Dual timelines and dual points of view in this audiobook introduce listeners to two children as they work to save the people and things that mean the most to them. Brian Nishii's authentic accent adds to his portrayal of Han Yu, whose only skill in 731 China, making steamed buns, leaves him few options when his family is quarantined from a terrible illness. Sura Siu expresses... Read More

Narrator Eilidh Beaton whisks the listener off to a remote Scottish castle at Christmastime. Mirren Sutherland and Theo Palliser travel from London to Scotland to help Laird Jamie McKinnon locate a rare book hidden on his estate that will help save his home. A snowstorm strands the three, along with Jamie's sister, Esmé, and the housekeeper, Bonny. Beaton brings a Scottish lilt... Read More

Culture critic Maris Kreizman's narration conveys an unmistakable power that resonates from her experience and reflection on the myths of American life. Kreizman grew up buying into the meritocracy and the value of "paying your dues." Then, while battling chronic illness, she experienced a crash course on the broken American institution of healthcare, in which medicine and... Read More

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

Narrators Angela Pean and Tyla Collier team up to tell the story of Kenya and Liberty, two look-alike sixth-grade girls who discover that they're long-lost twins after getting into a spat at school. Now Kenya and Liberty are determined to bring their family together by playing matchmaker with Kenya's father and Liberty's foster mom. Pean and Collier perfectly juxtapose the... Read More

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

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

Louise Brealey's remarkable performance of the new novel by award-winning author Sarah Hall makes for thoroughly addictive listening. Like the mistral of France and the sirocco of North Africa, helm is a named wind that blows through England's Pennine Hills. Fierce, playful, and unpredictable, it's long been the stuff of folklore. Now it is the central figure in this... Read More

Bestselling author Mitch Albom narrates his imaginative novel about love, loss, and second chances. Albom's background in broadcasting makes him a creditable narrator who proves adept at portraying his characters. At an early age, Alfie discovers that he gets to have do-overs in his life. But he can only relive an episode once, and there are other rules, as well, including one... Read More

This audiobook vividly brings Galilee Kincaid's personal journey to life. The story follows Gali, a young woman raised by the powerful Kincaid matriarchy, who yearns to be normal despite her magical Southern roots. When she meets Lucifer Helel at an opulent party, their electric connection exposes the truth about her hidden power and pulls her into a rising conflict between... Read More

Golden Voice Narrator Hillary Huber presents the 21st crime novel featuring Sheriff Joanna Brady of Arizona. Huber captures all of Brady's focus, relentlessness, confidence, and skill. The other major character in this gruesome story is Steve Roper, a well-respected chemistry teacher whose summer hobby is murdering people. Huber bores into the mind of a killer who slaughters... Read More

Arya Shahi and Michael Crouch give emotional performances of this 130-year love story. Shahi voices Shams, whose life changes forever one day in 1895 when a wish he makes grants him immortality. Shahi captures all of Shams' passion, youthful stupidity, later remorse, and ongoing love of life. Crouch voices Oliver, whose life becomes inextricably linked with Shams' when they... Read More

Billed as "the lost novella," this audiobook includes an introduction by Leonard biographer C.M. Kushins, which explains how the work was created and its place within Leonard's oeuvre. Narrator Anthony Rey Perez smoothly delivers the audiobook, a mystery revolving around migrant farmworkers. At times, Perez is reminiscent of the late Frank Muller, whose husky narration and... Read More

This powerful audiobook examines Russia from the points of view of its women. Author and narrator Julia Ioffe's in-depth research and personal connection to the material make this a particularly compelling listen. Featuring Russian people such as her own great-grandmother and others alongside revolutionary icons like Alexandra Kollontai and dissidents like Pussy Riot and Yulia... Read More

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

Narrators Stephen Dexter and Joy Nash delight listeners with this hilarious second-chance romance. Molly and Karl never dated in high school, but the feelings between them were always present. And then there was the time right after graduation when they almost crossed the line. Years later, when Molly returns to Harlot's Bay after reading Karl's obituary--which turns out to be... Read More

Listeners are introduced to a large group of characters as the layers of an elaborate con unfold. In 1884, Alice, known in New York City as the Grand Duchess of Würrtemberg, is going to exact revenge upon the five robber barons who ruined her father and, consequently, her whole family. Narrator Megan Trout reveals Alice's plan and crew at a leisurely pace that allows listeners... Read More

John Kasich, former governor of Ohio, congressman, and television commentator, does a splendid job narrating his profiles of people of faith who are making an impact in their communities. This work shows how individuals and groups of individuals can effect change in communities across America by doing various benevolent works through their churches, synagogues, or mosques.... Read More

This audiobook is honest, accessible, and quietly inspiring with its portrayal of perseverance and reinvention. Greta Morgan writes about her rise in the music industry and and her heartfelt journey upon losing her singing voice to spasmodic dysphonia after a bout of COVID-19 in 2020. Becky Levi's narration supports the material with an amiable performance that suits Morgan's... Read More

First, narrator Hillary Huber delivers a short profile by official Harper Lee biographer Casey Cep. Then, award-winning actor Ellen Burstyn performs stories, essays, and articles by Lee, some of which were published in leading magazines of her day. These latter works, some clearly early drafts, are narrated in Burstyn's sharp, expressive voice and feature many of the characters... Read More

This is the bizarre story of an earnest young man who is a magnet for serious trouble. Arthur Oakes is a walking disaster who meets up with an ancient evil he can't comprehend. The narrators, including "Star Trek" actor Kate Mulgrew, beautifully deliver the ugly story. Oakes is forced to steal rare books from the college library where he works to prevent criminals from hurting... Read More

Helen Laser warmly narrates this family drama, closely matching its reflective tone. She shifts smoothly between comic observation and quiet unease as Rocky fixates on a local car accident and her own health concerns amid an otherwise uneventful middle-class life in Massachusetts. Laser captures Rocky's anxious humor and habitual self-questioning with a light touch, allowing... Read More

This full-cast production offers some great listening. Detective Midge McGowan is dismayed by her coworkers' retirement gift--a ticket to a weekend haunted house tour. Encouraged by her wife to attend, she reluctantly agrees. Other attendees include a married couple, a pop diva, a ghost-obsessed podcaster, the bus driver, and the owner of the tour, who is a former police... Read More

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

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

This extensive, thoughtful, and well-researched biography of the martial arts great Bruce Lee smoothly draws the listener in. Lee was an enigma in some ways, and author Chang has captured his life, which was cut short at age 32. Narrator James Chen deftly uses slight shifts in his voice when delivering quotes. He maintains control of his tone, making shifts when appropriate but... 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

This is a very brief introduction to the 6,888th Central Postal Directory Battalion of WWII. Jade Wheeler narrates with crisp enunciation, slow pacing, and buoyant admiration for the work of the Black women serving in the newly desegregated U.S. Army. Letters from home were a great morale builder for the troops. The Six Triple Eight was deployed in the U.S. and overseas to... Read More

