New Reviews by Title: A-D

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 sweeping time-travel fantasy is both innovative and moving, and Suzanne Freeman gives it a terrific narration. Her voices are distinct and clear, and she deftly delivers realistic female and male voices. Sloane Becker is haunted by events that took place on graduation night. When she discovers she has the ability to travel through time, she keeps being swept back to that... 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

From the heart-stopping prologue to the well-drawn characters and mind-boggling plot twists, James Langton's performance is spot-on. In the 22nd Peter Diamond novel, Diamond and his partner, Paloma, spend a reluctant week in the Somerset countryside with Diamond's former deputy, Julie, who is now blind from macular degeneration. Langton deftly reveals Julie's ulterior motives.... Read More

Mike Vendetti narrates this classic WWI story, told from a German soldier's point of view. Paul endures all the brutalities of the Great War that we can imagine--and those that we cannot. Vendetti's deep pitch and rhythmic cadence mirror the random, horrific trajectory of Paul's experiences with trench warfare. Every moment in this story, the good and bad, illustrates the life... Read More

Bahni Turpin delivers a heartbreaking performance of this middle-grade story about grief and healing. On Sage's 13th birthday, her best friend is killed in a hit-and-run accident. Doing the best she can to process her trauma, Sage connects with others through group counseling. Turpin's performance treats the material with respect, which listeners will appreciate. The varied... Read More

Narrated by a talented cast, 12 stories in verse by various well-known authors explore the topic of love. Young people ponder the meaning of love, illuminating the glories and complications of love in its various forms: romantic love, familial love, love for oneself, and love for animals. The collection ranges from twelfth-century India to late-nineteenth-century Germany and to... Read More

Narrators Andi Arndt and Sebastian York mesmerize listeners in this small-town suspenseful romance. Ridley Sawyer is a true-crime podcaster who is traveling across the country solving cold cases. She's also hoping to solve the mystery of what happened to her sister, who disappeared years earlier. Sheriff Colter Brooks doesn't like people snooping around his town, stirring up... Read More

Profanity seems to be the only way to adequately describe the outrageous behavior of a classmate of Florence's 10-year-old son, Dylan. Narrator Georgina Sadler's resigned matter-of-fact delivery sets a hilariously irreverent tone in this addictive listen. Just as it seems there might finally be an opening for Florence to revive the pop band career of her youth, Dylan's... Read More

This love letter to Hawaiian culture, performed by Barrie Kealoha, follows a girl raised with hula and ancestral pride. The reprises of "what hula taught her" add structure to an otherwise thin plot. Kealoha fluidly delivers the vocabulary of her culture that are peppered throughout the English rhymes. Her soothing voice adds a lullaby quality that is perfect for young... Read More

Emily Mester's essays describe the typical consumption practices and conflicts she witnessed while growing up in her Midwestern family. She combines her memories with fascinating observations on how class impacts the ways people think about, talk about, and spend their money. Chloe Cannon's performance captures the restrained emotion of a writer who is looking at social... Read More

Andrew Eiden's narration makes learning about the American Southwest a fun adventure. The audiobook is an informative amalgamation of natural history, personal narrative, travel writing, and historical and cultural data that highlights the unique past and present of the region. Eiden mimics the author's zest for exploration but doesn't accurately reflect the vocal... Read More

Elliot Fitzpatrick narrates this dark academic mystery set at an unnamed college of Cambridge University. It's told in the first person by an unnamed student who is immediately branded an outsider because of his northern English accent and modest means. He becomes enthralled by Bryn, a wealthy, charismatic classmate who does magic tricks that may have a dark side. The setting... Read More

Karen Russell, the magical realism and prose virtuoso, conjures the American Dust Bowl. Her vibrant imaginings are voiced by a stellar cast. Sophie Amoss shimmers as the Antidote, a "prairie witch" who takes verbal deposits; Asphodel Oletsky, a teen recently orphaned when her mom was murdered, is vividly portrayed by Elena Rey; and the masterful Mark Bramhall inhabits the sane,... Read More

