New Reviews by Title: U-Z

Author Courtney Ellis provides a candid narration of her audiobook about focusing on the essentials in life. Ellis shares how, in the midst of her own seemingly fulfilled life, she began to have panic attacks that made her reevaluate her priorities. Ellis infuses honesty, humility, and humor into her story of her ongoing journey to maintain a pared-down life that has provided... Read More

Karen Chilton narrates a powerful story about freedom, choice, and responsibility during the Civil War. Daniel Cumberland and Janeta Sanchez have been paired up and sent on a mission for the Loyal League--a secret group of black spies. Neither is happy with the arrangement. Chilton captures Daniel's struggles after his experience with abduction into slavery: He is a broken man... Read More

Tom Zingarelli has a sonorous, even tone as he narrates an important story that demands outrage. Isaac Woodard was an African-American soldier returning home from war in 1945 when he was removed from a bus in South Carolina and savagely beaten by a police chief until he was permanently blinded. The trial of Woodard's attacker got the attention of President Truman, and it... Read More

Narrator David Colacci's rambling pace is just right for the 28th mystery featuring the ever-philosophical Commissario Guido Brunetti. This time the Venetian police detective reluctantly agrees to investigate an old family friend, the wealthy and gay Gonzalo, who is about to adopt a much younger man as his heir. When Gonzalo dies and his close female friend is then murdered,... Read More

Narrator Amanda Leigh Cobb portrays Winter Meadows, a meditation therapist, and Jack Lancaster, an investigator of cold cases who is her client. Jack is hunting the man who murdered his mother, and Winter assists him in his quest. Cobb brings the story to life as Jack and Winter grow closer romantically during the investigation. Cobb gives Winter's voice a steady, even rhythm... Read More

Narrator Emily Woo Zeller delivers one gut punch after another as she beautifully expresses the author's emotions while confronting her mortality. Yip-Williams cheated death as an infant when her grandmother ordered her parents to visit an herbalist to have her poisoned (he refused) and again when her family escaped North Vietnam on an overcrowded boat, but she can't beat... Read More

James Langton offers a splendid narration of this second prequel to the Charles Lenox series. Part of a proposed trilogy, this middle story is set in 1853. Charles Finch's Victorian detective, Lenox, is called upon to find out who stole a painting of the Duke of Dorset's great-grandfather. Untroubled by the loss of the ancestral portrait, the Duke owns the only existing... Read More

True-crime buff Stevie Bell returns to elite Ellingham Academy in Book 2 of the Truly Devious series, a teen Sherlock Holmes/Nancy Drew mash-up. Narrator Kate Rudd is back with a conversational tone that matches the rapid-fire workings of Stevie's mind. As the 1936 crimes Stevie investigates are revealed in flashbacks, Rudd employs sultry notes and noir-worthy New York accents... Read More

Symbiote superhero Venom's voyage to San Francisco comes to life with a full cast and a variety of sound effects that immerse the listener in the story. The sound effects in many ways enhance the listening experience but at the same time can be a bit repetitive. The real power of this adaptation is the cast. Having such a variety in the narration layers on the detail, ensuring... Read More

Edoardo Ballerini's magnificent narration of Scibona's remarkable new novel is a gift to listeners. He turns the kaleidoscopic saga into a fully accessible story, and adds clarity to Scibona's habit of scattering the page with a welter of description. The story, which encompasses four generations of men related by blood or propinquity, revolves around Iowa farm boy Vollie... Read More

Lyrical writing combines with authentic narration in this penetrating memoir, which shows how courageous self-examination can lead to happiness in midlife and beyond. Personal coach and author Cheryl Richardson was struggling to write her next book when her husband suggested she use material from her journal, intimate writing that she reads here with unvarnished candor and a... Read More

Narrator Gerry O'Brien stretches out the word "fear" to emphasize the shock on planet Earth when Martians arrive. The story is perfect for an audiobook as it lets O'Brien express a range of emotions as the protagonist describes the horrific invasion and his desperate fight for survival. Few other characters speak, but O'Brien conjures a memorable, harder voice for the monologue... Read More

Edoardo Ballerini does a top-notch job of narrating this story. Listeners join Travis Cornell, who is hiking while trying to make sense of his life. When he chances upon an apparently stray golden retriever, things will never be the same. Ballerini creates a balance of warmth and suspense that reflects the heartwarming, yet at times frightening, aspects of the plot. He helps to... Read More

British narrator Gabrielle Glaister unravels Lisa Jewell's latest murder mystery with emotional authenticity and true English intonation. Headmaster Tom Fitzwilliam is admired by many in the English town of Melville Heights, including neighbor Joey Mullen, who develops a fixation on the married father. However, Jenna Tripp, one of Tom's students, doesn't think Tom is as perfect... Read More