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

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

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

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

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

The 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

Narrator Kathleen Early delivers a consummate performance of this complex crime novel, skillfully voicing every character--ranging from a sulky teen to a swaggering drunk--with distinction. Early's nuanced portrayals anchor the story, which introduces Deputy Emmy Clifton and her legendary North Falls family. The mystery begins with the disappearance of two teenagers during a... Read More

Kirsten Potter's resonant narrative voice guides listeners safely through the red herrings of Carol Goodman's locked-room mystery set on an isolated Greek island. A group of writers has reconvened on the island 15 years after their first traumatic meeting. Their apparently AWOL host has set in motion dangerous events with which the group copes as its members navigate their... Read More

Anna Caputo gives a terrific performance of this memoir about growing up deaf in a hearing world. While author Rachel Kolb is accomplished--she was the first signing deaf person to become a Rhodes Scholar--her writing is down-to-earth and relatable. With an intelligent, empathetic intonation, Caputo imparts Kolb's life story, including the many adjustments she needed to make to... Read More

Karen Murray performs this must-listen biography of one of America's greatest writers. Science fiction and fantasy author Octavia Butler was an early trailblazer of Afrofuturism. Morris highlights how Butler's identity as a working-class Black woman informed her writing throughout her career. She was a deep thinker, ruminating on big questions around the foundation of American... 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

This audio gem from Indigenous authors features stories in which elders offer guidance to young Native Americans. Various Native voices introduce listeners to Sandy June's Frybread Drive-In, known as SJ's, which magically opens whenever a teen faces a social challenge--for example, fitting in. An elder cooks while listening to the teen's concerns and offers advice. In "Kathy's... Read More

This audiobook, narrated by Aja Naomi King, Ashley Nicole Black, and author Angela Flournoy, follows five young women over two decades as they navigate the uncertainty of early adulthood in New York City and Los Angeles. Desiree, Danielle, Nakia, Monique, and January are all dealing with grief, love, loss, and race amid the turbulent backdrop of the George Floyd demonstrations... Read More

This brief audio collection is packed with poems, vignettes, and opinions that range from political (a call to vote) to culinary (cook chicken slowly in butter). It includes Giovanni's homage to Toni Morrison and her takes on Knoxville, Detroit, New York, and Virginia Tech, plus a short Christmas story for children. This miscellany presents the warmth of her heart and the... 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

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

January LaVoy pulls listeners into a world in which motives are unclear. Jordyn, a first-year student at a historically Black college, finds her roommate's brother--just out of prison--sleeping on their couch. While he soon wows their friends with his outgoing personality, Jordyn senses that something about him is off, big-time. LaVoy's ability to shift seamlessly between cool... 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

Narrator and author Sy Montgomery chronicles the life of Fire Chief, a 42-pound snapping turtle who is struck by a car while moving from his habitat at the fire station to his other habitat, where he was expected to spend the new season. Montgomery's passion for Fire Chief, and all turtles, is clear in her narration as she describes the organizations that can help them. The... Read More

New Zealand author Tina Makereti's powerful novel, set in the near future, comes alive with fellow New Zealander Stacey Leilua's narration. Three very different women living in the same neighborhood face climate change, prejudice, and inequality while struggling to survive. Keri is a Maori parent of a teenage daughter, Wairere, and 4-year-old son, Walty. Her intonation is... 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

Narrator Richard Trinder's vocal tone and nuances mirror the author's attitude toward his topic: open-minded, but with an edge of skepticism, even dry sarcasm. The topic is the widespread misunderstanding of resource use. Fressoz argues that the popular idea of "energy transition"--totally switching from one source of energy to another--is fundamentally false. Newer resources... 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

Kristen Strong narrates her own work with the warmth and candor of a trusted friend, giving this guide to friendship and faith an authentic and deeply personal tone. Her voice carries the gentle authority of experience--balancing vulnerability and encouragement. Strong's conversational pacing makes the material approachable, especially when she shares personal anecdotes and... Read More

Kathleen McInerney brings a vibrant playful tone to her narration of these seven whimsical woodland tales. Her energy perfectly suits the lighthearted spirit of the stories, making them enjoyable to listen to with young children. However, because the print version of this work is a picture book, the brief prose and lack of page descriptions in the audiobook leave the listener... Read More

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

These annual collections of best short stories are a mixed bag, especially for audiobook listeners. Even before a cast is assembled, the preferences of that year's guest editor have determined how broad or narrow the range of voices, tones, and attitudes will need to be. The good news is that this year's cast is one of the better ensembles-- diverse but compatible, each... Read More

Four narrators tell this multigenerational story of a Shanghai family with a magical secret: The women can "reforge" pencils, re-creating the stories that were once written with them. Carolyn Kang voices devoted granddaughter Monica, who lives in contemporary times in Cambridge. As Monica researches her family's history, Kang captures her growth, taking her from self-doubting... Read More

Brittany Bradford tenderly narrates this speculative meditation on grief and family connections. Twins Olivia and Ayanna grow up physically together but ideologically separate. Olivia is raised by their staunchly Catholic mother, and Ayanna by their father, who worships a mysterious blue door--one of several that spontaneously appeared throughout the world decades before.... Read More

Piper Goodeve gives an enthusiastic narration of a novel inspired by the true story of one of the first female horse divers. After answering an ad for a girl who loves horses who can dive and swim, Sonora Webster becomes absorbed in the carnival world of early-twentieth-century America. Harsh instruction for Sonora, gentle training of the horses, and the thrilling moments... Read More

Narrator Alexandra Hunter establishes an apathetic voice for 13- year-old Kass, who has switched from public school to a fancy private school in order to join the diving team and have better opportunities for academic success. Kass struggles to fit in at her new school and even starts questioning economic disparity and its causes when she meets 17-year-old Miles, who dumpster... Read More

Actor Cynthia Erivo narrates this WICKED prequel about future witch Elphaba's childhood. In the land of Oz, Erivo introduces listeners to precocious Elphie and her missionary family as they travel across the swamps and marshes of Quadling country. Elphie's complex relationship with her disabled sister, Nessarose, and curiosity about the world at large are at the center of this... Read More

Morag Sims and Will Watt provide fittingly erudite performances of this layered audiobook. Cambridge is home to a top-tier academic Magick program. When an esteemed professor is killed, star graduate students Alice and Peter embark on a quest to rescue him from hell. How else to get that coveted recommendation? The underworld is soon revealed to be a university campus of its... Read More

Brian Nishii narrates this uplifting tale of magical realism involving a middle-aged man who believes he's the unluckiest person in Japan. Suichi is going through hard times with his job, his family, and the mounting debt that threatens to cancel their long-awaited trip to Paris. At his lowest point, a mysterious taxi driver appears, taking him on a thought-provoking journey.... Read More

