THE LISTENERS

Erin Bennett's complex narration of this historical audiobook wraps listeners in a web of mystery. In early 1942, June Hudson manages the luxurious Avallon Hotel with calm certainty of her place in the world. When the State Department commandeers the West Virginia hotel to house Axis diplomats in the wake of Pearl Harbor, June realizes that nothing will ever be the same again. Bennett successfully takes on the momentous task of crafting authentic voices for a myriad of characters: the staff of the rural hotel and the German, Japanese, and Italian detainees they have thrust upon them. In particular, her portrayal of Hannelore Wolfe, the gifted, mute daughter of a German official, is a masterclass in showcasing a rich interior life. N.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2025]