Listeners will especially enjoy the foreword of this audiobook, narrated by Malala Yousafzai, in which she acknowledges that her well-known background will provide context for the many personal stories of loss that are told by refugee girls. Before each affecting story, listeners are given a brief introduction that recounts how Malala met the contributor. These intros provide... Read More

Nine narrators lend their voices and talents to the intimate stories of undocumented immigrants who were brought to America as children and who lived in the shadows until the passage of Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The stories are presented as interviews, and the first-person confessional style lends itself well to audio, creating powerful performances that... Read More

With this audiobook, the Black Star Renegades return for more rip-roaring adventures. Narrator Dan Bittner is back as well, bringing his full array of fantastic character voices. The story's focus moves between the two main characters as Cade Sura and Kira Sen continue to battle the forces of the Praxis Empire. Cade struggles to gain control of the legendary Rokura, while Kira... Read More

Narrators Annie Aldington and David Thorpe enrich this fantasy set in England in 2022. John Woodruff, portrayed by Thorpe, is skeptical when he learns that the care home where Margaret, his mother, resides is adding robot caregivers. As Margaret, Aldington projects confusion until Winifred, her new carer, vastly improves her life. Margaret is soon movingly trying to explain... Read More

Narrator Dion Graham gives an adrenaline-filled narration of a father's obsessive drive to save his son from being marked for life. With darkly comic singled-mindedness, the nameless black protagonist pursues a promotion at his law firm that would finance the removal of the birthmark spreading across the face of his otherwise "perfectly white" biracial son. Graham's... Read More

This audiobook is a remarkable combination of extraordinary writing and superb narrating. Dubus is a master storyteller, and the narrators who perform this collection of short stories are some of the best in the business. The result is an amazing listening experience. Each narrator is up to the task of taking on Dubus's stories, which cover love and loss, friendships and... Read More

Audie winner Kyla Garcia delivers a thrilling Latinx-themed fantasy debut by Tehlor Kay Mejia. Dani Vargas has finished her training to become a Primera, one of two wives every husband must take in the nation of Medio. The second wife, a Segunda, is the emotional and passionate nurturer, while Primeras like Dani are rational and intelligent partners. Garcia gives Dani an... Read More

Jonathan Davis gives a splendid narration of this war story, which was adapted for the big screen by Mel Gibson. It covers what is considered to be the first battle between United States troops and those of North Vietnam. Then Lieutenant-Colonel Moore, who was commander of the U.S. troops in this battle, and Galloway, who was the only journalist on the ground throughout,... Read More

Narrator John Rubinstein draws listeners into this Alex Delaware mystery as layer upon layer of complications falls away. A beautiful unidentified young woman dressed in red is found dead in an upstairs bathroom at a wedding reception. Listeners hear the distressed bride and groom lamenting their choice of an unconventional theme and location for their wedding, which caused... Read More

Cassandra Campbell brings the practiced touch of a seasoned performer to her narration of this story in which a piano figures heavily. Katya Dmitrievna and Clara Lundy begin their lives a generation and a continent apart, but an old Blüthner upright piano connects them to each other like a piano string connects hammer and key. Campbell fluidly advances their separate stories,... Read More

Narrator Lyle Blaker takes the sometimes confusing facts and figures disseminated by the Christian humanitarian organization called World Relief and helps the listener make sense of it all in this updated edition of WELCOMING THE STRANGER. Blaker's verbal style is reminiscent of an interesting college professor. His voice is full of sincerity as he details how the Bible... Read More

Annie Pesch's young, enthusiastic voice enhances this fictional memoir based on actual events. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur entrusted Dennis Turner to write a book using letters and accounts kept by the nuns during WWII in Belgium and Italy. Listeners will meet spirited Sister Christina (who is a composite of several nuns) as she leaves home and travels to Belgium in... Read More

Delivering the points of view of multiple characters can be a challenge for a narrator. Joshilyn Jackson, however, skillfully portrays a large group of characters as she recounts the solemn days that follow a small-town tragedy. As the story unfolds, Jackson depicts more than 16 individuals--from young cheerleader Leah to middle-aged restaurant manager Clay. Jackson's... Read More

Sarah Naughton deftly narrates this 21st-century epistolary novel, full of emails and blog posts, emojis, and graphics. The humor is spot-on as the story focuses on millennial intern Carl; his overextended boss, Smith, who is still grieving the death of his young secretary, Iris; and Iris's older sister, Jade. Naughton smoothly moves between Carl's snarky emails and Iris's... Read More

