New Reviews by Title: P-T

Thom Rivera performs the story of Theo Sterling, a New York boy whose Mexican Jewish family suffers terrible hardship during the Great Depression. Rivera's strongly masculine voice is surprisingly suitable for young Theo, who is wise beyond his years due to his challenging experiences on the Lower East Side, and later at an English boarding school. The story becomes more... Read More

Renowned British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who won an Earphones Award for his narration of St. Aubyn's novel DOUBLE BLIND, delivers a terrific performance of the author's latest tale. Rather like an updated Shakespeare comedy on steroids, the tale of love, loss, family, and survival involves separated fraternal twins, mental illness, troubled therapists, and environmental... Read More

Actor Richard Attlee has the rare ability among audiobook narrators of extracting full value from each word and syllable while seeming to do nothing at all. What in a lesser narrative might have seemed affected here achieves a singular ease and naturalism. Art historian Pears's richly detailed, expertly written "Love Story from a Lost Continent" comes from firsthand... Read More

Narrating his thriller, author Dan Fesperman captures all the momentum and sly tension between comedy and suspense that animates it. Hal Knight, a disgraced comedian/movie star/congressman, is drawn out of seclusion by an invitation from his one enduring fan, a notorious Eastern European dictator. Soon after, he's approached by an American intelligence team with a plan. Part... Read More

An ensemble enthusiastically depicts the American Library in Paris in this novel. Patrons and staff share their experiences, taking listeners behind the scenes of the renowned institution. Program Director Lily from Montana and her friend, Mary Louise, both portrayed by Pauline Chalamet, carry the story, including a subplot that involves a search for the long-lost friend of... Read More

Lawyer Jia Song, the ambitious daughter of Korean American grocery store owners, is determined to rise above her humble beginnings. Narrator Michelle Lee slips smoothly into Jia's driven, fast-talking persona with a crisp assurance that reflects both the character's ambition and underlying anxiety. When Jia is called in to assist with the infamous Park family's complex divorce,... Read More

Natsumi Kuroda's narration brings a gentle steadiness to this collection of short stories set aboard a train on Japan's Hankyu Line. As the works unfold, Kuroda is a grounding presence, providing space for the emotions of the myriad passengers. With characters ranging from a bride dressed for her wedding day to a grandmother and her granddaughter, the stories are a... Read More

Harrie Dobby transports listeners to the 1850 Edenic garden of a British earl and into the perspective of 13-year-old orphan Scilla. Scilla has escaped a workhouse in the guise of a boy and is fearful of being discovered. Dobby balances this fear with her enraptured responses to the earl's lavish, nurturing garden and her desire to learn all she can from the head gardener, Mr.... Read More

PIC is not much like Kerouac's other works in that the protagonist, Pictorial Review Jackson, is not based on the author. Pic is a 10-year-old Black orphan from rural North Carolina, and he's written to sound like just that. Dion Graham brings his usual masterful command of accents to Pic's story, in which his brother Slim rescues him from their aunt's house and carries him off... Read More

This audiobook, originally published in print in 1929, reintroduces a classic amateur sleuth from the Golden Age of detective stories. Celebrated narrator David Timson recounts how self-styled criminologist Ambrose Chitterwick witnesses a murder in the lounge of London's Piccadilly Palace Hotel and later investigates what took place. Timson accurately and sympathetically... Read More

Pretty tame by modern standards, John Broderick's first novel was so scandalous when it first appeared in 1961 that it was banned in Ireland for its claim that respectable Irish people were having sex--some of it homosexual. In Patrick Moy's strong narration, the audiobook is more about human identity than sex, and the story is full of people who are troubled about who and what... Read More

Edoardo Ballerini's moving narration takes listeners to a 1980s Russian patriotic children's camp to meet sweet-natured 16-year-old counselor Yury and novice 19-year-old theater director Volodya. Well-rendered discussions of the countryside, food, regimented life--especially, the morning bugle--transport listeners to the cool lake and hot cabins. As the two diligently work... Read More

It's impossible to hear Erin Moon's delivery of this affecting story without experiencing the same emotions as its first-person protagonist. Bea is a middle-grade student in a small school who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. When a shooter enters the building, she becomes tragically aware of her disadvantaged situation. This novel in verse recounts in present tense... Read More

Cassandra Campbell portrays a woman who's trying to recover from a series of personal challenges. When Gwen Gilmore arrives in Port Anna, Maine, she's determined to climb out of a deep emotional hole after losing her mother, her job, and her long-term boyfriend one after the other. While staying at her family's cottage, she tries to find a new job and dig herself out of an... Read More

Carolina Hoyos and Anthony Rey Perez perform this delightfully terrifying novel, which perfectly blends horror, romance, and historical fiction. In 1765, when a plague tears through the city of Zacatecas, Alba; her fiancé, Carlos; and their families escape to the country. There, Alba begins hearing voices and starts sleepwalking. Elías, Carlos's cousin, finds himself drawn to... Read More

Book 3 of The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti series has arrived with charming Lindsey Dorcus narrating. The series takes place in the atmosphere of Jupiter, called Giant. Pleiti, now a seasoned investigator, has been assisting a past classmate from university. The task is to help her friend's cousin regain status at Jovian university after being accused of plagiarizing.... Read More

In this thoughtful, warmly narrated audiobook, a leadership researcher and speaker explains how leaders of all kinds can help people become better organizational citizens and more fulfilled individuals. With clear and uncomplicated language, the author says the tech revolution and AI's explosive growth will never diminish the human need for connection--to be recognized as... Read More

The War of the Roses comes to life in this fascinating novel about the political struggles and bloody battles between rival houses of the Plantagenet family. John Hollingworth portrays the innocent 10-year-old boy who is plucked from farm life and told that he's secretly the 17th Earl of Warwick, heir to the throne of England. As the boy is educated, Hollingworth's voice... Read More

Ruth Redman gives an enthusiastic narration of Rilla Askew's latest novel, the true story of Anne Askew (no relation to the author), a Protestant writer and poet who lived during the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII. As the story unfolds from Anne's point of view, the listener is drawn in by Redman's compelling narration. Events include Anne's marriage to her late sister's... Read More

