New Reviews: Fiction

Alice Austen's debut novel is a small jewel, and the multiple narratives by expert audio actors bring light to each facet. The tenants at 33 Place Brugmann in Brussels just before the Nazi occupation live fascinating, if ordinary, lives. But as everything changes, intimate individual portraits of the residents, wonderfully performed, move the plot forward, heighten the tension,... Read More

Ari Fliakos's exceptional performance of haunted Kostya Duhovny is among the many pleasures of this immersive debut, a combination love story, Manhattan foodie romp, and otherworldly tale. Fliakos captures Kostya's complex reactions to his supernatural ability to bring back the dead through food. Fliakos is ably aided by Tessa Albertson, André Santana, and Kristen Sieh, who all... Read More

Fans of Adjoa Andoh's television acting will be delighted by this performance of a complex story of intergenerational conflict in Nigeria. When Tia uncovers her mother's long-hidden secret while protecting a runaway girl, Adunni, she sets in motion a series of events that threaten to unravel the very fabric of all their lives. Andoh adds depth and resonance to this emotional... Read More

For those curious about Capote's final publication, listening to Kirby Heyborne's audiobook performance is recommended. Capote's last work was published posthumously in the 1980s after a long delay. The audiobook is a loosely threaded "nonfiction novel" about an aspiring writer who encounters famous figures in the literary establishment while he is trying to survive. The result... Read More

Author/narrator Linda Holmes capitalizes on her media experience in this snappy comic novel. Cecily Foster has agreed to host a new podcast--even if it means she'll also have to be the star, follow the advice of a popular relationship influencer, and have it called "20 Dates." A deal with her boss is the only way she'd ever consider a show revolving around her own first dates,... Read More

T'áncháy Redvers gives a subdued but engaging performance of these strange fabulist stories. The characters, settings, and situations are creative and surreal and, at times, distinctly unsettling. An elephant decomposes in a couple's bed. A girl wonders about the lives of the trolls who work in her father's pumpkin patch. Houses are rarely what they seem. Redvers's narration is... Read More

Will Damron give a straightforward delivery of this slow-burning thriller set in the American West. Two brothers who were left to raise themselves after their mother disappeared go about their daily lives. Their days are filled with odd jobs; nights they spend in a ramshackle cabin. Into their lives comes a mysterious figure who entices them to steal natural resources around... Read More

Loss haunts this powerful story of politics, corruption, and loyalty. Narrator Shaun Taylor-Corbett continues his fine work with Indigenous authors. He performs this debut novel with just the right tone, style, and tempo. He voices the angsty Mitch Caddo with a sure sense of his conflicted life as a "fixer" for the fictional Passage Rouge Nation. An outsider with an Ivy League... Read More

Rebecca Lowman performs this atmospheric novel--with a large dash of fabulism--set in the Alaskan wilderness. Birdie is a single mom who is waitressing at a lodge when a man walks in and changes her life. Arthur is an outdoorsman, a man of few words, but it's love at first sight. Birdie and her daughter, Emaleen, go to live with Arthur in his remote cabin, spending the summer... Read More

This strange yet relatable story of identity and desire is narrated by Eunice Wong. Taiwanese American Vi is struggling with dropping out of college, a breakup, and working as a hotel receptionist when she finds a mysterious slime blob. Wong captures Vi's apathy and loneliness in her low voice. Smoothly switching between characters, Wong adds a tone of humor to her narration.... Read More

Grief is a looming presence in this audiobook. The three Blue sisters try to move on after the death of Nikki, their vivacious and beloved fourth sibling. Kit Griffiths narrates the sisters' parallel stories with a measured cadence, adopting a stiff, halting pace that might echo the survivors' internal and external struggles as they wrestle with the past and try to salvage... Read More

Blair Baker's narration effectively frames the story of a privileged young man who is struggling to see the world beyond himself--even if he's not aware of his own limitations. Listeners observe the development of George, an inauspicious male in his 20s who continues the unfulfilled promises of his youth and lacks critical awareness of the people close to him. He survives on a... Read More

In this third and final installment in Alice Hoffman's Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories, series narrator Jennifer Jill Araya continues her top-notch narration of a heartfelt story of family, love, and independence. Five years after the Gibson sisters stopped speaking to one another, they're back on Brinkley's Island, Maine, once again running the family bookstore. When... Read More

