New Reviews by Title: A-D

In a marvelous performance, award-winning actor and LGBTQ+ activist Daniel Henning seamlessly provides all the voices, sounds (BEEP, BEEP, HONK, HONK), prompts, and stage directions in Andy Warhol's 1968 anti-story, anti-plot, anti-novel novel. Basically, a word-for-word transcript of tape recordings of various "24-hour conversations," gossip, and asides, the novel stars a... Read More

Nekia Renee Martin guides listeners through a surprisingly comprehensive account of 19th-century African American resistance. Despite the title, the chronological territory covered ranges well beyond abolition and the Civil War to Reconstruction and the beginnings of Jim Crow. Martin's strong yet musical narration introduces youngsters to such touch points as the slave trade,... Read More

Narrators David Berry and Marny Kennedy are effective foils as they portray deeply committed scholars who find themselves competing for the same faculty position in a job market where desirable appointments are scarce. The solution? Apply as a two-for-one package using the university's spousal hire benefit. The details of university politics are realistic as Jonah and Sadie... Read More

Sunil Malhotra has his work cut out for him narrating this debut audiobook, which is a science-fiction story told through a comedic lens. A postnuclear world doesn't suggest comedy, but that is the case here, with a mad scientist simulating universes and playing God, an Indian detective and his bumbling assistant trying to sort things out, and a Danish policeman reaching... Read More

In this ninth volume of the Tier One thriller series, narrator Ray Porter succeeds first and foremost by not getting run over by the propulsive narrative. Unsurprisingly, this production is wall-to-wall action. Yet during the rare quiet moments, Porter's nuances make listeners care about the characters: the members of the black-ops team Task Force Ember, a new POTUS, even a... Read More

Edoardo Ballerini shines as he performs a new translation of one of literature's most famous stories, the tale of Aeneas, son of Venus, hero of Troy, and legendary progenitor of the Roman people. Emily Wilson reads her introduction with an academic's sense of grandeur and dry humor. Ballerini's narration demonstrates his range; as he delivers the translator's note, he uses... Read More

This audiobook by a British writer and ecologist is well served by Sebastian Humphreys's stage-worthy performance. The perils of capitalism throughout history and the expanding impact of today's technology are center stage in this erudite overview of how civilization and humanity are damaged by the pursuit of economic growth. Humphreys's dramatic skills never compete with the... Read More

Listeners who want to know how we got where we are with the big tech companies should start with this convincing foray into the land of the giants. As Columbia University law professor Tim Wu takes them to task, Frits Zernike's narration is thoughtfully paced, and his tempo appropriately propels the action. His storytelling reveals how the companies' power and our dependence on... Read More

Golden Voice Narrator Nicholas Boulton dives into this alternate-history adventure. Sir Seaton Begg and Dr. Sinclair Philips are metatemporal detectives--gumshoes who solve crimes in many different worlds. This installment is set in 1930s Europe, where the pair are seeking the Red King, a group of assassins who are committing murders throughout Istanbul. Boulton's stentorian... Read More

Los Angeles has its share of local legends and myths. This fact is the basis of a college course taught by a woman known only as the Professor. Tony Award winner Sutton Foster capably portrays grad student Holland St. James, an everywoman who wants to believe in magic--although she has yet to experience it personally. Foster showcases Holland's naïveté despite the fact that she... Read More

Ruby Tandoh narrates her audiobook with quiet confidence. Her straightforward delivery mirrors her central message that food, though more abundant than ever, can still leave us starved for more than nutrients. She traces how food in the affluent West began as simple nourishment and an expression of family, history, and community through its recipes, stories, and traditions. Now... Read More

Despite occasional murders, this audiobook exudes warmth as two damaged people from even more damaged families work to solve a nearly 100-year-old mystery. Greg Hernandez delivers an understated performance of the unlikely couple. Del Honeycutt has never looked very deeply into his family's history, which is filled with inept men on the wrong side of the law. Sabrina, a... Read More

Narrator Sonny Archer is challenged to perform this gothic tale of love, inheritance, rape, and murder, set in the early 1900s. Unemployed Zeb Wyckham accepts his older cousin's invitation to visit Lackaday House in Dartmoor. When Zeb arrives, he's surprised by the presence of multiple relatives, along with his ex-lover Gideon Grey. They've all gathered to marry off the senior... Read More

Kat Cleave grips listeners as she portrays Julia, a no-nonsense rebel, hacker, and off-the-grid survivor. When Julia is forced to abandon what she most values--her privacy--Cleave brings her dangerous world of cybercrime and surveillance to life. In giving only select characters distinct voices, Cleave shows listeners just who matters in this story. Myriad characters who... Read More

Narrators Jason Culp, Greta Jung, and Erin Ruth Walker present three distinct portraits in this literary story set on a cruise ship in the week after 9/11. Culp channels regret and loneliness through Doug Clayton, an aging actor who has spent a lifetime behind a mask. Jung infuses resentment and tension into Korean American Franny as she navigates a celebration for her mother's... Read More

Greta Jung transports listeners as she narrates this historical coming-of-age novel inspired by the author's great-grandmother. Set between 1924 and 1930, the story unfolds against the backdrop of Japan's turbulent occupation of Korea. During an era when women are forced into early marriage and motherhood and denied educational and personal freedom, Na-Young and her closest... Read More

