New Reviews by Title: E-J

Showcasing a broad talent for accents, narrators Vaneh Assadourian and Timothy Campbell enliven a sultry second-chance romance inspired by Jane Austen's PERSUASION. Eight years after breaking the heart of her first love, Arab American Naila Darwish is reunited with Basil Trevlyn, now an earl, at her sister's wedding. Believing they may have another chance for a... Read More

Dara Rosenberg returns to narrate Meltzer's latest heartwarming novel, a second-chance romance peppered with magical realism. To the shock of workaholic television producer Evelyn, her ex-husband, David, has been hired as on-set physician for her musical production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. As the frantically paced shooting unfolds, Evelyn is in a minor accident but declines... Read More

This audiobook presents a jewel box of late-in-life stories written by a master, and all exceptionally well performed. Rushdie's imagination, wit, and ear for language are on full display in "a quintet" of remarkable fictions. The listener is also treated to five accomplished narrators who capture the author's voice, sometimes standing to the side while explaining the... Read More

Listeners will be drawn into this audiobook through the dual narration of Carla Corvo and Nick Trengove, who bring Jade Aguilar and Lukas Keller to life in their magical Queendom of Mérecal. Corvo delivers a reserved yet emotive performance that mirrors Jade's uncertainty and quiet strength as she navigates a treacherous royal court and a dangerous underworld in an effort to... Read More

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

Mhairi Morrison's amiable tone and Scottish accent are perfect for this engrossing historical novel, set amid the spiritualist movement of the early 20th century. Two narratives are interwoven: the story of Lottie, the Welsh widow of a Scottish miner, and the story of her granddaughter, Nora Grey. Both Lottie and Nora are exploited in different ways: Lottie by an abusive mine... Read More

First-generation Cuban American Frankie Corzo's own experience illuminates her narration of this story of the Cuban diaspora. Rosita, the author's grandmother, born and raised in Cuba, was forced into exile when her husband was deemed a threat to Fidel Castro. Sheppard traces Cuba's history from its "discovery" by Spain to Castro's rise to power. Through interviews with Rosita,... Read More

This novel, written in 1833 and considered a minor masterpiece, is expertly narrated by Justin Avoth. His erudite, perfectly paced voice describes the rigid, monotonous life of a provincial French family, the Grandets. The head of the family is a miser who cares more for gold than for either his obedient wife or his pious daughter, Eugénie. When Eugénie's cousin, Charles, comes... Read More

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

It's impossible to overstate the power of hearing Palestinian writer Plestia Alaqad narrating her diaries of life under Israeli occupation. Delivering her audiobook in her melodic Arabic accent is a remarkable act of resistance in a war in which journalists are routinely targeted. Alaqad rose to prominence at the age of 21 for her reporting during the first six weeks of the... Read More

Listeners will be charmed by Abigail Reno's narration of this holiday audiobook featuring the beginning of a couple's love story. A ferryboat breakdown in the middle of Puget Sound leaves passengers temporarily stranded. As Avery heads for lunch with her brother, she meets several other commuters, including Harrison, a Navy sailor who is visiting his sister. A small group of... Read More

Throughout this audiobook, translated from a Norwegian novel, an aged ferryman who is navigating familiar fjords picks up passengers--all of them spirits of those he once knew. Accompanied by his faithful departed dog, he waits for his late wife to join him for his final journey out of earthly life. Despite the surreal plot, the audiobook is grounded by evocative physical... Read More

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

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

Robb Moreira and Sofia Palmero deliver a heartwarming exploration of trauma, loss, and connection in this queer YA romance. Sebas is a new arrival to TECH, an anti-bullying high school where students have a monthly word limit. They must watch what they say at all times or face consequences. Here, Sebas meets Lu, a TECH ambassador with a long history of being bullied. While... Read More

The final installment in The Annual Migration of Clouds trilogy is narrated by Jamie Cavanagh and Eva Tavares. Cavanagh tells Henryk's story. Exiled from a community that still enjoys a comfortable existence after a climate apocalypse, Henryk travels to his uncle's village. What he finds is an unfriendly community whose residents lead subsistence lives. Cavanagh's introspective... Read More