Narrator Eddie Lopez uses his impressive vocal talents to explore the emotional, often tense, relationship between Ramón and his father. Beginning in 1977, the novel follows Ramón as he grows up, often clashing with his demanding, quixotic dad. Living in Brownsville, Texas, the family straddles the physical and cultural border of the U.S. and Mexico. Ramón, wanting more, moves... Read More

Hanako Footman's authentic accent and nuanced delivery provide an immersive portrayal of Rika Machida, a Japanese journalist. Rika is investigating the case of Manako Kajii, a gourmet cook who is imprisoned for seducing older men with her culinary skills before allegedly killing them. Footman's measured pace and light intonation add intrigue as Rika becomes increasingly... Read More

This audiobook features an Indian girl named Aisha who is growing up near Kashmir, where she learns traditional healing from her mother until her dreams of an education are replaced by marriage. Soneela Nankani's narration brings warmth and depth to Aisha's story. Nankani captures the emotional weight of Aisha's choices as she navigates family duty and her desire for personal... Read More

This centennial collection of NEW YORKER stories will undoubtedly lead this year's lists of prestigious audiobooks--and deservedly so. With a roster of enduring authors and stories and a cast expertly matched to the voice and character of each story, this is an unparalleled listening experience, and a hallmark of good casting and production values. Twenty narrators are... Read More

Narrating duo Cassandra Campbell and Jackie Sanders team up for this charming dual-timeline story of strong women with a love of champagne. In soft French-accented tones, Jackie Sanders becomes Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, widow of the creator of Veuve Clicquot champagne. She recounts her difficult life as a vintner during the Napoleonic Era through letters to her granddaughter. In... Read More

This novel is worth listening to as an early fictional treatment of the Korean immigrant experience in America. First published in 1986, it covers the period ranging from before World War I to just after the end of World War II, when much of Korean identity was built around opposition to Japanese colonialism. The novel is told in sections, one for each member of the Chun... Read More

Sarah Agha's narration maximizes this exploration of a woman who is grappling with identity, memory, and belonging in New York City. Agha balances these themes while playing up the undercurrent of humor. A Palestinian woman who is acclimating to life in America takes listeners on a journey of displacement, privilege, and personal unraveling. With clarity and depth, Agha... Read More

Hanako Footman's narration is as warm and delicious as the meals at the Chibineko Kitchen. Four intertwined stories revolve around Kotoko, a young woman, and Kai, the thoughtful chef who works at the small restaurant with its resident cat, located in a remote Japanese seaside village. Chibineko Kitchen serves remembrance meals rumored to have a mystical ability to summon... Read More

Music enthusiasts will enjoy this debut audiobook, invitingly narrated by Jayme Mattler. The story is part slow-burn romance and part new adult fiction. In the early 2000s, Berkeley students Percy and Joe meet at a campus bar. Joe is fascinated by Percy's strong opinions on music and asks her to help him with his songwriting. After their collaboration, Joe's indie music career... Read More

In a duet performance, Brittany Pressley and Xe Sands bring listeners the story of three actresses and the cost of fame. Ivy, portrayed by Sands, is the star of Dollhouse Academy, a prestigious acting school that closely controls its actors. When strange events occur, Ivy journals about her experiences as a warning to others. Sands's portrayal of Ivy's terror that will leave... Read More

The tone, tempo, and lilting intonation of all four narrators make this listening experience rewarding. This novel--really four connected, finely crafted novellas--simply engages the listener from the start. Three of the major characters are Nigerian women: a travel writer, a successful lawyer, a powerful business woman--and the fourth, also West African, a maid at a posh... Read More

This audiobook begins with plans for a wedding and goes on to include . . . nearly everything else. MacLeod Andrews is an excellent narrator: gentle, funny, sharp, and intuitive. When Cece and Charlie's special day--officiated by Charlie's troubled friend, Garrett--moves in an unexpected direction, Andrews captures the characters' interactions without dramatic excess. Dialogue... Read More

Sebastian Humphreys and Vivien Carter perform this complex story about Hannah, her family, and Max, Hannah's late boyfriend who's now haunting their London apartment. After he dies, Max watches Hannah move on with her life and marvels at how much he still had to learn about her. Before she met Max, Hannah had fled Australia and--more importantly--her family. Humphreys performs... Read More