Narrated in individual sections by four talented actors, Penner's novel presents two timelines, 1821 and 2021, filled with moments of enchantment, romance, and witchcraft. The village of Positano has enjoyed years of safety from pirates due to "stregheria," an ancient form of witchcraft practiced by its women. In 1821, the notorious Mazza brothers kidnap some of the "stregas"... Read More

Shaun Taylor-Corbett's clear, balanced performance of this history of American lacrosse provides an informative listening experience. The primary focus is men's competitions. The game originated with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy a millennium ago and is still played by its members today. Their team's push for recognition and inclusion is essential in understanding the game and... Read More

Geoffrey C. Ward's audiobook version of the current Ken Burns documentary series recounts the history of the Revolution as a story, and Robert Petkoff delivers it as such. He matches its narrative flow with a polished performance that draws the listener compulsively and pleasurably along. Never calling attention to himself, he narrates the text deftly with a subtle but... Read More

Listeners will be struck by author Bell's polished British accent as he narrates this history of America's Revolution. Bell looks at non-patriots, British loyalists, Hessians who fought for the British, and French who fought for the Americans, as well as how the Revolution impacted the outside world--in Jamaica and Gibraltar, and in Britain itself. George Washington is a... Read More

David de Vries provides an excellent narration of this comprehensive explanation of the issues surrounding transgender people and healthcare in the United States today. De Vries' clear diction and compassionate tone represent the book well. Author Butler has a transgender daughter, and his audiobook provides background, scientific research, and current political and legal... Read More

Narrator Kerry Gilbert brings this friends-to-lovers contemporary romance to life. Chloe Fairway isn't where she wants to be in life by a long shot: She hates her job, and she's currently living with her parents while recovering from a painful breakup. So, after having been voted "most likely to succeed," she hardly wants to attend her high school reunion. That's when a dating... Read More

In their heartwarming performances, narrators Teddy Hamilton and Brittany Pressley portray a love that can't be stopped by distance, growth, or time. Annie and Freddy are college sweethearts whose paths diverged after graduation, former lovers who never thought they'd meet again. But when Freddy unknowingly purchases Annie's childhood home, the pair find themselves back in each... Read More

A UC Berkeley professor offers a lucid overview of status--its ubiquity in society, how we acquire it, and the ways it influences how people and their achievements are valued. Performing with exceptional vocal personality and a beautiful tonal range, Michael David Axtell gives this audiobook richness and clarity. His narration fits well with the author's colorful writing about... Read More

Narrator Kristin Atherton leads a full cast of performers in this vivid and irreverent retelling of the story of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Despite having been born in utter darkness, Aphrodite has become one of the most connected goddesses on Mount Olympus. Now she finds herself perpetually having to reassert her power while... Read More

Kristin Atherton gives a masterful performance of this historical fantasy. Every first daughter in the Harding family is cursed to bring disaster, and in 1592 Cybil experiences this firsthand. Miriam is a creature of darkness who feeds her immortality with the souls of mortals, and Cybil's soul calls to her more than any other. In exchange for Cybil's soul, Miriam agrees to... Read More

Multiple AudioFile Earphones Award winner Barrie Kreinik offers a remarkable performance of Eva Le Gallienne's (1899-1991) first autobiography. Writing nearly 90 years ago, Le G tells the story of her rise as an actress, director, writer, producer, and founder of the Civic Repertory Theatre. Kreinik is so good that listeners will swear they're hearing the cultured, intelligent... Read More

Suzanne Toren has been the crisp, approachable voice of Episcopal priest Clare Fergusson since the beginning of this series 10 books ago. Toren also portrays Fergusson's husband, former police chief Russ Van Alstyne, and the denizens of Millers Kill. Toren's accents, tone, and cadence are immediately recognizable for listeners who know these characters, and she does equal... Read More

This audiobook takes the listener to Provence, Alsace, and Corsica. Narrator Adam Barr portrays the characters convincingly and is quite facile with French accents, but maddeningly, he continually mispronounces Barolo. Lynch, the famed wine importer, shares his knowledge and tastes. The novel's protagonist, Kendrick Thomas, a wine merchant like the author, resides in Provence.... Read More

Jess Moran portrays historian Robin Quain, who is searching for a relic depicting a cabal of witches with unimaginable power. The novel takes place during her summer residency at mysterious Hildegard College in the Rocky Mountains. Quain uses a unique combination of occult, botanical, and scientific knowledge as she uncovers clues to the relic's whereabouts. Moran provides a... Read More

This intellectual, original audiobook utilizes the literary technique introduced by Gertrude Stein whereby one's partner writes a supposed autobiography of the person they love. Here, gay writer and critic Lin tells the story of her Vietnamese American spouse and the key moments of her life. In a steady, self-possessed voice, Rebecca Lam relates the stories of Lan Thao's early... Read More

Golden Voice January LaVoy demonstrates her many talents as a narrator as she brings to life Rose DuBois and her rapidly diminishing group of friends at the Autumn Springs Retirement Home. When one resident dies, Rose is unsurprised; however, as deaths mount in ever more horrific and improbable ways, Rose becomes convinced that they aren't natural and there's a killer on the... Read More

