New Reviews by Title: P-T

Joel Richards narrates the fourth Saint of Steel romance-tinged fantasy. When Marguerite Florian runs afoul of a previous employer, she hires a paladin named Shane to protect her. Unfortunately, Shane and Marguerite must battle their attraction for each other, as well as enemies who are out to kill them. Richards's wry and at times dry tone adroitly highlights the humorous... Read More

Julian Elfer narrates this in-depth exploration of life in Paris from the summer of 1870 to the spring of 1871. As Napoleon's monarchy fell, Parisians starved and struggled to survive the bloody street battles of the Paris Commune. Elfer is riveting as he delivers art critic Smee's well-researched account of this chaotic period. Artists Manet, Morisot, and Degas remained in... Read More

Narrator Brittany Pressley brings the perfect Southern touch to her narration of this romance novel. Lila Matthews moves back to Ditto, Texas, after inheriting her Aunt Gracie's home and strawberry fields. There she discovers that her family has secrets she needs to get to the bottom of. As the late Gracie whispers advice in Lila's ears, Pressley gives her voice just the right... Read More

Soft-voiced narrator Danielle Lee James becomes the author as she recounts her research into the life, accomplishments, and trials of Mary MacLeod Bethune, who was often called the "First Lady of the Struggle" or "First Lady of Black America." Author Noliwe Rooks's brief academic work focuses on Bethune's political philosophy as it is intertwined with the life and legacy of... Read More

Narrator Susan Ericksen once again takes the listener through a murder investigation led by Lt. Eve Dallas in New York City in the year 2061. Dallas is called to a club where a young bride-to-be has been murdered at her bachelorette party. Assisting Eve is her partner, Peabody. Ericksen does an excellent job contrasting Dallas's calm determination with Peabody's more youthful... Read More

Ann Richardson's spirited narration keeps listeners focused on the debut entry in Eberhart's popular Nurse Sarah Keate mysteries, first published in 1929. Room 18 at St. Ann's Hospital has a dark history, which grows even darker when a patient being treated with radium is murdered and the radium is stolen. Sarah and Detective O'Leary work together to find the missing metal and... Read More

Rebecca Lowman presents this provocative novel based on Peggy Guggenheim's diary and other historical sources. Lowman's thoughtful pace serves the narrative well as the listener experiences Peggy's reminiscences of her unconventional life and accomplishments. Because of her inherited wealth, Guggenheim was able to live a flamboyant bohemian existence, but Lowman also depicts... Read More

Three narrators deliver this mystery told from the viewpoints of three women who are connected to a groom named Peter whose secret fiancée is murdered during their surprise wedding. All of them have a motive to have killed the bride. Austenne Grey portrays Catherine, an event planner who is Peter's first love. Cindy Kay voices Leanne, legal guardian of Peter's son, who is... Read More

In this rich audiobook about all kinds of performance, narrator Paul Boehmer's slow pacing and palpable understanding of the material fit the author's broad thinking. Boehmer sounds perfectly compatible with Sennett's stature and advanced age (81). Sennett's writing is always broad and moving and, in this case, has particular relevance to the political performances that... Read More

Jorjeana Marie portrays the innocence, resilience, and burgeoning rebellion of 16-year-old Jane, daughter of punk rock star Mina Placenta. The years of spousal abuse experienced by Mina are revealed by security tapes taken in her home. Marie's narration gains gravity and menace when Vernon, Jane's controlling, abusive father, speaks. It softens when expressing the tenderness of... Read More

Narrator Krupa Pattani delightfully introduces young Sonal and her Anglo Indian family. Sonal is thrilled about her school project, photographing her family, until she realizes none of them share her enthusiasm but her granddad. Pattani ensures that Nanna is a standout character as she delivers his wonderful banter. Patanni's appealing accent adds atmosphere as Nanna shares... Read More

In this gentle YA novel, Austin Ku voices the perspective of a high school junior, who lives in New York City. Felix Ma's college admissions coach (hired by his parents) is pushing him to create an Ivy League-worthy project to describe in his applications. So he works on his own film with his new friends, Gaspard and Cassie. While Felix is platonically drawn to Cassie, his... Read More

Daniel Henning captures the love and fascination that biologist and lifelong bee fan Seeley holds for bees--creatures he has admired, studied, and puzzled over his whole professional life. Henning captures the narrative thread weaving through Seeley's ample science, drawing listeners in as they're educated on the fascinating and complex world of bees. In 20 chapters of lively... Read More

With his voice occasionally cracking and squeaking, narrator Brandon McInnis leads a full cast as author Rex Ogle's protagonist, also named Rex, navigates seventh grade in this sequel to FOUR EYES. At school, Rex struggles with changing friendships, lagging physical development, and, as the title indicates, zits. At home he and his mother frequently clash. Fortunately, Rex has... Read More

"The fate of continents is written in water," this audiobook professes, and the vital role of the ocean is at the heart of this expansive listening experience. Here, especially at the start, it is wise to let the narrators' words flow forth, immersing the listener in four central characters and the minute details that comprise their respective worlds. Sections lack titles or... Read More

Zarifa Adiba's joy and hopefulness shine through her story and in every word she speaks from her memoir. Zarifa has big dreams to play the viola, conduct an orchestra, go to Harvard, meet Michelle Obama. She also faces major obstacles as she grows up in a country that doesn't value girls and opposes any musical expression. Zarifa earns money for her family by teaching English... Read More