Gilli Messer narrates this moving debut audiobook, which revolves around 15-year-old Margarita's turbulent adolescence. Margarita lives with her Israeli-born father, Avi, in Berlin, where he serves as a cantor at a synagogue. Margarita hasn't seen her American-born mother, Marsha, for many years. After visiting her maternal grandparents in Chicago, Margarita is abruptly sent to... Read More

Gilli Messer's narration elevates this slow-moving Hollywood novel spanning two generations. In 1957, blond contract starlet Iz Giori hopes to be Hitchcock's latest star, but when she becomes pregnant, the studio hides her away until they "take care" of things. Leo Chazan, a blacklisted screenwriter who refused to name names during the McCarthy/HUAC hearings, lives in the... Read More

Narrator Lee Osorio interweaves stories from different eras and countries in this science fiction audiobook. In 2018, Salvadoran American student Ana uses a device to view glimpses of alternate universes. She's also exploring her mysterious family history and her conflicting desires for her future. In the 1970s, revolutionaries Rafael and Neto, who is the uncle of Ana's... Read More

Bryan Dick's Northern English accent and meditative tone are true to the spirit of James Rebanks's experience of living on an isolated Norwegian island, where he learns about the work of the "duck women." Rebanks accompanies a woman named Anna during her last summer there as she works to protect the nesting eiders from predators and then, after the birds depart, gathers and... Read More

Imagine the sound of a faceless voice in a dark interrogation room. That's the image one can't help but hear when listening to Stefan Rudnicki's narration of this audiobook. It's a fitting way to experience the story of the CIA since 9/11. Golden Voice Rudnicki takes Weiner's impeccable research and storytelling to near cinematic heights as he shares victories and losses by... Read More

Karen Cass narrates this charming audiobook, which combines rivalry and romance in a subtle nod to ROMEO AND JULIET. When Jules Caplethorne takes a leave from her publishing job to care for her Great-Aunt Flo and her bookshop, she becomes wrapped up in drama. The Caplethornes' longtime rivals, the Mountbeaus, have just opened up their own bookshop down the street. As Jules... Read More

Listeners will be riveted by narrator Atli Gunnarsson as he recounts the many trials and tribulations that await explorers who trek to the North Pole. In 1994, Erling Kagge made that journey using nothing but his skis. In a strong Nordic accent, Gunnarsson brings to life both Kagge's personal experience and those of the explorers who came before him. He transports listeners to... Read More

Corey Snow's baritone is splendid for narrating this account of how the Monopoly board game was used to enable Allied POWs to escape German captivity during WWII. During the war, British and American intelligence services were able to conceal tools, money, and maps in special editions of Monopoly that were given to their POWs by various charities. These tools enabled a number... Read More

Listeners will either love or hate this story of self-discovery. Narrator Jenapher Zheng portrays Lola, a woman in her early 30s who is mourning the sudden death of a close friend. Lola is launched into social media fame when a video of her giving a monologue on her grief goes viral. Despite moral concerns about capitalizing on personal tragedy, she decides to try to become an... Read More

Gilli Messer gives a grand performance in this historical novel about two young Jewish women. Miriam Bishop, who goes by Anne, and Delia Goldhush both attend Vassar College in the late 1940s. Jewish students are rare on campus, and while Delia is proudly open about her religion, Anne tries to pass as Christian. After Delia is expelled from Vassar in an incident in which Anne... Read More

Cassandra Campbell and Helen Laser deliver outstanding performances as Lori, a former-actress-turned-nun, and her niece, Lu, in this dual-timeline story revolving around an Old Hollywood mystery. In 1990, Lu interviews her aunt for her college history thesis. Until now, Lori has refused to talk about her decision to join the Church at the height of her acting career. Laser uses... Read More

This audiobook takes place in 1930s Madrid, where Barbara opens a bookstore that serves to defend beloved literature from the rising Nazi censorship spreading across Europe and the effects of the Spanish Civil War. Narrator Lauren Ezzo's crisp diction makes the story's digressions into complex historical politics easy to understand. In an era-appropriate touch, her narration... 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

Narrator Gail Shalan gives a spirited performance of this ghoulish mystery. Elvira, a half-siren who lives in a trailer park for monsters, is very skeptical of the human world outside it. When they learn that a human detective is on the case of the missing Marfa Monster Festival crown, Elvira and her friends decide to investigate on their own. But more monster residents... 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

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

Golden Voice Edoardo Ballerini narrates art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon's latest adventure, set largely in Italy and the Vatican. Ballerini's lyrical pronunciation of Italian proper names and places showcases the beauty of the Italian language. Listeners are swept into the intrigue surrounding the discovery and loss of a Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece, a situation that places... Read More

Kristy Cambron’s skill as a historical novelist (THE PARIS DRESSMAKER, THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN) shines in this complex story of war, recovery, food, romance, and espionage, expertly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. When Manon Altier signs up for classes at L’Ecole des Trois Gourmandes, she meets Julia Child and begins to confront her own confusing past. Maarleveld switches... Read More

Narrator Andi Arndt transports listeners to Lake Tahoe as Lexi Clark returns home after years away. Lexi joins her stepsister, Ashley, and former classmate, Heath, who've been tasked with delivering envelopes to people who were wronged by Lexi's late mother, from whom she was estranged. A free spirit, Ashley is the more joyful of the sisters, while Lexi is more cautious. Arndt... Read More

Narrator Eva Kaminsky creates a youthful voice for 12-year-old Maisie, whose mysterious text messages on her phone lead her to discover that she's a moonleaper. As one of these special kinds of time travelers, she's tasked with helping her dying Great-Aunt Hazel to change the future by changing the past. Maisie is uneasy at first as she tries to understand what is going on, all... Read More

Narrator Mary Jane Wells's outstanding performance transports listeners to 1911 Vienna. When Gustav Klimt spies a nude woman floating in the Danube, he can't resist sketching her. But it turns out that she's alive, and he takes her to his studio. With a little help from Freud and Jung, she recovers her memory. She realizes that she's more than 100 years old and the involuntary... Read More

An ensemble of experienced narrators combine their talents to portray the passengers and crew on a billionaire's superyacht as a death onboard turns fragile relationships into mistrust. Each narrator clearly defines their character, highlighting varied personality traits. The result is a cast of delightfully unlikable individuals. The multiple narrators enhance the listening... Read More

The author of this audiobook, Shawn Levy, treads carefully between other authors' efforts--some too fawning, others too critical--in this exhaustively researched, articulate, and absorbing biography of screen legend Clint Eastwood. Mike Chamberlain brings a well-suited tone to his narration. His performance provides crisp diction, enthusiasm, and optimism. Nearly every... Read More

Ramón de Ocampo's prosaic narration adds to the uneasy mood of this middle-grade horror story. After an embarrassing school incident, Casey becomes a social outcast. His family worries about him--until a local dad drops a new friend at Casey's home. Morel doesn't speak, has no eyes, and appears to be made of clay. Oddly, only Casey seems to notice these peculiarities. De Ocampo... 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