Fiona Hardingham brings a dynamic presence to her narration of this caper story revolving around antiques. She balances intrigue and charm as Freya Lockwood and her aunt are thrust into another mystery. All the clues related to the disappearance of a valuable painting point to a cruise ship on which Freya was to give a talk. Hardingham gives each woman a distinct voice, making... Read More

Nikolas Salmon's narration ensures that this exploration of Danish workplace culture is digestible as a listening experience. His delivery highlights the contrast between the Danish approach and stressful environments elsewhere. He captures the optimism behind practical solutions for reducing stress and increasing happiness. Salmon's voice remains consistent, making the... Read More

Jesse Lipscombe shares personal details of his life as an athlete, actor, and public speaker to help listeners overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. He is simple yet effective in delivering his well-organized tools and advice on how to address passions, pursue them, and conquer dreams. Lipscombe motivates through his stories and heartfelt tone, and he explains how the... Read More

Stevie Henry, a Cherokee teen, is running out of time to survive impending world disasters unless she takes up the offer of a mysterious stranger from the future. DeLanna Studi's narration carries a quiet gravity that immediately sets the dark tone of this dystopian novel. Her nuanced performance captures the weight of Stevie's struggle as she is drawn into a secret mission to... Read More

Lauren Fortgang narrates this twisty new audiobook about a 1990s teenager who is forced to recognize that it may be better not to meet your heroes. Ten years ago, Kat McCann's mother was killed in cold blood, and famed detective Alik Lisser solved the case, discovering that the killer was Kat's father. Then, the real-life detective became a fictional one when he began turning... Read More

Traci Kato-Kiriyama's magnetic performance of this penetrating psychological study is a wonder to hear. Her skilled narration illuminates the complexities of this meditative story of shifting perceptions. With admirable ease Kato-Kiriyama deftly slips into the persona of the unnamed female protagonist, a 49-year-old married theater actress. Her deliberate pacing and subtly... Read More

A full cast performs this mysterious companion story to ALONE. A looming threat forces thousands in Colorado to flee for their safety. Confined in "temporary" shelters for years, four kids seek out the truth behind their evacuation. The story unfolds through poems, newspaper reports, journal entries, and screenplays. Eunice Wong provides further context narrating radio... Read More

Sanya Simmons narrates the sixth installment in this eighteen-book series, each written by a different award-winning author. Ayana Ndoum is a shy, quiet student who usually does not stand out among her wacky third-grade classmates. While Simmons individualizes students and adults so that listeners can clearly grasp personalities and relationships, her primary focus is on... Read More

This audiobook is a gripping historical epic about Semiramis, the only female ruler of the Assyrian Empire. Ayesha Antoine's mesmerizing narration captures the raw intensity of Semiramis's journey. Born an orphan, she rises to power through intelligence, ambition, and sheer will, navigating a treacherous world of war, politics, and forbidden love. Her relationships with King... 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

English narrator Chris Devon provides a warm background while bringing to life the characters in this simple and compelling tale of friendship. While Septimus loves listening to opera in his cottage by the sea, he knows that he's a bad badger--and even questions whether he's a badger at all. For these reasons, he's both relieved and happy when a gull begins visiting him. The... Read More

When their children are grown, some people take up golf. Author Paula Whyman bought 200 acres of Blue Ridge mountaintop to rewild. Narrator Kimberly Farr strikes just the right tone in this insightful memoir. Her warm, wry voice embodies the author's passion for the land she wants to turn into a haven for native plant, animal, and insect species. Farr successfully intermingles... Read More

Classical music provides an enjoyable background to the story of Cecilia Chiang. She first watched cooking in her family home in China and then was introduced to its varied cuisine as she crossed the country during WWII. Later, she immigrated to the US. Cindy Kay's soft voice transmits Cecilia's dedication to the dishes she loves and grows stronger and more determined as she... Read More

In the days before typewriters and copy machines, there were scriveners--people who meticulously copied documents for lawyers and businessmen. Golden Voice narrator Edoardo Ballerini captures the intelligent, genteel, and, finally, compassionate voice of the narrator of this classic story, who hires a quiet scrivener named Bartleby for his law firm. At first, all is well as... Read More