In barely seven hours, this fascinating and well-researched audiobook opens a window into a science many listeners may not know exists: thanatology, the study of death and its effects. Do animals understand death, and if so, how? The examples--which include elephants, primates, and possums--provide criteria for answering these questions, often with unexpected results. Lisa Ware... Read More

While there's no doubt that effective parenting is priceless, this audiobook takes that idea to a new, disturbing, and often hilarious level. Eva Kaminsky is a vocal magician in this performance, spinning from a lifelike child's tone to a sharp satirical one in a flash. Annie is struggling to keep up with the upper echelons of New York City's parent scene. Her latest goal is to... Read More

Soneela Nankani captures the drama of this mystery set against a backdrop of luxury, a resort wedding that will bring together two Indian American families. She brings depth as her voice transitions smoothly between the different characters, adding a sense of distinctiveness to each one. Nankani maintains a steady pace throughout the audiobook, enhancing the suspense as Shay... Read More

Em Grosland narrates this story of a school-picture day gone wrong. Andrew is a worrier, and today he has more than enough to worry about. Besides his best friend's new friends, his mom's new job, and his grandmother's worsening Alzheimer's, he has to spend his day dodging bullies, basketballs, ketchup rockets, and getting his photograph taken. Grosland expertly blends Andrew's... Read More

Historian Tevi Troy offers listeners an engaging treatise on executive power, in particular, highlighting the use of that power with corporate chief executives over the course of American history. Narrator Timothy Andres Pabon does an outstanding job with a measured yet incisive performance. At times, there were epic historic clashes; at other times, smooth sailing. The CEOs... Read More

Hillary L. McBride's audiobook focuses on different ways to connect with one's body. With a gentle, soothing tone and a slow pace, McBride encourages the listener to pay attention to their body in order to establish a healthier connection with their physical self. In particular, she explains how to heal from stress, develop a better body image, and understand the effects that... Read More

With a crisp delivery, Samuel West narrates this compelling story of Prime Minister H.H. Asquith and his all-consuming love affair with a woman half his age just before WWI. For this novel based on recently discovered letters, West uses his British accent to paint 1914 London with a colorful and detailed palette. Asquith's focus should be on the preparation for war, but, as... Read More

The author of this audiobook intertwines necessary flashbacks that reveal aspects of the characters' lives, and narrator Jason Culp keeps pace beautifully. A former US president who has been accused of murder asks a childhood pal to represent him. Reluctantly, Rob Jacobson accepts and proceeds to go to trial. Culp does a great job distinguishing voices that reflect the... Read More

In an alternate universe at a time similar to the nineteenth century, revolution and war are the norm. Carlotta Brentan begins the narration of the Tides of Magic series. This sea adventure finds the Marquise Enid d'Tancreville running to the island nation of Albion. At home the Theocratic Revolution is routing out nobles and mages. Her ship is overtaken by a Theocratic warship... Read More

Julia Whelan narrates the eleventh adventure of the princess in disguise with the same verve and consistency she provided in the previous audiobooks. Whelan's voice has its usual bright timbre and energetic drive, and it's a delight to re-experience the voices of the characters, who have become literary friends. The story opens as haughty, malicious Duchess Wigtower leaves a... Read More

After JFK's nephew, Patrick, delivers the prologue, Johnny Heller's moving performance of this excellent audiobook shows why he's regarded as one of today's top narrators. His varied pacing and subtle voicings and volume modulations make for good listening in themselves. Furthermore, they're never out of sync with the shifting moods and overall poignant content offered by the... Read More

This spooky middle-grade audiobook has all the cozy comforts of autumn, and Golden Voice Alyssa Bresnahan sets the tone perfectly. When Eve runs away from the orphanage, she's unexpectedly rescued and then adopted by the Pumpkin King. Bresnahan's Pumpkin King sounds delightfully gruff and grumbly, but he's caring and protective, and he just wants to be a good father and give... Read More

Nicola Coughlan narrates this short audiobook set before the events of HER MAJESTY'S ROYAL COVEN. In 1536, Lady Grace Fairfax is distraught after the death of her lover and coven leader, Anne Boleyn. She's convinced another witch betrayed the coven, but King Henry VIII engages his witchfinders, complicating Grace's quest for revenge. In flashbacks the story explores Grace's... Read More

Shayna Small enhances the atmospheric tension in this Southern noir with a strong style and flair. Her voice brings depth to the complex characters, particularly Clementine Baldwin, ex-cop turned private investigator. Small's steady, clear delivery allows listeners to easily follow the intricate plot. Her thoughtful pacing gives listeners time to absorb the evolving mystery... Read More

Graham Winton is the perfect narrator to deliver this biography of Ronald Reagan, the Midwesterner who became a Hollywood actor, governor of California, and the fortieth president of the United States. Immediately engaging, Winton sounds consistently interested and earnest as he brings political analyst and historian Max Boot's deeply impressive work to life. In a tone of... Read More

The pervasive emotion of this audiobook is grievance, largely in the form of "Mom didn't love me enough." Three generations of Cohen women complain their way through four decades, finding different levels and varieties of success, largely without men. Stacey Glemboski brings the text to life with a vividly emotional reading, but the women tend to sound very much alike. They ARE... Read More

In narrating the three radio plays that open this audiobook, Simon Vance does not attempt to create voices for the many characters. Instead, he reads the tags that identify the speakers and provides each one with an emotional life. Postwar Polish writer Zbigniew Herbert's plays are mostly about philosophy anyway, so deep characterization is not so relevant. The poems here--like... Read More