Elizabeth Lamont and Eric Nolan whisk listeners away to a Sicilian villa in this contemporary romance. Maya is in her early 20s and still figuring out what she wants in life. Conor is her older brother's best friend, whom Maya can't stop thinking about. Maya is a grad student; Conor is a wealthy biotech guy, so the age gap and power imbalance between them would never work. But... Read More

In this reissue of THE PROGRAM, listeners are immersed in the tense world of Kirsten Lord, former district attorney. After witnessing her husband's murder on a busy New Orleans street, Kirsten must ensure her and her daughter's safety by entering the Witness Protection Program. The audiobook was originally released in 2001. This new edition features a dual narration: Richard... Read More

Jennifer Pastiloff narrates her latest audiobook with relaxed passion that makes all her stories and advice ring with truth. Her vocal style has a musical quality that makes her message fun to hear and uniquely hers. She conducts workshops around the world that are aimed at people who hold themselves back from living because of shame, doubt, low self-esteem, or fear. Sharing... Read More

A group of fine narrators present this historical celebration of Black bookstores in America. Joy and respect imbue the voices as they bring to life the history, activism, and community building that Black bookstores have provided for generations. The narrators are vibrant as they deliver accounts of more than 50 bookstores and their cultural and historical impact. Interspersed... Read More

Narrator Kathleen McInerney returns to immerse listeners in the Amish community of Painters Mill and the world of Chief of Police Kate Burkholder. When two young Amish men are found brutally murdered, the case leads to unsettling revelations about the darker side of the community. As Burkholder investigates, she finds herself a target. As with previous installments, listeners... Read More

Fiona Hardingham and Christian Coulson's performances bring swoon-worthy tension to this epic fantasy sequel. Kel's role as bodyguard, spy, and confidante to Prince Conor unfolds against a backdrop of whispered conspiracies and royal betrayals. Coulson anchors the narrative with a measured cadence. His subtle shifts in pitch and restrained character voices demand rapt... Read More

Tamsin Kennard tackles this mammoth narration with confidence and clarity. Goldstone has written an enjoyable and accessible account of two women whose beauty and wit propelled them into positions of great power. But in neither case did power bring the happiness both Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France desired. Kennard's friendly and relaxed tone makes this a far easier... Read More

The tumultuous life of Juliane of Saxe-Coburg is given a solid narration by Jennifer M. Dixon. Julie, who was an aunt of both Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, became Grand Duchess Anna Fedorova of Russia when she married Grand Duke Constantine, brother of the future Tsar Alexander I. It was not a happy union, and she eventually abandoned him and fled back to Western Europe.... Read More

Detective Superintendent Richard Jury's fans may enjoy listening to Steve West reprise his role as narrator par excellence for the 26th installment in the series. West's consummate comedic timing and lively variation between a brisk cadence and aristocratic speech enliven a rather jumbled offering from author Grimes, now in her 90s. Jury and his assistant, Wiggins, investigate... Read More

Author/narrator Kelsey Timmerman addresses the dangers of corporate farming: how planting large tracts of nothing but corn and soybeans necessitates using damaging chemicals to yield desired profits at the cost of polluting the soil and water. Timmerman's thesis is as timely as it is terrifying, and he's a popular speaker on the topic. However, he struggles when narrating due... Read More

This account of the occupation of a portion of the Netherlands during WWII--and how the Dutch commemorate those who resisted and those who liberated them--is given a splendid narration by Golden Voice Dion Graham. Edsel, who also wrote THE MONUMENTS MEN, looks at the lives of 12 individuals who all were connected with the events of 1940-45 in this small corner of Europe. It... Read More

The audiobook takes the concept of remote viewing, the ability to mentally "see" great distances, to its ultimate end--exploitation for evil. Ari Fliakos makes this sometimes complicated audiobook flow with a sophisticated skill that makes the characters relatable, even the villains. Q is the most powerful viewer among an untold number of people who are trained by a ruthless... Read More

This futuristic thriller features aliens, genetically modified humans, and The Midnight Project, an evil military dark-ops organization. The team leader is the magick-wielding sorcerer Jessica Shine, portrayed by Marissa Clay. She and her team--vampire Ephram, voiced by Robb Moreira, and slavic shape-shifter Nikolai, portrayed by RJ Bayley--are ordered to eliminate an extremely... Read More

Grace Gray narrates this WWII historical fantasy from the perspectives of three characters: Lydia Polk, a British woman who recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Witches; Rebecca Gagne, a Jewish resistance fighter in France; and Henry Boudreaux, a Haitian American art historian with a little magic of his own. Lydia must enlist the help of Rebecca and Henry to obtain a... Read More

Marketing expert Rishad Tobaccowala provides a master class on how people will work in the future. Looming large in this invaluable lesson is the outsized impact of AI, which he says will reduce the workforce in larger organizations, facilitate the growth of smaller companies, and increase flexibility in how employees and gig workers get things done. With AI doing the analytic... Read More

Golden Voice George Guidall masterfully draws listeners into Sheriff Walt Longmire's search for a missing woman in the dramatic landscape of Wyoming's Red Desert. Guidall's ability to modulate his voice to seamlessly differentiate male and female characters enhances the twists and turns of the story. Craig Johnson's vivid descriptions are matched by Guidall's pitch-perfect... Read More

A serial entrepreneur and advocate for Black businesses offers a stimulating lesson on how anyone can stay centered and fulfilled when putting their start-up ideas into action. "Go big and stay fearless" is her rallying cry as she explains that connecting with your most powerful passions is the best way to create a business that will engage your energy and unique potential.... Read More

Eric Yang's spirited performance and ease in creating multiple characters make this audiobook a joy to listen to. Californian Rick Kotani, who loves baseball, expected to spend the summer pitching for his team. Instead, he winds up in Oregon, with his mom, who's looking after his Japanese grandfather, who still has spunk but isn't safe living independently. As Rick's Grandpa... Read More

Author Bridget Crocker recounts her life as a young woman before coming into her own, thanks to her appreciation for the natural world. One Easter morning Crocker's mother abandoned her family, leaving Bridget to fend for herself. Few people stepped in to help. Through a series of traumatic trials and tribulations--including sexual assaults-- Crocker found herself confronting... Read More