Stefanie Powers delivers an exquisite, often thrilling, performance of this deeply researched and unvarnished history of Amelia Earhart. Listeners may be familiar with the basic outlines of Earhart's accomplishments as a pilot. This new audiobook provides a detailed picture of how Earhart, a social worker in the 1920s, became a skilled aviator. George Putnam, well known for... Read More

Eric Altheide excels at projecting the tension in this compelling novel about a young fiction writer whose actions thrust him into dramas beyond any he ever imagined. Altheide portrays the ambitious writer David Trent, who is determined to publish and thrilled when an award lands him in the limelight. In order to retain his status, he becomes immersed in lies, cheating, and... Read More

Eric Yang takes a straightforward and unembellished approach with his narration of this celebration of rock 'n' roll's most influential drummers. Many of the musicians profiled are household names-- Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts, Dave Grohl, for example--but the best sections feature underappreciated geniuses like The Velvet Underground's Maureen Tucker, who shunned cymbals and... Read More

Gilli Messer and Teddy Hamilton, both of whom performed Dahlia's previous audiobook, return to narrate this enemies-to-lovers romance. Twenty years ago, Nellie and Noah were high school sweethearts. When their relationship imploded, Nellie told no one why, not wanting their secret to ruin Noah's relationships with their friends. Decades later, at their friends' un-wedding... Read More

Inspired by her family history in China and the U.S., Gish Jen's novel is narrated with nuance, emotional depth, and clarity of purpose by Jen Zhao. Her pitch-perfect performance enhances this multigenerational story, which revolves around a challenging mother-daughter relationship. Retaining her traditional Chinese values, Agnes, the author's mother, immigrates to the U.S. in... Read More

Narrator Jesse Vilinsky creates a passionate voice for 12-year-old Margaret--called Bag--who is trying to fit in at her new school in Rhode Island even though she longs for her old life in New York City before her dad left them. When her mom, an aspiring actor, gets a role at a local theater and can't pick her up immediately after school, she ends up getting stuck at her sister... Read More

Narrator Dan Bittner employs his skills to vastly improve Megan Greenwell's exposé on the impact of private equity firms on businesses in the healthcare, retail toys, apartment living, and journalism sectors. She uses four case studies to examine specific individuals' impacts and focuses on them over several timeframes. Bittner offers an optimistic, precise, and nuanced tone to... Read More

Author and narrator Zackman does her novel justice as she brings to life a high-energy New York City romance. Zackman's protagonist--quintessential millennial Mimi--is a food columnist living in Queens, on the hunt for a great love story and a delicious shmear. Mimi finds herself wrestling with a budding attraction to her new department head, Jake. Zackman's range is not to be... Read More

Golden Voice narrator Cassandra Campbell explores Mattel's dark side in this unauthorized history that exposes spying, copyright infringement, and the true origins of Barbie. Hitt's investigative reporting asserts that Barbie's creator, Ruth Handler, was often ruthless. Handler claimed that the inspiration for Barbie came from her daughter, but Barbie was a near-identical copy... Read More

An engaging performance by Cary Hite enlivens this accessible history of basketball for young listeners, with a focus on the men's game and an "overtime" section devoted to the women's. Hite narrates with relish and an audible appreciation for the sport's evolution from a glorified game of hot potato to today's fast-paced competitions. Hite gives listeners a courtside view of... Read More

This full-cast audiobook imagines Margaret Dashwood--the younger half sister of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY'S protagonists--as an adult. Longing for more than marriage and motherhood, Margaret visits London at the invitation of Mrs. Jennings. After finding herself lost and tipsy in a less-than-desirable area, Margaret joins a group of independent women, including the beautiful... Read More

Barrie Kreinik narrates the story of Cricket Campbell, a woman in her mid-20s who abandons her job to care for her elderly father in their family's rustic Adirondack home. Initially, Kreinik portrays Cricket's vague dissatisfaction with her life choices and reluctance to re-experience family discord. But as Cricket immerses herself in caring for her father, who has dementia,... Read More

Set at Bellerton College, an elite women's school, this audiobook in the dark academia genre begins in 1951, when Deena, a freshman, arrives on the school's Virginia campus. Narrator Adenrele Ojo describes Deena's desperate need to hide her underprivileged past and become accepted by the wealthy popular girls. Deena's secrets unravel as she's drawn into the sinister obsessions... Read More

Anthologies are good for listeners who don't have long periods to devote to an audiobook. But that doesn't mean other audiophiles can't enjoy the pieces as well. This collection of essays on science and nature covers a wide array of topics, such as bird identification software and AI, the language of the land, and the question of whether animals know they will die. The articles... Read More

The stellar vocal talents of Eunice Wong, Rebecca Stern, Cary Hite, Liz Femi, and Zach Villa create an absorbing overall listening experience for this rich assortment of science-fiction and fantasy stories, curated by editors Okorafor and Adams. Notable performances abound in stories of creeping horror, fraught relationships, sentience, and moral quagmires. In "We Will Teach... Read More

This tightly paced riff on the classic "Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is brought to life by narrator Ferdelle Capistrano. Still grieving the death of her beloved brother, Charlie Ward must now help move her grandmother into a senior living community and sell the house she and her brother grew up in. In the process, she finds herself reluctantly agreeing to lead a newly formed... Read More

