New Reviews by Title: A-D

With a riveting pace and an enthralling voice, Bronson Pinchot takes listeners on three terrifying expeditions into the unknown with this fourth novel in the Southern Reach series. This time around we go back to the beginning and learn some of the truths, illusions, and horror that surround Area X. Pinchot embodies each member of each expedition and takes us through their... Read More

Tracie Frank pulls listeners into this dark academic romantasy, in which those with an enhanced power of persuasion reign supreme. Just when Lennon Carter feels like her life is over, she gets a mysterious acceptance to Drayton College, a school for an elite group of persuasionists. There, she meets Dante, her intriguing advisor, and fellow students who can change memories and... Read More

Narrators Ewan Chung and Viet Thanh Nguyen deliver sweet performances in this contemporary romance. Evie is fired by her secret boyfriend and feels hopelessly stuck until she receives a letter from her beloved late aunt. She is sent on a matchmaking tour of Vietnam, where meets the skeptical Adam. This romance has a strong foundation built on Evie's enthusiastic search for... Read More

Jonathan Todd Ross's zany delivery is perfect for neurotic, wealthy, sometimes-actor Paul, who lives in a luxurious Brooklyn high-rise. Listeners meet Paul on the rooftop deck as he hears about a neighbor's mysterious death from his young friend, feistily rendered Alina, a greeter for the apartment. Evocative descriptions of the secretive, entitled residents and their... Read More

Narrator Timothy Andrés Pabon delivers staccato dialogue about complex computer hacking without a slip of the tongue. First Lady Elizabeth Caen overhears the president planning the assassination of a sitting Supreme Court justice but has no proof. She enlists the help of her secret lover, Owen, who is a respected Silicon Valley computer whiz and secret hacker. Then the pair are... Read More

Like an autocrat of a nineteenth-century drawing room, Daniel Henning captures the pedantic wit of Edith Wharton's keenly observant masterpiece about a "long vanished America," which won a 1921 Pulitzer Prize. It's the Gilded Age of the 1870s, and a young scion of one of New York's finest and most influential families is about to marry the girl of his dreams, also a member of... Read More

Early on, the story of Otzi, whose 3,000-thousand-year-old body was uncovered in the Italian Alps in 1991, is retold. Stacy Gonzalez brings a touch of suspense to the story, and she strikes a sympathetic chord as she narrates Otzi's pain while dying. Science writer Lisa Baril explores ice patch archaeology, the field that uncovers the history behind artifacts--and bodies--found... Read More

Sarah Naughton and Marwan Salama narrate a contemporary romance featuring two romance authors and several genre tropes: second chance, forced proximity, and one bed. Just days before Christmas, Jess and Nick find themselves stuck at the hotel venue for their publisher's annual holiday event. The snowy weather isn't enough to cool the feelings between them--especially when those... Read More

Frankie Corzo creates a believable character in filmmaker and comic- book artist Annie Bustamante. Initially, Annie is excited to be offered the opportunity to bring her favorite superhero, the Lethal Lynx, back to life as part of an ambitious project. But she soon realizes that things aren't what they seem and must piece together clues from the past and present to uncover some... Read More

Narrator Vico Ortiz imbues humanity and compassion into this candid, moving portrait of eight trans and nonbinary teenagers living in the U.S. Journalist Nico Lang seamlessly weaves together personal interviews from across the country, ranging from California to Texas to Florida and more. Each profile is a compelling listening experience, with vivid details of the teens' unique... Read More

This comprehensive examination of the eight Ivy League colleges' football teams will fascinate fans of college football. John Feinstein, author and narrator, demolishes the stereotype of the typical college football player. Players at Harvard, Yale, or any of the Ancient Eight are not allowed to play football unless they have excellent grade-point averages--no exceptions.... Read More

Andrea Davis Pinkney showcases her praise poem to Toni Morrison with a practiced delivery, addressing her subject as "you" throughout. Pinkney is gentle in describing Morrison's youthful love of letters; she deepens her voice as the future Nobelist gains confidence at Howard University. Her voice swells with pride as Morrison conquers the literary world as an editor and writer... 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

Soneela Nankani and Neil Shah narrate an epic race among three rivals to find a hidden cache of magic in a dying city where the sky literally rains blood. The blood is an unusual caustic chemical known as "calor," which becomes a valuable but dwindling resource. Nankani and Shah take turns narrating the perspectives of a thief, a slumlord, and an heiress as they seek a means of... Read More

Lucas, the young introvert at the center of this short story, just wants to be left alone--like the protagonist of Backman's novel A MAN CALLED OVE. Narrator Stacy Gonzalez captures Lucas's ennui and exasperation, deepening her voice and slowing the pace of the dialogue perfectly. The folks that inhabit Lucas's apartment building, alas, are conspiring to deprive him of the... Read More