Catherine Fletcher delivers her examination of ancient Roman roads, including their subsequent history and her current-day adventures discovering their traces. She narrates with energy, engagement, and amiability, and with the authenticity of recounting her own research and experiences. These characteristics help the listener move past her vocal quality, which is rather... Read More

In this audiobook, Kierse is forced to work with her brooding former ally, Graves, on a dangerous heist to recover a powerful artifact. As they navigate a monster- and magic-filled New York City, secrets from Kierse's past emerge, alliances are tested, and the line between enemy and lover blurs. Stephanie Németh-Parker delivers a skillful performance, vividly bringing each... Read More

Narrators Cris Dukehart and Eric G. Dove join forces to introduce listeners to the quirky town of Rocky Start. Rose Malone's landlord and employer, Ozzie, has died, and a stranger claiming to be his son tries to throw her out of her home. Hiker Max Reddy has just come off the Appalachian Trail when he sees Rose being attacked. Dukehart handles the narration from Rose's point of... Read More

When Harper, portrayed by Natalie Naudus, moves next door to Ollie, portrayed by Mary Helen Gallucci, her upended senior year might not totally suck, thanks to their Dungeons & Dragons sessions. Harper and Ollie haven't seen each other since they were 12, but Ollie is still afraid of acting on her romantic feelings for her childhood friend in her small Virginia town. Gallucci's... Read More

Kelli Tager narrates the first in the Jane Ladling mystery series. When a fresh dead body shows up in a hundred-year-old grave, Jane, the cemetery's proprietor, is surprised. A possible suspect for the murder, Jane takes it upon herself to solve the crime, all the while crushing on the handsome special agent who is working the case. Tager, who also narrates the subsequent... Read More

This audiobook follows Princess Briony, who is captured, stripped of her magic, and sold to the mysterious Toven Hearst after her kingdom falls. A slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance takes place in a dark world of secrets, political tension, and a unique magic system. Narrator Ella Lynch delivers an outstanding performance; her voice work is engaging and emotionally rich. She... Read More

In a way that is relatable for children, American Civil Rights activist Ruby Bridges shares her experience of being the first Black child in an all-white elementary school in New Orleans during the 1960s. Narrator Grace Capeless has a bright, youthful tone as she tells Bridges's story of the heartfelt relationship she had with her teacher, Mrs. Henry, and the disappointment of... Read More

Mark Sanderlin gives an outstanding performance of Selznick's new audiobook about two teens who are finding first love. Telling the story in the first person, Danny is wandering alone in Rome while his mother translates old manuscripts. He soon meets Rome native Angelo. Sanderlin captures their initial shyness, then deftly conveys the wonder felt by naïve Danny and the joy felt... Read More

Runner Ben Ratliff performs with the rhythm of a musician. He riffs and scats with short phrases and melodious intonation. His narration is easy to listen to, and it can wash over you like music. But this is the opposite of Ratliff's intent--he doesn't use music to improve his running experience. Instead, he runs to listen to music with more focus and intention--to "run the... Read More

Curiosity-driven research has led to discoveries in a number of unexpected areas, such as landmine detecting rats, fish cannons using pneumatic technology to transport fish, mantis shrimp "fight clubs," and duck sex. Narrator Eileen Stevens strikes an upbeat and engaged tone as she chronicles these and other experiments that have led to scientific progress both in the area of... Read More

This tender Christian story introduces Sarah Tilghman, who lives on a farm in the late 1800s. Narrator Jessica Schleigh portrays Sarah as a happy child who is trying to understand why her baby brother died. As an Easter gift and an expression of his concern for Sarah's sadness, her father catches a rabbit to surprise her. When Schleigh portrays the frightened rabbit, named... Read More

Narrator Katharine Chin's quiet steadiness mirrors Joan Liang's resilience as her life takes increasingly unexpected turns that include, immigration, divorce, remarriage, and eventually entrepreneurship. This is the story of a woman who is constantly in search of fulfillment. Chin's pacing allows listeners space for reflection while keeping them engaged throughout the novel's... Read More

Architects and mathematicians, in particular, will relish the intricacies of this fine audiobook history of the repairs to St. Peter's dome in Vatican City in the 1740s. But every listener will comprehend the historical shift in thinking that underlies the work. The basilica was designed by Michelangelo but finished after his death, and two centuries later was near collapse.... Read More

What does it mean when someone devours a dessert and declares that it's "to die for"? Listeners will be entertained by narrator Karen Chilton's performance of this deliciously devious novel set at Essie's Soul Food Cafe on the South Side of Chicago. When Grandy Jaspers expires at his table, the mystery of whodunit ensues for Chef-Proprietor Savvy Summers. Will Summers and... Read More

Jefferson Mays's no-nonsense delivery works well for this revisionist history of WWII. Chamberlain, a professor of history at Columbia, begins this detailed work with commentary on WWI, viewing it as "the child of colonialism and the father of superpower neo-imperialism." Mays's baritone is steady and clear and appropriate in expression throughout. He does well at pronouncing... Read More

A full cast dramatizes Janey's fourth-grade year, during which she's homeschooled aboard her parents' sailboat as they travel the Caribbean. There's much Janey likes about their peripatetic life, but she misses regular school, especially Rae, her best friend from third grade. But when they anchor in St. Thomas, she meets Astrid, a slightly older--and slightly dangerous--girl... Read More

This examination of the American prairie is given a solid narration by George Newbern. The authors, both journalists living in Minnesota, view this marvel of a landscape as an ecosystem that includes the various competing human groups who live there. While Hage and Marcotty go into great detail regarding the problem of the prairie's disappearance, their solution--the redemption... Read More

Kate Forbes narrates this chatty down-home tale in a raspy voice that reflects the ages, backgrounds, and personalities of the characters--whether they're feline, canine, human, or even an intrepid mouse with a squeaky voice. For decades, fans of Rita Mae Brown's cozy mysteries have followed "Harry" Haristeen and her buddies, both human and animal. Together, the characters... Read More

Jennifer Kim tenderly performs this portrait of contemporary Japanese society, which reflects on Japan's work culture. Kim portrays Dok-go, a homeless man who finds community after helping convenience store owner Mrs. Yeom recover her lost handbag. Her performance is sobering and affecting as her slow pace and grave tone convey Dok-go's strong moral code and work ethic,... Read More

