New Reviews by Title: A-D

While not a professional historian, the author of this lively audiobook offers pitch-perfect anecdotes and insights on the eight presidents who inherited the position from their elected predecessors. Award-winning narrator Arthur Morey keeps the pace up throughout, and when sharing particularly remarkable stories--Teddy Roosevelt gave a speech directly following an attempt on... Read More

Hearing essays and reflections from Congressman John Lewis's 2012 book gives one a sense of the old and the new. Keith David's warm baritone projects great equanimity and power--which are exactly what inform Lewis's recollections. Lewis was one of the original Freedom Riders in 1960 and has continued as a Civil Rights leader and advocate throughout his life, which includes 17... Read More

Sound effects and Bahni Turpin's lively narration enhance this vivid story of an inquisitive future scientist. Ada must rely on her curious mind, her friends Rosie and Iggy, and her family to rescue a friend in trouble. When Uncle Ned goes airborne in a pair of inflatable pants and can't land himself, Ada devises a scientific plan to bring him back to earth. The plot's twists... Read More

Narrator P.J. Ochlan splendidly brings to life this classic work, which has also been given the title A RAW YOUTH in some translations. The novel concerns the two desires of 19-year-old Arkady Dologruky: to expose his scoundrel of a father for who he really is and to win the woman he loves. Like many Dostoevsky's works, this audiobook depicts an individual's inner world.... Read More

Accomplished narrators Emily Woo Zeller and Tim Campbell impressively narrate Addie Thorley's debut historical fantasy, in which King Louis IV and much of his court are poisoned to death. Mirabelle, a thoughtful young alchemist, is inadvertently caught up in her mother's plans to overthrow the monarchy. Zeller portrays her with anguish and hopefulness befitting the brilliant... Read More

Undocumented Peruvian Ana Falcón is compassionately portrayed by narrator Frankie Corzo in Rivero's touted debut novel. Ana dreams that her family, who have left a crumbling Peru, will flourish in America. Even in Peru, Ana's indigenous heritage made her a second-class citizen--unlike her urban, educated, and lighter-skinned husband. Whereas he sees returning to Peru as a... Read More

Gary Furlong narrates a vivid biography of the first non-native samurai in feudal Japan, who was also black. Yasuke has achieved almost mythical status in Japan, but he was very much human and flawed. While telling Yasuke's life story, the audiobook covers a staggering amount, including the topics of warfare and politics. Furlong capably imbues the well-researched and detailed... Read More

Andrea Gallo instructively narrates the intriguing true story of two women of Amherst, Massachusetts, Mabel Loomis Todd and her daughter, Millicent Todd Bingham, who brought Emily Dickinson's literary genius to light after her death. Gallo's clear, steady assertiveness conveys an unfolding audio docudrama filled with surprises about who and what shaped the poet, whom the world... Read More

Jonathan Todd Ross narrates with enthusiasm as Art Shamsky brings together several members of the 1969 New York Mets to reminisce about the amazing season that would result in a World Series title. Ross never tries to imitate anyone and knows when to craft a serious tone. He tells the stories of players who put together an incredible pennant run, and his interest in every... Read More

Shoshana Zuboff offers a well-researched and detailed examination of a global framework that, in her view, threatens everyone who employs even a trace of Internet-based technology. The highly accomplished and experienced Nicol Zanzarella applies her impressive skills; her narration is, at once, sincere, powerful, intense, and deeply personal. Zuboff coins the term "surveillance... Read More

Narrator Adenrele Ojo is a familiar, poetic voice for a heavy topic: black women's unique experiences with racism and sexism, and their role in standing with black men and white women in the fight against these oppressions. This classic book doesn't feel dated, though the buzzword "intersectionality" is never uttered. The audiobook is a primer on the study of black women in... Read More

One of the greatest quarterbacks ever, Joe Namath, narrates his own work, and he's perfect for the dual role of storyteller and narrator. Namath describes his life--growing up in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania; his relationship with the legendary Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama; and his high-profile role with the New York Jets on the field and off. He narrates with an... Read More

In this moving audiobook, exceptionally narrated by Frankie Corzo, Lexie can't stop running. Five years ago, everything changed after a brutal act of violence. Since then, she has switched schools, changed names, and disconnected from family. But as her senior year begins, something is different. She makes friends, meets a boy, and joins the drama club. Corzo expertly voices... Read More

Author and narrator Barbara Brown Taylor's welcoming tone and spot-on phrasing combine perfectly in this engaging consideration of nature and the divine. In chapters with such titles as "The Practice of Getting Lost" and "The Practice of Carrying Water," the theology professor and former Episcopal priest blends discussions of the mystical with the everyday. She is an engaging... Read More

Mark Bramhall's narration captures Arthur Alter's evolution from total self-involvement to something better. This novel is dark, humorous, compelling, and all about family. Alter is a mostly failed academic with two semi-dysfunctional adult children who are mourning their mother, Francine, and resenting the affair their father carried out while Francine was on her deathbed.... Read More

Author and columnist Thomas Page McBee narrates his thought-provoking memoir about masculinity with an engaging clarity and openness. McBee, who wrote about transitioning to male gender in his award-winning memoir, MAN ALIVE, is living with his girlfriend when the audiobook opens. Finding himself in a near fistfight with an aggressive jerk one day, the tattooed and... Read More

