's also... Read More

Narrator Louisa Zhu introduces listeners to four librarians who work together at a public library in Austen. The game night held on Hazel Lee's second day on the job seems to go well--that is, until police arrive to question staff about the murder of an attendee. After another patron is killed, the librarians uncover threads that implicate one of them. To avoid being arrested,... Read More

Immersive and imaginative storytelling is enlivened by narrators Lindsey Dorcus and Mara Wilson. After Charlie's sister dies, her ability to see the dead leads her into a Chicago way station for souls beneath Lake Michigan. There, she becomes caught up in a struggle for humanity between the station's ferryman; his daughter, Nera, a ferryman in training; and an imprisoned demon.... Read More

Actor Javier Muñoz, who also starred in HAMILTON, delivers an engaging performance as he delivers this biography of playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda. Muñoz gives a much-deserved sense of joy to Pollack-Pelzner's careful research, amusing anecdotes, and quotes from Miranda, overlooking nothing from his early life to his later influences. Special attention is paid to Miranda's... Read More

Soneela Nankani surrounds listeners with the warmth of Toronto's Christmas festivities as she portrays the romance between two Muslim Canadians. Ruby meets Rashid at a Christmas tree lot and finds him to be a sullen Grinch. But Rashid's persona changes as he and Ruby communicate honestly and agree to Christmas outings with his two nieces. Ruby's dedication to holiday traditions... Read More

With his rich vocal tone and flawless enunciation, Michael Imperioli delivers this expansive work of Buddhist teaching with grace and resonance with the author's message. His beautiful phrasing range and pitch patterns never overshadow the content, and the emotional depth of his delivery makes every detail in the audiobook powerful. The author, a Tibetan lama, filmmaker, and... Read More

John Sackville's gently authoritative narration draws listeners in as Adam Weymouth retraces the 2011 cross-country journey of Slavc, a young male wolf who moves from Slovenia through Austria and into Italy. Species coexistence is explored through the lenses of deeply entrenched cultural attitudes, the viability of rural communities, government-led conservation efforts, and... Read More

In this audiobook, Ruth befriends Maria when the two are children, and their relationship remains a constant as they mature. Shayna Small's gentle voice works well with the text, but she can't make up for the story's weaknesses: The plot is slow and inconsistent in structure and characterizations. Some details are minutely examined, while important moments are glossed over.... Read More

Audie Award-winning narrator Will Patton animates this 40-year-old Pulitzer Prize winner, which has become the archetypal Western novel. A contingent of former Texas Rangers, cowboys, and others are driving stolen Mexican cattle north to Montana. The trip is long and arduous. Along the way, they endure ornery cattle; wild rivers; sudden storms; and attacks by bandits, renegade... Read More

Adam Sims infuses this iconic American coming-of-age story with controlled energy. Considered an autobiographical novel and an example of Southern Gothic literature, the story of Eugene Gant and his family's struggles is rich in detail and poetic in language. Sims's voice has subtle depths that capture difficult scenes with the right amount of emotion. He does well with... Read More

Narrator Victoria Villarreal lends her impressive vocal talents to the conclusion of the Los Monstruos trilogy. In the magical South Texas town of Tres Leches, Ava, daughter of La Lechuza, wishes her mother would spend more time with her instead of sleeping all day and flying around at night, righting the wrongs of the world. When her mother is arrested for allegedly kidnapping... Read More

Lee Osorio's youthful narration and precise pacing create a chilling listening experience in this middle-grade horror story. Diego is staying with his aunt and uncle in Mexico City while his parents go through a divorce, which he worries he caused. His new school's field trip to La Isla de Muñecas (Doll Island), a magical island with a wish-granting doll, could be the perfect... Read More

Xe Sands's strong narration reflects the promise in the title of this children's audio on the topic of a parent's serious illness. Her variations on the refrain "love stays strong" serve as a continual affirmation throughout, and her tender tone sounds like she's addressing an adored child. Sands's lyrical cadences emphasize changes in the natural world and how the seasons'... Read More

Narrator Jim Frangione returns the listener to Caldwell, New York, where vampires live, unbeknownst to humans. When Lyric, a female vampire, is saved from a flying billboard by a stranger named Devlin, sparks fly between them. Yet vampires are being hunted by "lessers," humans without souls, who want to kill them. Lyric's family helps fight the lessers, and Frangione ratchets... Read More

Khaya Fraites and William DeMeritt perform this Southern short story collection full of rich characters with a lot of heart. Moore's stories feature settings that range from mountain hollers to sprawling cities. In one, a deaconess is tempted to sin, and in another a young Texan is determined to marry despite a family curse. In every work, Moore illuminates the lives of Black... Read More

Kaipo Schwab's strong narration is the perfect match for this inventive tale, recently translated from Japanese, which blends a murder mystery with a Groundhog Day-style time loop. Schwab excels in his portrayal of Hisato, a teen who uses his time-loop ability to try to prevent his grandfather's murder. Schwab's skillful characterizations provide clear, distinct voices for the... Read More