Rankings in sports always evoke debate--in a bar, between pals, or at work. This audiobook is a comprehensive compilation of the greatest basketball players of all time. Jaime Lincoln Smith narrates in a deep, steady voice, altering pitch ever so slightly when quoting someone but not trying to imitate anyone's voice. He gradually takes the listener through the audiobook, which... Read More

Natalie Naudus embodies anxiety and fear of the supernatural with razor-sharp precision. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cora Zeng's sister, Delilah, is murdered in a hate crime: The killer shouts "bat eater" before pushing her in front of a train. Now Cora is a crime- scene cleaner, and she's noticed an increase in the unexplained murders of Asian women whose bodies... Read More

Narrator David Chandler returns to narrate the newest installment in the Sheriff Joe Pickett series. Pickett might be retired, but that doesn't stop the governor from pressing him into service to find a family member who is missing in the rugged Wyoming backcountry. Chandler's calm, confident portrayal of Pickett is the heart of this series, and he also provides new depth for... Read More

Tanya Eby narrates this story of friendship, romance, and betrayal. Beth owns a sandwich shop in Malibu and also volunteers at a food bank, where she develops a friendship with single mother Jana. Beth's brother, Rick, starts to date Jana, and, later, Beth begins a relationship with Jana's widowed brother, Teddy. Subsequently, Beth learns that Rick is cheating on Jana. Eby... Read More

Leon Nixon deftly recounts the endlessly fascinating life of Barack Obama, beginning with magnificent descriptions of his early life in Hawaii and Indonesia, and his sadness at first encountering world poverty. Young listeners meet "Barry," who'd been insulted by classmates but later, as an adult, felt he'd come home when he arrived in Chicago. An African visit to his birth... 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

Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton breathe new life into this suspense novel. Armitage portrays Grady Green, who is married to Abby, portrayed by Middleton. On the very evening that Grady learns he's a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling novelist, Abby disappears. Grady frantically searches for her, finding her car with a door open, its headlights on, and her phone inside. A year... Read More

Erika LeonGuerrero narrates this speculative family drama, taking listeners into a world in which human extinction is scientifically predicted to occur within the next four generations. Charlie and Maggie Tannehill, twin sisters on the brink of adulthood, become involved in a government-led program aimed at delaying humanity's decline through incentivized reproduction.... Read More

Narrator Kim Staunton communicates a buoyant pride in this very short story highlighting the contributions of Africans before the slave trade began. Original music and gentle sound effects of waves and wildlife accompany a storied list of African accomplishments in the fields of art, music, warfare, science, and math. Staunton's fluid delivery highlights the author's careful... Read More

Narrator John Pirhalla sets a slow rhythm in this mystery. Mitt Fuller begins his surgical residency at Bellevue Hospital, where his father and ancestors began their careers. He is assigned to three patients who had routine surgeries, and all three die unexpectedly. Pirhalla infuses Mitt's voice with confusion and guilt as he tries to understand why. During his few catnaps,... Read More

Brooke Bloomingdale and Liam DiCosimo narrate this angsty small-town romance. Alina met Chase when she was 11 years old and fell in love with him before she even knew what love was. Chase was a bit reckless and never relied on anyone's love. However, Alina was the one girl he could always open up to. While DiCosimo's narrative voice is enjoyable, his performance of the... 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

Traci Kato-Kiriyama's delivery of this memoir about life and reading matches its deeply personal subject matter with an introspective tone. Kato-Kiriyama gives equal weight to the author's reflections on her academic career; personal struggles, including breakdowns and identity issues; and literary encounters. As narrator, Kato-Kiriyama maximizes the author's discussion of... Read More

Listeners will want to turn up the thermostat when they listen to British-accented Steve West present this horrific story. A Royal Navy ship is sent to rescue survivors of the Franklin Expedition, last seen in Baffin Bay in the Arctic Ocean in 1845. Among the searchers is Lieutenant Frederick Robinson, who is intent on advancing his Navy career, and surgeon Edward Adams, a... Read More

Renée Watson narrates her semiautobiographical collection of free-verse and short-form poems, which introduce listeners to the lyricism of her writing. Her delivery features repeated rhythmic patterns, haunting repetitions, and startling imagery. Race, class, and gender are eloquently rendered in poems on possibility, resilience, celebration, and the power of womanhood. Topics... Read More