Jennifer Bobiwash and Darrell Dennis deliver powerful performances as Ariel and Tomah, Native American teenagers who are living in an urban intertribal housing project. A musical introduction sets an inspiring and reflective tone for this moving dual narrative. Bobiwash captures Ariel's love of ballet, which diminished after the disappearance of her Auntie Bineshiinh. Bobiwash... Read More

Daniel Henning narrates a prequel to IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS. Douglas, or Android P-23, is given a week of relative freedom after working 10 years in the factory that made him. He learns many things and must make a hard choice when the week is over. Henning gives Douglas a somewhat flat and emotionless portrayal to start with, but as Douglas's week of freedom progresses,... Read More

David Colacci, longtime narrator of the Inspector Brunetti mysteries, performs with confidence in this broody story that starts with teenage gangs wreaking havoc in Piazza San Marco and evolves into a tale of bullying and secrets in many quarters. As always in this series, corruption is rife in Venetian officialdom. Leon's writing emphasizes exposition over dialogue, so Colacci... Read More

Malcolm Gladwell once again shows that audio is the ideal medium for someone who excels at both long-form journalism and podcasting. In this follow-up to his iconic debut, THE TIPPING POINT, Gladwell explores the bleaker side of how things go viral. His unmistakable delivery has become more animated after years at the mic, and as he's done in previous audiobooks, he uses... Read More

Art equals resistance in this dystopia set in 1991 America and voiced by Lee Osorio. Narrating from the grave, 18-year-old drama geek Max recounts the events leading up to his murder and those that follow. Osorio's rough-edged baritone modulates from pitch-perfect teen snark to deep regret as Max describes life under the huckster turned dictator whose purge of all anti-American... Read More

Bailey Carr narrates this fifth installment of sexy, witchy stories about the residents of Thistle Grove. Necromantic devil eater Dasha Avramov has an addiction to traversing the veil between life and death. Doing so numbs her grief but prevents a healthy relationship with her on-and-off girlfriend, Ivy Thorn. The ominous presence of a harbinger of death, the mysterious... Read More

Atta Otigba maintains a steady and engaging narration of Able God's journey from hotel worker to fugitive migrant. Otigba draws listeners into Able's thoughts, giving us a clear sense of his fear when he is on the run and then falls into the hands of human traffickers. Otigba's pacing aligns well with the novel's tense moments, especially during Able's dangerous encounters.... Read More

Nicola Barber masterfully portrays Liz Houghton, a determined journalist who is stuck in the Obituary Department of a national British newspaper. Liz is on a mission to launch her career by uncovering the link between the mysterious disappearances of three girls during WWII and a present-day case in 1968. Barber's voice work shines as she differentiates Liz's posh British... Read More

Vikas Adam returns to narrate the third installment in Rosen's historical mystery series set in 1950s San Francisco. Evander Mills finally has a boyfriend, a safe apartment above a queer bar, and steady work as a PI. But there's always something threatening the fragile peace of the life he's built for himself, and this time it begins when the owner of a gay bookstore goes... Read More

Victor Warren gives Pete a tired voice that is absolutely perfect for an unemployed new father who is not in the most loving relationship. When Pete learns a surfer he knows has died mysteriously, he becomes obsessed with finding out what happened. Naturally, he's met with resistance. Pete often comes across as justifiably exasperated, a trait Warren depicts well. Other... Read More

JD Jackson's deep, strong voice captures the confidence of Cade Webster, one of few Black students at his prep school and a talented football receiver on an athletic scholarship. Jackson's robust narration shows Cade's strong desire for fame, which would allow his family to escape a neighborhood beset by gangs and poverty. When Cade comes across a curious pawn shop, he buys a... Read More

Heni Zoutomou performs this audiobook on the politics of food in a clear tone, convincing style, and purposeful cadence. Her narration focuses on its powerful message that the U.S. government in its various guises has allowed the suffering of Indigenous, Black, and Latino people through harmful food programs. The feeding of enslaved people was horrific, as was the food at... Read More

Petey Gibson gives an exuberant and emotional performance of this charming queer love story about ghosts, grieving, and big family messes. Ezra has been able to see ghosts since his grandfather died when he was a kid, and he wants nothing to do with his family's Jewish funeral home. But when his mom announces she's leaving his dad for the rabbi's wife, he reluctantly agrees to... Read More

Scott Brick can be relied upon to deliver intensity in every audiobook he narrates, but he outdoes himself in this story of a family on the run in a world gone mad. Jack Colclough doesn't know why Americans started killing one another in a pointless frenzy of rage and violence, but it's up to him to keep his faithless wife and two loving children safe, and that means they need... Read More

Once again, longtime series narrator Kate Reading splendidly delivers the latest Lady Sherlock mystery. This time Charlotte herself is suspected of murder. Reading handles the myriad flashbacks with ease. She knows these characters well and fluidly shares moments of banter between Charlotte and her lover, Lord Ingram, as well as maintaining nail-biting excitement whenever... Read More

Danice Cabanela and Dante Basco narrate the first in the Filipino inspired Stormbringer Saga. Lunurin, voiced by Cabanela, has the power to call forth storms capable of enormous destruction. Cabanela authentically depicts Lunurin's complicated emotions as she hides her powers from those colonizing her people and ignores her goddess's calls. Alon, voiced by Basco, has been in... Read More

Rasha Zamamiri's husky voice and believable Indian accents fill this delectable audiobook with humor. Thirteen-year-old Indian American Sammy, who is Muslim, has plans for the two weeks her parents and older sister are in India: books, videos, and staying in her room. But her heavily accented, gregarious grandmother, Umma, turns Sammy's plans upside down. Through Umma, Sammy... Read More