Benedict and Sheinmel's YA historical fiction, set in the early 1900s, introduces 12-year-old orphan Lainey Phillips. Billie Fulford-Brown gives Lainey a believable voice as she struggles to grow and learn at the harsh Sycamore Home for Orphaned Children. Mrs. Holsapple's cruelty and disdain for her orphans comes through in every syllable she spits out in contrast to the oily... Read More

Narrator Jennifer Pickens nails the sharp, witty tone of this novel set in academia. Robbie, an MFA student nearing graduation, is working on her creative writing thesis, focusing on the theme of infidelity. She is secretly basing it on her advisor, Simone, and Simone's husband, Ethan, who both work in the English department. Ethan is having an affair with the department's... Read More

Narrated by Angela Ness, Buchanan's debut features Fiona, an environmental influencer who is mourning the loss of her partner, Ed, who was killed by police during a climate change protest. When a plant begins to talk to her, she is convinced that Ed has been reincarnated. Meanwhile, London is experiencing an unprecedented drought with an imminent storm surge predicted to... Read More

Chan Woo Lim narrates this debut audiobook inspired by Malaysian Chinese mythology. Lythlet and Desil are lifelong friends scraping by in the slums of the sprawling city of Setgad. Desperate to pay off a vicious debt collector, the pair volunteer as conquessors--those who fight otherworldly beasts in the hope of winning a massive payout. But soon they're drawn into a web of... Read More

Subtitled "The Promise of a Forgotten Resource," this intriguing audiobook explores the significance and potential of shade from the sun. Shawn Jain narrates clearly with an engaging style at a good pace, and he captures the author's thoughtful tone. This fascinating work reports on science, uses cultural history, and examines entrepreneurial activism. Shade is not the cure-all... Read More

Genevieve Gaunt deftly conveys this time-travel/ghost story set in both 1895 and 2013. After a contemporary family unexpectedly inherits a mansion on the Cornish coast, they hear anguished crying nightly but find no obvious cause. Gaunt offers superb historical and contemporary speech patterns and outstanding voices for the young. The family consults Pixie Tate, a "time slider"... Read More

Set in a small Pennsylvania town in 2004, this queer coming-of-age audiobook is full of heated longing and the physicality of basketball. Dani Martineck embodies high school senior Mack, whose life revolves around her love of basketball and her complicated friendship with her new teammate, Liv. Martineck's sometimes husky, sometimes clipped voice captures all of Mack's... Read More

Kate Udall narrates this updated audiobook, first released in 2005. The focus is the ensuing 20 years of the Women's National Basketball League's (WNBA) growth and challenges. Udall's assured tone and smooth pacing keep listeners anchored throughout this comprehensive must-listen history. Rich with detail, it delves into the nascent sport's initial development at 19th-century... Read More

Psychologist Tasha Eurich delivers her expertise on using scientifically supported methods to move through life's challenges when relying on resilience is no longer an option. After undergoing her own life-changing health crisis, Eurich discovered that her habitual methods of coping with stress were no longer effective and led to even more personal struggles. So she created a... Read More

January LaVoy gives a theater-caliber performance in this suspense novel involving the disappearance of a young woman from an upscale condo. When Bryden fails to pick up their three-year-old from day care, her husband, Sam, discovers that she has mysteriously disappeared. Enter a cast of friends, neighbors, and relatives--many of whom may know more than they're saying. Can... Read More

This audiobook offers a mesmerizing blend of slow-burn romance and high-stakes fantasy. Odessa, a reluctant princess, is thrust into an arranged marriage with Prince Zavier. Together, they navigate dangerous lands filled with monsters and political intrigue. Samantha Brentmoor delivers a standout performance, skillfully portraying Odessa's transformation from hesitant princess... Read More

Lucy Paterson's confident narration lends authority to anthropologist Judith Scheele's wide-ranging exploration of the Sahara Desert. Scheele's mission is to complicate Western notions of the region by introducing listeners to its cultural, environmental, historical, economic, and ethnic complexity. Spanning the width of North Africa, the region's languages include both... Read More

Narrator Marwan Salama captures the nautical adventures of Mabel, a mouse who lives a quiet life in a house belonging to a man and his young son. Mabel and the boy watch as the man carefully builds a model ship piece by piece, day after day, in the window of the house. Mabel dreams of being its captain and going on seafaring adventures. Finally, the man takes his prized model... Read More

Perhaps a reason that horror remains such a popular and vibrant genre is that it is one of the few places left where there are consequences. In these five brand-new dark tales delivered by five award-winning narrators, the consequences are subtle, jarring, and dire. In "Jackknife" by Joe Hill, Robert Fass recounts the story of a man who is looking for second chances, first,... Read More

This account of the international politics of the American Revolution is given a steady narration by Jason Keller. The author goes into the role of the French, as well as the Spanish and Dutch, in joining forces to support the American colonists against their common enemy, the British. He does not spare descriptions of the brutality of the war or the political machinations... Read More

Sophie Aldred's limpid English accent and crisp pacing entice listeners into award-winning Adrian Tchaikovsky's novel of first contact and interspecies misunderstanding. Set in inhospitable space, the survival thriller is also a stinging commentary on corporate exploitation. When Juna and Mai, members of a commercial mission, become trapped on a vaporous, poisonous star... Read More

Narrator Holter Graham transports listeners to a world of gods, demons, and humans. As a young demon, Simi is bound to the Atlantan god, Acheron. When Simi meets the demon Thorn, he makes her laugh even though he's trying to scare her, but over the years Thorn becomes enraged at various times. Simi has a childlike nature, which Graham brings out with a singsong quality. As the... Read More

It has to benefit an audiobook to have its narrator so embedded in its production. While they worked together, actor Blair Underwood asked screenwriter Joe McClean if he had a novel in him. The result is the two-volume story of the Carter brothers, who migrated from the South to Detroit in the early decades of the 20th century. Since Underwood became involved with these... Read More

Lisa Flanagan's narration captures Nell Zink's comic timing and droll observations with flair. A group of quirky uber-wealthy misfits find themselves at an exclusive Michelin-starred dinner to honor a literary award recipient. The food proves disappointing, and the guests leave, heading out into nighttime Berlin. Some go off in search of more satisfying fare, possibly Burger... Read More