Pete Cross's youthful timbre renders the limited experience of a boy named Evan, who seems largely forgotten by his self-involved parents. Cross's portrayal of Evan contrasts with GM Hakim's bass voice, which periodically comes into the narrative as he depicts Samarkand, a border collie who is neglected by humans and must continually negotiate difficult situations. Clear in... Read More

Tiffany Yu invites listeners to join her in advocating for a more accessible society for disabled people. When she was just 9 years old, Yu was in a car accident that permanently paralyzed her arm and gave her PTSD. Later, she founded the disability advocacy organization Diversability and gave a TedX Talk about how to create more disability- inclusive work environments. Using a... Read More

Nancy Wu's inviting narration brings listeners into the world of the first four families who move into a twelve-unit government housing complex outside of Seoul, South Korea. The story shifts among the perspectives of the four mothers, with primary focus on the newest resident, Yogin, and her neighbor, Hyonae. Wu portrays Yogin's efficient persona and contemplative nature as... Read More

Rachel Yong's slow, thoughtful delivery reflects the format of this novel in verse. After having been the only Chinese student at her Montessori school and enduring a year of distance learning during the pandemic, Emily Sofer did not expect that transferring to a school in Chinatown for eighth grade would leave her feeling more alone than ever. But when she falls in love with... Read More

In this contemporary detective story, lesbian PI Jo Bailen is working on a missing persons case that turns into a murder. The twist is that the victim is her estranged best friend, Rose. Narrator Stacy Gonzalez deftly handles the accents and linguistic quirks of a wide assortment of characters whom Bailen reluctantly interacts with as she untangles Rose's messy life. Gonzalez... Read More

Listeners hear Nancy Pelosi describe herself as a dedicated patriot with an unwavering code of ethics demonstrated by years of focus on the American people, especially their children, and a fierce protection of the Constitution. As described in her own words, Pelosi's tenacity spans decades of maneuvering through political ups and downs, especially as the first Lady Speaker of... Read More

Lorraine Besser, philosopher and college professor, provides tools that help listeners stop the perpetual pursuit of elusive happiness and focus more on "the interesting" in life. Lauren Ezzo delivers Besser's philosophy in a knowing performance, energizing every nuance, story, and emotional passage in a way that reflects the author herself. Ezzo supplies examples of ways... Read More

Roveena Gnanabakthan's narration magnifies the poignant and multifaceted stories of BIPOC women who are navigating the tensions of identity, community, and family. Her performance lends authenticity to each character, capturing the nuances of their struggles and triumphs. Whether voicing the wife who adapts her identity to fit societal expectations, the mother whose labor... Read More

Author/narrator Alex Sarian is the CEO and president of Calgary's Arts Commons, which houses six resident companies and hosts 2,000 events per year. Well delivered and thoughtfully paced, this provocative audiobook is a manifesto on rethinking the role of the performing arts. He discusses means and methods for reforming the civic, educational, and social roles of arts venues.... 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

Narrator Melanie Mendez brings warmth to the holiday romance that develops between Daphne, a baker, and Tristan, an architect. Daphne sets up a temporary shop in the lobby of Tristan's office building. At first, with his preference for simple elegance, he resents the clutter of Daphne's kiosk--which looks like a gingerbread house. Mendez believably portrays Tristan's... Read More

Narrator Angel Pean delivers a robust and emotionally charged portrayal of a seventeenth-century biracial female pirate in this action- packed audiobook. After her French-born father is brutally killed in Haiti, 20-year-old Jacquot flees with her younger brother; her lover, Theresa; and several male ship-worker friends. They become indentured to the notorious pirate Blackhand.... Read More

Johnny Heller's rough-and-tumble voice is the perfect match for Clavin's stories of Western outlaws and their hideouts. Much of the audiobook is devoted to Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch, but there's room for strange detours. Heller's hearty style can make a reportedly true story, such as the story of a robber whose skin became the shoes worn by a governor, take on the... Read More

Narrators Carolina Do and VyVy Nguyen delight listeners as two foodie teens who fall in love in Vietnam in this sweet sapphic YA romance. ViVi, a Vietnamese American college student, has always been curious about her family's heritage. She follows a Vietnamese street food blog and ends up studying abroad in Sài Gòn (Saigon). Lan, another teen, is the author of the food blog.... Read More

Brenda Novak's latest audiobook looks at how secrets and trauma can impact lives and relationships for years. Amy McFadden's narration holds the listener's attention, even as characters' voices often meld into each other. Her strength is in expressing the strong emotions of the varied characters through their dialogue. At the request of her sister, Margot, Gia Rossi returns... Read More