The ensemble cast of Kim Durham, Clare Corbett, and Natalie Nightingale captures the heart of this poignant story. Ninety-year-old Eddie is looking to have his first kiss with the matchmaking assistance of his 20-something co-worker. Durham gives Eddie a warm voice that embodies his romantic optimism. Corbett and Nightingale convey matchmaker Bella's emotional depth with... Read More

Narrated by the excellent Brittany Pressley, this debut follows Posey Jarvis; her husband, Vern; and their 19-year-old daughter, Callie Jane, who live in 1960s Tennessee. Posey and Vern are in a loveless marriage, and Posey is still pining for a lover who abandoned her years earlier. Callie Jane is unhappily engaged to her childhood friend and dreams of moving to California... 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

Listeners don't need to be superfans of ice skating to be drawn into this audiobook. The world of pairs skating competition provides the setting for a story of young, elite athletes who are fighting for Olympic gold. Structured as oral history, the narrations are uniformly exceptional. Standouts include Christine Lakin as the complicated lead; her voice captures a mix of... Read More

Jennifer Sun Bell narrates this early novel by PACHINKO author Min Jin Lee. It's the story of Casey, a young Korean American woman who is striving to make her mark in New York City's wealthy financial sector. Bell does a proficient job narrating Casey's coming-of-age story; however, while she captures Casey's youthful spirit, her voice lacks the gravitas needed to animate the... Read More

Narrators Délé Ogundiran and Ore Apampa-Araba take turns contributing a feminine, Nigerian-accented narration to this collection of 12 short stories by Nigerian American author Pemi Aguda. Spanning various swaths of life across Lagos, the befittingly accented voicings set the scene for new mothers and fathers, a nanny, children, teenagers, and adults alike. With themes of... 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

Rukhmani K. Desai delivers a sharp, dynamic performance that captures the biting wit and dark humor of Sanjana Satyanandais's contradictory existence. After she walks out on her failed marriage, her husband goes missing. Desai balances Sanjana's cynicism and vulnerability, making her struggles with adulthood, academia, and modern womanhood sound raw and relatable. Desai shifts... Read More

This audiobook tells the story of 30-something Téo, who becomes the guardian of a toddler named Joel after the suicide of the boy's mother. Téo is joined in this new endeavor by three others: Ben, his best mate; Sybil, a progressive female rabbi; and Vic, his elderly disabled father. Jot Davies narrates this family story. While some voices, like that of Joel, prove a bit... Read More

Golden Voice narrator January LaVoy brings empathy and believable characterizations to this multigenerational saga by the author of the bestselling novel BLACK CAKE. Years ago, Ebby Freeman's brother was killed and a family heirloom shattered in a still unsolved crime. In the present, Ebby, who's from an affluent Black family, has been jilted by her white fiancé. After bolting... Read More

Nila tells no one who she is in this coming-of-age story of a 19-year-old Afghan girl who lives in Germany, where she tries to find her way to adulthood. Narrator Mozhan Navabi ably portrays Nila in a breathy voice. Her life is full of anger and pain from the recent loss of her mother. She becomes romantically involved with an older American man named Marlowe, a writer whose... Read More

Soneela Nankani's narration adds depth and charm to this unique take on a woman's divorce forcing her into discovering her resilience. When dutiful Jyoti, at her husband's request, quits her job and then fails to have their baby, he divorces her, and she finds herself truly at rock bottom. Through Nankani's skilled performance, Jyoti's journey from conformity to empowerment... Read More

Rebecca Lowman gives a wondrous performance of this debut audiobook inspired by the real-life 1980s "Preppy Murder" case. In the Upper East Side neighborhood filled with WASPs where she lives, 18-year-old Nina Jacobs, who is Jewish, is spending the summer before college with her friends, drinking and experimenting with cocaine. She is drawn to the preppy, seemingly perfect... Read More

Top-notch narrations from Ony Uhiara and Sam Stafford make Jay's unflinching look at systemic racism sound and feel truthful. After numerous rejections from white London publishers and agents, determined playwright Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo, aka "Eddie," hits upon a daring scheme to get her play performed on the London stage. Uhiara's range of voices is impressive. She... Read More