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 also... Read More

Narrator Nancy Peterson channels the beauty and emotion in these short essays on the subject of joy. Her gentle tone is enjoyable and peaceful as she tells author Gonzalez’s personal stories about where she finds joy, both in the ordinary and in the glorious moments of God's presence. Gonzalez also points out how being able to recognize these moments is a necessity in life. In... Read More

Vikas Adam narrates this remarkable historical novel with warmth and gravity, capturing its sweeping drama and intimate emotions. As WWI draws to a close, Cora Trent, a Midwestern graduate student, meets Indra Mukherjee, an Indian revolutionary who is grappling with loss and political conviction. Adam's nuanced performance illuminates both the tenderness of their romance and... Read More

In this audiobook, Kate Marvel describes her work in the field of climate science. Courtney Patterson's intelligent, well-developed narration sets the tone for the author's predictions about the world the next generation will encounter--as forecast by predictive scientific models. Patterson's edifying and confident style is an apt complement to the author's accounts of the... 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

Logan Rozos expertly narrates a heartfelt queer romance. Eli, an editorial assistant who wants to be a writer, has sworn off romance. Finally, his friends set him up on a date with handsome but awkward Peter--which turns out to be a bust. Now Eli's boss wants him to continue seeing Peter and to write a series of articles about it to provide dating tips for readers. Eli's first... Read More

Kimberly Farr delivers a pitch-perfect performance in this cozy mystery featuring widowed Mrs. Muriel Blossom. Just when she needs a fresh start, Muriel finds a winning lottery ticket and sets off for a Seine River cruise. On her way to Paris she meets the gentlemanly Allan. With his help, she is upgraded to business class and receives a sleep aid, which causes her to miss her... Read More

Join spirited narrator Caitlin Kinnunen for a coming-of-age story filled with quirky adventures. Amelia is panicking after asking her celebrity crush, famous YouTuber Walter Holland, to her prom online. Then she takes her dream a step further and plans a road trip with friends to see him in person. Surely, he'll then notice her, and her romantic fantasies will come true!... Read More

Delivering these essays with a sense of urgency and passion, narrator Karen Chilton is excellent in this powerful audiobook. It opens with the essay "That Day in January," about the January 6th insurrection, and what follows is a perfect mix of history lessons, personal stories, and social commentary. No topic is off-limits as author Jeffers shares vulnerable stories 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

The title suggests the quintessential summer listen, and it doesn't disappoint. Jaime Lamchick delivers a strong performance of this audiobook, confidently telling the story of Nicola, Juliana, David, and Taylor. She captures nuances in conversations well, and the way she uses shifts in tone to add personality is quite effective. Inspired by the Fitzgerald classic THE GREAT... Read More

Ferdelle Capistrano enlivens this biography about WWII Filipina resistance fighter and Hansen disease survivor Josefina "Joey" Guerrero. Capistrano deftly manages the action of Joey's story, along with the many explanatory passages scaffolding it. She adds a visceral tenderness when Joey describes her reverence for Joan of Arc and the deplorable conditions people with leprosy... Read More

Golden Voice narrator Cassandra Campbell becomes the characters in this enchanting novel set in the gardens of Le Château du Paradis. Soft-spoken Eloise Bourn, a flower whisperer who is hoping to remake her life, has taken a job at the Château, where she's bound to strict rules set by the owner. But Eloise senses all is not as it appears and is ever questioning as she settles... Read More

This audiobook discussing the hype surrounding artificial intelligence is one long unsubstantiated finger wag at the technology and anyone in favor of using it. The audiobook's 100% negative take on AI makes the choice of narrator Jade Wheeler--whose robotic cadence sounds AI generated--perplexing. One of the authors was personally insulted by ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman, and the... Read More

This short performance by Mark Sanderlin will surely charm listeners. A crow, who only responds in caws, sits on a telephone pole and squawks up a storm, refusing to move whenever his animal neighbors ask him to come down. He ignores Squirrel, Hummingbird, Rat, and Bat as they ask him to play or spend time with them, and none of them can understand why he's so cranky. But... Read More

This talented cast enlivens Becker's engrossing historical novel, bringing 1965 pre-Roe v. Wade America to life, a time when women had little independence, voice, or financial power. Gilli Messer projects Lily's frustration as she yearns for more than a predictable suburban life, tries to understand changing values, and asks, "Is this all there is?" Messer also believably... Read More

It's up to listeners to decide if they need a deep dive into the early childhood of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, who is the protagonist of the international phenomenon WICKED: THE MUSICAL. For those who do, Edoardo Ballerini's storytelling is grand and decisive as he wades through this dark addition to the canon. Elphaba is born to a father who is a pious missionary... Read More

This biography of one of America's best distance runners, Steve Prefontaine, captures his spirit, accomplishments, and maverick personality wonderfully. Narrator Roger Wayne sets the pace, so to speak, in a comfortable style. He creates a commanding, almost upper-crust, voice for pioneering coach Bill Bowerman; his accents and cadence seem to fit the legendary running coach's... Read More

Emma Galvin gives a sparkling performance of this contemporary audiobook about a Jewish family who move from Brooklyn to a college town in northern Maine. The four members of the family are soon caught up in a "he said/she said" situation revolving around the high school principal's shocking proposition of Hazel, a senior, on her first day of school, and a campus controversy... Read More

Emotive piano music introduces this biography of Civil Rights activist Angela Davis. Zoleka Vundla's gentle voice describes Angela's carefree youth in the Alabama countryside. When the family moves to Dynamite Hill in Birmingham, things change: The KKK is terrorizing people, and signs proclaim "Whites Only," a phrase Angela hates and that Vundla delivers with outrage. Angela's... Read More

Ami Okumura Jones narrates this quiet character-driven family drama about three mixed-race British Japanese sisters. Rei, the oldest, works in corporate finance in London, while middle sister Kiki is a single mother working in a retirement home in Tokyo. Youngest sister Ai is a rising J-pop idol caught in a national scandal. Ai's troubles bring the sisters back to their seaside... 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

Jason Culp delivers a top-notch narration of this entertaining biography of writer Elmore Leonard. Culp's relaxed pacing and acting chops come in handy when he delivers excerpts from Leonard's work and when he quotes the myriad sources for the bio. There's a wealth of information on Leonard's private life, including significant events like his battle with alcohol, as well as... 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

Octogenarian Eliza Pickney is the matriarch of her vast homestead in the lush South Carolina Low Country, and her plan to preserve the family land in a conservancy disrupts her descendants' expectation of inheritance. The story unfolds in two timelines: Jenna Lamia charmingly narrates Eliza's stories from her early life, while Cassandra Campbell superbly portrays Eliza in her... 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

Katharine Chin skillfully narrates this middle-grade adventure, capturing all the characters' voices. Natalie "Cincinnati" Lee has stolen her 135-year-old grandfather's diary, which contains details of all the treasures he has taken. In an effort to break the family curse, Cincinnati is determined to repatriate the relics mentioned in the diary. As she grapples with the first... Read More