This audiobook recounts the extraordinary true story of a small group of women imprisoned in Ravensbrück, the Nazis' only all-female concentration camp during WWII. The powerful account traces their harrowing ordeal with relentless brutality, including starvation, forced labor, inhumane medical experiments, and extreme overcrowding. Narrator Lisa Flanagan delivers a performance... Read More

Olivia Dowd narrates this first installment in a series based on 16th-century England--with the added feature of dragons and magic. King Henry is desperate for a male heir from at least one of his six wives who are ensconced in castles throughout his kingdom. The relationship between Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour is the main focus. In alternating chapters, Dowd draws... Read More

This audiobook dives into the details of managing a baseball team, examining not only some managers of a couple of generations ago, but also today's skippers. Miller's discussion of the evolution of the game is all about analytics, and narrator Bob Souer drives home that point with his clear, slightly deep voice. He meets the topic head-on--like a fastball whizzing toward the... Read More

Imani Jade Powers brings a thoughtful tone to this layered story of love, regret, and quiet resilience, which follows a Croatian woman's journey into midlife. Powers's voice projects the melancholy of Ivona's reflections as she returns to her hometown to care for aging family members and reunite with her childhood love and now ex-husband. Set against the evocative backdrop of... Read More

Henrietta Meire's upbeat delivery is strangely suited to this moody Victorian mystery. Dr. Julia Lewis is a crusader for women's rights at a time when women weren't accepted in traditionally male professions. Mary Allingham, a "lady painter," tells Julia that law enforcement has dismissed as unimportant the recent break-ins at her art studio, which she shares with other women.... Read More

Narrator Jaime Lamchick returns to deliver the sequel to KILLING ME, accompanied by Khaya Fraites. After stopping a serial killer, coming into money, and finding a new girlfriend, Amber returns to Las Vegas for a dear friend's wedding. Sadly, her strange ability to attract con men and serial killers means Amber is yet again in for a wild ride. Lamchick captures Amber's frequent... Read More

Melody Muzljakovich perfectly conveys the challenges confronting girls today. Listeners meet 5-foot-10-inch-tall reserved seventh-grader Stevie Crumb and her petite, bubbly best friend, Arianna. Muzljakovich realistically introduces Stevie's basketball-obsessed family, who dismiss Stevie while catering to her brother, Ryan, who's vying for a scholarship. When Stevie joins her... Read More

Anna Acton narrates this workplace contemporary romance. When former soap actress Kate Elliot agrees to pose as a romance author on a book tour for a publicity-shy client, she has no idea she'll find her own real-life love story. Charlie Francisco is hoping to become more than Kate's talent agent. Acton's light, expressive tone captures Kate's doubts, vulnerabilities, and... Read More

Carol Schneider performs the many voices in this comic novel with a sure sense of its humor and pathos. She does accents well, shifts smoothly among the many characters, and gives a distinct tone and tempo to the three leads: children's author Frances Partridge, whose "snap" occurs at a middle school; auto mechanic Geraint Blevins, who reacts creatively to his unctuous boss... Read More

Christy Woods narrates a slow-burn love story, the first in a new series set in Iceland. When a promotion sends London retail manager Rachel abroad, she hopes it will rekindle her stale relationship with her long-term boyfriend. Growing close with her new friends, in particular adventurous tour guide Jonas, causes her to recognize the romance and feeling of connection missing... Read More

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini portrays Rhys Kinnick, a heartbroken retired environmental journalist and grandfather who tries to save his family. Ballerini delivers scenes playing out all over the country in which family members on opposite sides of the political fence argue and end up estranged due to disinformation and political manipulation. Kinnick cuts himself off from the... Read More

Author Caro De Robertis gives an emotionally attuned performance of this oral history collection focused on the experiences of trans, genderqueer, two-spirit, and nonbinary elders of color. Caro De Robertis gives care and attention to individuals as they candidly discuss moments and events in their lives that highlight their joy, compassion, anguish, and resilience. The time De... Read More

Hotel heiress Evelyn Murphy fancies herself a more sophisticated, urbane, and glamorous version of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. As listeners know if they're familiar with Evelyn's two earlier adventures, she resides in her father's ritzy Manhattan hotel in the late 50s, where she's surrounded by employees who satisfy her every whim. Narrator Amara Jasper expertly conveys... Read More

Lucy Scott brings her clear British English to this work, a sequel that was rushed out, I fear, to capitalize on the success of von Arnim's earlier well-loved book, ELIZABETH AND HER GERMAN GARDEN, published in 1898. This slight audiobook, set in Pomerania in the 1890s, is amusing for those who like gardening. Scott adds a touch of humor and affection to Elizabeth's... Read More

Narrators Joshua Quinn and Christopher Hampton portray two Black teenagers in this queer romance novel. After his best friend unexpectedly leaves for the summer, hopeless romantic Kai, portrayed by Joshua Quinn, attends a sold-out concert by himself. Christopher Hampton's character, Elias, who has been sent to spend the summer with his uncle, decides to attend the same concert... Read More

Listening to Tembi Locke's melodic voice share her experiences during a Sicilian summer vacation with her daughter, Zoela, and second husband, Robert, is a delight for any audiophile. Published years after FROM SCRATCH--her gut-wrenching memoir of her first husband's death from cancer--this account continues her story as she reconnects with her late husband's family and they... Read More

When a teenager finds himself the owner of a house on an island in New Hampshire, he and his pal uncover its mysterious past. Slowly, a paranormal story emerges. Michael Crouch is perfect for this audiobook, which demands that the narrator shift between teens and adults--all of whom sound different and distinct. One of the group is a teen whose tone comes off as surly, while a... Read More

This collection of interconnected short stories is a delight. Southern humorist and actress Fannie Flagg narrates her own work with a touch of whimsy. You can almost hear the sparkle in her eye as she portrays an assortment of characters all over the country throughout decades. Her pacing is pleasant and relaxed as she brings to life these snapshots of America. The stories... Read More

Listeners may be tempted to bypass this magnificent audiobook with its unfamiliar character names and sprinkling of Yiddish words. That would be a mistake. This story is universal in its community feeling, challenging parent-child relations, marital troubles, and eternal struggle between tradition and modernity. At a basic level, the story is about a Polish village in the early... Read More