Bernhard Schlink's new novel is an exceptional audiobook. The nuanced portrayals of the characters come through remarkably well for listeners. Both Richard Burnip and Sarah Moule are fine narrators who perform with an impeccable tempo, pace, and cadence. The mysterious plot concerns a Berlin bookseller, Kaspar, who engineered his wife Birgit's escape from East Germany 40 years... Read More

Narrator Robin Miles doesn't miss a nuance in this passionate fictionalization of Jessie Redmon Fauset's life (18821961). W.E.B. Du Bois, founder and editor of the NAACP's magazine THE CRISIS, hired Fauset as literary editor, a prestigious appointment unheard of for a woman, particularly a Black woman, in her time. Fauset's unprecedented work finding and first publishing... Read More

This audiobook, translated from the Korean, follows Jungmin, a young woman who quits her job and isolates herself in her apartment. When she goes for a walk and stumbles into a pottery workshop, it opens up her world again. Jennifer Kim narrates with a scene-setting Korean accent and effortlessly pronounces the Korean names and words. While her delivery can be somewhat choppy,... Read More

In a warm, comforting voice, award-winning narrator Kimberly Farr brings this epic love story to life, giving full attention and spirit to each character. Farr's voices are easily distinguishable, and each one is perfectly suited to the person portrayed. Abe and Ruth Winter met on a blind date in college in the 1950s and moved through the ups and downs of marriage, children,... Read More

Narrators Katharine Chin and Kenneth Lee captivate with this 60-year saga. Childhood sweethearts Haiwen and Suchi grow up in the same Shanghai neighborhood before being torn apart by war and time. Suchi's perspective, narrated by Chin, moves forward in time, while Haiwen's, narrated by Lee, moves backward. Chin's voice is warm and emotive, capturing Suchi's personality as she... Read More

Narrator Sasha Frost delivers an outstanding performance as Miss Pauline, a lifelong resident of the village of Mason Hall, Jamaica, who is almost 100 years old. Miss Pauline knows that her time draws near. She hears voices at night, her house has begun making strange noises, and she knows she must right some wrongs. Reflecting on her life with the help of her granddaughter and... Read More

Daniel K. Isaac gives a warm, often hilarious, and touching performance of this delightful family saga. When Jack Jr. awakens from a two-year coma, he's shocked to discover just how much his life has changed. With his boyfriend and job gone, he returns to New Jersey to the family he hasn't spoken to in years and their struggling Korean sushi restaurant. What follows is a moving... Read More

Smoothly shifting between tones of self-indulgence, sincerity, sarcasm, and abject fear, Vikas Adam narrates this comedy of errors in which the protagonist may end up either in jail or on the NEW YORK TIMES Best-Seller List, or both. It all starts when a down-in-the-dumps, down-on-his-luck gay writer uses a dating app to connect with a handsome stranger, has a wonderful night... Read More

Erin Moon regales listeners with this close-up look at the inner workings of a family that is faced with coinciding personal and global crises. Canadians Marlen and Hilda must process a terminal diagnosis, along with news of an oncoming cosmic disaster. Moon capably balances portrayals of the extended family members who gather on the family farm at Christmastime and the... Read More

M.L. Sanchez's narration immerses listeners in the eerie atmospheric world of a small coastal town in Trinidad, where an undocumented 11-year-old girl named Milagros is sheltering. Sanchez's ability to weave together the story's time-shifts keeps it fluid yet gripping. She captures the unease that ripples through the island via the many characters. Her delivery highlights the... Read More

Robyn Holdaway narrates this atmospheric debut about a summer afternoon gone wrong. As a fractious extended family gathers for a celebration in 1989, a pack of cousins roam the creepy woods around the house, looking for their suddenly missing youngest and oldest members. Holdaway carefully mixes the wry voice of the unnamed narrator, recalling this episode from far in the... Read More

Kauffman's realistic novel examines a year in the lives of two couples who are connected through the pregnancy of their married children. Elisabeth Rodgers uses a consistent narrative voice to tell their stories. Although the characters don't have obviously individual voices, Rodgers projects the large cast's unique personalities through tone and pacing. She captures the relief... Read More

Narrator Alexander Skarsgard provides the ideal voice for this audiobook. Just as one settles in with what seems like a typical Western, something occurs that reveals there's nothing typical about it. Hakan, a reserved Swede of intimidating size, must navigate a strange country where dangers abound. Skarsgard's gentle tone suggests an innocence glowing halo-like over Hakan. At... Read More

