VILE BODIES

Satirizing the upper classes has long been popular in literature, and this audiobook takes the genre to the next level, thanks to a dizzying performance by Nico Evers-Swindell. Set between the World Wars in the era of "bright young things," the story has an on-again, off-again romance (of sorts) at its heart. A wide array of characters orbits the silly couple, and Evers-Swindell is a virtual library of voices and accents. His high energy captures both the interactions among these questionable people and the somewhat snide satirical tone of the text itself. Some narrative shifts would benefit from more intentional timing, but the overall effect is hilarious. Narrator Evers-Swindell succeeds in driving Waugh's points home with whirlwind wit, attitude, and style. [Published: JANUARY 2026]