Narrator Sean Crisden wraps listeners in the warmth of food truck owner Nesto Vasquez, whose Dominican heritage inspires his delicious Afro-Caribbean food. Nesto parks his truck opposite the Ithaca Library and strikes immediate sparks with librarian Jude Fuller. Both men have to balance work priorities and family baggage before they get their sweet and steamy... Read More

Narrator Sean Crisden amplifies the electric chemistry between Milo and Tomas, who are longing for a fairy-tale romance. Milo, a passionate social worker, is fiercely loyal to his friends and family. Crisden gives him an enthusiastic voice with a light accent to convey his Cuban, Jamaican, and New York City roots. At an LGBTQ fundraiser, Milo has a steamy encounter with... Read More

Narrator Stephen Graybill's assured performance captures the author's focus on the space race and its part in the social and political complexities of the Cold War era. As the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing approaches, American historian Douglas Brinkley celebrates the Kennedy administration's role in the nascent aerospace industry. Listeners gain renewed... Read More

In a smooth voice and a measured tone, poet Terrance Hayes delivers 70 of his own sonnets condemning what he calls America's assassins: racism, violence, and prejudice against black people. In this National Book Award-nominated collection, Hayes unflinchingly criticizes President Trump and decries hate crimes against blacks throughout history. Hayes's political opinions are... Read More

This is not your grandfather's audio spy thriller. Marie Mitchell, a young African-American officer, is routinely bypassed and underestimated by the old boys in the intelligence networks she works for, and it has made her a much harder-headed customer than is suggested by the warm, feminine voice with which Turpin skillfully misleads you. When Marie is finally offered a plum... Read More

Alex Kotlowitz narrates his audiobook about gun violence in Chicago, and he provides the necessary pathos and emotion you'd expect when an author reads his own work. He has a deep voice and excellent diction, and he knows when to pause for effect, raise or lower his voice for emphasis, and heighten his emotions to make a point. However, he does narrate like a person without... Read More

Narrator Suzanne Toren employs her considerable vocal talent to help listeners view America's history through the lens of the female Jewish experience. The work begins in 1654 with the first arrivals and spans more than 350 years. Toren's steady voice and empathetic tone, clear diction, and comfortable pacing engage listeners with this survey of the personal stories of... Read More

Mary Robinette Kowal narrates a powerful rumination on the aftermath of war in this third installment of the Amberlough Dossier series. How do you determine guilt or innocence when no one is truly blameless but a reckoning is still owed? Five years have passed since Amberlough City fell to the One State Party and was subsequently liberated by a group of... Read More

Narrator Nneka Okoye takes listeners on a journey with this sprawling science-fiction tale, which is both epic and intimate. Haimey Dz just wants to get by--to stay safe onboard a salvage ship with her partner, Connla, and their sarcastic AI, Singer. But her visit to a potentially valuable wreck kicks off a galaxy-spanning adventure involving alien parasites, space pirates, and... Read More

Intimate, surreal, and devastatingly honest. Tony Award winners Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield lead a superb Broadway cast in this audiobook revival of Tony Kushner's 1991 award-winning examination of the 1980s AIDS crisis in America. It is easy to forget how shaken and frightened the country, especially the gay community, was in the shadow of an unknown and lethal disease.... Read More

Narrator Nicola Barber brightly conveys the author's love and wonder for the animal-human relationship and its emotional complexities. For example--why do we choose the pets that we do? Jacky Colliss Harvey's voracious curiosity won't disappoint listeners who love animals. However, Barber delivers the book's intellectually probing material as if she were talking to a pet,... Read More

Robin Miles's expert narration truly brings out the best in Jamaica Kincaid's tender account of a girl's childhood in Antigua. Miles's performance savors the tastes and smells of the novel's Caribbean setting--a great strength of Kincaid's writing--and re-creates the excitement, innocence, and sorrows of childhood with grace and skill. In rare moments Miles's pacing seems just... Read More

Narrator Eric Michael Summerer deftly introduces the author as he investigates the thoughts of those predicting and preparing for turbulent times--terrorism, natural disasters, the end of the world. Summerer's Krulos is a first-rate interviewer who draws out even the most secretive individual. His appealing voice is realistic and respectful of each interviewee. Krulos visits... Read More

In a warm, inviting voice, James Naughton narrates Lopez's detailed natural history and firsthand observations of the Arctic, originally published in 1986. Lopez spent four years researching the ecosystem of this fascinating world. This audiobook provides an encompassing listening experience as he closely observe animals indigenous to the region, where night and day don't... Read More

A full-cast narration led by Colleen Delaney makes it easy to dive into this fantasy world, and soon every character feels familiar. It's a story full of religious tyrants, dark secrets, and a brewing rebellion in which any act of magic could open a portal to hell. As a result, each of the obstacles the characters encounter packs a significant emotional punch. And the numerous... Read More

Narrator Robertson Dean lends his judicious pacing and artful vocal variation to this production, accompanying listeners through musician and teacher Nachmanovitch's reflections. "Improvising is life itself," Nachmanovitch says; his book redefines improvisation as more than a creative practice--it's also a step to finding one's true self, one's own "skilled discipline of doing... Read More