Cia Court captures all the profound and devastating flaws in an engaging yet reprehensible protagonist. Margo and Ian have been stymied in their efforts to find a forever home outside Washington, D.C. Intense and simmering with rage issues, Margo takes matters into her own morally questionable hands when her dream home is listed for sale. Court shines in her delivery of Margo's... Read More

O. Henry Award Guest Editor Jones' selections of best stories for 2025, performed by an ensemble cast, emphasize what he views as the biggest responsibility of the fiction writer--to make stuff up. Rather than seeming mundane, these 20 stories ignite the quotidian with a sense of wonder. Listeners are given a chorus of small things: a postal worker, a set of hearing aids, an... Read More

Mount Rushmore is an awe-inspiring site, and the story behind it is nearly as monumental. Author Matthew Davis chronicles the history of the project, paying particular attention to its impact on and relationship with the people who lived there for centuries. He adds bits of trivia, such as the fact Thomas Jefferson isn't in his planned location because an overeager worker used... Read More

Narrator Evan Sibley easily convinces listeners he is author Goldberg, watching in wonder as thousands of Broad-winged hawks migrate over New York City. Goldberg is a birder as well as a reporter, and along with his own birding adventures, he accompanies notable figures in the local birding world as they explore their environs across New York's five boroughs, from Prospect Park... Read More

Gail Shalan gives an energetic and appealing narration of Mitchard's latest novel. Fashion writer Reenie's old friend, Felicity, has been charged with the murder of two of her clients. Felicity, a birdwatcher and biologist, was also a professional escort. Reenie hasn't seen Felicity in years but knows in her heart that she's innocent of the charges. Reenie is determined to find... Read More

Kamali Minter's performance here is consistently stellar. Identifying both as Black and Native American, Ophelia Blue Rivers grows up learning how her mixed heritage uniquely informs her life experience. When pollution in her local river makes life unlivable, Ophelia is sent to live with her aunt. This new life includes a fraught relationship with the son of a politically... Read More

This troubling audiobook captures a woman's descent into madness. Narrator Dana Aronowitz deserves credit for keeping listeners invested in a grim story and rooting for a woman who makes misstep after misstep. When film archivist Ellen Kramer, a closeted lesbian who is deeply repressed, becomes possessed by the creatures in a recently discovered movie from the WWII era, her... Read More

Holter Graham returns to narrate another Alpha & Omega audiobook, this time a collection of interrelated stories--two new and three previously published. When Asil's friends set him up on five blind dates as a holiday gift, the ancient werewolf unhappily goes along with their plans. But instead of finding love, Asil finds disasters that require his unique skill set to fix.... Read More

Narrator Adam Barr paints a vivid picture of this family saga with elements of suspense. Mild-mannered, cautiously ambitious lawyer Monty Atkins has never strayed very far outside the conventions of Charleston society. When a sudden act of violence sends his family into a tailspin, Monty draws on hidden reserves of strength and cunning to keep a further tragedy at bay. Barr... Read More

Never underestimate the value of a pleasing voice, especially when the subject is history--in particular, a topic as obtuse as the English Civil War. Mark Meadows's light British accent is an enhancement and a defining feature of this well-told narrative, a sequel of sorts to Oxford scholar Jonathan Healey's THE BLAZING WORLD. That narrative surveyed the entire revolutionary... Read More

Listeners will be captivated by Reena Dutt's lively narration of this magical, action-packed adventure for middle graders. Dutt skillfully shifts between intrepid heroine Laila Habib's point of view and a robust cast of Indian and mythical Islamic characters, showcasing impressive vocal range. She vividly conveys the culturally rich world of Qaf, which is filled with jinn and... Read More

A tour-de-force performance by Gemma Whelan makes listening to this audiobook worthwhile. Jane Boleyn--Lady Rocheford--is a canny observer. She watches, she waits, she gathers information, and she reveals secrets to her spymaster, Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell then uses the damaging particulars against his enemies. Whelan portrays each character with enthusiasm, growling... Read More

The second title in the Must Love Hockey series, narrated by Ryan West and CJ Bloom, features a professional hockey player and an author who is a romance cynic. Scarlett has made a living writing books that bash romance and champion female independence. Chase is determined to prove her wrong. When they're forced to spend time together as a joint publicity stunt, Scarlett... Read More

Piper Goodeve narrates this dark academia audiobook set in New Mexico. After five years away, Cella Gibbons returns to her alma mater to help solve a magical mystery involving students and staff. Coming back to campus after dropping out of her master's program dredges up a myriad of feelings for Cella, and Goodeve balances the guilt, shame, and nostalgia she feels. Cella also... Read More

Katie Leung's Scottish accent immediately immerses listeners in the Scottish Highlands in this sapphic vampire audiobook. Rebecca, a vampire hunter, goes undercover at a vampire university to find the Book of Blood and Roses, a compilation of ways to kill vampires. After being attacked, her gorgeous vampire roommate rescues her but accidentally makes Rebecca her familiar in the... Read More

Poet, novelist, activist, mother, mentor, embodiment of Canadian literature--the list of Atwood's achievements is remarkable. The two-time Booker Prize winner and doyenne of speculative fiction (the international phenomenon THE HANDMAID'S TALE) has many incarnations. She is also that rarity among writers: an excellent narrator. Now in her 80s, she has a tone with a hint of... Read More