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

This provocative debut audiobook about the lives of two women is enhanced by the pitch-perfect narration of Ellie Gossage. Avery, a 20-something graduate student living in New York City, turns to sex work to finance her education. Her decision is supported by her wealthy best friend, Frances, who drops out of school to marry and later becomes a successful filmmaker. Gossage... Read More

Narrator Daniel Weyman portrays István, an awkward teenager who, as the novel opens, lives in an apartment complex in Hungary. Tragically, the earnest, needy teen falls in love with an older woman, and when he declares his love and confronts her husband, István accidentally kills him. Institutionalization follows--from which he emerges withdrawn and almost incapable of... Read More

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

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

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

If you've ever wondered how certain words came to be or why we use particular phrases, this audiobook will be of interest. Martha Barnette performs her study of language with an earnestness that nurtures the listener. Her genuinely enthusiastic tone, which also graces a radio show and a podcast, sounds right at home in the audio format. Barnette works hard to explore as many... Read More

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

Francesca Wade has clearly researched the work and times of Gertrude Stein, and she narrates her findings adeptly in this new biography. Stein was well known for her bohemian lifestyle; her talented and fascinating group of friends, including Picasso, Matisse, and Hemingway; and her quixotic writing style. Wade's discoveries include the origins of Stein's writing style and the... Read More

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

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

Narrators Rita Amparita and Stephanie Németh-Parker add emotional depth to this academic thriller. High-achieving and sardonic sophomore Nina Kaur hopes to be accepted into The House, a sorority that promises success, beauty, and power to its alumnae. As Nina is drawn into The House's rituals, her fear of failure begins to ease. At the same time, the House's newest academic... Read More

Narrator Marnye Young takes listeners back in time to New York City in 1920 to create the atmosphere of Mariah Fredericks's latest mystery. The story ties together three elements: the unsolved murder of the gambler Joseph Elwell, the reporting of journalist Morris Markey for THE NEW YORKER, and the glamorous lives of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Young carefully channels each... Read More

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

Listeners are treated to a nonstop thrill ride in Reese Witherspoon's first novel and Harlan Coben's debut collaboration. An exceptional cast, including Witherspoon herself, brings to life a host of vividly drawn characters from around the globe. Maggie McCabe, a gifted reconstructive surgeon who's lost her license, seizes a chance to return to the operating room when a Russian... Read More

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

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

The great auk, a large flightless seabird related to guillemots and razorbills, has been extinct since 1844, wholly at the hands of people. John Sackville's crisp English accent and conversational pacing draw the listener into ornithologist Tim Birkhead's wide-ranging investigation into the life and afterlife of the great auk. Sackville is a charming and precise guide as we... Read More

This account of how the Founders dealt with the issues of slavery and the treatment of America's Indigenous populations is solidly narrated by Golden Voice Kimberly Farr. Ellis, a prominent historian, goes into detail about the contradictions inherent in America's founding relating to those two issues. He also notes that the Founders were people and that irony and contradiction... Read More

In this beautiful memoir, a 50-something woman and a South Indian businessman/climate activist fall in love--both for the first time. He dies shortly after they become engaged but reappears in her life to help her find love again. The ensuing conversations couldn't have been performed by anyone but author Alison Larkin, a veteran narrator known for her exceptional performances... Read More

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

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

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

Angela Buchdahl, senior rabbi at one of the most influential Reform synagogues in the country, tells her story with the same energetic, approachable delivery she employs in her public speaking. Her path to the rabbinate was anything but usual; Buchdahl was born in Seoul, South Korea, to an Asian Buddhist mother and a white Jewish father. Each biographical chapter of the... Read More

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

This riveting audiobook about a middle-aged woman in a disastrous marriage is narrated with nuance and conviction by Rebecca Gibel. Charlotte meets Jimbo, a drug addict, and impulsively marries him. Desperately lonely and depressed, she's convinced that being overweight makes her unlovable. Her family connection is strong, especially with her father and her sister, Celia, whose... Read More

Narrators Amanda Ronconi and Teddy Hamilton return listeners to Starfall Point, an island in Lake Michigan inhabited by ghosts and witches. When witch Cora Seaworth is attacked, Iggy Galinsky is accidentally hit with a tranquilizer dart, and Cora is forced to bring him to her home. Attraction sparks between them, and Iggy joins Cora in dealing with an old enemy of her family.... Read More