Narrators Avery Caris and J.F. Harding combine their talents to depict the romance between lawyers Molly Gifford and Daniel Hunter. Daniel once fell for Molly, but she left him to find her family. Then she returns to ask him for help defending her father from a murder charge. Caris and Harding seamlessly go back and forth, equally capable of voicing the male and female... Read More

Bob Souer narrates this horrific account of the two failed expeditions in Arctic Canada led by Captain Sir John Franklin. Listeners hear excerpts from journals, letters, and scientific notes, along with the oral history of Indigenous peoples. The author, who has written extensively on Canada's arctic wilderness, incorporates the latest theories on why Franklin failed so... Read More

Listeners go on a cruise with narrator Joy Nash in this hilarious and heartfelt Sapphic romance with a touch of suspense. Krysta Morton claims she's done being a bodyguard--that is, until she's offered a lucrative sum of money to watch celebrity influencer Addison Hayes. Now that she's finally making waves with her career, Addison is expanding her empire with her first branded... Read More

With a wide variety of accents and intonations, Phil LaMarr provides an entertaining and meaningful narration of this powerful teen fantasy with deep messages about social justice and personal identity. Walker enters the Young Adult literary scene with this story of Darius Logan, who finds himself with the opportunity to join the Second Chance program of the Super Justice... Read More

Set sail with narrators Keylor Leigh and Amir Abdullah for a second-chance romance at sea. Family obligations meant a cordial end to marine biologist Hope Evans's last relationship, even though fellow shark scientist Adrian Hollis-Parker was the perfect catch. After three long years of helping her widowed sister's small business stay afloat, Hope accepts a summer job on a... Read More

Narrator Ferdelle Capistrano sweetly narrates this story about thriving when you find something you love. Bird-loving Nina feels out of place in her large family and with the kids at school. Her Aunt Aubrey, a camp director, invites her to spend the summer with her. Feeling out of place at the campers' arrivals, Nina asks her parents to come get her. But she quickly changes her... Read More

Candace Joice performs this fictionalization of Julia Child's overseas service in WWII with brio. While her narration can veer into the melodramatic, its eagerness matches the author's enthusiastic writing style. In conversational sections, Joice's delivery becomes more low-key as she creates nuanced vocal portraits of a range of characters. She also does an impressive job of... Read More

Peter Noble's stylish narration is perfectly matched to this fast-paced thriller translated from Danish. Freelance investigator Thomas "Ravn" Ravnsholdt calls on his experience as a former member of Copenhagen's special crime unit when a wealthy Danish businessman commissions him to find Jakob, his cult-leading son. When Ravn's investigation uncovers the fact that a previous... Read More

Victoria Villarreal narrates an unconventional love story. Amanda Dean is about to get married, but as everything goes wrong on her wedding day, she reminisces about her past relationships and wonders if she has chosen the right person. As Amanda reflects on her life and loves, and her story bounces between her past and present, Villarreal subtly varies her narration to... Read More

Fans of THE PLOT, and they were legion, will rejoice at this sequel, performed with mesmerizing skill by the wonderful Julia Whelan. It's no small feat to make a lethally dislikable character irresistible on the page, let alone in the ear, but Korelitz and Whelan have done it. Anna is a monster of ego, incapable of sympathy for anyone but herself. She is also brilliant,... Read More

Victoria Villarreal and an ensemble cast narrate a thrilling epic set in 1950s Hollywood. Sword-and-sandal films are all the rage, so when an unknown actress--from Mexico, no less--is chosen to play Salome in the latest picture, tempers flare. Villarreal capably portrays the three main characters: Vera Larios, the unknown Mexican ingénue; Nancy Hartley, a bit player who feels... Read More

Narrator Ken Jackson leads this full cast of vocal actors with polish and a steady voice as he recounts this tale filled with horror, ghouls, monsters from beneath the earth, and more. Steely adventuress Alessandrea Zorzi, performed by Valentina Vinci, and her chirpy apprentice, Boston native Pepper Kelly, played by Kimberly Gilbert, are charged with retrieving the Zanthu... Read More

Yetide Badaki narrates this audio novella about Najeeba, who was introduced in the author's previous novel, WHO FEARS DEATH. Years before that story takes place, Najeeba is a 13-year-old girl who receives the call to the Salt Roads, an experience usually reserved for men. With her smooth voice and precise pacing, Badaki allows the details to linger in listeners' minds as the... Read More

Author Nicholas Meyer's introduction sets the scene for David Robb's excellent narration of this WWI story. In 1916, Watson and Holmes reunite after several years apart. Watson has been treating wounded soldiers, while Holmes has been undercover, extracting information from an imprisoned traitor. Germany has a diabolical plan to "starve England into surrender," and it's up to... Read More

Lucy Scott masterfully delivers this intense account based on a true story. In Croydon, England, in 1964, while answering a domestic disturbance call, police discover an elderly woman in distress and her 37-year-old nephew, unkempt, nearly naked, fearful, and mute. William Tapping hasn't been out of the house in decades. Helen Hansford, an art therapist at Westbury Park... Read More

If Ben Macintyre ever tires of writing true espionage stories and crazy capers, he can become a professional narrator instead. In 1980, shortly after Margaret Thatcher's election, at the same time that the U.S. was watching its own hostage crisis in Iran, six gunmen captured the Iranian embassy in London, taking more than two dozen hostages. Macintyre's precise British accent... Read More

Narrator Katie Rich matches the youthful tone and spunky energy of Mud Sawpole, a Kiowa woman with a Silicon Valley business, as she returns to her home to find a missing priceless artifact, the Jefferson Peace Medal. Rich portrays complex characters and recounts Indigenous history at a fast clip, engaging listeners at both an emotional and an intellectual level. A room full of... Read More