Shaan Dasani's engaging performance captures all the tumultuous emotions Darby experiences upon returning to his Illinois hometown for the first time since he transitioned and came out. Adrift and unmoored, he discovers a portal in the bookstore he used to work at that allows him to talk to his teenage self. Dasani's voice moves between exasperation, confusion, pent-up anger,... Read More

Narrator JD Jackson delivers a stirring performance of this cathartic companion to Daniel Black's DON'T CRY FOR ME. Isaac, a young, queer Black man, undertakes therapy for help processing his emotions following the death of his father. His therapist encourages him to write down his life story to help him unpack its difficult circumstances. Jackson moves listeners with his raw... Read More

Set on an island off the coast of Maine, this compelling coming-of-age novel captures the listener's attention. Evan Sibley performs this audiobook with narrative drive, a convincing tone, and a sure sense of the unfolding drama. The setting is a posh but remote club on fictional Whaleback Island--just the place to retrain young misfits to work hard on land and sea to please... Read More

Narrator Angel Pean's stand-out performance is essential here. Her storytelling skill is consistently riveting, fully embodying these characters and the detailed and occasionally magical world they inhabit. Junie, an enslaved girl in 1800s Alabama, lives with the loss of her sister, Minnie, whose death is a weight on her conscience. Her days of servitude include companionship... Read More

Three accomplished narrators create a unique listening experience. The Liberty scarf is a motif weaving its way through three novellas by three authors. It's WWI, and three women are making their way in a male-dominated world. In Runyan's story, Ann Marie Gideon voices Iris with determination as she tries to get her designs noticed at London's venerable Liberty company (of... Read More

This ambitious novel, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, follows Penelope as she leaves her native Canada for college at the University of Edinburgh. Once in Scotland, Pen seeks out her father's estranged friend, Lord Lennox, who she thinks might be behind her parents' divorce. Lord Lennox, now a famous writer, invites Pen to his family's famed British estate, where she finds... Read More

Narrator Blair Underwood uses his deep voice to solid advantage in this audiobook. The novel--narrowly saved from destruction after Hurston's death and released on what would have been her 134th birthday-- examines Herod, who reigned as Judean king during the first century BCE. Underwood's confident delivery and theatrical skill are at the forefront of this intense story, and... Read More

Matt Bomer's narration brings a steady and thoughtful presence to an emotionally intense novel. Four college classmates try to make it big in New York City: Jude, a trauma survivor; Andy, a doctor and former law professor; and Harold Stein, whose wife, Judy, is also a major player. Bomer's approach to dialogue subtly differentiates the four friends. His portrayal of Jude... Read More

Narrator Becca Q. Co excels in this coming-of-age story about identity, culture, and family. Seventeen-year-old Queenie moves from the Philippines to Brooklyn with her younger brother and elderly Chinese father. There they unite with her Filipino mother, who moved there five years earlier to work as a nurse. When they arrive, it's nothing like Queenie expected. The family lives... Read More

Deepa Samual narrates a family saga that spans continents and generations of secrets. In 2015, Lila De works for a boutique publishing firm in New York. When she unexpectedly receives word that her grandfather has died and left her the crumbling family home in Kolkata, Lila travels there to deal with it. Samuel gives Lila a believable mix of professional confidence and social... Read More

Catherine Ho's narration explores the aftermath of the death of Vivian, a famous, reclusive Chinese actress. Vivian's daughters stake their claim on their inheritance against lesser-known family members as shocking last-minute changes to the will are revealed. Eerie events unfold in the mansion everyone is fighting over, and Ho's tone builds suspense, mirroring a growing sense... Read More

Sofia Jin's gentle, calming voice perfectly suits this cozy audiobook about a woman who washes away painful experiences from people's hearts. Jieun has spent many reincarnated lives searching for her missing family until she finally settles into a laundromat. Five people with wounded souls come through, including a disheartened filmmaker and an overburdened social media... Read More

The popularity of audiobooks that reinvent classical characters has led novelists to literary figures who were previously ignored. Novelist Bear, author of MEDUSA'S SISTERS, now turns to the mother of Rome's founders, Romulus and Remus, who, legend claims, were suckled by a she-wolf. Here that improbable origin story is treated realistically. In pre-Rome Latium two young women,... Read More