Sharmila Devar's smooth narration is perfectly matched to this evocative mystery set in rural north India and the slums of Delhi. When the body of Chand's young daughter is found hanging from a tree outside their village, the religion of the main suspect raises the profile of the case. For that reason, local police officers Ombir Singh and Bhim Sain are joined by a senior... 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

Small-town Louisiana detective John Bowie is convinced that a young woman's murder has been attributed to the wrong man. A maverick on the verge of losing his job, he persuades Beth Collins, a true-crime TV producer, to investigate whether the girl's disappearance might be connected to others. Narrator Kyf Brewer does well in portraying Bowie's gritty, uncompromising demeanor,... 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

Award-winning NBC News Anchor and Chief Consumer Investigative Correspondent Vicky Nguyen delivers her memoir with the same passion and rapid-fire delivery that she brings to her television work. This audiobook offers great insight into the talented journalist. Born in Saigon, Nguyen fled to a Malaysian refugee camp with her family, finally immigrating to the U.S., where she... Read More

Eve Dallas has trouble finding out who Giovanni Rossi really was, why he was killed, and how. Susan Ericksen's portrayal of the tough-as-nails Dallas proves she hasn't lost her appetite for this futuristic suspense series. She projects Dallas as her snippy, sarcastic self. And now her family is being threatened. Her husband's majordomo, Summerset, alongside Giovanni, were two... Read More

Resentment drips off of narrator Helen Laser's tongue in this enemies- to-lovers slow-burn romance set at an Elytheum Courts fan-fiction conference. Jennifer Worth uses the conference to escape a bad breakup only to discover that her co-worker/archnemesis Scott Daniels is an attendee. Laser plays up Jennifer's hurt feelings over Scott's denigration of her favorite genres and... 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

In a conversational but serious manner, pediatrician and infectious disease specialist Adam Ratner explains that effective measles vaccines have existed for more than 60 years. Sadly, the very success of this technology has resulted in a kind of collective amnesia about the risks of measles. Ratner doesn't sound like he's going to give up his medical career to narrate... 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

Charles Johnston artfully narrates this lively look at witch hunts and trials in seventeenth-century rural England. Wealthy Jacob Standish and housemaid Abigail Harcourt are called in to help free diarist Samuel Pepys's sister, who is accused of witchcraft. Johnston portrays Jacob's insecure and often fumbling nature in contrast to socially inferior Abigail's determination to... Read More

English actor Hattie Morahan narrates this novel of a secret past, grief mixed with guilt, and the dangerous consequences that result. Beth is a quiet farmer's wife who is living a peaceful existence, but her happiness comes at the cost of keeping silent about her past. When a chance encounter brings wealthy Gabriel Wolfe back into the picture, Beth has to determine whether to... Read More

In a tone of authority and wry humor, narrator Adam Grupper portrays Lev Davidovich Bronshtein--better known as Leon Trotsky--as he visits New York City in 1917. Littell's Bronshtein becomes a hero to the socialists scrambling around the Big Apple's streets as he wrestles with questions relating to his revolutionary ideology, his place in his own family, his relationship with... Read More

In her latest memoir, the now 59-year-old actor Brooke Shields candidly narrates her experiences entering middle age, illuminating both her personal experience and research into topics like healthcare, sex, and parenthood. Shields's candid stories--like the ones about her exercise-induced femur break, her journey parenting adult children, and more--are narrated with wry humor... Read More

With a rhythmic cadence and a call-and-response reminiscent of BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE? author Leslé Honoré narrates her uplifting book. Soft, warm music begins the narration as Honoré asks somber questions, such as "Brown girl, Brown girl / what did you do?. . . who will you be?" Honoré responds to the questions with solemn answers before the narrative moves to... Read More

Listeners don't just experience a fascinating historical drama--they also become steeped in a bloody gothic Western. Stellar performances are the center of this compelling listening experience. Narrator Marin Ireland fully embodies the beleaguered humanities professor who, while deep diving into the campus archive, discovers the story of her ancestors. At the same time, she is... Read More