Narrator Christine Lakin balances the poignancy and humor in this 1990s story of three generations of strong, complicated women: Dale, a gritty veteran of five husbands who left her only child, Cherie; Marlys, her dying friend who is Cherie's stepmother; Cherie herself, now a confident, wealthy woman and "fixer"; and Laura, Cherie's pregnant daughter whose perfect life is... Read More

Narrator Zoë Chao takes listeners on a darkly humorous, violent fantasy ride. This fast-paced contemporary reimagining of Chinese mythology follows immortal sisters Su and Emerald, who were originally born as snakes. After a thousand years, they have drifted apart, with Su living a reserved married life in Singapore and Emerald living a wild life in New York City. Chao keeps... Read More

Narrating her own memoir, author Rosie Schaap transports listeners from bustling New York to pastoral Northern Ireland in this story of loss, love, and eventual healing. When Schaap is just 39, her husband and mother pass away within a year of each other. Still struggling with grief nearly a decade later, she moves to Belfast for a writing program right before the pandemic... Read More

Kate Handford and Hunter Johns narrate this opposite-attract contemporary romance. Ellie's life as a ghostwriter of celebrity cookbooks is currently just the way she wants it. She has no desire to take chances with romance after having become a widow three years earlier. Kieran, a chef and recent winner of a reality cooking competition, has been tasked with producing his debut... Read More

Narrators Natalie Beran, Ben Allen, and Helen Lloyd bring this charming story of unlikely friendship to life. After a horrible accident, Ned, a minor Internet celebrity, finds himself locked in his own body and struggling to communicate. Ben Allen gives a believable performance as a man who is struggling to be understood, even as his body betrays him. Mrs. Malley is shaken out... Read More

Garth Greenwell's narration of his intimate third novel is breathtaking. When a searing pain sends him into the ICU in the fall of 2020, an unnamed poet endures a period of fear, loneliness, unending medical humiliations, and surprising moments of tenderness. In his hospital bed, interacting with nurses and doctors and, once a day, his partner, L., he muses on his past and... Read More

Returning to the scene of a nightmarish event that forever changed the course of five close friends' lives should be an experience brimming with tension and fear. But in this production, narrator Joe Hempel's lackluster approach detracts from the urgency at the core of the story. Hempel's slow-paced, straightforward approach to the characters, each of whom deserves more of an... Read More

Anyone who likes to cook will be inspired to get into the kitchen after listening to this audio program. One of the original food bloggers and creator of the beloved Smitten Kitchen website, Deb Perelman narrates this companion to her newest cookbook, SMITTEN KITCHEN KEEPERS. She reads the head notes for selected recipes, then extemporizes with further tips, notes, and... Read More

Robin Miles narrates this intricate fantasy steeped in Nigerian folklore of the Urhobo tribe. Despite her traditional upbringing, Naborhi chafes at the duties looming before her--marrying a man chosen by her family, having his children, and keeping his home. When a chance encounter with a magical fox sets her on an exciting and dangerous new path, she must find courage and... Read More

Narrator Susan Bennett employs a light Mountain accent to reflect the Pennsylvania Appalachian locale of this dark fairy tale. Her character voices, especially those of its featured characters, flourish into even stronger accents that ground them more squarely in the holler. Part coming-of-age in the 1980s, part magical realism, and part horror, the story follows impoverished... Read More

Narrator Tyler Darby's rough-hewn narration matches Sala's heartwarming story of soulmates who connect during the Christmas holiday. Darby is a solid match for Trey Austin, who has a car accident on a deserted road. Darby's voicing differs for Marley Corbett, the innkeeper who follows her angel's advice to find and save Trey. Marley's voice is both confident and kind. Trey gets... Read More

Listeners will be moved by this compelling story about the immigrant experience in America and what it means to define our own lives. Narrator Junior Nyong'o voices Mamush, the son of Ethiopian immigrants. Facing a failing marriage, Mamush leaves his wife and son in Paris to visit his mother in Washington, DC. Upon arrival, he is told that Samuel, the man he considers a father... Read More

As narrator, former First Lady, Secretary of State, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton sometimes sounds like a friend dropping by to chat. She discusses her grandchildren, cozy moments at home, and gatherings with longtime friends. But her memoir is also part political commentary and part Washington insider gossip, as well as an in-depth analysis of the current status of... Read More

Narrator Bill Rassell takes listeners through this detailed exploration of sound and how it can be used to focus on healing and wellness. Key practitioner in sonic therapy Evan Soundwell explores how sounds, such as classical music, can train the brain to heal and fall into more natural rhythms, which can lead to a better life. Rassell's narration helps keep complicated terms... Read More

Narrator, author, and acclaimed method actor Al Pacino offers a meandering path through a life of astounding success and the absence of any at all. The many jumps both forward and back in his lifetime can, at times, be unsettling for the listener. His voice tonality is professionally strong but gravelly. Though his memoir is not very personally revealing, Pacino's earnestness... Read More

Ciaran Saward gives an appealing narration of this fantasy, told from rakish Leovander Loveage's point of view. Leo, a scriver from a privileged gentry family, and Sebastian Grimm, a studious caster whose parents are farmers, are rivals in their fifth year at the Fount, a school of magic. Saward keeps all of the characters distinct, and he gives Grimm a Northern England accent... Read More