Cassandra Campbell narrates this unique exploration of grief. When her teenage son commits suicide, author Yiyun Li is left with just her memories of her dear son and many unanswered questions. What follows is a unique work that documents imaginary conversations she has with Nikolai, a coping mechanism she adopts as she struggles to come to terms with her loss. Campbell adopts... Read More

With even pacing and a down-to-earth tone, narrator Jennifer Jill Araya vividly portrays 13-year-old Rachel in the summer before eighth grade. Her longtime best friend, Micah, wants more than just friendship, but Rachel isn't sure if she is attracted to boys at all. Listeners hear Rachel's confusion, frustration, and pain as she comes to terms with her changing friendship with... Read More

Narrator Kivlighan de Montebello's youthful voice brings authenticity to the coming-of-age struggles of 11-year-old Riley. His mother has vanished, and Riley hopes to find her with the help of the Whispers she has told him about. De Montebello depicts the innocence and shame of Riley's two "conditions." He struggles with a recent incident of bed-wetting and with his preference... Read More

Narrator Jeff Cummings uses a matter-of-fact tone to share the history of The Whydah, a pirate ship that was recovered from the depths of the deep off Cape Cod, where it sank centuries ago. Cummings keeps listeners on edge by maintaining a quick pace while describing the day-to-day operations of the ship, the politics that ruled the sea, and the adventurers who chose this... Read More

Two narrators deliver the dual perspectives of Nadya, a Kalyazi cleric capable of casting spells, and Serefin, high prince of Tranavia and an immensely powerful blood mage. Tristan Morris captures Serefin's lighthearted charm and Russian-inspired accent, but Natasha Soudek steals the show as Nadya. While running from Serefin and his soldiers, Nadya reluctantly allies herself... Read More

Audiobook lovers will be drawn to Miller's latest mystery because of its catchy title; its seasoned narrator, Nancy Wu; and an engaging premise. An ex-wife, the current wife, and her daughter join together to uncover malfeasance and murder. In a story of guns, gangsters, ruthless lawyers, and money laundering, the three women become caught up in violence. Wu narrates in a cool... Read More

Johnny Heller does a fine job narrating Clavin's well-researched and entertaining biography of the famous Western lawman and scout Wild Bill Hickok. Sifting through the legends and folklore, Clavin presents the real Wild Bill, who was more than a dime-novel titan and every bit a larger-than-life character. An active participant in the "Bleeding Kansas" troubles, he served as a... Read More

This story is told in chapters from the first-person perspectives of the protagonists, and narrators Dara Rosenberg and Christine Lakin adeptly create a well-crafted and seamless listening experience. It's a delicate, minutely observed account of a short-lived but intense romance between two women in their twenties, Willa and Hesper. Rosenberg and Lakin each voice Jewish... Read More

Chatting about topics both professional and personal, two female flight attendants--played by Upright Citizens Brigade alumna K.K. Glick and newcomer Grace Experience--ready their passengers for another routine flight in this likable and witty one-act production. Sadly, just as the listener is beginning to enjoy the show, the author breaks in time after time reading unnecessary... Read More

Author/narrator Anand Giridharadas has a serious message about economic inequality, but his lively pacing and gently mocking tone provide the spoonful of sugar that makes WINNERS TAKE ALL an engrossing and enjoyable audio experience. He argues that superrich philanthropists are something of a contradiction. They want to make the world a better place but without changing the... Read More

Narrator Gabra Zackman engages with this weird, grim novel, a combination of fantasy and mystery. In 1928, the displaced survivors of a seaside community are sent by the U.S. government to live in the desert. Later, the story involves the siblings' visits to relatives who live under the sea, flashbacks to life in the desert camp, accidental magic, and even early Cold War... Read More

Emily Rankin narrates this contemporary reimagining of REBECCA, set in the Cayman Islands and New York's Hamptons. Daphne du Maurier's original 1938 novel is among the most popular suspense novels of all time. In the new version, the unnamed main character is working at a charter boat company in the Caymans when she meets and falls in love with Max Winter, a recently widowed... Read More

Narrator Dan John Miller will have listeners smiling as Kawasaki recounts his story of the time he got the rare chance to fly in a fighter jet but ended up being investigated over a wisecrack. Miller brings a friendly, engaging tone to the stories drawn from the former Apple marketing guru's life. Kawasaki's not just sharing funny stories, though. Even if his flight didn't go... Read More

In a breathy voice full of wonder, Elizabeth Knowelden narrates this supernatural tale of historical fiction. After Alyce's mother is burned at the stake for practicing witchcraft, Alyce is left to seek out a man named John Dee. A chance encounter introduces her to Solomon, an actor whose own mother was accused of witchcraft. Actual historical figures and places, including Mary... Read More