Author Julian Treasure narrates his audiobook on sound with a deep reverence for the topic. Fans of Carl Sagan's ability to make scientific discussions approachable will enjoy Treasure's work. Sound encompasses so much of our natural and human environments--from music and storytelling to the way we design our work and living spaces. Treasure's fascinating research delves into... Read More

Patti Murin lends her voice to this whimsical romance. After a concert, songwriter Joni Lark begins to hear a voice in her head. The telepathic voice's owner, Sasha, is a busy musician who wants to work with Joni on a new song. Home to visit her family in coastal North Carolina, Joni isn't ready to work on music, but Sasha seems to bring out her creativity again--and then he... Read More

In this gripping audiobook, Colter Shaw--tracker and survivalist--is hired to locate a missing family trapped after a levee collapses during a catastrophic storm. As he searches, Shaw uncovers a sinister plot that suggests the disaster may not have been entirely natural. Narrator Kaleo Griffith delivers a masterful performance, giving each character a distinct and memorable... Read More

Combining her theatrical training, bilingualism, and Caribbean roots, Almarie Guerra is the ideal person to narrate this audiobook. The saga of a Puerto Rican and Irish American family stretches over three generations as they make their homes in San Juan, New York, and St. Louis. The story touches on the history, culture, and politics of the territory of Puerto Rico, making the... Read More

Juliette Goglia and Nick Thurston share the narration of this thriller set in the high-stakes world of international art dealing. Goglia captures the naïveté of Ingrid, a gallery assistant who falls in love with Rudolph, a shady art dealer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Goglia also portrays many other irritating female characters with a convincing degree of... Read More

Robin Miles narrates this important study of the Civil Rights movement, its effects on the Tennessee Highlander School in Topeka, Kansas, the significance of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, and steps taken to desegregate schools, especially in the South. The author focuses on four activists--Septima Clark, Myles Horton, Esau Jenkins, and Bernice Johnson--and their roles in... Read More

Sixteen narrators offer a humorous take on contemporary culture, with Bechdel as the deadpan narrator. While her friends navigate their first throuple and her wife, Holly, garners fame as a wood-chopping influencer, Alison is stuck. Her first book has been adapted into a successful TV show, but she struggles with a follow-up. Perhaps writing a script about rejecting consumer... Read More

This poignant audio memoir recounts the tragedy of the past three generations of the New Jersey Seabrooks, WASP agriculture kings brought low by family feuds, self-dealing, and racism. Golden Voice Dion Graham gives a bravura performance of the fraught relationships between three generations of fathers and sons: CF, who was dubbed the "Henry Ford of Agriculture"; his son,... Read More

As the U.S. entered WWII, a group of 25 women went to England to ferry aircraft for the RAF. Laurel Lefkow ably presents the story of 9 of these women. The women came from various backgrounds and areas of the U.S. and were every bit as hard-charging, thrill seeking, and wild as their male pilot compatriots. These spitfires (nice play on words) operated the widest range of... Read More

Jay Myers, Amber Benson, and Xe Sands narrate the perspectives of a group of childhood friends who reunite as adults. Twenty years after Matty disappeared up a staircase in the woods, Nick convinces Hamish, Lore, and Owen to return and find out what happened. Myers delivers the quiet panic of Owen's internal dialogue while also excelling at sound effects like the buzzing of a... Read More

Narrator Mike Vendetti draws listeners into this short story of an exploratory space mission. Its discoveries challenge the belief system of a Jesuit priest/chief astrophysicist named Father who believes the heavens declare God's handiwork. The explorers discover a faraway civilization superior to Earth's that was destroyed by a supernova. They also find the civilization's... Read More

Barrie Kreinik gently guides listeners through this dark fantasy audiobook. Residents trapped inside the besieged Aymar Castle have nearly run out of food when they're rescued by the divine Constant Lady and her Saints. Kreinik, speaking with a British accent, narrates the desperate, starving people's descent into madness and ecstasy when they refuse to see the horrifying truth... Read More

Book 10 of the Rivers of London series delivers an audiobook mix of mystery, magic, and adventure. The plot is rich and layered, unfolding at a pace that lets Aaronovitch's intricate world-building shine. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith expertly portrays Peter Grant's trademark wit and dry humor, while Shvorne Marks brings Abigail Kamara to life with warmth and intelligence. Their... Read More

Kaipo Schwab brings quiet elegance and nuance to this character-driven meditation on creativity, beauty, and ambition in a Japanese architectural firm. His narration captures the calm precision of young Toru Sakanishi as he navigates his first professional position during a bidding war for a high-stakes government project. Schwab's gentle pacing and warm tone mirror Toru's... Read More

Mei Mei Macleod's performance of this speculative novel draws listeners into an alternative world in which slivers of the sun are slowly disappearing. A young woman works at a pharmacy in Five Poems Lake, a village surrounded by deserts. Years ago, her father, a policeman, died mysteriously, and now new clues drive the young woman and her sister, Dong Ji, to investigate how... Read More

Yael Rizowy's narration is delightful and empowering. Sunny Greene, a 35-year-old public relations professional and founder of a plus-size swimwear brand, navigates life after her divorce. Struggling with her body image and dating, Sunny embarks on a journey of self-acceptance, learning to love herself despite the pressures she experiences. Rizowy's narration brings Sunny's... Read More

While it may have taken the better part of a century, finally women have taken center stage in the comic book industry. But it wasn't easy. This wonderful, enlightening work recounts the women's fight to become part of the superhero rebirth at Marvel Comics, which started in 1961 with the first issue of the Fantastic Four. The audiobook is a joy to hear as an ensemble of... Read More

Narrator Derek Perkins is the gold standard for audiobooks devoted to artists and the fine arts, and also, it seems, for stunts and high jinks. Clearly, he revels in this biography of "the mother of surrealism," Gala Dali, wife of Salvadore Dali and a creative force in her own right. Her first husband, French poet Paul luard, described her as "an extraordinary, versatile, and... Read More

Listeners unfamiliar with the first titles in the popular and thought-provoking They Both Die At the End series will find that multiple narrators make it easier to follow this installment. Many characters and references to incidents from the earlier books add to the title's complexity. The story opens with an author's note warning about references to self-harm and suicidal... Read More