Narrator Charlie Thurston infuses vivid drama into this debut novel about a gay man whose life is shaped by two stints on a reality TV show. In 2003, after a car accident ends his football career, 22-year-old Luke Griffin joins the cast of "Endeavor," a cutthroat reality competition show. A decade later, now a stay-at-home father married to a Republican senator, Luke finds his... Read More

This moody, bookish fantasy centers on Cassandra Fairfax, a disgraced bookseller who is pulled back into a dangerous magical world when she unexpectedly inherits a sentient bookshop after her mentor's mysterious death. As rival booksellers, secret societies, and lethal ink magic close in, Cassandra must confront her past while protecting the fragile magic that binds the... Read More

Five unique and equally compelling narrators come together to impart a glimpse of Atlanta's erotic dance scene in this gritty thriller. Two years ago, Lucky, a dancer, vanished from Boom Town, the most famous gentleman's club in the city. Before her disappearance, Lucky had been distancing herself from her lover, Lyriq, and spending time with a mysterious customer named Thomas.... Read More

Tim Lounibos narrates this thoughtful exploration of immigration policy. Drawing on the author's decades of experience in immigration law, this audiobook's topics range broadly across the many historical and current causes of both voluntary and forced migration. The work also examines how physical and metaphorical borders create groups of insiders and outsiders who are striving... Read More

A talented team of narrators shines a light on the lives and experiences of transgender and gender-nonconforming people of color in this powerful audiobook. The anthology includes 17 stories of artists, activists, drag queens, scientists, and writers. Each selection is authentic and powerful, and brings a necessary perspective, given the current social and political climate... Read More

As author/narrator Sam Sussman's autobiographical novel begins, a son is summoned home from studying abroad. His mother meets him at the airport, physically and mentally ravaged from chemotherapy. In a voice pulsating with sincerity and reverence, Sussman has only questions. Why hadn't his mother told him the extent of her illness? Why had she left the big city for an... Read More

Pasha Westbrook, a Chickasaw and Choctaw Freedmen descendant, narrates her picture book with the emotional depth it deserves. Haunting original music is intertwined with her lyrical, imagistic delivery. Westbrook conveys the tenderness between a father and a daughter as he lovingly braids her long hair with fingers "gnarled like the roots of a tree" and compares it to a history... Read More

A vast undertaking, Smith's second memoir bookends the decades before and after JUST KIDS, her earlier memoir. Her narration provides meaningful context to her life as a multidisciplinary artist. Her sharp memory of the textures of her childhood are almost Proustian, and one can distinguish the lyrics of HORSES coming together in the young Smith's juvenile poetry as she... Read More

First, Simon Winchester, OBE, introduces listeners to the ubiquity of wind and its effects on the world. His careful pronunciation and British accent create an enjoyable backdrop for the conversational style in which stories are integrated with information that demonstrates where and how wind has had a direct influence on all the subjects in the Dewey Decimal System, including... Read More

This audiobook uses a familiar formula in the vein of Friday the 13th and Scream: A group of friends seeks to come to terms with their issues at a secluded wellness camp. The story focuses on Hannah, whose fiancé died on a wilderness trip the previous year. Parker fits the skin of each character perfectly and captures each blood-soaked detail of what ensues without missing a... Read More

Travis Baldree successfully narrates Book 3 of this action-packed fantasy series. Fern, a bookseller, moves across the Territory to open a shop next to the Legends & Lattes coffee shop. Shortly after, she has a midlife crisis and runs away. Baldree depicts Fern's anxiety and uncertainty with equal parts charm and compassion. On a journey of self-discovery, Fern travels with... Read More

Poet Courtney Kampa's career was cut short--she died at the age of 35--but her second book shows considerable talent. Not all the poems are easily accessible, but Rebecca Lowman's readings are clear and evocative. They trace the author's growth from girlhood through an awakening consciousness of adult feelings and responsibilities. Kampa explores the transitions as well as the... Read More

Narrators Simon Bubb and Mikhail Sen flawlessly re-create 1920s Calcutta as they portray Imperial Police Force Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant Suren Banerjee. Their animated and strongly differing viewpoints enliven this procedural. Bubb's English expat, Sam, joins Sen's Calcuttan, Suran, to discover who murdered a beloved philanthropist and movie mogul whose body was... Read More

Narrators Rose Robinson and Steph de Whalley masterfully juggle a large cast of male and female characters in this academic thriller set in England, Scotland, and Italy. It begins with the murder of Eleanor Bruton, a woman who had in her possession a scrap of fraying embroidery that might be the key to finding the elusive--and valuable--Book of Wonders. Two opposing, secretive... Read More

Laura Knight Keating performs this young adult novel about the importance of ensuring that Indigenous identity is passed from one generation to the next. It's summer break in Sweden, and Vilda has big plans. She's going to ask Addja, her grandfather, to teach her the Sámi language. But when Addja dies unexpectedly, Vilda feels more disconnected from her Sámi roots than ever.... Read More

British actress Lucy Rayner chose an artful, breathy delivery for this debut historical novel set in 13th-century Bruges. The dreamy tone isn't for an impatient listener, but it suits the telling of this carefully-researched and affecting story. Aleys, an unusual young woman in that era's strict patriarchal society, is drawn to pursue academic knowledge and a personal... Read More