Narrator Suzy Jackson is the perfect fit for this YA fiction, the heartfelt story of Harley's journey through growth, forgiveness, and love in the aftermath of betrayal and loss. With its poignant moments of sorrow, the story calls for a narrator who can match the characters' intensity of emotions. It's apparent in Jackson's performance from the first few moments how effective... Read More

Narrator Kyla Garcia captures the vacation setting and intrigue of this light summer mystery. The summer before Miranda starts eighth grade, her parents send her to August Isle, Florida, to stay with her mom's oldest friend, who has a daughter her age, Samira. Miranda explores the place where her mother vacationed as a girl and finds a new friend in Sammy. But mysteries abound,... Read More

This audiobook tells the outrageous story of a dramatic heist and, at the same time, describes the nation of Australia in the latter part of the nineteenth century. In June 1862, a gang of robbers pulled off Australia's most daring crime, absconding with 77 kilograms of gold, worth about $10 million today. Peter Hosking's performance is complicated. On the one hand, his... Read More

Oh, the utter delight of adventuring in Madagascar with the late English naturalist Gerald Durrell and his poly-voiced narrator, Rupert Degas, who beautifully channels Durrell's slightly raspy voice, his exuberant personality, and his enthusiasm for every variety of fauna, including human. The book describes a 1990s trip to Madagascar's remotest regions to find and collect a... Read More

From a diplomat and former secretary of state who was on the scene as the Cold War ended, and as the world changed again after the 9/11 attacks, comes an audiobook that effectively details the recent history of American foreign policy and the key role it played, and plays, in the world. Burns narrates the prologue, and his voice has the gravitas and expression you might expect... Read More

An illuminating account of the life of African saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita, canonized in 2000, is enhanced by Bahni Turpin's compelling narration. Weaving together an audible tapestry of diverse voices and historical places, Turpin's steady cadence effortlessly ushers listeners into a past world. She invites them to walk alongside Bakhita from her childhood in Darfur in... Read More

Cornell Collins delivers a spirited narration of a charming love story. Siblings Guy and Amanda Frisby are living in the country in genteel poverty when an unexpected series of events leaves them at the mercy of their neighbor, Sir Philip Rookwood. Guy and Amanda have been chafing at the restrictions placed on them for many years, although in different ways. Collins perfectly... Read More

Scottish actor Euan Morton adopts a primarily American intonation for Pitchaya Sudbanthad's impressive multilayered evocation of Bangkok past, present, and future. The choice makes sense, as many of the characters are American visitors or Thai expats living in the States. When called upon, Morton's Thai pronunciation is almost always correct. The audiobook comprises short... Read More

Three narrators tackle the struggles of Mexican-American teens and their families in El Paso, Texas. Each narrator provides a precise portrayal of Mendez's fully realized characters: Juan; his mom, Fabi; and his best friend, JD. Timothy Andrés Pabon captures Juan's coolness and his frustration with being the star basketball player on a losing team. Cynthia Farrell embodies... Read More

Pastor Rachel Billups delivers a lively performance as she narrates her audiobook encouraging listeners to be bold and "live their fierce." Using biblical histories and personal experiences as examples, Billups does not shy away from the hard truths of life but works to inspire the listener to find the lessons in these trials. Billups's emotions are powerful in this audiobook... Read More

Rupert Degas delivers a bang-up performance--including tiger growls and buffalo snorts--of Gerald Durrell's colorful and often comic memories of his first job as a student keeper at England's Whipsnade Zoological Park. Be forewarned that the legendary founder of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust wrote the book in 1970 about events in 1945. While he's forward-thinking about... Read More

Narrator Sophie Amoss introduces crime reporter Harper McClain, who is hardworking, passionate, and complex. While she has her own complicated relationship with the police and unsolved tragedies from her past, Harper is always committed to telling the whole story, regardless of who is involved. When a beautiful, young law student is murdered in downtown Savannah, the city wants... Read More

Narrators John Lithgow and Kate Mulgrew alternately share poems and songs created by Fred Rogers for his long-standing television show. Rogers's messages affirm children and give voice to the myriad feelings, good and bad, that all people feel from time to time. Wonder, joy, questions, exploration, outsides and insides, a new baby, one-of-a-kindness, needs emotional and... Read More

Sophie Amoss and Graham Halstead team up to narrate this twisty thriller about Hen, a bipolar artist who's convinced she's solved a cold case murder. Because of her illness, however, neither the police nor her husband completely believes her--especially when she accuses her neighbor, a well-respected high school teacher. Amoss, who performs the majority of the audiobook, is... Read More

Narrator Lauren Ezzo captures the passion of Everly Donovan, a girl who lives her life one stolen second at a time. When the man who murdered her family reappears, Everly finally has her chance for revenge--if her own delicate ticker doesn't get her first. Ezzo delivers an emotional performance full of drama, angst, and adventure as Everly's habitual secret-keeping creates... Read More

While listening to this audiobook, it takes time to get used to Sean Crisden's narration, particularly the voice he creates for Teddy MacNally--a guy who loves Christmas. But listeners will warm up to Crisden when grumpy Nicholas Nowicki, a military police officer, enters the scene. When Teddy enthusiastically agrees to play an elf for a charity event, he finds he has his work... Read More