Adam Barr is particularly effective narrating military histories and biographies of celebrated commanders. Barr brings the proper spit and shine to this abbreviated biography of a general whose public remarks as president often seemed fumbling and impenetrable--perhaps deliberately. Barr tracks the steady path of Dwight Eisenhower's rise in the military establishment. While he... Read More

Dion Graham continues his stellar work with Mosley's Joe King Oliver series, bringing heart and rough edges in equal measure. Here, the private investigator's Grandma B has a dying wish: Locate her long-missing son. Oliver's complicated relationship with his father is heightened as the search brings new insights into the man. Meanwhile, Oliver struggles with his own ethics as... Read More

Kevin Shen's narration brings warmth and emotional depth to an ensemble of characters. Through his performance, the interconnected stories of a café's visitors unfold with clarity and resonance. Shen's delivery captures the quiet urgency of each character's desire to revisit their past--while adhering to the café's unique rules. The individual struggles range from a father's... Read More

Listeners will have a grand time with Helen Laser's vibrant narration of this lively audiobook about a modern woman who is navigating the political scene in 1962 Washington, DC. After catching her husband, Larry, cheating with his secretary, 27-year-old Beverly Diamond decides that going to work will allow her independence from Larry while she is divorcing him. Beverly, the... Read More

Food and travel writing mingle in this fine collection. Padma Lakshmi's introduction, narrated by Soneela Nankani, is much more than a standard intro. Nankani shines in her sensitive and captivating performance of Lakshmi's very personal story of meeting with her estranged father in India. The excellent Eunice Wong reads Marion Bull's "Orange Is the New Yolk" with wit and a... Read More

This anthology presents widely varied mystery and suspense tales. They are quite well read and will hold the attention of mystery lovers and other listeners. Several narrators stand out among the many talented performers: Jane Oppenheimer's intimate and expressive narration of Abby Geni's "The Body Farm," a story of justifiable homicide, and her striking presentation of Lisa... Read More

Narrators Eileen Stevens, Stephen Graybill, Lee Osorio, and Gina Daniels use their considerable talents for this broad array of essays and articles on science, nature, and the relationship between the two. In his introduction, narrated by Graybill, editor Bill McKibben lays out his theme for this volume: climate change and its growing impact on the natural world and humanity.... Read More

Nearly all of these 20 stories are better heard than read. Guest editor Lauren Groff vied for "rawer, meaner, spikier" stories that have their own "weird logic." Her choices are striking and unpredictable but tend to ramble over stretches of time without much suspense or dramatic resolution. This diverse ensemble brings variety, contrast, and narrative vigor that is mostly... Read More

Ferne Marks and Owen Hall make a perfect pair depicting the electric chemistry between a kitchen witch and the charming man who catches her eye. Ever since Scott Mason stumbled into Serendipity Cafe in London, he's had the barista on his mind. Dina Whitlock was just as taken by Scott and is startled to discover they're both attendants in their best friends' country wedding.... Read More

Glen Powell leads a full cast in this polished production, which embraces the rom-com formula with a twist. Nathan's skill is ghost- writing, in particular, providing men the necessary words and stage presence to fully communicate their feelings when they give the Best Man toast. The market is rich for this service as men notoriously don't have the words to connect with their... Read More

Michael Brusasco delivers fact and fiction in this novel based on true events. In 1943, in a remote Tuscan village, the Fascist authorities order that all Jews be rounded up and imprisoned in the Bishop's villa to await relocation. As events unfold, Brusasco turns René, an unassuming village cobbler who is secretly in love with Anna, a widowed seamstress, into a man with a... Read More

Bill Schutt's look at everything toothy starts with some teeth listeners don't want to know firsthand: those of the vampire bat and a bloodsucking fish that is drawn by urine. Charles Constant narrates with a light touch and makes animal classifications clear. Schutt seems fascinated with nasty biters such as crocodiles and shrews. Eventually, he turns his attention to human... Read More

Ffion Aynsley and Iestyn Arwel portray the characters in this story of murder and deception in 1881 Oxford. Aynsley morphs into determined and clever Non Vaughan, a Welsh polymath recently admitted to Jesus College at Oxford. Aynsley's vocal performance features a melodic Welsh lilt that ebbs and flows with Non's emotions. Arwel breathes life into Basil Rice, a Jesus College... Read More

Melancholy music opens this production, underscoring the pensive nature of Robertson's extraordinary research on safe communities Black people created to remake their lives. Narrator Dion Graham's smooth baritone carries gravitas and emotion as he presents this overview with examples of settlements developed specifically by and for Black men and women from the Reconstruction... 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