Jeremy Clyde captures each nuance of this sublime glimpse of London's 1901 Inner Temple, where King's Counsel barristers live and work. Clyde's standout character is kind, ingenious, neurodivergent Gabriel Ward, who's called upon when desiccated body parts appear at the lawyers' doors. Gabriel's unenviable task--well rendered on both sides--is questioning his peers, which... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld's new performance of Mahy's Carnegie Medal-winning novel, originally published in 1984, will enthrall listeners. Laura Chant is desperate to save her younger brother from the hands of a horrifying vampiric villain. Fourteen-year-old Laura doesn't act on the warning she feels before Carmody Braque fixates on her younger brother, Jacko. Only she realizes what is... Read More

Former FBI Agent Robert Hilland and world-famous psychic John Edward narrate the story of their longstanding collaboration in solving cold cases. Their partnership--first distrusting and then blossoming into a true brotherhood--spanned two-and-a-half decades. Most of the story focuses on the famous John Smith murders, but it covers other fascinating cases, as well. Hilland... Read More

The magic of Christmas is front and center in this time-traveling holiday romance, delightfully narrated by Nikki Massoud. Libby hasn't spent more than a few days in her hometown in Canada since she moved to Toronto. But now she's back, and a chance encounter with a handsome Christmas tree farmer sparks mutual interest. Then misfortune strikes: She hits her head and blacks... Read More

Regret, resentment, and hope are on the menu during a holiday train ride across Canada featuring multiple narrators. Lauren Irwin portrays Cali, who strives to reconcile with five estranged friends while heading to a Vancouver wedding. Ember, the bride's ex-girlfriend, portrayed by Nicola Barber, makes a thoughtful journey to exorcise regret. Siblings Joe and Joss (James... Read More

Patti Murin's delightful narration reflects the tongue-in-cheek tone of this holiday romance novel. Aspiring screenwriter Jill Jacobs returns to her hometown in Illinois for a family Christmas. Unfortunately, her ex, who broke up with her on Christmas Eve a few years earlier, will be in town, too. Murin depicts Jill's unsatisfying encounters with her past, one after another.... Read More

Anna Burnett narrates an unexpected reimagining of "Cinderella." After having been murdered at 16 by her stepmother, "Ella" now haunts her family home. Burnett deftly handles Ella's transition from a lonely girl to a lonely ghost. Burnett's portrayal of her longing and frustration is heartrending, especially as she confronts hard truths about herself and her family. Add a royal... Read More

Marni Penning brings cheerleader enthusiasm to this celebration of Claire McCardell, the pioneering early-twentieth-century American designer who thought women's clothes should be comfortable, as well as stylish. Maryland-born McCardell pioneered the kind of clothes we rely on today--ready-to-wear separates that can be mixed and matched into different outfits. She incorporated... Read More

Emma Fenney performs this character-driven Swedish novel about a small group of people who are living apart from society. Burned-out Emelie leaves her big-city job to explore the countryside. In the hills she meets a colony of seven people living on their own, rarely interacting with anyone in the town nearby. As Emilie learns more about each member of the group, the... Read More

Narrator Emily O'Mahony brings to life Dimpna Wilde, a veterinarian in the southwest of Ireland, and her team as they find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation. It's soon apparent that this case shares similar traits with a murder from the previous year. O'Mahony's warm narration creates a wonderful backdrop to the story, with a cast of highly believable... Read More

Anna Runkle, creator of the "Crappy Childhood Fairy" healing method, narrates her research-backed guidance in a conversational tone, making this audiobook approachable. After introducing self-evaluations to establish a starting point, she provides exercises for releasing troubling thoughts and journaling practices for reflection. A PDF of the exercises is included. Runkle... Read More

Nick Foster has had limited public exposure because of the many nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) associated with his design work for Sony, Google, and other such companies. Foster employs his Derby-variety English accent to excellent advantage in presenting a theoretical history of how humankind has viewed the future. The audiobook is down to earth in both Foster's precisely... Read More

Samantha Cook narrates this heartfelt cowboy romance. Sheena Patrick has done well for herself--all things considered. After her dad died due to illegal gambling activities, she managed to raise her sisters, doing the best she could. Denver King watched from afar, secretly being there for her when she needed it. Now, years have passed, Denver owes Sheena a favor, and she's... Read More

Dennis Boutsikaris portrays Clay Edison, a former Alameda County coroner who is currently working as a private investigator. A colleague asks him to manage a murder investigation prompted by the victim's heartbroken yet difficult parents. Boutsikaris presents Edison as a pragmatic and no-nonsense, if sometimes sarcastic, investigator, with his experienced intuition driving his... Read More

The CEO of a top-tier international marketing agency, Andrew Robertson, explains practices that can promote creativity in any type of organization. Narrating with an appealing vocal tone and obvious comfort with his ideas, he has a clear grasp of how different types of companies need to be managed. He explains, for example, that airplane and drug manufacturers, which must... Read More

Narrator Tanya Eby gives clarity to insights on how the mind works and how exceptional artists nurture and build their creativity. Her warm, conversational delivery makes the audiobook's exploration of confidence, focus, and resilience come across as accessible and encouraging. Interviews with animator Tim Allen, director Destin Daniel Cretton, visual artist Keegan Hall,... Read More