Andrew Gibson and Janet Metzger both give resonant, emotionally compelling performances in this devastating but deeply human novel about secrets, silence, familial legacies, and what it means to live a good life. Gibson voices Peter, a 40-something immigration lawyer in New York City who's spent his adult life using other people's stories of suffering to avoid facing his own... Read More

Narrator Jess Nahikian brings to life this collection of bizarre short stories set in the American Southwest. Whether purely human or supernatural, each of the short stories in this collection examines a woman trapped in a state of terror. Even when the supernatural element is just a metaphor, stories of a ghostly prospector haunting the bathroom of a college campus, media... Read More

Louisa Harland performs with a quiet intensity that is just right for this disturbing look at the effects on a family trapped in an abusive relationship in Dublin. Ciara, a pregnant mother of two, must get away from Ryan, her controlling, easily angered husband. Harland makes this audiobook so real that listeners will mentally cringe each time Ryan verbally or psychologically... Read More

Maria McCann's Spanish-accented narration sets the tone for this sweeping novel about an outbreak of a plague causing amnesia in an unnamed Latin American country. McCann employs a dramatic tone to tell the story of Angustias and her husband, who lose their infant sons while fleeing for a better life. As they search for a place to bury them, they meet larger-than-life... Read More

Aida Reluzco's narration immerses listeners in this novel's tension and sensuality. Art historian Elizabeth Clarke arrives on a Greek island, intent on acquiring a specific sculpture. Reluzco's delivery captures Elizabeth's ambition, uncertainty, and growing obsession. She maximizes the suspense between the art deal and the island's secrets, as well as enhances the novel's rich... Read More

Narrator Amelia Leith convincingly presents this coming-of-age story set in 1990s Scotland. Listeners meet 14-year-old Cora, whose wheelchair-bound mother invites a one-eyed petty criminal named Gunner to live with them. Leith's endearing, independent Cora struggles in school and is protective of her mother. Varying descriptions of the changeable Scottish weather and the... Read More

The collected voices featured here have an emotional power that's funny, shocking, and heartbreaking as they provide an absorbing look at contemporary Namibian life. Loosely threaded together into "A" and "B" sides, like a mixtape, the material has a natural rhythm. Anthony Oseyemi portrays the brash writer-on-the-make voice of the "A-side," which recounts how his dreams of... Read More

Thérèse Plummer performs this atmospheric thriller set in a tiny town in Colorado. When Angie and David Sheehan's daughter murders their son, they ask local lawyer Martine for help. But Martine can't handle the case on her own. Enter Julian, her son, who is a big-time lawyer--and Angie's ex-boyfriend. The complex web that ties these characters draws tighter as the plot unfolds.... Read More

The narrators of this audiobook--Donia Bijan, Lanna Joffrey, Nikki Massoud, and Mozhan Navabi--bring the vibrant, multifaceted Valiat family to life with skillful and dynamic performances. This multigenerational family saga spans decades and continents as the story moves from Iran to the U.S. Each narrator captures the nuances of their character with precision--from Bijan's... Read More

Author and narrator Adam Ross mines his own background as a child actor and student wrestler for this nostalgic coming-of-age novel set in the Carter-Reagan era. Its centerpiece is the teenage protagonist's affair with an older married woman, but this is only one aspect of a richly developed narrative that embraces family, career, and student wrestling. At just over 22 hours,... Read More

Polly Edsell commendably delivers this story set in 1890s London. Listeners meet ultra-confident Quinn le Blanc, who is part of a gang that specializes in scamming wealthy families through complex ruses. Edsell captures characters from multiple classes with a variety of personalities, and delivers colorful descriptions of sights and aromas above and below stairs, creating... Read More

Narrators Katharine Chin and Yu-Li Alice Shen transport listeners with their portrayals of complex characters in this literary audiobook. American Lindsey Litvak, age 22, is fighting for her life in a Shanghai hospital after a hit-and-run accident. Her divorced parents rush to China to be by her side, but they don't speak the language and struggle to navigate their new... Read More