Jennifer L. Eberhardt sounds like she's trying to deliver the words of her audiobook clearly while adding some emotional depth. In doing so, her narration comes across as too stilted, even when such an effect could be useful in projecting emotional tension. In powerful prose she explores how implicit bias works in a myriad of ways. This audiobook weaves her life's work and her... Read More

Amanda Dolan narrates Webb's exploration of the social problems (mostly) and possibilities (a few) that artificial intelligence could create. By first examining the major companies exploring artificial intelligence and then mapping out best- and worst-case scenarios, Webb ensures that listeners understand his position on how unlikely the optimistic projections are, based upon... Read More

Listeners join P.I. Jackson Brodie as what should be a simple investigation grows into something much more sinister. Narrator Jason Isaacs (who starred in the "Case Histories" TV series) is the perfect match for this multifaceted story. His confident and polished delivery allows both the wit in the writing and the tension of the plot to come together. His accents sound... Read More

Carl Prekopp's narration takes the listener to a world in which people's memories are voluntarily removed and bound into books. The lives of Emmett Farmer, a young man who was born with the sacred skill of bookbinding, and Lucian Darnay, the only son of a wealthy family with noble ties, are intertwined in ways neither can recall. Prekopp's performance draws the listener deeply... Read More

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

Derek Perkins narrates this engrossing audiobook on French cuisine with style, sass, and a sense of irony. His decidedly English accent and diction work well with the stories of French food and provide a kind of middle road through the culinary love-hate relationship between France and the U.S. The authors, a husband-and-wife team, are American and French. Stories of France's... Read More

Beresford Bennett's narration of this dramatic story set in Jamaica during the 1980s moves at a steady pace. The protagonist, Ferron, is dealing with the death of his father. The rhythm of Bennett's tone and pace changes when he portrays Ferron and speaks in a Jamaican dialect. His solemn yet energetic intonation reflects the political upheaval on this small island. When he is... Read More

The latest mystery from author David Rosenfelt is a wonderful weave of twists and unpredictability, ably narrated by Fred Berman, whose joy at narration is evident from the beginning. The procedural features New Jersey State Trooper Doug Brock, who is suffering from amnesia after having been shot in the line of duty. Brock must solve a murder while retracing his investigation... Read More

Simon Prebble's deep knowledge of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery series, which he has long narrated, serves listeners well in this 19th addition to the canon. In it, Rutledge is asked to find out more when the prime suspect in an old murder case reportedly resurfaces. Soon Rutledge is caught up in a confounding case that's complicated by every interviewee's habit of lying... Read More

Emily Bernard proves herself a gifted storyteller and a gifted narrator. This moving reading of her own essays is laced with nuance, emotion, and her ongoing struggle with the topics she addresses. As a graduate student at Yale, Bernard was one of seven victims of a random stabbing attack at a local coffee shop. Though it was traumatizing and painful, she also notes that the... Read More

Narrator Colin Mace is perfectly cast to portray Ryhalt Galharrow and his frightening dystopian world of magic and mayhem. He's a bitter mercenary fighting for the good guys in a world on the brink of destruction. Compressing the transitions sometimes gets in the way of Mace's otherwise excellent pacing. But he employs enough voice differentiation to make it clear who is... Read More

Golden Voice narrator Barbara Rosenblat once again portrays the indomitable Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cooper in the 20th audiobook in the series. Rosenblat masterfully conveys Alex's independent, fighting spirit as she returns from a leave to deal with a "#me too" situation involving a prominent figure. Using her considerable acting talents to differentiate the many... Read More

Narrator Julie Teal delivers Tyce's debut thriller with precise depictions and authentic expression. She smoothly takes on the role of Alison, a solicitor, whose life becomes chaotic as she deals with her marriage, an affair, and her first murder case. Teal communicates Alison's thoughts and emotions with credibility and finesse. Her husband and lover are polar opposites of... Read More

This audiobook is a unique, fast-paced thriller full of intrigue and unexpected humor. Narrator Lisa Flanagan creates a remarkable portrayal of its protagonist. Listeners will be drawn in by Maud Warner, a 50-something New York socialite on a mission. She is out for revenge against those she believes destroyed her family and stole her inheritance. As Flanagan depicts a large... Read More

Carl Honoré's narration of his inspiring book has the kind of energy that will help people expand what's possible for them in their later years. With his quietly assertive enthusiasm making his message hard to dismiss, he offers new research that shows how our mental image of late life has tremendous power to motivate good habits, provoke unlikely achievements, and juice up our... Read More

After receiving acclaim and two literary awards for his poetry book CATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATITUDE, Ross Gay continues to share his talent in this enlightening audiobook of essays, which he narrates himself. The audiobook consists of Gay's observations on his life over a period of one year. Both his writing and narration are humorous, fluid, playful, and, at times, quite... Read More

Unfold a beach chair, put on your earphones, and listen to the ultimate Southern beach story. Four very different women, portrayed by four uniquely talented narrators--Andi Arndt, Dorothy Dillingham Blue, Shannon McManus, and Lauren Fortgang--explore topics ranging from female bonding and relationship issues to medical malpractice, addiction, trauma, and the longing for a... Read More