Amber Benson performs a fun paranormal adventure in which a librarian attempts to escape from a book-loving vampire. Anushka, better known as Noosh, has trouble filtering her thoughts, especially around a mysterious but charming stranger. The stranger, who turns out to be Vlad Dracula--Sandu in the present day--sweeps Noosh off her feet in a whirlwind romance. But she soon... Read More

Narrator Jim Frangione returns the listener to the vampire world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Vampire Apex is working at an estate in northern New York, where he encounters Callum, a wolven with whom he has a shared past. Apex had fallen for Callum, but Callum had been tortured and wasn't able to deal with the emotions he felt afterward. It's been 30 years since they've... Read More

Narrator Gemma Whelan masterfully brings to life this dark, atmospheric mystery. Her performance captures Hawkins's beautifully written descriptions of settings, artworks, and characters. The isolated Scottish island of Eris, accessible only when the tide recedes, emerges as a compelling character alongside its recently deceased inhabitant, the reclusive artist Vanessa Chapman.... Read More

Gisela Chípe provides a mesmerizing narration of this debut novella from the National Book Award-winning translator of THE WORDS THAT REMAIN. At a Vermont college, an unnamed young woman sits before a computer screen Skyping with her mother, who lives in Brazil. Chípe's light musical tone captures the independent young woman's hopeful, thoughtful persona, while her mother's... Read More

A poet, performance artist, and devotee of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes presents a selection of Hughes's early poems, songs, and other writings, created from 1921 to 1927. Danez Smith is extraordinary at performing their stirring introduction to Hughes's early creative output. With their clear baritone voice and extraordinary vocal talent, Smith's performance is... Read More

Narrator Shannon McManus infuses this gothic tale with sinister tension and a creepy atmosphere. The five Haddesley siblings have always been told that their family has a pact with the bog that surrounds their mansion in West Virginia. Every oldest son marries a wife provided by the bog. But when no wife appears for oldest son Charlie, the siblings are forced to reassess what... 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

Set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, this romance novel is narrated by Alexander Cendese and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. Aspen is struggling to write a book that will match the success of her first novel, and Brick Babel is trying to save his grandfather's tour business. Aspen hires Brick to date her and then break her heart to give her inspiration for her new novel.... Read More

Fran Burgoyne and Cameron Stone pair up to narrate this second-chance romance. Erin impulsively donates her late best friend's books to a community library. Desperately hoping to recover one that holds special meaning, she discovers it has been annotated by a stranger and returned with a suggestion for another title to read. Burgoyne balances Erin's raw grief and feelings of... Read More

As many listeners have observed, murderers, like readers, are drawn to bookstore settings. In this cozy mystery set in the small town of Enigma, Georgia, listeners learn about a vicious murder in the bookstore recently inherited by an actress named Madeline, niece of the former owner. Narrator Hallie Bee Bard does an outstanding job of portraying the accent, tone, and tempo of... 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

Anna Johnston's prose is rich and vivid, and is wonderfully paired with the narration of Tim Carroll. Listeners follow the story of Frederick Fife, a man rich in kindness for others but poor in every other way. At 82, he has no one to give his kindness to until, after an odd case of mistaken identity, he ends up in the shoes of grumpy Bernard Greer at a nursing home. Denise... Read More

Ell Potter makes 1st century CE come alive as she narrates this tale about the warrior queen who tried to drive the Romans from Britain. The Roman tax collector--having no respect for any woman, let alone a queen--attacks Boudicca's stronghold and flogs her when she refuses to bend the knee to Rome and orders soldiers to rape her young daughters. Barely surviving and believing... Read More

Thomas Fuller is clearly inspired by the efforts of a deaf football team from a small public school for the deaf in Southern California as the team chases the state championship in 2021 and 2022. Fuller's performance is authentic and enthusiastic, and his respect for these young men is unmistakable. One player lives in his car in a Target parking lot. Another breaks his leg... Read More

Narrators Elisa Meléndez and JaQwan Kelly perform this audiobook about two teens in juvenile detention. Adriana, voiced by Meléndez, keeps her head down and writes in her journal to get through her short sentence. After accidentally leaving her journal in the library, Adriana retrieves it and finds that a boy has responded to her thoughts and written back. Jon, voiced by Kelly,... Read More

Narrator Dani Cochrane dives right into the story of Cassie O'Malley, who is running away from a terrible situation when she encounters Ted Wellman. In order to avoid the police, Cassie asks Ted for help, and the two end up married. Cochrane exudes all of Cassie's desperation as she pleads with Ted. He takes Cassie home to his family, and they all rally around the couple as... Read More