The ensemble of narrators adds great depth to this audiobook, allowing listeners to immerse themselves in the richness of well-defined characters. In Garcia's debut thriller, the listening experience is memorable because each of the narrators is superb. There is Hillary Huber as Stephanie, who is presumably murdered on a business trip. There is Jennifer Pickens as Jasmine, the... 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

Patrick Hutchison's narration sounds like a long conversation with a friend. Mentally exhausted from his copywriting job, Hutchison purchases a decrepit one-room cabin in the woods of Washington. An inexperienced carpenter, he finds repairing his dilapidated "doghouse" a daunting task, which he details with just the right amount of self-deprecation. Indecisiveness and... Read More

Aaron Mahnke narrates his own audiobook, based on his popular and delightful podcast "Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities" (as well as the earlier "Lore"). As a podcaster, Mahnke certainly knows how to inject the right amount of wonder, humor, and pithiness as he delivers his stories of obscure, coincidental, and highly bizarre events in American history. Included are tidbits... 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

Loretta J. Ross delivers her audiobook in an authentic-sounding voice. A longtime activist, Ross provides a detailed discussion on the practice of "calling in" people who need education and support on difficult issues. This is different from "calling out" someone, either in person or on social media, an approach Ross asserts may feel good in the moment but has limited positive... Read More

Narrator Justin Vivian Bond emphasizes the drama in the transformation and vivid life of Candy Darling, a transgender performer in New York City in the 1960s and 1970s. This biography recounts her traumatic youth, which included growing up in a dysfunctional family, an abusive father, and being bullied outside her home, as well. From there her journey takes her to her true... Read More

Yikes! This tell-all exposé written and performed by a former insider at Facebook confirms concerns about the inner workings of one of the most influential organizations on the planet. Author Sarah Wynn-Williams tells her personal story of her climb to the upper branches of management at Facebook and the disappointment shel felt at every move. While acknowledging that most... Read More

The fighting that occurred in Italy in 1944, which led to the capture of Rome in early June of that year, is described in great detail in this history. Al Murray, who is also a British comedian, has narrated many histories of WWII, including several by Holland. He does a solid job in this production. His style is not as polished nor his accent as refined as those of many other... Read More

Evan Sibley narrates a sweeping historical fantasy inspired by the iconic board game Settlers of Catan. Three half-brothers--Thorolf, Yngvi, and Digur--attempt to help a Viking princess escape oppressive rule. But before they can succeed, they're exiled. The brothers and a handful of allies leave on a difficult journey in hopes of finding a new land: Catan, the Land of the Sun.... 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

Kevin Young, poetry editor of THE NEW YORKER, has narrowed down the 13,500 or so poems the magazine published in the last century to a mere 21 hours of audio--still a monumental survey. Some of the authors included are surprises (Johnny Cash!), and some won the Nobel Prize, but all of them did very fine work, and some of it will be familiar to many listeners. What is unfamiliar... Read More

Colorful content, excellent narration, and fresh subject matter make this audiobook a standout. Author Glenn Adamson delivers an even, well-timed narration that includes some flourishes. The audiobook surveys future forecasters, such as Buckminster Fuller, Sun Ra, Shulamith Firestone, Arthur C. Clarke, H.G. Wells, Werner von Braun, the Rand Corporation, Marcus Garvey, and the... Read More

With a stentorian delivery and an English accent, Alex Wyndham narrates this account of an overlooked aspect of the D-Day invasion. Beginning with the fiasco of the Dieppe Raid in 1942, Wyndham tells the story of how J.B.S. Haldane and Dr. Helen Spurway led a group of scientists to develop an underwater breathing apparatus and a miniature submarine for underwater reconnaissance... 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

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

Tom Rosshirt, a former White House speechwriter, discusses his experience with pursuing a dream with passion, failing, breaking down, and building himself back up. His narration is conversational and informal--he sounds like an everyday person. With an Eastern accent, he describes his early ideas about spirituality, his search for an idealized self-image in the eyes of others,... Read More

In 1856, amateur scientist and early suffragette Eunice Newton Foote published a paper suggesting for the first time that heated gasses such as carbon dioxide could change the earth's temperature. In doing so, Foote created the foundation for climate science. Television actor Emily Swallow leads a fine ensemble cast as Foote attempts to balance her innate curiosity with the... Read More