Jaime Lincoln Smith's and Angel Pean's distinct vocal styles complement the alternating perspectives of Jackson Jones and Mackenzie Cunningham in this audiobook. The story brings together rival PIs who are searching for the same missing person. The pair soon realize they are investigating a murder--as well as their feelings for each other. Smith's deep, steady voice captures... Read More

Heath Miller returns as narrator for this sequel to SPACE OPERA. The heroes of this audiobook have saved Earth from destruction because they didn't finish in last place in the Metagalactic Grand Prix. Now it's time for another song contest, and they're trying to help some aliens figure out what they need to do. This is a story that begs to be read aloud, and Miller's sardonic... Read More

Vikas Adam and Sharmila Devar provide an intoxicating alternating narration of this first entry in a new romance series set in the worlds of biotechnology and finance. Devar's vibrant intonation and confident tone capture independent, thoughtful Sloan, an attorney who is bypassed as heir to her family's international business empire in favor of her older brother, Henry. With... Read More

Narrator Daniel Henning breathes life into these three stories focused on Yuri Kozlov, "Russia's most famous spy." Against the backdrop of Putin's war with Ukraine, Kozlov comes to the U.S. under the pretense of defecting, but the CIA has questions about his legitimacy. As his handlers attempt to get information and parade him around with politicians and celebrities, listeners... Read More

Theater historians will applaud Jeffery Kennedy's exhaustive research and Daniel Henning's winning performance as the legacy of the founders and artists of the Provincetown Players is explored. Starting in 1915, the Provincetown Players encouraged innovative practices that became part of the American theater scene. Young playwrights were urged to experiment with new ideas and... Read More

British historian Giles Milton regularly narrates his own books, all devoted to aspects of WWII, and this illuminating account of the wartime dealings among Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin has a flavor no professional narrator could convey. Milton's voice is not schooled or melodious; it has the bark and urgency of a wartime announcer. Pitched but not strident, unvarnished but... Read More

Roxane Gay, a feminist Black woman, narrates her essay on coming to terms with America's gun culture and growing ownership of guns, especially by Black women. In a thought-provoking consideration of this divisive topic, Gay is deliberate in her approach. She talks about how she came to buy a gun for protection in the face of increasingly specific and detailed death threats. She... Read More

In one of the most delightful science fiction stories of the year, Katharine Chin performs an Indiana Jones-like adventure that's perfect for lovers of great heist stories. After ten years of stealing artifacts across the galaxy, Maya Hoshimoto has retired to Earth to be a graduate student in anthropology. But when her best friend asks her to do one last job, she reluctantly... Read More

Natalie Naudus narrates this fantasy-romance. Pell has an affinity for machines. That comes in handy as she digs artifacts of the Ancients on the once inhabited planet of Tampere and restores them for use by the villagers. The keepers of the tower claim they're gods and ask her to restore a complex series of machines. As Pell tells her story, Naudus communicates her enthusiasm... Read More

Helen Laser's narration style, crisp yet conversational, is a good choice for this murder mystery set in the north woods of Minnesota. Siblings Liv and Gave, estranged for many years, connect again when their older brother unexpectedly dies and they both receive emails saying he was murdered. When they return to their remote family-run resort to investigate, Laser provides a... Read More

Listeners who can suspend their disbelief will appreciate this historical fantasy, which takes place in plague-ridden Florence in 1348. The author, a gemologist, fashions her story around a kind witch named Ginevra who uses the healing power of gemstones to cure plague victims. Golden Voice narrator Soneela Nankani tells this tale of sorcery, superstition, and sophistry with... Read More

Life coach Hailey Magee's youthful tone and audible desire to be helpful make it easy for listeners to absorb the guidance offered in this exceptional audiobook. Her appealing confidence invites us to become more curious about ourselves, more open to change. After the likable author opens with her accessible thinking about how people pleasing impacts us, she offers an excellent... Read More

Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac are back in this psychological thriller, which allows narrator Joe Jameson to shine. Haven, a psychologist, and Evie, a troubled young woman in his care, find themselves getting closer to solving the mystery of Evie's past. Jameson brings everything to life with his animated narration. While it is basic for a narrator to be able to switch between... Read More

Narrator Fareeda Pasha captures this atmospheric story with her gravelly voice and crisp tone. Daisy's favorite time of year is October because of the changing of the season and all that it brings, including the fair. At the fair, Daisy wins a fish. Her fish is a bit odd, though. It looks like a pile of leaves with all its colors, and it has large blue eyes. Pasha skillfully... Read More

The older half of the tennis-playing Williams duo breaks down her personal growth audiobook into eight principles. They provide a well-organized but approachable path to becoming a better you. While some authors are not adept at narrating their own work, Williams is outstanding. Her diction is perfect, and she obviously knows when to inflect emotion while laying out her... Read More

Pater's essays on classical, late Medieval, and, primarily, Renaissance art and literature are written in high-flown style, intellectually and aesthetically impassioned, and Leighton Pugh delivers them at that elevated pitch. That can be wearying, and perhaps he should have sought a more varied tone, but it's easy to be caught up in his performance. His voice is a fine... Read More

The vocal talents of Victoria Villarreal and Skyler Gallun give life to former stepsiblings Kat and Liam, who are horrified to meet for the first time in 12 years at billionaire Ross Sutherland's birthday party. While prepared for their own parents' plan to run a con, neither is ready to deal with the extreme challenges of being drawn into it. As a believable teenage boy,... Read More

The oral presentation of St. Thomas's complex series of logical arguments on religious premises requires clarity and accuracy, and Martyn Swain's admirable performance provides both. His voice is strong and a bit astringent but likable, and his pacing--another essential--is good, if at times somewhat quick for the more difficult material. Frequent minor hesitations, as if he is... Read More

