AudioFile's Best Audiobooks of 2023

ALL THE SINNERS BLEED by S.A. Cosby, read by Adam Lazarre-White

Adam Lazarre-White draws listeners into Cosby’s thought-provoking story of Titus Crowne, the first Black sheriff in the small Virginia county of Charon. Lazarre-White masterfully portrays people of multiple races, old and young, and delivers reflections on family, grief, and faith with genuine introspection.

BIRNAM WOOD by Eleanor Catton, read by Saskia Maarleveld

This listening experience grows more compelling chapter by chapter. Saskia Maarleveld’s delivery is matchless—fluent and sensitive to the finest nuances of a story whose every turn is unexpected yet entirely plausible. It’s an outstanding act of balance and a remarkable feat for author and narrator alike.

DEAD MAN'S POSE by Susan Rogers, John Roosen, read by Rupert Degas

Golden Voice narrator Rupert Degas takes listeners to Sydney, Australia, in this quirky new mystery series. Degas’s spirited Elaina and ingenious Ric delightfully play off each other. Audio is ideal since conversations and evocative descriptions abound.

ROGUE JUSTICE by Stacey Abrams, read by Adenrele Ojo

Adenrele Ojo returns to portray smart, feisty Supreme Court clerk Avery Keene in her second adventure. Once again, Abrams has written a complex plot that sweeps Avery into a dangerous situation. Listeners will be chilled by the potential of real threats and thrilled by the intense listening experience.

THE SECRET HOURS by Mick Herron, read by Gerard Doyle

Gerard Doyle performs this stand-alone dispatch from Mick Herron’s cynical “spook street” world with such dry resignation that it is often laugh-out-loud funny. His vocal control is masterly, his pacing, range, and attention to detail a perfect match for Herron’s, which is highest praise.

VERA WONG'S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS by Jesse Q. Sutanto, read by Eunice Wong

Eunice Wong’s brisk performance perfectly suits this humorous yet poignant cozy mystery. Wong manages the large cast—young and old, Chinese, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and American—with plenty of energy and enthusiasm, subtly distinguishing among them while illuminating their individual stories.