Newcomer Samuel Eubanks brings an unstudied earnestness to his narration of this story of Black boys and bygone Mississippi summers. This is the first children's book by MacArthur Fellow Kiese Laymon. The unnamed protagonist spends summers with his grandmother; right next door is a boy who is visiting the country from New York. Eubanks sounds just a few years older than these... Read More

In conversational tones, positivity expert Shola Richards shares his playbook on how each person can begin to lead the charge to bring kindness back in a society in which hate and indifference are often fueled by social media and 24/7 news. Richards candidly shares how being the recipient of hateful behavior for far too long led to a suicide attempt that started him on this... Read More

Creepy, creepy, creepy. Narrator Kris Dyer pulls listeners into the mind of Joe Middleton, a serial rapist and murderer who is working as a janitor at the Christchurch, New Zealand, Police Station. Dyer masterfully voices the two sides of Joe: one, a seemingly kind, intellectually disabled man; the other, a calculating, twisted killer. Interspersed are third-person chapters... Read More

More than 20 years after her bestseller, SHE'S NOT THERE, trans author and activist Jennifer Finney Boylan presents a nuanced view of parenting, gender expectations, and growing older. Gabra Zackman narrates with warmth that makes listening seem like an intimate talk with a friend. Zackman mirrors Boylan's wit and capacity for deep reflection. Her narration is especially... Read More

Biologist Thor Hanson describes how during the Covid pandemic he attuned his senses to the wildlife right in his backyard. Narrator Stacy Carolan strikes a curious tone as he narrates the author's explorations of nature in Kansas City. Carolan's delivery is laid-back yet quickly paced as he presents the author's observations on the daily life that was going on all around him,... Read More

Vivienne Leheny's lively narration perfectly suits this high-stakes thriller. Single mother Adele, desperate for money, joins an extreme game of hide-and-seek at an abandoned island resort hosted by Maverick Dillan, an adventurer who is her son's favorite social media personality. Amid warnings from locals and a raging storm, prize money becomes the least of the contestants'... Read More

Amara Jasper narrates an eerie horror story set aboard a spaceship carrying mostly frozen bodies. Halley hopes to escape a political scandal on Earth with a high-risk job as a glorified janitor on a massive spaceship carrying a cargo of cryogenically frozen humans. A trio of glitchy AI holograms accompanies her, and there seems to be something in the vents . . . always just out... Read More

With a smooth voice and a steady pace, narrator Rob Reider introduces listeners to Judge Frank Caprio. Judge Caprio grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, and lived in the heart of the Italian section, called Federal Hill. Reider tells the judge's story--from his humble beginnings to his successful syndicated television program, "Caught in Providence." Reider captures the cadence... Read More

There are few voices better suited to Angelou's poetry than that of Golden Voice Robin Miles. Somehow, there's a consistent sweetness to Miles's tone, even when she performs Angelou's most emotional and wrenching titles. At the same time, Miles's lovely vocal power is ever present and inspiring, matching Angelou's style. Miles's rendition of the classic "And Still I Rise"... Read More

Amateur sleuth Isabel Dalhousie tackles her newest challenge in this audiobook, which bridges her personal and private lives. Narrated ably by Sally Masterson, the story becomes complicated quickly when Isabel's husband, Jamie, invites Dawn, a woman involved in a scandal, to stay with them and their two boys. When strange noises come from upstairs, where Dawn is working, the... Read More

Joshua Miele tells his life's story from age 4, when a neighbor poured sulfuric acid over his head, blinding and disfiguring him. Today this MacArthur Fellowship recipient is involved in research and innovations to make the sighted world accessible to the blind. Greg D. Barnett narrates the tremendous hurdles Miele overcame in order to live a normal life in a challenging... Read More

Decades after its publication, this audiobook by John McPhee retains its relevance. The author's poetic writing style--rendered equally poetically by narrator Grover Gardner--is inviting. The book covers three regions and humanity's attempts to control them--the lower Mississippi River, mountains outside Los Angeles, and an Icelandic volcano. McPhee's straightforward sentence... 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