Author and narrator Lucy Mangan is British, charming, and wryly funny. She's also a bookworm. As a child, she read voraciously, found fictional life to be more compelling than real life, and wasn't sure how being sent to her room by herself was a punishment. This delightful tribute to the joys of reading is further elevated by Mangan's warm tone, appealing accent, and... Read More

Narrator Ray Porter depicts Art Keller's turmoil with tenderness and compassion as the DEA agent turned director exposes the corruption associated with America's addiction to illegal drugs.The final installment of this sprawling trilogy about America's drug war in Mexico and Central America moves to the marbled corridors of Washington DC, ending in blood, death, and,... Read More

Narrator Christopher Carley inhabits this sublime coming-of-age story set in Virginia in the late 1950s-60s. Seventeen-year-old Stony Shelor is a good person but ends up on probation after defending a girl. Carley deftly portrays easygoing Stony and his dissimilar friend Jack, a would-be detective, as the pair assist the overworked sheriff's department. Listeners will visit the... Read More

The founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, Reshma Saujani shares her own experiences with being brave, along with the experiences of other females, to empower women to accomplish their goals. She is relatable and sincere when speaking of times she decided to be brave instead of indecisive and is convincing in reassuring listeners that the act of pursuing is essential to... Read More

Emily Woo Zeller narrates a deeply moving love story between two passionate and strong-willed individuals from its emotionally devastating lows to its profoundly satisfying conclusion. Khai Diep is convinced he is incapable of feeling, and, therefore, has no need of a wife. Esme Tran, despite numerous obstacles, jumps at the chance to meet a potential husband who is American.... Read More

In this audiobook, Quinn, an art historian, explores the lives of 15 twentieth-century American female artists such as Lee Krasner and Elaine de Kooning. Some have not been substantially covered in similar biographies. However, there are some disappointments. The print edition is richly illustrated, and references to plates throughout the audiobook fall flat without the images... Read More

Narrator Rebecca Lowman has a friendly, accessible voice that allows listeners to follow this true crime audiobook. In 1989, three young children in Bell, California, were killed when their house caught fire. Their mother escaped the blaze but was convicted of setting the fire in order to murder them. Thirty years later, her conviction, and the evidence that was used to secure... Read More

The Lady Hardcastle Edwardian-period mysteries are lots of fun, especially for avid anglophiles and especially on audio. Narrator Elizabeth Knowelden portrays the aristocratic detective and her trusty maid, Flo. With the help of an eclectic group of Lady Hardcastle's friends, they work to solve a fatal case of arson and save the life of a suffragette who is falsely accused of... Read More

Imagine the plot of a great thriller: During the Cold War, the U.S. designs a secret plan to detonate nuclear bombs over Russia to nullify Soviet control of outer space. It would be a good one, right? According to this nonfiction audiobook, though, it was an actual plan--Operation Argus. Narrator Jon Lescault tells the true story in a straightforward manner, using his deep,... Read More

Sisters Emily and Amelia Nagoski team up as writers and narrators to discuss what causes women to feel exhausted in today's world and what they can do to combat it. Using eager tones and engaging emphasis, both are compassionate and charismatic when investigating the ways women feel burnout throughout their lives. They offer a take-action approach to solving the problem so... Read More

Narrator Helen Lloyd's voice often sounds remarkably calm as she narrates Deb Brandon's recollections of medical emergencies and sensory overloads. That calm accentuates the moments of sheer panic that Brandon experienced in her recovery from brain hemorrhages and multiple surgeries. Brandon, a Carnegie Mellon University math professor, shares the frustrations of relearning... Read More

An audiobook may not be the best way to experience these love poems. Each one is gorgeous--and so gorgeously read by Armando Duran that the listener may want to stop after one or two and think about them, rather than moving straight through the collection. Neruda is the definitive Spanish-language poet of the twentieth century, and his love poems hold a place comparable to... Read More

Multiple narrators leave no emotion untouched as they dive into the struggles, anxieties, and fears of the Butler siblings, who are still reeling from the criminal convictions of their "perfect" elder sister and her husband. Adenrele Ojo's performance is steely and stoic as Althea Butler faces her long punishment. Her husband, Proctor, is portrayed by Dominic Hoffman, whose... Read More

Narrator Simon Prebble delivers this smartly written puzzle with just the right pensive attitude for the veteran detective DCI Banks and those in his orbit. Banks and his team have two murders to investigate. One looks like a suicide, but isn't. The other looks like an accident, but is it? A young woman's body is found in an abandoned car, and, while it looks like suicide, it's... Read More

The author of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and RED DRAGON lends insight and a gentle delivery to his new story of unbound greed and warped obsession. The gambit involving a psychopathic killer and a young woman in search of 25 million dollars in cartel gold that lies hidden beneath a mansion on the Miami Beach waterfront is both entertaining and engaging. Harris uses his soft and... Read More

Narrator Georgina Sutton begins this story of Tenzin Palmo's journey into Tibetan Buddhism in a matter-of-fact tone compatible with the author's journalistic style. Palmo (née Diane Perry) finds a path that takes her from London's East End to India--and, eventually, to living in a cave and mediating for 12 years. Her story is filled with humor, faith, and insight. As we learn... Read More