An ensemble cast performs this new short story collection from one of Argentina's most beloved authors. These dark tales often feature the magical, mysterious, and bizarre. All the stories feature women facing the harm of patriarchal structures that manifest otherworldly or supernatural entities or events. While all the stories are performed with attention to detail, one... Read More

Alexis Pauline Gumbs narrates her unique biography of writer, intersectional feminist, and civil rights activist Audre Lorde in a quiet, musical voice that rings with wonder, love, and curiosity. Though the audiobook follows a more or less chronological pattern, that's all it has in common with a traditional biography. Gumbs uses a variety of lenses--earthquakes, gray whale... Read More

A team of talented narrators shines in this audiobook--part police procedural, part mystery, and part compelling character study. The story is set in the 1980s on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia. Listeners know from the beginning who killed Carlyle Burke, but they don't know why. Staff Sgt. Karl Alberg, portrayed by Peter Outerbridge, is brought in to investigate. He... Read More

Narrator Sarah Welborn informs listeners about synchronized swimming. Part history lesson, part commentary on the evolution of sports, this well-researched audiobook begins with vaudeville aquatic performances and travels the sport's growth over the last 40 years. Welborn pulls listeners in and keeps them engaged with stories about people listeners may be familiar with--like... Read More

There's a teasing, mischievous lilt to Omari Douglas's performance that perfectly suits this delightful romance set in a fantasy world. Dutiful son Mattinesh Jay is entering into an arranged marriage to save his family's failing textile business. An encounter with con-man and duelist Luca Pierre leads Matti to hire him as his ceremonial best man at the wedding; Luca also... Read More

Samuel Roukin, who has narrated the previous two titles in Dugard's Taking series [TAKING PARIS and TAKING BERLIN] is once again quite splendid in narrating this account of the beginning of WWII, which focuses on The Battle of Britain. Dugard goes into the politics of the situation, portraying the relationships between Churchill, FDR, and Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy, in... Read More

Listeners follow the investigation into the murder of a hairdresser named Karen after her body is found in the woods outside a small town in the south of England. The story is told from three points of view. Gabrielle Glaister brings DI Elise King to life, highlighting her strength and determination, as well as her vulnerability as she realizes she's still battling... Read More

Mikaela Hoover performs this wildly delightful novel about Iranian American fast-food heiresses who want to be TV stars. The four Milani sisters have very different reactions to learning that their reality television series is delayed because of COVID-19. Now the Milani family members are forced to spend all their time together, and tensions rise as they wonder if their... Read More

Narrator Kimberly Farr pretty much owns Elizabeth Strout's Maine characters at this point, and what a good thing that is. This quietly compelling novel brings together Strout's beloved, sometimes maddening, always vivid characters from multiple novels past, many of them also performed by Farr. Life and time have landed Bob Burgess and his wife, Margaret; Lucy Barton and her... Read More

Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya helps listeners differentiate the characters in this story. When 12-year-old Cleo enters an apartment down the hall while looking for her cat, Muffin, she doesn't expect to discover that cats can talk or that they're running a secret society called PURR. Things only get stranger when she's persuaded to help the group fight against the evil plans of... Read More

Amanda Jones, a middle school librarian in small-town Louisiana, became the target of an online harassment campaign after speaking up at a library meeting against censorship. In her own voice, Jones describes the effects of this harassment on her and her family. With a slight Southern accent and an insistent tone, Jones describes her mortification and outrage at being falsely... Read More

Olivia Vinall's slight English accent and careful diction allow the listener to enjoy the lyrical language in the overlapping stories of Arthur, a young man in Victorian London; Narin, a Yezidi girl in Turkey in 2014; and Zaleekhah, a woman in London in 2018. Vinall's pleasant narration starts with a raindrop that falls beside the River Tigris in olden times, which will wind... Read More

Ron Butler buoyantly portrays a dog named "No Sam," who thinks he's human and tells his story via daily diary entries. Listeners meet Sam when he runs away from a neglectful owner and is soon adopted by the Peterson family as a pal for young, lonely Justin. Sam, in his doggy-sounding thoughts, believes humans are naked monkeys he needs to protect. Well-rendered, often hilarious... Read More

The principal author, a tech superstar and podcast creator, performs the introduction and a closing segment of this audiobook, while his co-author narrates a charming two-minute afterword. The voices of both authors add immediacy to the production. Perry Daniels delivers the bulk of the audiobook, including the foreword by Jane Goodall, with clarity and respect for the... Read More

Actor/singer/dancer Kelly Bishop's warmth and emotional intelligence shine as she narrates her memoir. While her most well-known role is that of matriarch Emily Gilmore on "Gilmore Girls," she begins her memoir with the role that changed her life: that of Sheila, the oldest dancer in the Broadway production of A CHORUS LINE. Highlights of Bishop's story include a confident tone... Read More

B.R. Myers's story, set in 1816 in Halifax and on an isolated island off its coast, is brought to life by Imogen Church. She has a unique ability to inject accents and personality into the diverse characters. The heroine, Emeline, narrates her own story. Her guardian, the imperious Mrs. Stackhouse, arranges Emeline's future with Captain Graves, whose first two wives died in... Read More

Aimee Crocker was a real person, born into a wealthy, conventional family in 1864. Narrator Suzanne Toren's interpretation of Aimee's development from naïve teenager to a beautiful intellectual and sexual gourmand well into her 50s is phenomenal. Toren's fine performance will give listeners an understanding of this mysterious woman whom no one understood in her time. Women... Read More