Jesse Vilinsky is exceptional at sounding like a kid who is excited about Christmas and sees the best in everyone. Ronja, age 10, is growing up in Oslo with her older sister, Melissa, and an alcoholic father. Ronja's dad gets a job selling Christmas trees but quickly loses it to the call of the pub. When Melissa takes over his job, Ronja uses her waif-like appearance to sell... Read More

Elaine Wang deliberately presents this endearing story in which a Chinese American girl shares the details of her New Year celebration. Listeners meet Meimei as she and her family prepare for the Lunar New Year. Wang's Meimei dutifully describes her family's customs and rituals: sweeping the old year from the house, using firecrackers to scare away the previous year, and using... Read More

Ross Gay's poetry leans, generally, toward the joyful, so the early parts of this collection come as something of a surprise. His narration is, as always, quite fine, but his tone (and that of the work) is somewhat darker than we might expect. The poetry is up to Gay's usual high standard, and his control of tone, phrasing, and pace are exemplary, but he begins here with... Read More

Colm Tóibín's appealing 2009 novel receives an exemplary performance from Saoirse Ronan. Set in Ireland and Brooklyn in the 1950s, the story unfolds with Ronan's lilting voice and lush pronunciations allowing both Ireland and Brooklyn to become vivid locales. Ronan's sensitive delivery highlights Eilis Lacey's emotional connection to her tiny Irish village and to her mother and... Read More

Felicity Munroe and Hiro Diaz narrate this romantasy. Noble Aspeth Honori is determined to join the Royal Artifactual Guild to recover the magical treasures her father has squandered. A marriage of convenience to a minotaur gets Aspeth into the guild and the minotaur a rutting partner for an upcoming mating ritual. Munroe and Diaz cover the dual points of view of the chapters... Read More

Listeners are treated to six very original short stories masterfully performed by an ensemble of talented narrators. Each story follows a woman who, while investigating a supposed crime, finds herself in a precarious and/or humorous situation. The narrators are perfectly matched to their characters and settings. From Elle Cosimano's real estate lesson on staging a house while... Read More

Billie Fulford-Brown and Laura Benanti narrate alternating chapters in this dual-timeline novel about two playwrights: one history's most famous writer, the other a contemporary unknown. In 1581, Emilia Bassano is the actual author of the great plays now attributed to the Stratford glove-maker's son, William Shakespeare. In the present, Melina Green is a playwright who is... Read More

There's no question that CANDIDE, written in 1759, is a classic and Voltaire's masterpiece, but most people today probably don't know it. This audio version is an easy-to-swallow rendition in which narrator Martyn Swain seems to be having quite a good time telling the story. He mostly uses accents to portray the many characters, and his range of accents is impressive, including... Read More

Bill Zehme began his Carson biography in 2005, and with Zehme's death last year, friend Mike Thomas completed the final third. Johnny Heller delivers a consistently solid, dry, yet folksy newscaster performance of the audiobook. Heller's style is nasal and gravelly, exerting sporadic underplayed enthusiasm. The work contains facts aplenty associated with the Nebraska boy who... Read More

Ross Gay gives the kind of performance that demands your attention. Gay, an award-winning poet, originally published this poetry in 2015; this newly recorded audiobook features Gay performing the work. While the entire program is short, the themes are deep and the insights consistently disarming. Everyday observations develop into reflections of love, grief, and the nature of... Read More

Jeremy Arthur's intonation turns dramatically staccato as he narrates Porter Fox's recollections of a storm he sailed through alone off the coast of Maine. It's the first of several storms Fox recounts. Fox reminds listeners that scientists expect to see a growing number of severe storms due to climate change. Arthur's voice rises with the wind and falls with the thoughts of... Read More

This challenging audiobook manages to be two genres at once, both a historical novel and a fantasy. Brooks's narrative delightfully captures the misadventures of the crew and passengers of the Trans-Siberian Express as it crosses the eerie Russian "wastelands" around the turn of the twentieth century. Only one thing detracts from this enjoyable ride: The narrators' choice of... Read More

André Santana returns to narrate the conclusion of the Sunbearer Duology. Teo's refusal to sacrifice another semidiós at the end of the Sunbearer Trials results in chaos and perpetual night. As Xio feels conflicted over the Obsidian gods and their destruction, Santana seamlessly transitions between their youthful voice, the deep and manipulative voice of Vanganza, and the... Read More

This richly imaginative audiobook blends history, magical realism, and family drama. Narrated by Altagracia Nova, it follows Alma Cruz's journey as a writer who buries her unfinished manuscripts in a Dominican cemetery, only to later find that her characters have come alive. Nova's steady pacing and clear articulation align with the reflective nature of the narrative and allow... Read More