Anthony Rey Perez's adaptability as a narrator is showcased in this crime story/police procedural, the first unabridged audio version of Elmore Leonard's 1985 breakout novel, GLITZ. Perez masters the snappy dialogue--including accents native to Puerto Rico, Miami, Atlantic City, and Detroit--and his hushed delivery aligns with one of Leonard's darkest crime stories. When... Read More

Set sail with Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller as they delight listeners with this heartfelt enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance. When Josie, an elementary school nurse, shows up for her annual summer vacation with her brother, she finds herself stuck with her brother’s best friend. Wyatt is a grumpy pro hockey player who is currently healing from an injury. When Josie learns... Read More

Lisa Flanagan narrates this historical novel with compassion. In 1942, almost 300 works of art from the Uffizi Galleries in Florence were hidden in a Tuscan villa to protect them from Nazi looting. Stella is sent to stay with her uncle in that villa, which he is overseeing for its absentee owners. There, Stella tries to find her place with relatives she's never known and to... 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

Caroline Hewitt's superb narration takes listeners on a powerfully emotional journey in this dual-timeline audiobook. In 1942, as German officers arrive at their French countryside home, 7-year-old Martine is hidden in a cabinet by her Jewish father with a valuable bottle of wine. Alone on the streets, Martine is brought to an abbey by Sister Ada, who is hiding her own secret.... 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

Vanessa Johansson adds charm and texture to this light mystery with a twist. Her warm, approachable tone fits Mia Crawford's book-loving, anxious personality, which contributes to her transformation into an accidental detective. Johansson navigates the changing moods of the story with ease--balancing beachside flirtation, quiet introspection, and rising suspense without losing... Read More

Written by a team of notable leadership experts, this comprehensive guide describes how high performing groups of all kinds keep the momentum of success going strong. The authors use interviews, research, and moving stories from sports, business, and politics to create an accessible model of continuous effectiveness. Actor Julian Thomas performs with near flawless elocution and... Read More

Talented actors Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan bring drama and rich characterizations to their narration, just as they do in the Masterpiece television adaptations of Horowitz's series. Their dynamic performances create an audiobook experience that's fun, immersive, and expertly voiced. Though this may be the final installment, ample backstory allows new listeners to jump... Read More

Psychologist William von Hippel tackles the human dilemma of wanting to feel free and accepted simultaneously. Josh Bloomberg's narration helps listeners understand that balancing these two desires, instead of choosing one over the other, is the key to happiness. Using a strong and reassuring approach, Bloomberg smoothly explains the friction humans feel between connection and... Read More

Narrator Timothy Andrés Pabon brings numerous essential skills to this richly detailed history of El Paso, Texas. Most important are his command of languages and accents, and a degree of conviction that supports the author's distinctly Southwestern and multicultural perspective. Parker, a respected journalist who, sadly, died the week this book was published, argues that El... Read More

In her latest audiobook, Perkins celebrates diversity and the fun and adventure of making new friends and learning a new language in an unfamiliar place. Stacy Gonzalez's narration fills young Lissie's voice with nervous excitement as she travels far from home with her father and grandmother, worrying about how she'll communicate when everyone else speaks Spanish. Gonzalez... Read More

Ramón de Ocampo and Victoria Villareal throw themselves into the portrayal of two dozen kids and a couple of dogs, who are spending the day at a New Jersey beach. First, we hear the voices of siblings Jackie and Simon as they run on the empty beach. Later, the beach becomes crowded with people of varied classes and ethnicities. De Ocampo portrays a Cuban teen idol who is trying... Read More

Gary Tiedemann gives voice to "Rhino" Rhinehart, the featured character in Lipsyte's timely, troubling coming-of-age novel. Because of an impulsive punch, the junior captain of the football team finds himself keeping a journal as part of a school therapy group. Tiedemann delivers Rhino's words in the voice of a teen who is attempting honesty and beginning to question who he... Read More

Narrator Josh Bloomberg takes listeners through a novel that explores the grief and mysteries of our childhood that plague our adulthood. Culture writer Jacob Goldberg must create a successful podcast for his company, or he'll lose his cherished spot at the magazine he's worked at for decades. After speaking with a former high school crush about his need for a topic worth... Read More

Ariana Delawari reflects the uncomfortable mix of feelings of Cassie Perera, which began with her betrayal of her best friend, Ben, in sixth grade, when the two were caught swapping outfits. She denies her friendship to avoid revealing her same-sex attractions, hiding behind being perfect at school, church, and home. Delawari carries listeners forward into Cassie's junior... Read More

Annie B. Jones shines as she narrates her first book, an essay collection about all the ways an ordinary life can feel extraordinary. An independent bookstore owner and host of the popular podcast "From the Front Porch," Jones narrates with confidence, a lively intonation, and expert pacing. The Florida native has a sweet voice with an audible smile that welcomes listeners into... Read More

British accents such as the one Zeinab Badawi employs in her narration have told a lot of Africa's stories over the years. Here, Badawi puts her British accent toward recounting African history from the African point of view as she shares tales of long-ago kingdoms and struggles against colonial control. Her narration is punctuated by wonder at visits to places such as the... Read More

Timothy Andrés Pabon narrates the story of Danilo with heartfelt emotions. In 1989, in the wake of the US military invasion of Panama, Danilo's neighborhood, El Chorillo, is destroyed. Recently abandoned by his father, Danilo tries to be strong for his mother and sister. When a baseball recruiter offers him a scholarship to play in California, Danilo is torn between his bright... Read More

Rebecca Stern cheerfully narrates this illustrated biography of scientist Barbara McClintock (1902-1992), whose pioneering work on maize genetics helped form our understanding of DNA. Stern's playful narration of McClintock's early life portrays her as a tree-climbing, baseball-playing child who grew into a determined young woman who was willing to ignore norms so she could... Read More

Aasiya Shah and Kishore Walker bring the ancient Mauryan Empire, 321-185 BCE, in what is now India, into our current moment in the first installment of the Obsidian Throne trilogy. Shakti, a pacifist witch, seeks to avenge her aunt's murder, while Prince Ashoka advocates for his tyrannical family to stop ruthlessly killing the witches. Voicing Shakti as she infiltrates the... Read More

Myths come to life through Bahni Turpin and Robin Miles's stellar narration of this young adult fantasy. Marisol and her mother left their home in the Caribbean to live in Brooklyn. Marisol hopes to leave their island traditions and her family's magic behind. Genevieve grew up listening to her white father's mythical stories from her unknown mother's homeland. When the teens'... Read More

Laurie Woolever narrates her memoir about her life in the food industry and her addiction struggles. She gives insights into working with two of the biggest names in the industry, Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain, receiving abuse at the hands of one and compassion at the hands of the other. All the while, she admits to her less than stellar personal choices, especially when it... Read More