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

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

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

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

Jay Reum's narration captures the divided heart of 13-year-old Canyon Cress, who's holding on for dear life as he rides bulls, cares for his younger sister, and tries to contain his father's drinking and his own grief over his mother's death. Reum's slight Western accent adds to the ambiance of the story. His portrayals of minor characters give authenticity to Canyon's... Read More

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

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

The ensemble narration of Corey Brill, Cassandra Campbell, and Renata Friedman renders this audio production a real delight. At a publishing house, unseasoned editors Rebecca Blume and Ben Heath are forced to share a desk on different days of the week. A rivalry ensues, which heats up when a literary giant known as the Lion dies and his literary estate becomes fair game. As the... Read More

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

Narrator Jeff Ebner's youthful voice and careful pacing are well suited to this middle-grade horror audiobook. Rory has avoided the house next door ever since he and his best friend encountered the malevolent spirits that eventually caused his friend's family to move away. So when Jack's family moves in, Rory will do whatever it takes to protect them, especially Jack's little... Read More

Although the process of achieving sainthood is steeped in tradition and legend, author/narrator Kate Sidley tackles explaining it. She injects a heavy dollop of humor in the form of quips as she separates fact from fiction. Basically, a person must die. There is a mandatory waiting period of five years before a person can even be nominated for sainthood. The deceased must then... Read More

Now released from prison, former NSA linguist Reality Winner becomes all the more compelling with narrator Rachel Perry's measured performance. Perry captures Winner's earnest desire to be a patriot serving her country. It was Winner's passion for learning languages that led to her being awarded an Air Force Commendation Medal, though those actions gave her PTSD in the process.... Read More

There's a whole lot of love in Nile Bullock's openhearted, enthusiastic narration. His portrayal of Rasheed highlights the boy's admiration for his big brother, Anthony, whom Bullock effectively portrays as a strong and kind guiding force. Anthony, who knows everything, teaches Rasheed how to button his shirt for church, ride a bike, and apply their dad's cologne the right way.... Read More

Narrated by Sara Sheckells, this audiobook is a tender but brutal look at motherhood. Two alternating storylines unfold. One features a young mother who is struggling with her sick daughter while mourning her own independence. The other tells the story of a "princess" who lives an ideal life with her "prince" and their two "heirs." Sheckells uses a breathy, almost ethereal,... Read More

Rafe Beckley's calm, determined narration serves as a counterpoint to the alarming and urgent message conveyed in this audiobook, namely that an existential disaster may await those who toy with superhuman intelligence. The challenge facing humanity is that an AI machine's goals may deviate from our values, potentially leading to self-evolving systems that revise resource... Read More

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

The highs and lows of a Scottish Christmas market come into crisp focus as depicted by narrator Hannah Curtis. She chronicles the return of Frederica Hallow-Hart to Pine Bluff, where she licks her wounds after experiencing a traumatic relationship and being laid off. Curtis captures Fred's awkward stumbles as she returns to the family Christmas cracker business and faces... Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eleven-year-old Bevvy and her new friend, Cat, are thrown into an exciting world of unicorns, dragons, sorcerers, and danger--all enhanced in a nuanced narration by Eleanor McCormick. Cat and Bevvy notice a suspicious car with monstrous creatures in it approaching. Both flee into nearby woods, where Cat magically opens a portal, and they escape. McCormick embodies the fear and... Read More

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

Roderick Sewell II--Paralympic athlete and Iron Man champion, motivational speaker, and disability advocate--shares his resilience and joy in his impactful memoir. Sewell's performance exudes calm strength as he talks about the myriad challenges he and his mother faced during his childhood in San Diego and Alabama in the 1990s. Their difficulties included struggling to afford... Read More

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

Christopher Grant and Golden Voice Robin Miles jointly narrate this expansive collection of work by groundbreaking author Terry McMillan. Included are both published and unpublished works of short fiction, as well as an intriguing assortment of essays, speeches, and literary sketches. Miles, the primary narrator, moves seamlessly among McMillan's characters as she traces a path... Read More

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

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

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

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