Nicola Cornick's spellbinding gothic romance is graced with outstanding narrations by Malk Williams, Imogen Church, Charlie Sanderson, and Rebecca Courtney. In 1763, Lady Isabella is trapped in a hateful marriage to sadistic Lord Eustace Gerard. Gerard has a dress made for Isabella, a magnificent, if mysterious, gold silk gown, which he orders her to wear. In 2004, Fenella... Read More

Three female narrators work together in this Palestinian family epic. Ariana Delawari, Dahlia Salem, and Susan Nezami provide variations in accent, rhythm, and speed so listeners can distinguish between the main characters. Delawari is the voice of teenage Isra, a daydreaming village girl who leaves behind all she knows in a move to America after an arranged marriage. Listeners... Read More

Narrator Suzanne Toren's mature pitch and thoughtful phrasing are perfect for this memoir-like review of the various ways women transition into their later years. Her sensitive interpretation of this nuanced writing will make many listeners feel like they are being invited into the author's life as they hear her intelligent observations and advice. The 71-year-old psychology... Read More

Narrator Kirby Heyborne captures the ennui of this millennial coming-of-age story involving questions of privilege and responsibility, ambivalence and agency. The story is set at an elite boarding school in New England. At the center is Ben, a smart-enough and popular-enough student who, like many of his classmates, falls under the spell of Mr. LaVerdere, the school's... Read More

Narrator Anne Crowe's appealing voice captures California graphologist Claudia Rose, who travels to Maine to find a manuscript about female serial killers after professor and author Madeleine Maynard is murdered. As Rose searches for the document, she encounters "Maynard's Maniacs," a group of grad students selected by the professor, who are outstandingly portrayed. Crowe... Read More

Author-narrator Ayser Salman regales listeners with stories of her misfit childhood as an Iraqi immigrant in America's Midwest. She looks back with humor at the ups and downs of being the odd one out most of the time in school. As narrator, Salman sets a rapid pace that carries listeners along from pre-Saddam Hussein Baghdad to day care in Lexington, Kentucky. She recounts... Read More

The seventh volume in the Highland Brides series, narrated by Gary Furlong, is a tale of mistaken identity. When Lady Evina inaccurately takes Conran for his brother Rory, a skilled healer, she is thinking only about healing her father--not marriage. Luckily, Conran has enough skills to save the laird. Does he have enough to protect the independent Evina from a murderous... Read More

Listeners are in for an experience of 22 "amuse-oreille" (small sound bites of delight to amuse the ear) in this anthology, which pairs award-winning narrators with varying stories on the theme of taking a wrong turn--sometimes literal, other times metaphorical. A standout is Jim Shaffer's "All That The Case Is," in which narrator Peter Berkrot brings to life a small town of... Read More

Listeners will empathize with Will Daughtry's frustration on his sixteenth birthday when his parents give him a Fiat. It's small--just like Will, who is 4' 11". Clearly, his parents have come to terms with his height. But when out of the blue he starts shoot up, his relationships with his blood brother and best friend, both of whom are much taller, undergo the same sort of sea... Read More

This audiobook is given a nuanced and able narration by Graham Halstead. However, despite its ostensible subject, Parisian seasons, it ranges widely, inexplicably, with whistle stops in Los Angeles, around Australia, and other parts of France. The author spends much time on the short-lived Republican Calendar that came out of the French Revolution and its scoundrel creator,... Read More

Author Robert Brown uses a soft-spoken tone and steady pace as he reads the prologue of his memoir, both of which narrator Dominic Hoffman picks up on and delivers throughout the bulk of this audiobook. The love of his grandmother, his faith, and his moral code shaped Brown's life, and these shine through as he chronicles his ascent from poverty in the Jim Crow South to a life... Read More

In this often twisted short story collection, the talented narrators capture the willful discomfort of women as they destroy others or find themselves destroyed. The performances have an anxiously expectant tone that keeps the listener wondering where each story is headed. The authors' sometimes surreal works are blessed with the talents of many familiar voices, including the... Read More

Echoing the refreshing frankness of the author, narrator Vivienne Leheney delivers Eleanor Roosevelt's reflections and advice without any unnecessary fanfare. Leheney hits the right note from the start as Roosevelt declares, "You learn by living." Drawing from her very public life and offering her personal beliefs, Roosevelt's title underscores her encouraging message to... Read More

Four narrators bring Deborah Eisenberg's highly anticipated story collection to life, and listeners will be delighted with the variety. Eisenberg herself narrates two of the stories, and, while she doesn't have the vocal gifts of the other three narrators, her voice suits the intimate tone of the works. Julianne Moore narrates a wonderful story, "Cross Off and Move On," using... Read More