A Victorian adventure-romance proves entertaining, thanks to the vocal stylings of narrator Karen Cass. When antique store owner Alexandra Prince believes she's uncovered a plot to steal the Crown Jewels, she heads to Scotland Yard, where Detective Inspector Benedict Drake serves. As clues to the impending theft are gathered, romance develops. Cass supplies a measured,... Read More

Actor Kelsey Grammer, star of the TV show “Frasier,” delivers an emotional examination of his own life through the lens of the 1975 abduction, torture, and murder of his 18-year-old sister, Karen. Kelsey was two years older. This is a brutal listening experience, as was the crime and its impact. Grammer’s narration is intense, warm, even slightly lighthearted at times. One can... Read More

Narrator Caroline Hewitt's approach to this audiobook is gentle but skilled. She provides a warm yet ultimately moving performance about a woman's journey, both geographical and emotional. Veronica is traveling in Europe, searching for insights into her ancestors. Her first stop, an Irish castle, includes an encounter with Niall, a fellow foodie and kindred spirit. Actual... Read More

Joe Mantegna's calm, resonant voice conveys authority with minimal effort. It's the ideal voice for Chili Palmer, a loan shark who eschews violence when recovering debts. Palmer has fallen in with several morally ambiguous Hollywood types, including Harry Zim, the producer of B-movie exploitation flicks; the Bear, a former stuntman; and Bo Catlett, a drug-dealing movie... Read More

Dara Rosenberg excels at narrating this emotional audiobook, which begins as seventh-grader Becky is dressing for her older sister Sara's funeral. Rosenberg leads listeners from the sad "Now" chapter to the lighter "Before" chapters, when Becky secretly "borrows" her mother's credit card to get her beloved older brother a gift. The theme of secrets is introduced against the... Read More

This audiobook delivers an epic story about the conflict between art and commerce. Micky Shiloah's youthful voice embodies Tobey, who is fleeing the 2024 California fires with a plan to steal three paintings by Di Stiegl from his father for quick sale. In alternating chapters, Nancy Peterson captures the ingenue spirit of Di, whose photorealistic art brings her fame until she... Read More

Listeners join Alex Carter, wildlife biologist and conservationist, as she accepts an assignment to research the endangered jaguar on a protected reserve in New Mexico, where she discovers that a white supremacist group is threatening locals. When the group learns of the potential impact of Alex's studies, her life is soon in danger. Eva Kaminsky's stylish narration is... Read More

Angel Pean narrates Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles's memoir with the right emotional tone and clear enunciation while getting across the frustration endured by the young, Black gymnast. Pean's tone captures the challenges faced by Chiles: systemic racism, a dysfunctional and overbearing coach, and the incredible incident of the Bronze medal being stripped from her. Pean's voice... Read More

In a fast-paced world in which everyone wants quick answers, Elizabeth Weingarten's goal is to help listeners turn their struggles with uncertainty into pivotal moments for growth. Sadly, narrator Lauren Ezzo's pleasant but monotonous delivery undercuts this audiobook's dynamic energy. As listeners are advised to embrace uncertainty as a conduit for creativity and personal... Read More

Steven Weber superbly delivers Peter Swanson's intriguing mystery. The audiobook's structure goes backwards from 2023 to 1982--telling a story that's like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Ultimately, the puzzle's picture is dark and mind-boggling, but all the pieces fit. Thom and Wendy Graves have been married for 25 years. Wendy is a published poet, Thom, a university English... Read More

Erin Bennett narrates the story of Rose Valland, a curator at the Jeu de Paume museum in Paris during WWII. Valland kept track of documents stating provenance and locations of artworks that were looted by the Nazis. She remained in her job by convincing Nazi higher-ups that she was merely a lowly clerk and not a threat to the Germans' pillaging. Her dedication and precise... Read More

Katie Anvil Rich brings her joyful narration to this children's book about two girls from different backgrounds who form a close bond. Each summer, 7-year-old Native American Piper goes to visit her cousins on their tribal land. Once back home, she forms a friendship with her new Indian neighbor, Sumi, who is 4. The two grow close over the next year, so when Piper learns her... Read More

Deepti Gupti infuses a lyrical cadence into the dialogue of this touching cozy mystery. Kausar has always had strong intuition, along with the ability to read people. Over time, she's hidden these skills for fear of others finding them intrusive. Now, her strengths are vital as she seeks to clear her daughter's name after she's been accused of murder. Having spent much of her... Read More

Atkins's historical audiobook novel-in-verse shines a light on an important chapter of American history, beginning with the 1913 Women's March and ending with the 1920 ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment. Chanté McCormick gives the historical, mostly forgotten, Matilda Young a compelling voice. Matilda's voice gains confidence and strength as she grows from a shy... Read More

Writer Brad Meltzer is one of those rare people whose voice exudes sincerity, honesty, and a love of humanity. This brief work is largely based on the commencement speech he gave at his son's graduation from the University of Michigan. As anyone who's ever attended a speech by Meltzer knows, his words are always inspiring and real. Here, he talks about his own career and life,... Read More

Marin Ireland's narration of this family dramedy maximizes the humor behind finding a half-sibling--only to find out there may be dozens more. Ireland's performance captures Madeline's mix of reluctance and curiosity as she joins her newfound half-brother, Reuben, on an unexpected road trip. Ireland's subtle vocal shifts distinguish each sibling, reflecting their varied... Read More

Jane Oppenheimer provides a tone of truthfulness to this historical novel highlighting the friction between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr as they seek to defend a murder suspect in 1800s America. Levi Weeks is accused of murdering Emma Sands, a lively young woman who disappeared from her boardinghouse. Lawyers Hamilton and Burr have political aspirations as each tries to... Read More

Ava, Ray, Sasha, and Sky arrive at a controversial treatment center that promises relief through extended sleep. They're all being treated for loss and heartache, and their diverse stories create an engaging tableau. The outstanding group of narrators juggle this journey of loss, hope, and uncertainty. Ava, a book illustrator, struggles with guilt, while Ray, a firefighter,... Read More

Karissa Vacker narrates this slow-burn romance set in the publishing world with verve and enthusiasm. Bryony Page, whose warmth and slightly frantic manner come through in Vacker's expressive tones, heads off to her first writer's conference. She hopes to find a literary agent to sell her debut novel, inspired by her beloved grandmother's creation of a center to teach English... Read More

Jolene Kim narrates this sci-fi heist audiobook steeped in Hawaiian culture and language. Edie spent eight years in prison after their partner, Angel, sold them out. But Angel has one more job, and Edie's family back home on Kepler space station needs their support. Kim's voice is pleasantly low and unhurried, steeping listeners in the rich setting and slow-paced writing style.... Read More

Narrating with a steady, measured rhythm, NEW YORK TIMES columnist Maureen Dowd introduces the listener to the best of her long-form, in-depth interviews with some of the most recognizable personalities in popular culture. Dowd is most at ease and sounds practically playful when discussing her favorites, such Kate Winslet, Paul Newman, and Candice Bergen. She's a bit more... Read More