Epidemiologist Rivers offers a compelling reminder of how important it is to study epidemics and other threats to public health. Though government funding is minimal and rises and falls with politics, the work of public health scientists, practitioners, and policymakers has repeatedly saved millions of people from diseases and other threats to health. The author's... Read More

Listeners will be pulled into this layered story with its interwoven timelines and well-developed characters. Narrator Carrie Coello creates believable distinctions between generations of Cole women and palpable emotions as the story of their curse unfolds. In the 1600s, Goody Cole was accused of witchcraft and thrown into the sea off the coast of New Hampshire. Thus began the... Read More

Talented narrators, replete with diverse accents, dramatize Book 2 of the Amelia Peabody mystery series, featuring Egyptologist Amelia Peabody--wife, mother, and brilliantly clever archaeologist--and her husband, the intrepid archaeologist Radcliffe Emerson. Here they return to Egypt in 1892 to excavate a pharaoh's tomb and catch a murderer. Narrator Nanette Savard takes on the... Read More

Three narrators smoothly differentiate three women who live in Lagos in three different time frames. In the late 1980s, Monife, portrayed by Weruche Opia, wrestles with falling in love despite the curse on her family that ruins her romantic relationships. During the early 2000s, Ebun, portrayed by Diana Yekinni, gives birth to a daughter on the same day that Monife dies. Ebun... Read More

Natalie Naudus brings this biography to life with her outstanding pacing, spot-on voices, and smooth relaying of information. Queer publishing icon Margaret C. Anderson faced an obscenity trial in 1921 after serializing James Joyce's ULYSSES in her cutting-edge literary magazine, "The Little Review." Though this audiobook focuses on Anderson's career in publishing, it also... Read More

Martin Jarvis and Anna Burnett deftly present this two-part story of a young steeplechase jumper, Imogen, and her jockey boyfriend, Liam. Burnett's portrayal of determined Imogen's growing success is exciting, while details about horses, racing, and jockeys add interest. Drama escalates as Imogen defends herself against a violently jealous Liam and, unwisely, threatens him.... Read More

Zygar, who was born at the beginning of the last decade of the USSR, is now an expatriate Russian journalist living in the West. In this audiobook he provides great detail on the interpersonal relationships among the various members of the Soviet ruling elite and how what seemed like an opportunity for "democracy" was muffed by all parties concerned. Henning's clear voice is... Read More

In this Christmas romance, narrators Monique Makena and Max Rauch portray a couple who are on the brink of divorce. Rauch voices Connor, a workaholic CEO who is desperate to win back the heart of his wife, Laney. Makena portrays Laney, who has returned to her hometown and is seeking a divorce. Rauch's voice reflects Connor's determination to show Laney a new side of himself.... Read More

Narrator Daniel Henning brings a group of quirky characters to life in this audiobook. When the body of the local mayor is found in the garden of their bed-and-breakfast, vampires Arthur and Sal are considered the obvious suspects. So they set out to prove that they've settled in Trident Falls, Oregon, to have a quiet life, not to murder the locals. Using accents and subtle... Read More

Writer Zadie Smith narrates her essays with a measured cadence, a clear tone, and the accent of an educated Brit. Topics range from painters to tech to writing. Her critical but even gaze includes explorations of the books BLACK MANHATTAN and BLACK BRITAIN. She looks at the relationships between painters: the celebrated Lucian Freud and the much younger and later renowned Celia... Read More

Mack Sanderson capably narrates this story of two unlikely partners--a discredited former Secret Service agent and a Jesuit professor--as they embark on a modern-day quest to learn the truth about JFK's assassination. Sanderson portrays the reluctant former agent, who is drawn into the mission only because of his promise to a recently murdered lover. The quietly intense... Read More

Narrator Greg Hernandez amps up suspense and fear in this captivating story. As people are leaving Cape Cod after July 4th, a group of terrorists blows up all the bridges, airports, and ferries, effectively stranding everyone on the island to face both a Category 4 hurricane and their announced dispersal of anthrax. A private investigator and an ex-homicide detective must work... Read More

Famed street photographer Brandon Stanton, creator of the photoblog and book "Humans of New York," narrates the beginning of this audiobook. The prologue starts and ends with the story of an infant left on a New York City street who is rescued by an EMT. Stanton also covers his 15 years in the "most diverse place" on earth. Then the voices of the other narrators take over. The... Read More

With a lilting voice and clear diction, Danice Cabanela brings the sixth installment of this cozy mystery series to life. When the women-owned businesses of Shady Palms are being robbed and the owners attacked, Lila Macapagal and the rest of the Brew-ha Cafe crew, along with Lila's boyfriend and his brother, rally to try to find the perpetrator. Although Cabanela's narration... Read More

Jesse Vilinsky gives a vibrant performance of this delightful cozy mystery featuring a fun romance. Emersyn, who is caring for her young niece after her brother's death, is struggling to keep afloat financially after being swindled by her ex-boyfriend, Hoffman. Emersyn's natural warmth and intelligence come through in Vilinsky's narration as she creates a fictitious detective... Read More

Narrators Mia Barron, Johnny Heller, and Catherine Ho help listeners navigate the complex plot of this conspiracy thriller. The story, which shifts between the present day and 1962, starts with a mysterious series of phone calls that ground hundreds of flights across the nation. Sixteen-year-old Charlie, whose grandfather was a military pilot, finds herself drawn into the... Read More