Based on Hough's YouTube text-based horror series, this production is one wild ride as performed by the full cast. When Chloe, voiced by Mecca Rogers, misses her school bus because her math teacher, Miss Langley, voiced by Christina Hendricks, held her for detention after school, she hops on the "backup bus" and soon realizes she's been kidnapped. Classmates Kaitlin (Dacey... Read More

Robyn Maryke deftly delivers this exploration of a woman's journey into polyamory. The narrator, who never reveals her name, begins the story with recollections of the times her husband, Paul, encouraged her to flirt with and maybe kiss other men. As a wife, she reflects on her role in their marriage, while as a spiritual person, she grapples with moral discomfort as Paul... 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

Henry James's 1878 novella about a flirtatious American girl who is traveling in Europe is part of a growing series of short classics narrated by Edoardo Ballerini. The story has only a small number of characters, but they are diverse, and Ballerini handles them all capably. He gives convincing voices to both the title character and her suitors, one American and one Italian.... Read More

Tao Leigh Goffe narrates her audiobook about climate change and its impact on the Caribbean islands. Listeners are provided deeply researched background information on environmental racism, exemplified by the abuses inflicted on the Caribbean region and its people. Goffe is the founder of Dark Laboratory, a collective of artists and researchers who focus on climate and race.... Read More

Sometimes employing a pair of narrators to deliver an audiobook just makes sense. This crackling space thriller is a perfect example. Nicol Zanzarella voices recently demoted spy Corin Timony, along with the other characters who work at the multinational spook agency called The Bazaar, which is located on the lunar colony of New Destiny. Narrator Timothy Andrés Pabon animates... Read More

Amrita Acharia makes the most of this dystopian reimagining of the rise of fascism in Nepal. She narrates the lives of two women whose fates intertwine in a world shaped by revolution, power, and shifting identities. Kranti, the daughter of a revolutionary, marries into a wealthy and influential family, only to find herself entangled in its internal struggles. Rozy, mistress of... Read More

Eva Kaminsky narrates the first in the Mating and Monsters comedic romance series. It's been a year since the infamous Duchess of Death (aka Darla Drake) has hunted in Camp Clear Creek, thanks to a severe bout of malaise. So Jarko has come to claim Darla's territory as his own, resparking her will to hunt--AND a little heat between the two monsters. With many audiobooks to her... Read More

Set in ancient Greece, the first installment of The Dark Pantheon Trilogy introduces Danae, the "last daughter" of a prophecy foretelling the end of the Twelve Gods. Lucy Walker-Evans narrates this debut audiobook, which brings new insights about Zeus, Prometheus, and other heroes. Danae is a fisherman's daughter whose life is never the same after she eats a golden apple.... 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

Rachel Music narrates this complicated murder mystery set in Silicon Valley. Mackenzie Clyde is good at making problems go away for her boss, a venture capitalist. But when the CEO of a hot tech start-up turns up murdered, all of his money is locked into a "dead money" clause and out of the hands of investors. To get the funds into her boss's hands, Mackenzie must team up with... Read More

Olivia Dowd performs a thrilling tale about a macabre teenager with a love of studying decomposition. Ava is only 13, but she has an intense interest in forensics, which includes studying the decaying bodies of animals along the road. When she discovers the bodies of a teenager and a child, Ava alerts the police and winds up assisting a detective in stopping a killer who is... Read More

Stone's final entry in the Dear Martin trilogy is made more powerful with this compelling performance by James Fouhey. Jared's plan to run for junior class president hits a bump when a Black transfer student named Dylan adds her name to the slate. Fouhey captures Jared's conflict over his white privilege, which lingers after the death of his best friend, Manny. It shows up in... Read More

Poet Maggie Smith's newest audiobook expands her purview to offer all kinds of artists helpful advice about what she sees as the 10 essential elements of creativity: attention, wonder, vision, play, surprise, vulnerability, restlessness, tenacity, connection, and hope. Her light, sweet-sounding voice often assumes a poet's studied rhythmic cadence as she narrates with... Read More

Liz Femi is the primary narrator of this meta-narrative about a paraplegic Nigerian American woman and her unexpected rise to fame. Suddenly unemployed, Zelu risks writing a novel unlike any she's ever written before, a futuristic sci-fi epic about androids who exist after humanity becomes extinct. Femi carefully adjusts the strength of her Nigerian accent while voicing Zelu's... Read More