In this British romance novel narrated by Connor Swindells and Rebekah Hinds, Lexi and Zeke have both had rough days when they agree to one no-strings-attached night of passion on Zeke's houseboat. The next morning, they wake up adrift in the North Sea after a mishap with the boat's ropes. Hinds captures Lexi's gruff determination, while Swindells is vulnerable and... Read More

Joshua Quinn's performance embodies the spirit of a true educator: John B. King, Jr.--who was Secretary of Education during the Obama administration. Quinn's voice projects a deep intellect and curiosity. King began as a classroom teacher; then he became an administrator. His focus on student success is at the heart of his commitment to education as an art. Given the current... Read More

Daniel Nayeri narrates his novel, which transports listeners to Iran in 1941. He balances passages describing a neutral country overrun by the Anglo-Soviet invasion with the experiences of the main characters, recently orphaned Babak, age 13, and his sister, Sana, age 8. To prevent their separation, Babak steps into the role of their father, a teacher of nomads. Nayeri... Read More

Mayuri Bhandari brings grace and gravity to a richly imagined alternate history in which the British never left India as a colonial authority. Bhandari's voice captures the emotional intensity of Kalki Divekar's path from grieving daughter to daring revolutionary. Bhandari's precise and lyrical delivery parallels the 10 avatars of Vishnu, a principal Hindu god, whom Kalki... Read More

Narrator Kim Ramirez takes listeners on a cattle drive across the Wyoming prairie that turns into a supernatural nightmare. Greta Molina's friend has offered her a big payday for working a 10-day cattle drive that includes two men she's known since college. However, the canyon they travel through has a legacy of murder, a ghost train, dead animals walking alongside the living,... Read More

This gripping production of McFadden's thriller will keep listeners glued to their earbuds. Performances by Will Damron and Christine Lakin are simply spellbinding. Damron assumes the viewpoint of Blake Porter, who is unceremoniously fired after two days in a new job. Damron nails Blake's emotional downward spiral. Blake's love for his fiancée, Krista, keeps him balanced, so... Read More

Roshaan Riyahi-Boni narrates this look at the lives of working-class lesbians in North London in the 1990s, a look that serves as a springboard for a memoir and a discussion of queer theory. The audiobook is filled with entries in the Women's Line Logbook, a lesbian helpline. The entries cover a period of five years, beginning in July 1993. Riyahi-Boni's renderings reveal the... Read More

Taylor Swift's public persona is as deeply scrutinized as her music. Here, Candace Joice delivers the author's examination of the former. While Swift is a prolific songwriter and a dynamic performer, this audiobook is more interested in the strategies behind her career moves. Ample attention is given to key business decisions that have made Swift so successful--among them, her... Read More

Julia Whelan brings her sultry range to the tempestuous Storm siblings as they gather to grieve their father, a tech genius. Five years before Franklin Storm's unexpected death, Alice was exiled for defying both her father and Storm Industries. Called home, she's stunned to learn that she and her siblings are now part of an inheritance game that requires Alice's presence on the... Read More

Craig Mod moved to Japan at age 19. Now a photographer and essayist in his 40s, he's still there and is an avid walker. Narrating his own work, he recounts his pilgrimage on the Kumano Kodo trail on the Kii Peninsula. At a slow pace, Mod interweaves the daily details of his walk with the history of the pilgrimage; U.S. and Japanese relations; the concept of "yoyu"; thoughts on... Read More

It's difficult to imagine an audiobook with a more bleak premise. Between 2017 and 2024, author and Princeton professor Yiyun Li lost both of her sons to suicide, at the ages of just 16 and 19. This work explores her grief, her struggles to understand why her sons chose to end their lives, and her progress towards acceptance. Suzanne Toren's voice is gentle and restrained, and... Read More

London-born actor Rupert Degas brings his enticingly warm voice and an edge-of-your-seat intensity to his performance of John Buchan's famously propulsive spy thriller. Adapted many times, including by Alfred Hitchcock, the 1915 novel centers on mining engineer Richard Hannay, who hears of an international assassination plot and then must flee London when he becomes a murder... Read More

Golden Voice Soneela Nankani expertly channels her inner middle school child with her narration of this story about five children and their summer after sixth grade. Each is isolated in their own way. They meet at their local library and, soon after, decide to start a cookie-baking business. Nankani captures the inner lives of kids at that age: hiding uncomfortable truths,... Read More

Charles Leggett engagingly narrates this Oregon Western set in the 1970s, when ranchers are opposing developers. As Leggett's feisty Sheriff Pudge begins cancer treatments, he enlists the assistance of Wildlife Ranger Nick Drake. When a surveyor is found savagely killed, everyone hopes the death was caused by an animal, not a human. The story is absorbing as Pudge and Nick... Read More

This quixotically creative audiobook redefines historical fiction. The author mixes Shakespearean characters and references with contemporary sensibilities, idioms, and colloquialisms to tell the story of Rosie, the eldest daughter of the not-so-doomed Romeo and Juliet. Narrator Suzy Jackson gives Rosie the voice of a modern woman. Rosie has a reputation as a sleuth and was... Read More

A neuroscientist and former Google superstar describes how to reject rigid career paths and, through open-minded personal experimentation, discover work that truly satisfies us. Instead of being trapped in a fixed vision of our future lives, Anne-Laure Le Cunff offers practical guidance on how we can work each day on challenges more aligned with our deepest aspirations. She... Read More

A'rese Emokpae brings emotional precision and depth to Sommy's struggles with migration, grief, and identity as she arrives in America on the heels of family tumult. Emokpae's voice carries a quiet intensity that reflects her struggles with guilt, cultural displacement, and complex relationships strained by distance and silence. Sommy must juggle her past and present, along... Read More

Narrator Graham Halstead takes listeners to a bygone era when sophistication was the norm. In the award-winning 1955 Hitchcock film TO CATCH A THIEF, retired jewel thief John Robie was cleared of a series of burglaries with the help of fashion model Francie Stevens. In this estate-approved sequel, Francie is returning to the Riviera, and Robie hopes to rekindle their romance.... Read More