Those who listen to this marvelous audiobook discover quickly that Bienville is not a sleepy Mississippi town. Rather, Scott Brick's masterful narration highlights every nuance of Greg Iles's captivating novel about Marshall McEwan, a Bienville native who left the town and became an award-winning journalist. When McEwan returns to care for his ailing father, he renews... Read More

True-crime journalist Billy Jensen narrates his personal look at criminal investigation in the matter-of-fact style of a reporter. Jensen worked with author Michelle McNamara on her book about the Golden State Killer, I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK. McNamara died suddenly before she could see the results of her research. Jensen made it his mission to see that her work wouldn't be... Read More

This audiobook begins on an exciting note as baker Hannah Swenson informs all in her church that her wedding was invalid. Hannah has just learned that Ross, her groom, was already married and has returned to his wife. However, despite narrator Suzanne Toren's valiant efforts to keep the momentum going when the audiobook offers recipes at the end of almost every chapter, the... Read More

Christian Baskous narrates this compelling slice of recent baseball history. Many listeners will already know the ending. By 1995, the New York Yankees had become a terrific team led by a cadre of homegrown stars and would go on to a legendary run of first-place seasons and World Series wins. Even so, baseball fans will revel in the details of how the team rose to such success... Read More

Narrator Kirby Heyborne reprises his role as Nandu, a Nepalese boy, in this sequel to WHAT ELEPHANTS KNOW. The 13-year-old lives with his adoptive father, Subba-sahib, in the newly established Royal Elephant Breeding Center on the edge of the jungle in 1970s Nepal. His community is tested by earthquake, drought, a dangerous wild bull elephant, and menacing poachers. Heyborne's... Read More

Archaeologist Monica L. Smith's passion for the history and importance of cities comes through in her narration of this audiobook. More than half of the world's population resides in cities, and this proportion is expected to grow. The intangibles of city life--the breadth of career opportunities; the plethora of dining, cultural, and entertainment options; and the large and... Read More

Blair Brown delivers a superb narration of Elizabeth Gilbert's novel, which features the recollections of a 95-year-old New York seamstress who came of age during WWII. Brown's straightforward, charming depiction illuminates the vivacious young woman the wistful elderly narrator remembers, and her conversational pacing creates vibrant pictures for the listener. In 1940, after... Read More

Assaf Cohen is a flexible narrator whose dexterity is shown as a cast of characters grapples with growing conflict in Syria. Cohen switches from Hammoudi, the doctor, to Amal, the actress, as government surveillance and citizen unrest grow. Fans of world literature will find much to enjoy in this exploration of current events. As listeners are taken into a world of ambition,... Read More

The cast of this audio production must be commended for undertaking one of the longest novels in English literature. They are successful in capturing Richardson's many epistolary voices. Lucy Scott gives an admirable performance as Clarissa Harlowe; her clear, soft voice captures the earnestness and innocence of the chief character. While Clarissa most often speaks sincerely to... Read More

Simon Vance is a master narrator, and a highly suitable choice for this lively history of a dining club composed of eighteenth-century London's most celebrated figures, including Samuel Johnson, James Boswell, David Garrick, Edward Gibbon, Joshua Reynolds--yes, all of them men. Their gatherings were a composite portrait of the arts and letters of their time, their individual... Read More

R.C. Bray narrates the legendary Coilhunter's adventures through the Wild North in an engrossing omnibus. Nox patrols the desolate wastes of the land as an unofficial lawman meting out justice with lead and violence as he seeks his family's murderer. Bray juggles several distinct voices throughout the three books but none so distinguished as Nox's. The Coilhunter speaks with a... Read More

This contemporary story, narrated by Carly Robins, is inspired by ROMEO AND JULIET. It's clear that Nova Scotian Miriam Kendrick should not fall for Californian Weldon Warrick. Decades ago, Weldon's grandfather purchased the rights to the TomorrowMen comic series for a paltry sum, leaving his co-creator--Miriam's grandfather--with nothing when the series became a worldwide... Read More

With exquisite sensitivity, narrator Nancy Peterson channels the complex character of Susannah Martin, one of 14 women hanged for witchcraft during the infamous Salem witch trials. Susannah waits for months in abysmal conditions for her execution, repeatedly playing back memories of her long-ago courtship with her handsome beau. Peterson's depictions of both Susannahs--the... Read More

Narrator Henry Levya and author David R. Dow combine to deliver an emotional wallop with this first-person mystery focused on retribution. Levya convincingly inhabits the mind of Rafael, an Everyman who is thrust onto a Texas death row only to be spit out six years later. Dow's knowledge of Texas's death penalty system and its inhabitants is mind-blowing--a lawyer, he has... Read More

Narrator Peter Ganim's deeply resonant voice is a wonderful instrument for the pitch and pacing patterns that make this audiobook so effective. Masculine but not overbearing, his vocal confidence makes listening an uplifting experience and is a good fit for the likable rectitude of author George Will. This is philosophical writing by a political science professor, so you'll... Read More

Narrator Thom Rivera plays up the danger running through this thriller. His tense tone keeps listeners in suspense as antique expert Jota accepts a commission to find a rare clock. Listeners who love a complicated plot that is constantly raising the stakes will hang on Rivera's every word as Jota and Laura, the daughter of his former partner, who joins him on the hunt, are... Read More