African Caribbean dialect specialist Emana Rachelle introduces this immersive dystopian novel in a composed, intelligent tone. After 500 years of climate disasters, social unrest, and biological experimentation, an authoritarian society has arisen in the "Northwestern Hemisphere." It's divided between the DPs (dominant population) and a servant class of Invisibles, whose skin... Read More

Kathleen Early is almost too good at realistically voicing the abusive and sadistic characters who populate the latest Will Trent thriller. Listeners will feel their skin crawl. Audiobook 12 in the series revolves around a gruesome murder that occurs at a remote mountain lodge owned by a criminally dysfunctional family. As a counterbalance to Early's vocally distinct portrayal... Read More

Lucy Antek Johnson is the daughter of a violinist who played for 17 years under the famous Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini when he led the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Before his sudden death, Samuel Antek wrote all but the final chapter of this intimate portrait of Toscanini, which offers insights about why the legendary conductor was so revered. In this illuminating audiobook,... Read More

Food writer, television personality, and memoirist Nigel Slater writes stylishly. His fine performance is the happy surprise of this audiobook. It may be the exactitude of his British pronunciation or that few travelers are as comfortable and perceptive abroad as he is. The text is packed--maybe overstuffed--with short chronicles of his experiences dining, cooking, traveling,... Read More

Swedish musician and citizen of the world Neneh Cherry narrates this memoir of her colorful and unconventional upbringing, as well as the punk rock scene she belonged to. Neneh Cherry was born to a free spirit of a mother; her stepfather was experimental jazz musician Don Cherry, who was from Sierra Leone. The family bounced from country to country, home to home, always... Read More

As soon as listeners hear Johnny Heller's easy Western drawl, they'll know they're in for a story about the Old West. This engrossing account begins in 1822 when bright, strapping, historically neglected Jedediah Smith joined 100 "Enterprising Young Men" to open trade routes and explore the vast Rocky Mountains in a race to expand a young nation's opportunities and boundaries.... Read More

Narrator Frankie Corzo creates an immersive listening experience as a house of fashion slowly becomes a house of horror. Samara moved from New Jersey to California for a chance to start fresh at her dream job of working for a designer. Now Samara's sleep is continually interrupted by unexplained noises and the stench coming from the nearby slaughterhouse. Nightmarish oddities... Read More

In this novella, narrator George Guidall showcases his masterful narration talents in bringing to life Walt Longmire, Henry Standing Bear, and a crew of new characters who share this intense adventure. Guidall's nuanced performance takes listeners on a life-threatening journey with Longmire and Henry as young men. Disillusioned after returning from serving in Vietnam, Longmire... Read More

Narrator Chante McCormick performs this audiobook about Mae, a biracial young woman who struggles with her identity, racism, family secrets, and how to re-create a lost family recipe for macaroni and cheese. McCormick skillfully adjusts her tone, pitch and accents to create the many characters in Mae's extended family. Mae is on a mission to unite her interracial family and... Read More

Many characters are featured in this sweet little mystery--all focused on finding the little red truck named Tilly by Raelynn Hadley. Narrator Anne Marie Lewis keeps the story moving at a nice pace and effectively creates an authentic Texas accent. She narrates with skill, talent, and a joyful attitude. Tilly is stolen from Raelynn, and so the hunt begins for the perpetrator.... Read More

Narrator Dani Martineck takes a confessional tone as she narrates author Iris Gottlieb's admission that she's not perfect at handling trash in the way that's best for the environment. Martineck somberly counts off the plastic items Gottlieb finds around her own home. Gottlieb also recalls how single-use safety items like masks and gloves created waste, as well as protection,... Read More

Narrator Bahni Turpin showcases her award-winning talent in the first installment of this series, breathing life into its diverse characters. Vandy Myrick, a newly minted private investigator, believes she's taken on a straightforward infidelity case. Instead, she becomes entangled in a complex web of crimes involving murder, betrayal, racism, and political corruption. Turpin... Read More

This audiobook tackles immigration, one of today's most contentious topics, in a logical, informative, and unique way. Author Zeke Hernandez uses statistics and stories and calls on his personal experience to provide a balanced view. Narrator André Santana delivers the sometimes complex subject matter in an easy-to-understand manner. Santana's engaging narration makes the... Read More

Narrator Mark Sanderlin creates a youthful voice for 12-year-old Luca, who loves making exciting new pizzas at the restaurant owned by his parents despite his mom's desire to stick to the basics. When he sees his parents' business and marriage struggling, Luca takes a chance and applies to be on his favorite television show, "Pizza Perfect." If he can come out on top with a... Read More

Siena East--a Choctaw writer, comedian, and actor--performs this romance novel from debut Chickasaw author Danica Nava. After sending out countless job applications with few responses, Ember Lee Cardinal decides to exaggerate her work experience on her next application. She lands the job and meets her new co-worker, Danuwoa Colson, the only other Native person at her new office... Read More

Guy Lockard narrates this fresh and funny novel from Jason Reynolds. Told from the perspective of 17-year-old Neon, the novel moves backward over Neon's past 24 months. As he prepares to celebrate his anniversary with his girlfriend, Aria, he reflects on everything that has happened since they first met. From work to school to family, Neon's life is average but warm and loving.... Read More

In this contemporary romance narrated by Kelsey Navarro Foster, professional rivals from two video-game companies must find common ground during a team-building retreat. Viola has no idea why Jesse dislikes her so much, but his past treatment of her has made the feeling mutual. When they must spend several wintry days together at a mountain lodge, she soon realizes that she has... Read More