Andrew Shaver's narration enhances this novel about a Canadian family that is adjusting to unexpected challenges over the course of a summer. Shaver's ability to shift tone brings out the layered relationships and evolving dynamics among the various members. His voice gives dimension to father Bobby's unemployment, wife Mimi's thriving business, son Abbie's rise to fame, and... Read More

Set in Canada and Europe during WWII, this moving debut novel tells the story of Josiah Chang, a Canadian logger/riveter of Chinese ancestry. With precision and a clear tone, Feodor Chin recounts Chang's challenges, in particular his love for Poppy, his co-worker at a Vancouver shipyard. Chin is an accomplished narrator who convincingly voices Englishmen and Southern Americans.... Read More

With her graceful voice, narrator Meera Simhan shares this short story of self-discovery and secrets. Bonita, a young lady from India who studies Spanish in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, has her world turned upside down when an elderly woman approaches her, claiming to have known her mother. To Bonita's recollection, her mother never traveled to Mexico, let alone studied art,... Read More

With its prelude of wondrous music, this collection of 12 short stories is capably narrated by Adam Ewer and Blair Baker. Both narrators use dramatic effect--well-considered pauses and distinctive vocal characterizations--to complement the stories in the audio format. Ewer's narration is relatable, approachable, and well paced, while Baker's, in turn, is temperate but with... Read More

Christine Lakin performs this atmospheric mystery set in a small town in Northern California. When James receives a call that her twin brother, Johnny, has unexpectedly died, she travels from San Francisco to her tiny hometown to take care of his affairs. Upon arrival, she begins to suspect that Johnny's death may not have been an accident. Lakin's soothing voice captures the... Read More

Fabulous narrator casting highlights layered human relationships in Curtis Sittenfeld's 12 short stories, which tackle human complexities. Emily Rankin's melodic lilt captures the youthful confusion of a college student in the titular story. Michael Crouch's edgy narration in "Creative Differences" exposes the corporate corruption of creativity. Nicole Lewis underscores... Read More

Louise Williams gives just the right snarky delivery of a woman's attempt to find her place in the world. Gemma gave up the baby she had when she was 16. Now an adult teaching history at a college, she never stops thinking of "Baby"--the only name she gave her daughter. Her students are about the same age as Baby would be, and Williams brings truth to Gemma's longing,... Read More

Greta Jung narrates this moving story of three women: Angelina, Gongju, and Sunyuh. After the unexpected death of her mother, Gongju, Angelina, a recent divorcée, travels to Korea to reconnect with her birth culture. Jung captures Angelina's melancholy and hesitancy with the Korean language. When Angelina meets a relative, family secrets begin to unspool, leading her on a... Read More

Ailsa Piper evokes the stark Outback of Australia in her performance of this captivating novel. To escape her busy life in the city, a middle-aged woman visits a small religious community for peace and quiet. Years later, she returns to the community, this time for good. But not long after she joins the nuns in their daily life, a plague of mice descends upon the entire state.... Read More

This mystery explores the emotions felt by the family of a young American novelist who vanished 25 years earlier. Daughter Clara, skillfully portrayed by Julia Whelan, receives a cryptic phone call informing her that she must personally claim her mother's writing satchel. She steels herself and travels to London with her daughter. Once there, the two meet young executor... Read More

Jay Myers and Alex Sarrigeorgiou keep listeners hooked throughout this haunting novel. Psychiatrist Dr. Henry Byrd is faced with a perplexing case. His newest patient, Jane O., normally can recall every detail from the events of her life. However, she cannot remember what happened in the previous 25 hours, after having blacked out. The mysterious story unfolds through Dr.... Read More

Six exceptional narrators deliver the hopes and fears of fictional actors nominated for the upcoming Oscars. They agonize over the past, their careers, their rivalries, and their futures. Cassandra Campbell is especially strong as Adria, an aging three-time award winner who is worried that her younger costar will outshine her. Nancy Linari captures the alienation and anger of... Read More

Narrator Caroline Hewitt immerses listeners in the colorful life of the quirky, vibrant, and slowly dying Italian village of Lazzarini Boscarino. Hewitt brings warmth and wit to the contrasting moods of the villagers, who range from the disgruntled Mayor Delizia Miccuci to the stubborn locals at Bar Celebrità. Her expressive voice adapts to the plot, particularly as a powerful... Read More