Tavia Gilbert and Robert Fass deserve only superlatives for their performances in Louis Bayard's outstanding historical fiction. Mary Todd and Joshua Speed tell compelling stories detailing the way their lives entwined with Abraham Lincoln's. In 1840, Mary comes to Springfield with marriage on her mind. She meets handsome, charming Speed and awkward Lincoln, an unimpressive... Read More

The coziness in author Isabel Gillies's narration is comforting but also inspires introspection and insight. Her authentic-sounding performance in which she challenges us to redefine the term "cozy" demands consideration. That's because her down-to-earth-delivery conveys that finding what is cozy to us stacks the odds in our favor for achieving happiness and getting through... Read More

Tristan James returns to narrate the second audiobook in a series featuring the snappy dialogue of Bostonian Cameron Byrne and the decisive tones of retired Navy SEAL and now U.S. Attorney Dominic Price. Throughout the narrative, James does an exceptional job of maintaining consistency as the main characters dance around their personal romance and the question of whether to out... Read More

Narrator Antonia Beamish provides the three main characters of this mystery with unique personas. Her skill helps listeners absorb a complex story that focuses on the intersection of past and present. At its core, this is a psychological thriller set in England and told from the perspectives of a single mom, Lisa; her daughter, Ava; and Lisa's best friend, Marilyn. As secrets... Read More

A skilled cast of narrators brings a compelling fantasy world to life in Niki Pau Preto's first novel. Joy Osmanski voices Veronyka, a war orphan whose betrayal by her sister, Val, spurs her to disguise herself as a boy in order to join the rebel phoenix riders. Sev, a war orphan on a different path, is voiced in a wary, rumbling tone by Jacques Roy, whose excellent narration... Read More

James's novella is brought beautifully to life by narrator Penelope Rawlins, whose chameleon voice spans continents with ease. While the narrative is performed in an appealing British accent, Rawlins easily moves into American tones when voicing the title character and her suitor, Mr. Winterbourne. As the vivacious Daisy flirts her way across Europe, Winterbourne struggles to... Read More

No one but Brené Brown would be as effective narrating this personal discussion on leading with authenticity and courage. She's reading all but a few ad libs, but you wouldn't know it because her strong tone and spontaneous emphasis make her sound like she's carrying out an intense coaching session. Her fans know the prolific author's basic message: Effectiveness in any realm... Read More

Narrators Baris Duyan and Ayse Eldek earnestly deliver 12 stories of love, despair, and hope in conflict-ravaged Turkey. In this debut collection by a Turkish political hostage, Duyan and Eldek recount the everyday lives of people affected by political chaos. Listeners may perceive this audiobook as highly political, but the foreword, narrated by Kate Reading, says that it "is... Read More

Narrator Ray Porter actually catches a break with this gruesome science-fiction audiobook. Much of this thriller's cast is composed of thousands of silent zombies, so Porter doesn't have to differentiate much among them. Set in the year 2243, the story takes place on the moon, which serves as a cemetery for the overpopulated earth. Escaping her life on earth, Cali Washington... Read More

In this audiobook sequel to the enjoyable BIG GET-EVEN, antiheroes Glen and Stan concoct another scheme to get rich. Clearly, they have not learned their lesson about the consequences of dealing with mobsters. Narrator Keith Szarabajka has a way with dialogue that draws listeners into the story, making them worry about the main characters, even if they have slipped closer to... Read More

With tough-sounding voices, narrator Marisol Ramirez brings the fierce and fearless characters in this feminist Latinx dystopia to life. Whether she's portraying ambitious Rocka, the head of one of Mega City's top girl gangs, Las Mal Criadas; Truck, Rocka's gravelly voiced enforcer and second-in-command; or the softer, gentler voices of men, who in this universe are relegated... Read More

Audiobook listeners can travel back to the eighteenth century and hear a youthful George Washington recount British military blunders. Later, they hear a romantic Washington's frustration over being kept apart from his first love, Mary Eliza Philpse, the belle of Yonkers. Narrator Raphael Corkhill captures the essence of Washington--his sense of honor, his dignity, his... Read More

Narrator Antonia Beamish's delightful performance highlights the fun of this new mystery series set in a small French town. Middle-aged, newly divorced Penny buys a country house in Provence, looking forward to a relaxing retirement from the forensics lab of the British Home Office. When a body is discovered floating in her pool, the police say it was an accidental drowning,... Read More

The subject of democracy--how it begins and how bad actors cause it to fail--is personal to author and narrator Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state. Rice's delivery of her introduction makes the listener want to hear more of her voice, and the emotion she conveys adds strength to her argument for democracy. The handoff to Grace Angela Henry, who narrates the chapters,... Read More

Narrator Derek Perkins is a master at delivering the world-building in this first installment of a new fantasy trilogy. An engaging storyteller, he assists the listener in differentiating the threads of the plot before they come together. The gods have abandoned this world, leaving it to warring factions. But when magic reappears in the form of a young girl, they become... Read More