Narrator Christian Leatherman takes listeners through the convoluted story of Preble Jefferson, a man who can see five seconds into the future. A filmed encounter with the police on a New York subway sees Preble dodge a bullet, only to have that bullet strike another officer and lead to a massive police shoot-out. Now aware of Preble's abilities, multiple government agencies... Read More

Narrator Stacy Gonzalez delivers a nuanced and affecting performance of Dolores Moore's search for identity as the sole surviving member of her family. Raised by her biological aunt and her partner, Dolores feels unmoored after their deaths and journeys to her birthplace in Cali, Colombia, seeking reconnection with her heritage. Throughout her travels, she's guided by the... Read More

Narrator Stephen DeRosa imbues this educational kids' mystery with verve and humor. He animatedly voices pirate ghosts, multilingual grandmothers, eccentric artists, basketball-coaching nuns, and two plucky kids. Together, they must use communication, creativity, and historical knowledge to save New Orleans' Mardi Gras festivities from an inconvenient (but not scary)... Read More

This character-heavy cozy gets off to a slow start as author Jo Nichols introduces its many characters. The intrepid narrators, Meg Price and Jim Meskimen, take some time to settle into the particular personalities and voices of the 14 people they portray, becoming more engaging as the story moves forward. Each chapter features a different character. Sometimes they're linked to... Read More

Jamie Renell's narration of this science fiction is primarily told from the points of view of two characters: Christer Johannsen, a UN data analysis specialist, and Dr. Rachel Fereira, a linguist. On Earth a solar flare takes out the power everywhere but in Jakara, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter starts transmitting images of Mars. NASA heads an international task force to... Read More

As the book world celebrates the 75th anniversary of Bradbury's classic, Dion Graham's stellar narration blasts off with a group of astronauts headed to Mars. The production opens with Graham's delivery of an editor's note intended to soften the offensive ideas in Bradbury's introductory essay, written in 1950, which explains his writing process for these interconnected... Read More

Narrator Paul Woodson's resonant voice, measured pacing, and subtle expression transport the listener to WWII Occupied France through the lens of the artist Henri Matisse (1869-1954). Matisse, aging and in poor health, defiantly stayed in France and considered his groundbreaking new art form an act of resistance. Confined to his bed, he created the famous paper cutouts in bold... Read More

With a hint of a drawl, narrator Abigail Reno transports the listener to Texas. While Brodie Carter has been in town only a few months, he now owns an organic farm next to Audrey Ross's farm. In fact, Brodie's property used to belong to Audrey's family, and she wants it back. It doesn't help their complicated relationship that she dislikes him--but is attracted to him, too.... Read More

Narrator André Santana brings to life a young, gay, Black painter who has freshly relocated to New York City. As Wyeth explores the Manhattan bar scene, the art world, and the gossip that fills both, he goes through a bout of artist's block. When he meets Keating, a white former seminarian, he begins to see the world differently. Santana navigates all of Wyeth's doubts and... Read More

Vikas Adams's excellent narration gives personality and distinction to the characters in this audiobook. Several members of the queer rights organization called the Mattachine Society have disappeared, and Private Investigator Evander "Andy" Mills is hired to find them. When Andy's investigation takes him to the psychiatric clinic where his mother works, he must confront her... Read More

New Zealand author Tina Makereti's powerful novel, set in the near future, comes alive with fellow New Zealander Stacey Leilua's narration. Three very different women living in the same neighborhood face climate change, prejudice, and inequality while struggling to survive. Keri is a Maori parent of a teenage daughter, Wairere, and 4-year-old son, Walty. Her intonation is... Read More

A former high-level U.S. policy executive explains how faulty economic statistics are preventing powerful policymakers from seeing what's happening on the ground: Many citizens are falling behind economically and losing hope they'll ever catch up. John Hopkinson skillfully moderates the author's indignation about these realities. With hushed intensity and a solid connection to... Read More

Narrator Richard Trinder's vocal tone and nuances mirror the author's attitude toward his topic: open-minded, but with an edge of skepticism, even dry sarcasm. The topic is the widespread misunderstanding of resource use. Fressoz argues that the popular idea of "energy transition"--totally switching from one source of energy to another--is fundamentally false. Newer resources... Read More

Eric Jason Martin narrates this timely treatise on writing and AI by longtime English professor and writer John Warner. The author emphasizes that Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT cannot think or write; they merely use algebraic algorithms to deliver tokens (AI-speak for words) that follow a plausible pattern. The author warns that by outsourcing human thought... Read More

Compelling, emotional, and well researched, this audiobook brings to life the stories of four young people from abolitionist families. Using primary sources to highlight the tumult of the time period leading up to and during the Civil War, the coming-of-age story focuses on Lewis Douglass, son of Frederick Douglass; George Garrison, son of William Lloyd Garrison; Lucy McKim,... Read More

This paranormal romance is tenderly narrated by André Santana and Dani Martineck. Jamie, who uses they/them pronouns, creates haunted houses for a living and is frequently fighting their parents' disapproval over their gender presentation, especially as tensions rise with their sister's upcoming wedding. Martineck portrays Jamie's sarcasm, frustration, and passion with... Read More