The former special assistant and speechwriter to President Reagan, Peggy Noonan, has been contributing a column to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL for 25 years. Noonan and her editor chose 80 of her best for this publication of relatively recent writings, all expertly narrated by Hillary Huber. The subjects, wide in scope, range from the artistry of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan to the... Read More

Legendary investment manager Tom Steyer performs his well-documented audiobook with the sincerity and commitment it deserves. With his assured yet easy-listening narration, he delivers a hard-hitting picture of the climate catastrophe headed our way and outlines the global effort it will take to keep it from making the earth uninhabitable. He details the powerful corporate... Read More

In thoughtful tones, Sophie Amoss narrates this insightful exploration of a woman's journey of self-discovery. Marina leaves war-torn Yugoslavia for America, hoping to find a better life. Years later, her father sends word that their family's cheese factory is failing. Marina leaves her dying marriage and her New York City life to return to Pag to help. She finds a divided... Read More

Oscar-winning actor, respected singer, and self-declared icon whose comebacks and reinventions have had their own comebacks and reinventions, Cher offers the first volume of her memoir. She alternates narrating with actor and friend Stephanie J. Block--who portrayed Cher in a short-lived Broadway musical biography. Both narrators are charming, effective, and pleasing to the... Read More

Narrator Liz Pearce is exactly the storytelling tour guide listeners will want for a holiday manor house romance set in 1902 England. She sounds bright and whimsical as Lady Mariah Lyons, whose beloved Plumford Manor will eventually pass to her stepfather's heir, Cyril Lightbourne. Pearce's voice for Cyril is boyish and earnest. When Cyril joins Mariah's family for the holiday... Read More

Narrator Amy Hall delights listeners in this Christmas rom-com about a newly brokenhearted woman who is challenged by her sister to complete various Advent calendar activities to renew her Christmas spirit. Callie wants to hide from Christmas after being dumped by her childhood sweetheart--that is, until she meets a handsome, helpful baker who makes a deal to help her with the... Read More

Narrators Ebony Ford and Tony Roberts depict Noel Anderson and Kanton Joseph's meet-cute when their apartment share goes wrong. Ford's depiction of Atlanta-based Noel Anderson features a hint of a Southern accent, along with smooth, fluid phrasing. Ford accurately represents Noel's unwillingness to share space with Kanton, although listeners may find her deal with Kanton... Read More

Stephanie Németh-Parker narrates a Christmas-themed romance that can be best described as a Cape Cod charmer. Between marketing jobs, Riley Sanders heads home to help her injured mother run her inn. Németh-Parker's steady pace and warm voice capture the story's three gentle romantic threads, involving Riley, her mother, and an inn guest. Riley's childhood crush, Aiden, and... Read More

The end of a presidency doesn't mean the end of a productive life. That's the primary lesson from this autobiography about Bill Clinton's career after leaving the White House. The former president reads the introduction and then turns the narration over to Steven Weber. He narrates the book in a straightforward, professional style. Any attempt at mimicry would have been... Read More

This audiobook defies easy labels, and narrator Brian Nishii is well suited to this type of material. His soft voice assumes an earnest, intense air as he follows the unnamed narrator through an alternate world. The plot is ethereal and fantastical, and the dreamy tone Nishii adopts seems appropriate as the narrator's thoughts meander. Lost love, exiled shadows, dream... Read More

Susan Dalian narrates this two-arc story about love between a demon and an angel, and between a demon and her city. The demon, Vitrine, has guarded Azril and its citizens for centuries. Dalian does an outstanding job portraying this love: Vitrine is narrated as a caring mother. When angels destroy the city, Dalian captures both Vitrine's heartbreak and anger. She curses one of... Read More

Narrator Amy Landon invites listeners behind the curtain of the ballet world in this vivid and intimate novel. Celebrated ballerina Natalia Leonova returns to the St. Petersburg stage after two years in recovery from an accident. Landon's crisp voice breathes life into Natalia's inner monologues. Landon smoothly pronounces the Russian and French vocabulary of Natalia's jet-set... 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

Sasha Higgins's sparkling narration transports listeners to Regency-era England in this enchanting historical romance. After the death of her parents, 18-year-old Lady Madalene Ramsbury's uncle promises her to an unscrupulous lord. Maddy, who wants to marry for love, flees her engagement party, hopping into the passing carriage of Everett, the Marquess of Northampton. As the... 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

Narrator Santino Fontana perfectly affects various accents as cynical millennial CIA officer Ari Falk works undercover to help Russian opposition journalists develop stories that damage the Kremlin. As Falk tumbles into an international spy plot involving the disappearance of his best asset, a Russian American billionaire, he is joined by the bold and problematic Maya Chou.... Read More