Narrator David Rintoul uses his considerable acting talents to deliver this "Scandi blanc" parody of Scandi noir (also known as Nordic noir). Author Alexander McCall Smith introduces us to Swedish detective Ulf Varg and his colleagues in the Department of Sensitive Crimes through three cases in which no one gets killed or even seriously maimed. Rintoul effectively... Read More

Julian Rhind-Tutt narrates this horrific story of serial killers who are inhabited by the devil. It's 1935 in German-occupied Prague. Jungian psychiatrist Viktor Kosárek is working at the infamous Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane, where he is interviewing six serial killers. At the same time, police investigator Lukas Smolak seeks the serial killer dubbed Leather... Read More

The listener is immediately immersed in this historical romance featuring Phoebe, Lady Clare, and West Ravenel. Phoebe is a widow who travels to a family wedding, where she meets West, a reformed scoundrel who tormented her late husband when they were boys at school. Narrator Mary Jane Wells's rich voice lends itself to the story. West has matured and developed a wonderful... Read More

From the first few haunting notes of the opening music, the supernatural setting of this audiobook is set. There's something strange happening in the small woodlands town of Four Paths, New York. In this debut audiobook narrated by Sarah Beth Goer, newcomer Violet Saunders becomes deeply enmeshed in the paranormal phenomenon that has been plaguing the town for centuries. Goer... Read More

Four teenagers' anxieties are laid bare in an unsettling YA audiobook that examines privilege, racism, and class. The Shoveler, who leads a nomadic life with his thieving mom, and Malcolm, who is struggling with his father's terminal cancer, reveal themselves through narrators Mike Chamberlain and Kirby Heyborne. Tonya Cornelisse's voice adds bittersweetness to "CanIHelpYou's"... Read More

Robert Petkoff's clear and engaging voice guides listeners through a scientific history of chemical elements. Adapted from the bestselling title for adults, this version for young people still requires a good deal of background knowledge about chemistry. But those who can follow along will be rewarded with with fun facts and fascinating stories, like how a teenager tried to... Read More

This audiobook recounts the dangers, duties, and adventures of a federal prosecutor. Bharara rose to the position U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York--one of the most powerful law enforcement jobs in the country--and served until he was canned by President Trump. During his career, Bharara went after bad guys of all kinds, including mobsters, drug dealers,... Read More

Bursting with winsome charm, this audiobook whisks listeners to the cozy coastal community of Port Coral, Florida, where Cuban-American Rosa Santos lives with her abuela, the neighborhood healer. Everyone in Port Coral knows about the curse on Rosa: Since the sea claimed the lives of her father and grandfather, anyone who dates her risks a similar fate. Yet smart, pragmatic... Read More

Australian music and screen star Olivia Newton-John narrates her thoughtful, candid look at her life and career. Articulate and laced with self-deprecating humor, this is an enjoyable romp that also examines the darker realms of her life, including her cancer diagnoses and treatments. Of particular interest in her warm and evocative performance is her belief in the late Louise... Read More

Narrator John McLain effectively channels storyteller Big Red, who teams up with his brother, Old Red, to serve as private investigators, Sherlock Holmes-style, in the Old West. McLain's delivery calls to mind the world of nineteenth-century cowboys as the new Double-A Western Detection Agency gets its first case, which involves cattle rustlers in New Mexico. The situation... Read More

Narrator John Lane's deep, sexy voice lends itself perfectly to this audiobook. Businessman Axel McKee hears Lizzy's band playing at a club and immediately makes plans to promote her. Lane captures Lizzy's initial wariness--she's been hurt in the past. Axel has a group of friends he considers brothers. Lane gives a unique voice to each of them and to their wives, as well as... Read More

GraphicAudio took on quite a challenge in adapting a visually surreal comic book to audio. Dr. Strange and the Nightmare, who are lords of the Dream Dimension, have long been adversaries, but now they must team up with the non-magical Dr. Misra to find out what new evil force is causing harm in the real and dream worlds. While they do maintain a solid story with engaging sound... Read More

Narrator Jesse Vilinsky establishes a youthful voice for Louisiana, Louisa for short, who is spending the summer on Deer Island with her grandparents while her parents go on a bird-watching excursion. Upon arrival, Louisa notices that her grandfather is losing his vision, which will eventually prevent him from driving, one of his passions. She also begins to notice George, a... Read More

Narrator Karen Cass imbues a reluctant duke with all of the haughtiness a self-made man would be expected to exhibit in this redemptive historical romance. Thomasina Thorne has been trying to keep the estate her late father managed afloat. When the new duke, Nicholas Lyon, arrives to take stock of his ancestral home, she assumes all will be well again. But he wants nothing to... Read More

This audiobook recounts the dramatic rescue of Allied Forces at Dunkirk, France, during WWII and explains the history of the evacuation that is dramatized in the recent film. Narrator Jonathan Keeble gives listeners a special treat as he demonstrates his command of Scottish, Welsh, and even German accents to portray the soldiers involved in the fight to stop the German army. He... Read More

Tavia Gilbert provides a sensitive and appropriately paced narration of actress, humanitarian, and UNICEF ambassador Audrey Hepburn's early years. The five-year Nazi occupation of the Netherlands when she was a teenager provides the framework for this historical biography. The well-researched work creates a fiction-style narrative of the harrowing, malnourished realities of... Read More