C.J. McAllister brings to life the ongoing adventures of a hunter who is navigating a desolate Wasteland. Rod, still healing from his past ordeals, withdraws deeper into the harsh landscape to prepare for a journey into the enigmatic Dark City. McAllister's narration strikes a careful balance, allowing quieter emotional moments to resonate fully. His steady baritone provides a... Read More

With his vocal control and emotional awareness, Shane Ghostkeeper brilliantly performs this meta, often surrealist novel. Milton Muleborn and Matthew Echota met while locked up in a juvenile detention center. Milton burns with jealousy over Matthew's artistic talent, and he tells the reader an unreliable account of his childhood and early adulthood. The story is framed as a... Read More

From baby talking to a cat named Pumpkin to voicing the devious tones of Lucifer, narrator Ellie Gossage manifests the whole moral spectrum in this devilish queer rom-com. Samantha Cooper has had a horrible day. Her girlfriend, Hannah, just rejected her marriage proposal, and now she's stuck in an elevator with a cunning (and gorgeous) demon. Daphne grants Sam six wishes in... Read More

Jonathan Letham's fans won't be disappointed with this listen. The stories' range and the narrators' talent are certain to keep listeners entertained. Each narrator brings their own take to the task. Letham's dry delivery doesn't surprise. Jim Meskimen performs "Vivian Relf" as one would hope--straightforwardly and without sounding overwrought. Pete Simonelli's take on "The... Read More

Narrators Griffin Puatu and Shannon Scott convey a dystopian America after altered weather causes a climate disaster. Relatable, resourceful Nick and his younger sister, Lily, work to save themselves as Earth's atmosphere escapes into space, causing an oxygen shortage. Few people can go outside. It's captivating to hear Nick, Lily, and their friends use old-fashioned... Read More

Kuin's study of the ancient Greek cynic who made philosophy a performance art is comfortably supported by Cassandra Campbell's easygoing performance, which carries the listener through the text's occasional repetition and lack of focus. While Campbell's pleasant voice and manner don't always match up with Diogenes' persona as a transgressive maverick, that doesn't undermine her... Read More

Zosia Mamet delivers a refreshingly candid collection of essays that strike a balance between humor and vulnerability. Best known for playing Shoshanna on "Girls," Mamet brings the same sharp wit and emotional honesty to her writing and her narration. Her down-to-earth delivery makes the audiobook sound like a conversation with a friend who's not afraid to get real. The essays... Read More

The author's readings tend to be understated--like his poems. With the exception of Mary Oliver's DOG SONGS, dogs have not been a major topic for American poets. Billy Collins helps to fill that gap with this audiobook, a series of poems about particular dogs. Collins obviously knows and has lived with dogs, and he knows the specific dogs about whom he writes, even if some of... Read More

Narrator Grover Gardner provides a fresh delivery of this prequel, which chronicles defense attorney Andy Carpenter's early career. When the young lawyer goes to the local animal shelter to adopt a dog, he doesn't expect to end up with two. Meeting the second dog's owner, who's been accused of a crime, leads Andy to switch from prosecutor to defense attorney. Gardner's delivery... Read More

This engrossing drama of a Southern Black family uncovers the sins of Emanuel Winfrey--nicknamed Wonderboy--from the perspectives of the women who love him. Narrator Bahni Turpin delivers his mother's biting commentary with hilarious sarcasm. But, in reality, eternally loyal Priscilla would prefer to keep her son's secrets hidden. Diamond, portrayed by Angel Pean in a silky,... Read More

Experienced narrator Daniel Henning, who has a real feel for the subject matter, delivers a stylized yet pleasing narration of this candid life history, based on conversations and interviews. Bachardy, an artist, was the life partner of the late novelist and playwright Christopher Isherwood. Unique in its approach to discussing gay life in the 1950s, this audiobook is frank... Read More

Golden Voice Hillary Huber delivers a compelling performance of the latest addition to the Angelhart Investigation series. Fierce, independent PI Margo Angelhart--now working for her family's agency--takes on a pro bono case involving a teenager believed to have died of an overdose. The sprawling Angelhart clan appear throughout, highlighting Margo's ongoing struggles with... Read More

Natalie Duke's narration elevates this spellbinding audiobook. The new historian of the Riverwood Coven, Georgie Pendell, frees an ancient dragon shifter from an enchanted book, an accident that soon challenges her beliefs about love and destiny. As the coven's secrets begin to unravel, Georgie and the others must confront past wrongs and protect their community. Duke brings... Read More

James Phoon gives a charming performance of this delightful romance, set in the theater world of London's West End. Jonah is playing Achilles, the role of a lifetime, and has just won a prestigious award for it. His life offstage might not be perfect, but at least his career is taking off--that is, until his rival, Dexter, joins the production, and Jonah inconveniently falls in... Read More

Carpenters and landlords stand alongside playwrights and actors in this lively audiobook history of London's first commercial theaters. The very first, The Theater, opened in 1576, and its history chronicles the birth of British theater. Renaissance scholar Swift works from scraps--leases, lawsuits, lumber prices, apprenticeship figures, plague deaths, and the names of actor... Read More