Dani Martineck performs this Appalachian horror story set in West Virginia. Miles Abernathy, age 16, has just come out to his parents when a group of boys attack him and put him in the hospital. The Abernathys have been in a blood feud for more than a century, but Miles believes he finally has a way to end it once and for all. As Miles recovers from his injuries, he begins to... Read More

Nneka Okoye narrates a delightfully queer and fiendishly magical Regency romance. After his sister, Mary, makes an ill-advised wish, John Cesar and the dashing Captain Orestes James do their best to save her from the result. Okoye dazzles in her role as Robin Goodfellow, the capricious fey narrator of the story. Her performance captures the arch tone and wry humor that are... Read More

Narrators Amy Hall and Tim Paige captivate listeners with this contemporary romance about a marriage of convenience. Years ago, LaRynn and Deacon had a fleeting summer romance. Now, their late grandmothers have left them shared ownership of a dilapidated building. Deacon has construction experience but no money; LaRynn has a trust but must be married to access it. Thrust back... Read More

Brittany Pressley's low-voiced narration of Bristol Keats's visit to the fae realms shows her versatility as a narrator. She progresses from Bristol's tentative observations of King Tyghan's kingdom to her impatience over court protocol and magical deceptions. Bristol's perilous deal with Tyghan and search for her missing father have her emotions simmering, and Pressley... Read More

Taylor Harvey brings an unusual collection of short stories to life with a captivating narration. The stories are loosely connected by their unnamed author's affair with the devil--and its aftermath. The theme of the works is the author's pursuit of the craft of writing. Harvey imbues the stories with engaging pathos that is elevated by Lima's poetic prose. Harvey's narration... Read More

Jaime Taets and Chelsey Paulson, chief vision officer and chief strategy officer of the Keystone Group consulting firm, offer a dry, straightforward, yet highly theoretical series of frameworks designed to help companies achieve an improved or ideal work culture benefiting the bottom line and workers. The experienced and accomplished narrator Tanya Eby brings sunshine to an... Read More

Narrator Kevin Thelwell approaches this middle-grade fantasy with a tender yet adventurous spirit. Charles has an active imagination. He lives in an apartment with his mother and his building's manager, Glory, who turns into a dragon. When he suddenly sees his bully classmates turn into ogres and finds trolls moving into his building, Charles leans on Glory to help him navigate... Read More

Narrator Chris Henry Coffey affects a gravelly rumble as Peyton, a deadbeat dad, is presented with an unimaginable opportunity that will make all his legal and financial problems go away. All he has to do is kill a guy. As Hamdy explores Peyton's unease at the prospect of becoming an assassin, Coffey's dour tone and precise pacing give Peyton's deadly mission emotional weight.... Read More

Sam Woolf creates a foreboding atmosphere in this disturbing mystery with strong Christie vibes, set in 1952, 1983, and 2012 Iceland. Listeners enter a tuberculosis sanatorium repurposed from the 1940-50s and meet likable Helgi, who is reopening an investigation into earlier unsolved murders. His well-rendered questions to the caretaker, nurses, and doctors unearth old lies,... Read More

Samantha Bond is winning as Queen Elizabeth II in the fourth mystery in this delightful series. The Queen is in Paris on State business, when several mishaps occur that could be sabotage. Additionally, Philip is accused of a double murder in Chelsea but claims he's innocent and that she is his alibi. But is it the truth? The Queen contacts Joan McGraw, a brilliant palace... Read More

Narrator Giordan Diaz has a dreamy quality to his voice, perfect for this reimagined version of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth. After nearly drowning, 16-year-old Andres made a bargain with Death to avoid dying. Now living in Miami with bitterly divorced parents, Andres finds refuge with his friends Liora and Renee. The trio form a romance, which comes to a halt when Liora dies... Read More

Sarah Tubert narrates this short novel in verse, reflecting the rhythms of 12-year-old Effie, who is deaf and has her own unique gift for language. Tubert stresses the emotions of the story, including Effie's alienation at home and comfort with her American Sign Language interpreter, Miss Kathy, who sees much more about Effie than her struggles with school. Tubert's portrayal... Read More

Competitive surfing intersects with organized crime in this audiobook, narrated effectively by Major Curda and Stephanie Németh-Parker. Surfer Jen Stonebreaker and her twin sons, Casey and Brock, have struggled to cope since the tragic death of Jen's husband, John, 25 years earlier during a perilous competition. Curda and Nemeth-Parker's contrasting delivery styles work well... Read More