A fitness trainer turned executive coach offers conversational advice on being successful in a business landscape overpopulated with competitors and their ad pitches. Goodman is a wonderful teacher, down-to-earth and practical. His own entrepreneurial experiences give flesh-and-blood validity to his ideas on carving a niche for what you offer, building a customer base, and... Read More

Ell Potter delivers a smashing performance of Galland's engrossing novel. The title character is Sander Cooke, an androgynous actor with the Chamberlain's Men in Elizabethan London whose brilliant performances in female roles have made him a celebrity. His best friend, Joan, longs to study, but scholarship is forbidden because she's a woman. So Joan employs cross-dressing to... Read More

Sarah Perry performs her collection of micro essays, which revolve around her love of candy. Each essay highlights a different confectionery sweet, which she uses to contemplate her relationships, ideas around humanity's pursuit of pleasure, or memory's connection to taste and smell. Perry perfectly describes the experience of eating each candy--every delightful texture and... Read More

Passion fills this story narrated by Malik Rashad about 12-year-old baseball fanatic Timothy "Pumpsie" Strickland. Pumpsie and his soft- spoken mom, Donya, share a love for their local team, the Nashville Wildcats. One of five kids, Pumpsie feels overlooked and is sometimes defensive, muttering during uncomfortable conversations. After his confident sister, Tiana, films a... Read More

Sophie Jo Wasson transports listeners to Ireland in 1847 with her poignant performance. Like many throughout the country, Nell's family's potato crop is infected with a black rot that makes the potatoes inedible. Farmers are forced to choose between paying their rent from the sale of their oat crops, or feeding their families and facing eviction. Amid those tragedies, Nell and... Read More

Narrators January LaVoy and Shayna Small deliver vivid, highly animated, and thoughtfully developed performances in this audiobook. The saga begins in 1865 with a couple separated by slavery and war and makes its way to the present day and a new couple. Thanks to the skilled narrators, the wide array of characters come to life whether they're speaking in 1865, the 21st century,... Read More

This audiobook is set in a dystopian future in which a powerful megacorporation enforces debt repayment through a brutal death match known as the Lamb's Gauntlet. The story revolves around Inesa, who is unwillingly offered as a sacrifice by her mother, and Melinoë, a cybernetically altered assassin who is sent to kill Inesa. As the two journey across a wasteland, something... Read More

Part memoir, part manifesto--the heroic chef and founder of World Central Kitchen José Andrés's brief audiobook would have greatly benefited from a professional narrator. This is truly unfortunate as the story of Andrés's rise to celebrity chef and food philanthropist is fascinating. He trained at great places and learned his innovative style at the world-famous Spanish... Read More

A new contribution to the exciting stories of women who fought against the Third Reich, this audiobook is narrated by Gilli Messer with excellence. Providing various accents and voices, Messer brings honesty and insight to the story's characters. Elena Bruskina is a young Jewish woman who becomes a sniper for the Soviet Union after seeing her family murdered in the Minsk... Read More

Nigerian author Funmi Fetto's narration anchors this wide-ranging collection of short stories with a steady, immersive presence. She modulates her voice to reflect the unique emotional terrain of each character. Fetto makes it easy to distinguish between Ifeoma's escalating tension as she tries to leave her abusive husband, Nkechi's cautious resilience, and Riliwa's evolving... Read More

Narrators Joshua Manning and Stina Nielsen transport the listener to Scotland, where travel writer Katie Campbell, known for her misadventures, is taking part in an Edwardian experience. Graeme MacKerrow has leased his ancestral home to an English couple for the three-week event. Both narrators skillfully handle the Scots, American, and English accents. Manning in particular... Read More

Narrator Jo Yuan gives an animated performance in this witty literary translation about South Korean corporate office life. Kim Jihye is a 30-year-old intern at Diamant Academy, an adult education company. Originally hoping to be hired as a permanent employee, she comes to realize that this is likely never going to happen. Instead, another intern, Lee Gyuok, is brought on.... Read More

Elyse Durham's debut novel takes listeners from the 1941 Siege of Leningrad through the Cold War via the lives of Maya and Natasha, twin orphaned sisters. Illegitimate daughters of a prima ballerina who died shortly after their birth, they are raised and trained by the state to live their mother's destiny in the Kirov School of Ballet. Yelena Shmulenson's narration captures... Read More

Narrators Kristen Sieh and Daru Oda serve up a darkly humorous, twisty ride in this debut. Evie Gordon is an SAT tutor for wealthy kids in L.A. When she discovers the murdered family of one of her students, along with an unknown woman named Jae who is still alive, she and Jae become the prime murder suspects and go on the run. Sieh, who voices Evie, handles most of the... Read More

Marin Ireland’s skillful third-person narration engages listeners in a complex plot that shifts through multiple points of view and timelines. Close attention is required to follow the characters and the secrets they’re determined to keep. The author plants seeds about the twenty-year-old murders of a group of young women, tangled relationships, and the present-day story, which... Read More

Henrietta Meire shows remarkable vocal range in this audiobook featuring multiple human and dragon languages and accents. Vivian aims for an internship studying dragon languages, but when her parents are arrested as rebels, she sets free a dragon that starts a civil war. Desperate, she accepts a job as a code breaker to help the war effort and is tasked with deciphering the one... Read More

Emma Rydal's intense performance as Margot, a child living with her cannibalistic mother ("Mama"), will remain with listeners long after the devastating climax of this audiobook. Throughout her childhood, lost and wayward travelers of all ages, people deemed "strays," are lured inside their home, where they're murdered and eaten. All of this Rydal recounts to listeners with the... Read More

Piper Goodeve's energetic narration is a perfect match for this funny and charming story, making this a perfectly paced listen. Emma takes over her parents' estate-sale business and lands their biggest client to date. The grand house and its furnishings are overshadowed by its reputation: a previous bed-and-breakfast that also offered services of ill repute. Emma, unaware of... Read More

Robert Hass is an excellent poet who understands how poetry works, and this knowledge informs his narration of the poems Czeslaw Milosz wrote in the period between the end of WWII and his defection from Soviet Poland in 1951. The poems are, of course, wonderful, tracing (in part) the author's process of healing in the aftermath of the war and his growing displeasure with the... Read More

Michael Crouch leads an enthusiastic crew of narrators as he portrays Dexter Foreman, the only preteen resident of The Pines retirement village. When a visit from the truancy officer lands Dexter at the local middle school, his old-fashioned clothes and habits make him a target of curiosity and ridicule. After one of his “handyman fixes” leads to an unexpected suspension, Dex... Read More

The vanishing point in a work of art is the point where receding parallel lines seem to meet. In this audiobook, author Paul Theroux uses this concept in his collection of 18 short stories, each involving a critical moment when life patterns come together. The stories are about men in different countries and in different stages of life. Narrator Joe Knezevich's deep, resonant... Read More