Malachy Tallack delivers a mesmerizing performance of this poignant meditation on life and the choices we make. Sixty-something Jack Paton is satisfied with his existence in the Shetlands. Life is uncomplicated--until he discovers a kitten on his doorstep. Tallack's deeply emotive narration is both calm and soul stirring as it brings out the beauty and isolation of Jack's... Read More

This audiobook is the fictional memoir of a New York City couple who have loved each other for decades. It celebrates artistic talent, abiding love, the joy of living, and the sad inevitability of dying. Marin Ireland narrates this work of remembrance, romance, and reflection by getting inside the minds of the two protagonists. Abe is a successful writer and professor; Jane is... Read More

Excellent casting of an audiobook is a necessity for a great listening experience, and this multilayered performance offers it in spades. Each narrator brings a distinctive voice and personality to the characters, providing variety and deeper meaning to the complex mystery as it unfolds. Duy, Phong, Minh, and Edmond start to follow a path that was foretold years before amid the... Read More

Anyone who has been a member of a wedding party will be captivated by Anne Tyler's latest audiobook, appealingly narrated by J. Smith-Cameron. She captures the intonation and Mid-Atlantic accent of 61-year-old Gail, the bride's mother, whose job as an assistant principal is suddenly at risk on the eve of her daughter Debbie's wedding. Gail's ex-husband, Max, shows up... Read More

A full cast of narrators brings to life the fictional memoir of a bestselling author who's been on the run from the law for years, along with all the people she's pretended to be throughout her life. Following the success of a movie franchise based on her popular book trilogy, Cate Kay is ready to finally come clean about who she really is, and it's not pretty. As she reflects... Read More

Caroline Lee's joyful and witty performance of this humorous and insightful audiobook is a dream listen. With a light, warm intonation, Lee brings to life Tilda, a 52-year-old divorced mother and photographer who wakes up one morning to find one of her fingers and one ear are no longer visible. After visiting her internist, she learns that she has invisibility disorder, a... Read More

Author/narrator Colum McCann's performance is masterful in this audiobook, which tests the delicate fabric of communication in our digital age. Irish journalist/playwright Anthony Fennell is saved from overwhelming ennui when he's assigned to a ship heading to South Africa to report on a crew that is repairing deepwater communication cables. The cables carry information... 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

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

Megan Tooley and Ussani Taylor deliver moving performances of Amanda Peters's short stories, which explore the Indigenous experience throughout American history. Peters, author of THE BERRY PICKERS, writes about such disparate people as a girl who is witnessing the arrival of the first white settlers and a boy who is struggling in a Christian boarding school. Tooley performs... Read More

Greta Jung performs Nobel Prize winner Han Kang's latest novel, a haunting story focused on the friendship of two women. Kyungha receives an urgent request from her friend, Inseon, to come see her at a hospital in Seoul. Inseon asks Kyungha to care for her bird, Ama, at her home on Jeju Island, and Kyungha arrives just as a snowstorm consumes the island. Jung's wistful... Read More

Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt work together beautifully to narrate this exquisitely crafted and stirring family story. Forty-ish auto mechanic Kyle returns home to small-town New York to care for his father, Danny, who has had a stroke. He quickly runs into his ex-wife, Casey, who lives across the street. Casey has been helping Danny since Kyle left town after he... Read More

Narrator Imani Jade Powers's nuanced portrayals of a friend group's reflections on aging, in contrast to their adolescent expectations, result in a hilarious, heartbreaking, and relatable audiobook. Clare, "the grown-up one," feels her life is beginning to unravel. The group of six nearly 30-year-olds love to recall shared memories, and this vacation is no exception. Clare... Read More

Listeners follow Nicky Hennigan, a young waitress in the small town of Ballina, Ireland, who discovers that her boyfriend, Doll English, has disappeared. Over a single weekend, Nicky comes to find out that Doll has been kidnapped by the Ferdia Brothers. Damian Gildea captures the wit of this story in every line and voice. Gildea reflects the pale existence of the Irish... Read More

Winson Ting's narration invites listeners into the urban oasis of Yeonnam-Dong's Smiley Laundromat. Ting speaks in a clear, soothing tone that is well suited to a story about a place where ordinary people find unexpected solace through anonymous entries in a random notebook. His measured pace reflects the gradual unfolding of the customers' shared experiences. As the notebook... Read More