Narrator Joel Leslie delivers a sympathetic reimagining of Mr. Collins from PRIDE AND PREJUDICE that grants him a happy ending. While keeping his portrayal of Mr. Collins in the realm of the expected, Leslie tempers it with kindness and curiosity, creating a complete character rather than a caricature. Mr. Collins is painfully awkward but always strives to do his best for his... Read More

Former New York City Detective Nico Doyle has retired to Italy to enjoy the quiet life. But his peaceful existence is disrupted yet again when he's asked by a young girl to find her father and clear his name of murder. Scott Aiello's narration brings Nico and a wide cast of diverse characters to life. Aiello creates a highly believable ex-detective in Nico, and his... Read More

When the body of Oliver Beresford washes ashore with two bullet holes in it, the three indomitable belles of Marlowe are on the case. Narrator Nicolette McKenzie's sparkling performance amplifies the charm of this cozy mystery. Her distinctive portrayals capture the warmth and wit of the trio: Judith, the eloquent and plucky 79-year-old leader; Suzie, the incorrigible, spirited... Read More

Rock-and-roll power couple Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, now with more mature voices, sing and lyrically recite their charming audiobook, which begins with a dedication to their grandchildren and "grands" everywhere. Their lively exchanges include funny comments on hair, clothes, and jobs. Pat makes music by singing--snatches of Led Zeppelin, lullabies, etc.--while Neil... Read More

Joy Osmanski provides a steady, clear narration of this poignant audiobook involving interrelated characters and far-flung places. In 1998, Mimi Truang is separated from her infant daughter, Kit, in the Philadelphia airport on her way home to Vietnam. Seventeen years later, Kit, who has been adopted by white parents, is preparing for summer travels to Japan, and her friend... Read More

Brian Nishii reprises his narration of HIROSHIMA, the first of a two-volume series that recounts the atomic bombings of Japan in August 1945. Author Sheftall draws on extensive interviews with those who survived, providing detail on the day-to-day lives of the Japanese and a history of Japanese relations with the West. He also provides details on the Americans involved--giving... Read More

Twelve narrators plus the author perform this multigenerational novel about queer life in Lagos. Though the narrators use a range of voices with distinct accents and tones, it's often hard to distinguish among them. This is partly because it's also hard to keep track of the characters. The novel doesn't have a clear narrative arc; it's a symphonic, nonlinear collection of lives... Read More

This brief audio collection is packed with poems, vignettes, and opinions that range from political (a call to vote) to culinary (cook chicken slowly in butter). It includes Giovanni's homage to Toni Morrison and her takes on Knoxville, Detroit, New York, and Virginia Tech, plus a short Christmas story for children. This miscellany presents the warmth of her heart and the... Read More

Many poets, as they age, start writing more and more about death. Kevin Young, author and narrator of this collection, is only in his mid-50s, but his concern in these works is not only his own death. He thinks about that, of course, but also about the deaths of others and how people deal with the deaths of those they know and love. Young also attends to other issues; poems... Read More

As an audiobook author, historian Matthew Restall is spirited, witty, highly informed, and full of insights and revelations. As a narrator, he's more subdued, even a bit flat. But no matter. Restall's steady, evenhanded narration reenforces the balance and objectivity of his history of the "nine lives of Christopher Columbus." Over five centuries, Columbus has been hailed and... Read More

Dual timelines and dual points of view in this audiobook introduce listeners to two children as they work to save the people and things that mean the most to them. Brian Nishii's authentic accent adds to his portrayal of Han Yu, whose only skill in 731 China, making steamed buns, leaves him few options when his family is quarantined from a terrible illness. Sura Siu expresses... Read More

Shaun Taylor-Corbett provides a layered delivery of this audiobook about the Wampanoag tribe of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. While the island may evoke images of the wealthy elite, the tribe, of which the author is a member, had a thriving culture there much earlier. Lee reflects on tourists' fundamental lack of understanding of tribal history. Listeners will also find the... Read More

Frankie Corzo's performance is perfect for this beautifully written novel. Inés, the youngest of four sisters, wants more for her life than what seems inevitable. Deeply in love with Alessandro, a well-known ne'er-do-well, she is warned against marrying him, but she persists. Corzo makes their honeymoon in Italy sound magical, but it's not long before reality intervenes. "While... Read More

Benjamin Fife narrates this first installment of the Turrim Archive. Two friends, Grayden and Wynn, have won scholarships to a prestigious military academy. A mysterious old man, Dalmir, comes down from his tower to accompany them to the academy. When Marik, a pirate, attacks their airship, the adventure begins. Fife does an expert job delivering the distinct personalities of... Read More

Kristin Atherton narrates the story of Grace, a young woman who is isolated at her unpleasant aunt's rambling English mansion at the close of the Victorian era. Grace's obsession with secretly painting perfect copies of famous works of art is interrupted when a man claiming to be her long-lost cousin Charles arrives to claim his inheritance. Atherton portrays the self-possessed... Read More