Like master chefs, these sublime narrators deliver this delightfully quirky story of laughter and sorrow to perfection. Listeners meet appealing yet formidable Max--introduced by Michael Tomlin--who is in cancer's final stage and is traveling to Hawaii for his last days. His friend, Houston playboy Billy Bob, portrayed by Adam Gold, joins him there. Upon their arrival, the... Read More

L.J. Ganser's usual enthusiastic narration shapes the cadre of characters in this noir-ish story. The plot is a bit loose, but the characters are entertaining, especially as enhanced by Ganser. A woman commits a crime and then heads west to California to be with her grandfather, who runs a photo studio. The backdrop is the burgeoning movie industry--specifically, porn--which... Read More

Anne Marie Lewis takes listeners on an emotional journey of resilience and courage in a memoir that reads like historical fiction. Near the end of WWII, a Japanese girl becomes an orphan at the age of 6 in the Philippines. Forced to work as a servant, she is passed from one family to another and is eventually given the name Diamond. Throughout her life, Diamond struggles with... Read More

Actor-singer Bethany Joy Lenz's vulnerability and resiliency radiate as she narrates her memoir, which is focused on her decade in a religious cult. That period of her life overlapped with the period in which she starred in the television drama "One Tree Hill." Lenz recalls building an emotional wall between herself and her co-stars because she needed to center her religious... Read More

Carolina Hoyos gives a powerful performance of a parent's worst nightmare. In 1976, Argentina was in the grip of its Dirty War. Lorena Ledesma, a young mother, is kidnapped, leaving her 3-year-old son, Matías, with her mother, Esme. As time passes, Esme covertly meets with the mothers of others who have disappeared. Learning that while imprisoned Lorena gave birth to a... Read More

Novelist Richard Powers calls narrator Edoardo Ballerini the very best, and many listeners would agree. Ballerini's range is impressive, but he excels with the difficult, the literary, the opaque, and the autobiographical. He brings particular ease and purposefulness to this memoir by NEW YORK TIMES style critic Guy Trebay portraying his early years in Manhattan in the 1970s.... Read More

This thought-provoking audiobook is made up of short stories that reimagine Greek myths, as well as dystopian stories. All celebrate the enduring power of storytelling. An ensemble of narrators gives life to eight stories that tackle themes of family, brutality, humanity, love, identity, and mortality. Particularly compelling are "The Mother's Story," a retelling of the story... Read More

With a little help from state-of-the-art production techniques and veteran acting talents, narrators Alison Larkin and Andrew Wincott give voice to nine characters and create the energy, intimacy, and acoustics of live theater in their presentation of Henrik Ibsen's 1879 groundbreaking masterwork about a woman's personal and economic awakening. At first, the world seems easy... Read More

JD Jackson captures this well-researched novel, which is based on several real cases of wrongful imprisonment. Jackson shines in shaping the characters' emotions as Liza, an attorney, tries to help exonerate two imprisoned men through an Innocence Project program. She remains calm but frustrated at the resistance she encounters. As Eli, her friend, is quietly tormented by his... Read More

Soneela Nankani expressively performs this heartfelt and humorous family drama, making it a compulsive listen. Remi, the youngest in her family, is anxious and conservative compared to her hippie parents and accomplished two sisters. When a dead body turns up at their campsite during a family reunion, the three sisters unite to protect each other. They may not know exactly what... Read More

Golden Voice Narrator John Lee takes on this mystery set in 1950s rural Ireland. Loner Wymes happens upon an abandoned car with its motor running and doors wide open in the Ruddocks' field. He's approached by a frantic Armitage, who's searching for his missing wife. Enter DI Strafford, who takes over the twisty investigation, which revolves around secrets. Lee utilizes a... Read More

Cornell Collins excels at performing both the thrill of the chase and the moments of quiet intimacy in this queer historical romance. The unassuming Duke of Severn decided to do something bold--sadly, his one-night stand with a strange man led to robbery. He decides to search for his stolen ring incognito but finds navigating his quest as Mr. Cassian daunting. He then decides... Read More

A proper miss and a rakish pariah come to life via narrator Beatrix Ayliff's lush and emotional voice. After many seasons, Miss Loretta Linfield is finally being courted by the very eligible Duke of Colchester, but it is his bold sister, Charlotte, whom she cannot stop thinking about. Charlotte has dallied with many eligible ladies but is shocked to find her brother's intended... Read More

The speeches and essays contained in this audiobook continue to be relevant decades after they were first given. A seasoned actor, narrator Michael Puttonen captures the hard-earned wisdom the author achieved. He performs at a fine tempo, with conviction and good timing. An award-winning teacher, the late John Taylor Gatto taught in the New York City school system for 30 years.... Read More