Narrator Nicholas Boulton brings Detective Bob Willis to life perfectly. Set in the west of England in 1985, this story finds Bob on sick leave, facing forced retirement and battling self-recrimination following the murder of his partner. As the story is told in the first person, the listener feels increasingly drawn into it. Boulton's rich West Country accent mirrors the... 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

Thérèse Plummer and Ben Holtzmuller deliver a captivating duet narration of this thoughtful romance. Stanford diver Scarlett, voiced by Plummer, has her future meticulously planned--if she can overcome her recent diving block, pass German, and ace the MCAT. With so much on her plate, relationships have never been a priority. Pen is a fellow diver on Scarlett's team. Lukas,... Read More

When J.P. Beaumont (Beau) and his wife welcome their grandson to move into their home near Seattle because of intolerable volatility at home with his dad and new stepmother, Beau has no idea that his previous homicide detective skills will emerge when a fentanyl overdose strikes. Narrator Mike Ortega is a shoo-in for Beau's private investigator persona; he portrays Ortega's... Read More

Many of Mary Oliver's poems are about God or nature, and sometimes it's difficult to find the line between them. Her world was full of many delights and, had she lived to hear them, Kimberly Farr's interpretations of her poems would have been among them. There is some melancholy in this collection--although not much--and Farr's marvelous vocal talents bring that out as much as... Read More

This audiobook should probably have been titled BABITZ AND DIDION as the author's real affection centers on writer/artist Eve Babitz, rather than writer Joan Didion. Anolik is a breezy, hip, self-indulgent, yet observant author. She often addresses the listener directly, sharing her methods and insights. As narrator, her voice takes some getting used to. But press on. Emma... Read More

Sarcastic, irreverent, and heartfelt--everything is larger than life in this fond, raw, and boisterous remembrance of Renay Mandel Corren, the author's mother, who "didn't cook, didn't clean, and was lousy with money but was great at dyeing her red roots, weekly manicures, filthy jokes, and pier fishing." With the energy of a stand-up comic, performer and playwright Andy Corren... Read More

Sarah Mollo-Christensen performs with clear diction and a serious tone that fits this investigative reporting. Social rights journalist Sarah Jones uses personal narratives and tireless reporting to show how U.S. social policy and class discrimination make it almost impossible for America's underclass to survive. Focusing on how such people fared during the Covid years, her... 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

Golden Voice January LaVoy applies her considerable narrating talents to elevate this novel from implausible to engaging. The story begins with the suspected suicide of a nasty real estate agent. Listeners then meet Maggie, the mayor of a small upstate New York town. The first three-quarters of the audiobook explore Maggie's past, including her mother's death at 43 from a rare... Read More

With his versatile voice, narrator Paul Van Dyck takes listeners to the magical world of Lake Mallion. The second book in the Brindlewatch Quintet explores the world of 15-year-old Dunstan Cord. Dunstan has just been diagnosed with macular degeneration. Determined not to let his diagnosis quash his dreams, he decides to run away to become a singing sensation in the theater.... 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 dystopian novel, set in an uncomfortably near future, features an innocent woman who is incarcerated for her dreams. Exceptionally well narrated by Frankie Corzo, with brief bursts of affectless officialese delivered by Barton Caplan, the story works remarkably well as an audiobook. Much of the narrative is the protagonist Sara's thoughts, feelings, and reactions. Corzo... 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

The talented Andrew Fallaize reprises his narration of THE TAINTED CUP, the first in this series. Fallaize aptly narrates this imaginative and suspenseful story in which older, experienced Ana and young Din investigate the unsettling murder of a treasury officer. Through Din's perfect memory and Ana's brilliance, they discover a plot that runs deep, threatening the empire's... Read More

Tim Gerard Reynolds gorgeously narrates this Elan world novel, the fifth in the Riyria Chronicles. In this prequel, a disgruntled dwarf has been fired and threatens to wreak havoc on the towers of Drumindor, thus destroying the lavish town of Tur Del Fur. Royce and Hadrian, friends who together form Riyria, are hired to find the dwarf and stop him. Reynolds brings depth that... Read More