A deftly written mystery set on the glamorous French Riviera in the 1950s receives a droll, witty performance by Graham Halstead. Burglar John Robie (aka Le Chat) is enjoying a comfortable retirement when a copycat who knows Robie's methods appears on the scene. To prove his innocence to the police and to catch the thief, Robie contacts his criminal cohorts for help. If Robie... Read More

Felisha Wong embraces the curious spirit of Janie, who longs to see an owl. A quiet respect, almost a reverence, for "the magic" of seeing and hearing an owl characterizes her owl-loving teacher, Mr. Koji. Janie channels her owl passion into drawings and a journal. Wong delivers her classifications of owl pellets and owl whitewash (poop) with a care that reflects Janie's... Read More

Listeners, prepare for a crazy ride. The one rope to cling to is the familiar voice of Golden Voice narrator George Guidall, who returns to deliver pitch-perfect portrayals of a wide-ranging cast--male and female, young and old. Doc Ford is on a frantic search for his friend Tomlinson after a sailboat crash in Honduras. Listeners may feel trapped inside one of Tomlinson's wild... Read More

This deeply researched biography of the iconic American author Toni Morrison explores the significance of her editorial role at Random House Publishing, where she shepherded the careers of many Black writers. It's a lesser known part of Morrison's remarkable career, but it influenced American literature from the 1970s onward. Howard University Dean of Graduate Studies and... Read More

Narrator Patti Murin performs a heartfelt romance about cherishing the past, being in the present, and looking forward to a promising future. Lauren Parker has assumed various roles throughout her life. Currently, she is reorienting herself after losing her husband and finding herself raising their teenage daughter alone. While visiting her brother, a movie star, on set, she... Read More

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw gives a vibrant performance in this variation on TRUE GRIT, which captures the historic quality of the Old West in the mid-1800s and a woman who poses as a man to survive a journey. Haidie Richards's father left home years ago to seek his fortune mining gold in Colorado and disappeared. Convinced he's still alive, she begins a dangerous trek with her sister,... Read More

Tim Ratliff outdoes himself with his narration of this mystery/sci-fi/comedy mash-up. Because of his love of Agatha Christie and Rex Stout mysteries, appealing and relatable detective Gabriel Lake is approached by an extraterrestrial to find an abducted 20-foot-tall princess named Ralph. Lake blasts into space for his assignment. Ratliff delivers laugh-out-loud wordplay, jokes,... Read More

Petros Castellanos, a long-haired 17-year-old from a Greek island, is the focus of this Amazon Original audiobook from award-winning author Rose Tremain. Petros's father, a Greek who owns two taxis, wants his son to join the business. Petros's mother is English--and there's the rub. She encourages him to go to London, then see the world. He goes, and it backfires. Narrating in... Read More

Listening to this audiobook is like spending a few hours with your favorite teacher. Narrator Andrew Eakett is supported by a full cast who take listeners on a comprehensive journey through a history of trans identities. Eakett's narration is engaging, knowledgeable, and funny as he shares key terminology, historical examples, and compelling stories of people ranging from Roman... Read More

Dion Graham narrates a sweeping entry into a new series featuring an intriguing multiverse. Societies of people capable of traveling not only between stars but also between dimensions compete for control over all the known worlds. While some simply want to learn, others have more nefarious intentions. A routine mission goes awry, leading representatives from two competing... Read More

Amalia Vitale's thoughtful and well-paced narration captures this darkly enchanted and emotional interpretation of SWAN LAKE. Odile has been raised by her father to steal the king's crown as an act of revenge. But neither of them planned on her growing connection to Lady Marie--or the king's murder. Vitale's quiet intensity suits Odile's guarded nature and allows moments of... Read More

Fans of murder mysteries and English accents will love this listen. David Timson performs this classic crime drama in a way that makes one feel one has just emerged from a London pub in the early 20th century after having a few pints of Guinness with friends while discussing murder. The story revolves around Mr. Todhunter, a stately but ordinary man whose life is upended when... Read More

Yon, both narrator and author of this lively exploration of the human mind, is an excellent guide to this important topic. A psychologist and neuroscientist with a delightful English accent, he explains why what we observe is built on the "predictive processing" of our perceptions. In other words, our brain often perceives what it expects to encounter, even when it conflicts... Read More

Frankie Corzo narrates the story of 13-year-old Dorani Gutierrez, a champion of justice whose mother dies suddenly and tragically. Practically overnight, Dori must leave her Florida friends for a Wyoming horse ranch. There she's unfamiliar with both the weather and the aunt she's to live with. At the ranch, Dori encounters a damaged horse, Sunshine, whom she recognizes as a... Read More

Narrator Alexis Bledel superbly imparts the magical realism in this classic, which contains an insightful new introduction. One morning in a long-ago village, Winnie discovers a magical spring and the secret of the extraordinarily long-lived Tuck family. To protect their secret, Mae Tuck and her sons spirit Winnie away to their home. Winnie is smitten with Jesse Tuck and his... Read More

Golden Voice Robert Petkoff hits the comedic highs and lows in this audiobook so well that listeners may be surprised by the emotional impact he delivers. Casey is struggling to find meaning in his boring job, his divorce, and the death of his stoic father. At least there's the game of golf. Discovering his father's coveted bag of golf clubs, Casey takes a sabbatical and hits... Read More

Mystery audiophiles are in for a treat with this Audible Original, produced in partnership with International Thriller Writers. The collection features short stories by top mystery and thriller authors, including Lee Child, B.A. Paris, Robert Dugoni, and Oyinkan Braithwaite. Each story focuses--some loosely, some directly--on a monthly book club hosted by self-help author... Read More

Zara Ramm narrates this space opera, which has two very different primary characters. Faven Sythe is a crystborn, a species that is a blend of alien tech and a human. She has special powers as a navigator. Bitter Amandine is a pirate extraordinaire. Faven seeks Amandine's help when her mentor goes missing. A prison break later, they're on their way, and a deep conspiracy... Read More

Sarah Agha's narration is a marvelous match for this parable, which takes place in an alternate 21st-century London ruled by tyrants. Agha deftly expresses the questioning nature of a young ghetto dweller named Adam Alhambra, who is used to being mocked for his Muslim faith. When he escapes a robber through a hidden doorway, Adam meets a Tyger, who sends him on a mission to... Read More