Mark Bramhall brings enthusiasm and gravitas to the latest Joseph Finder espionage adventure novel. The improbable but gripping tale leaps into action when our protagonist Paul Brightman, a former Wall Street star who's in hiding, must outrun apparent gangsters. Years ago, he fell in love with a Russian oligarch's daughter and is now paying the price. The story alternates... Read More

When Nancy's life implodes after a psychotic break, trouble seems to follow her: A neighbor in her new apartment building commits suicide. Sophie Roberts's gripping narration brings every layer of this psychological thriller to life. As Nancy begins to hear strange voices in her new flat, Roberts keeps listeners questioning what's going on. She captures Nancy's initial fragile... Read More

Narrator Emily Mount mesmerizes listeners in this captivating fantasy-romance. England is ruled by an immortal fae queen who graciously grants each citizen one bargain. This year, the high-society girls are encouraged to bargain for qualities that will land them suitors. When Ivy Benton's debut season arrives, she plans to win the heart of the fae queen's son. Mount's ethereal... Read More

Sura Siu's narration soars--it's as light and airy as the high-flying Arctic terns on which this nonfiction audiobook focuses. She takes listeners into the sunny summer world of one such bird, who snatches fish to feed his chicks, fiercely drives off predators, and finally leads them to fly for a month over the ocean at summer's end. Siu's gentle narration stresses the lyricism... Read More

This audiobook adaptation of the graphic novel features a stellar cast and vibrant soundtrack. Sébastien, portrayed by Ramón de Ocampo with a French accent, is freshly moved into a new apartment and ready to finally learn magic. Elia, depicted suavely by Fajer Al-Kaisi in an Italian accent, is the hot supermodel vampire next door. Alexander Cendese voices Sébastien's adorable... Read More

Author and social influencer Mallory O'Meara's audiobook is so much more and, in many ways, and so much less than the misleading and lengthy subtitle implies. As she narrates her audiobook with enthusiasm and precise enunciation, the listener hears a thorough, well-researched history of the founding of the Hollywood community, the development of the studio system, and, most... Read More

Imran Sheikh's narration captures the interiority of 13-year-old Mohammad (Mo) Mirza, who works hard to stay cheerful despite his father's rages. Sheikh delivers the humor, intelligence, gift for storytelling, and sarcasm that buoy Mo as he deals with his father's paranoid schizophrenia; the absence of his mother, who has chosen to work in a distant refugee camp; and being... Read More

Tony Keith, Jr.--poet, rapper, and hip-hop educator--uses his cultural observations, edgy politics, and sharp ear for concise wordplay and fast rhymes to get the attention of the audience that needs him most: disenfranchised Black school kids he affectionately calls "knuckleheads." With brash and evocative poem titles like "If You Fail to Plan, Then Plan to Fail," "Because When... Read More

This audiobook is a fictionalized sports biography about tennis prodigy Alice Marble, who became the world's top female tennis player in 1939. Gail Shalan narrates this dual-timeline story and communicates the tension of court play: the snap decisions, along with the stamina and determination it takes to be a winner. The lively, driven heroine is also a comic book creator, and... Read More

This wonderful middle-grade audiobook is about a youth basketball team led by a coach who understands the value of leadership and living a good life off the court. Tony is trying to make the team, and he does--but not in the way he expects. As the players work hard on the court, they deal with the senseless death of a pal whom the whole community mourns. Marc Anthony Samuel's... Read More

Narrator Emilia Fox does a fantastic job showcasing the range of emotions in this addictive thriller. It's Camilla's first day back at work after her maternity leave, and she's on edge from not being able to reach her husband, Luke. Police arrive to tell her that Luke has been identified as being involved in a hostage situation. She goes from scared to disbelieving as it's... Read More

Bob Souer is a strong, energetic narrator who brings character and clarity to this excellent history of America's most colorful and dynamic state. Equally important, Souer maintains the author's reportorial balance and unmistakable enthusiasm for his subject. Arranged chronologically with each chapter devoted to a different era or feature of California's history, this is the... Read More

After the death of her young husband, Josephine Reynolds decides her life needs a major change, so she buys her ancestors’ old mansion in the historic heart of Nashville. Kathleen McInerney tells Josephine’s story as she replaces the mansion’s inappropriately modern front door with an antique version that fits perfectly. McInerney describes Josephine’s astonishment when she... Read More

Period music provides an apt background for a note in the initial credits informing listeners that the pronunciation in this production will be performed in the Early Modern English of Shakespeare's time. That sets up an immersive transition to the world of 61-year-old Judith, apothecary, midwife, and the last of the Bard's progeny, who must leave town after being accused of... Read More

Jeremy Arthur's engaging narration befits the life story of Dr. Albert C. Barnes (1872-1951), an early collector of modern art and champion of minority art. Raised in a working-class environment, Barnes made his fortune in pharmaceuticals. He proceeded to use his wealth to study art, eventually building an extensive collection that became the Barnes Foundation. His friendship... Read More

With deft interpretations and stunning vocal control, Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt bring this fascinating historical mystery to life. The casting is on point, bringing enough variation to the main characters to allow easy differentiation. The story spans a century of time and three generations of women. Rankin brings the listener along as Tildy Barrows, head curator of an... Read More

Katie Koster will charm a wide audience with this fun romantic performance. Wordle enthusiast Emily daydreams at her dead-end job as a receptionist at a car shop. When her car's alternator dies, her co-worker, John, comes to her rescue, and the bland mechanic suddenly becomes interesting when he shares his own enjoyment of Wordle. Koster offers an authentic narration of this... Read More

Authors Ethan Bernstein and Michael B. Horn narrate this audiobook's introduction and acknowledgements, while voice pro Adam Barr performs the chapters. In a clear, steely voice, Barr performs the thoughtful guide to job hunting with a vocal tone and phrasing that convey friendliness and respect for the authors' empowering message. Through their research and consulting... Read More

This outstanding audio collection begins with a thought-provoking introduction by editor Wesley Morris in which he discusses the struggle over what individuals and societies can think. The narrators take turns delivering the 22 works originally featured in publications such as HARPER'S MAGAZINE, THE ATLANTIC, and THE NEW YORKER. One standout is "Jenisha from Kentucky." Jeanette... Read More

Narrating in his gravelly timbre and Scottish accent, Callum Robinson invites listeners into his workshop as he recalls the highs and lows of his bespoke woodworking business. The son of a master woodworker, Robinson found his way into the profession as an apprentice and then learned more through his travels. Reflecting on childhood lessons, he marvels at how far his father's... Read More

In French author Giebel's homage to John Steinbeck's OF MICE AND MEN, narrator Max Meyers portrays the loving brothers Léonard and Jorge with deep empathy and the increasing tension of inevitable tragedy. Léo, who was a foundling, is continually victimized because of his size and reduced intellect. In addition to extraordinary abuse, he suffers from the delusion that his... Read More