New Reviews by Title: P-T

When executed as beautifully as this one, multigenerational novels are all consuming in the best way. Sandra Oh's performance of this audiobook makes the experience even more immersive. When young Sunja is saved from ruin and moves from Korea to Japan, a family tale begins and proceeds through four generations in the early 20th century. Oh is an outstanding narrator. Her pace... Read More

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

Although her novels overshadow her other works, Margaret Atwood's poetry has won the Governor General's Award--roughly equivalent to the Pulitzer. Her latest collection, which she delivers in this audio edition, includes selections from her entire career and involves subjects that range from the Canadian experience to life as an aging woman alone. Perhaps as a way of... 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

Ray Porter narrates the four short stories and one novella in this amazing science fiction/dystopian audiobook. Set in a believable future, these works range from lovers seeking the truth behind their relationships, to people on trial for using martial arts, to human explorers attempting to contact a humanoid but alien race. All stories involve a main character who is exploring... Read More

Matthew Goode's amiable narration sets the right tone for this memoir by the late Russian anti-corruption activist. With Alexei Navalny's ghost hovering over the recording studio, Goode does an outstanding job of channeling the activist's humanity and warmth. Avoiding sanctimony, he dryly delivers Navalny's gallows humor--of which there is plenty. Amid the terror and confusion... Read More

Listeners may empathize or be amused by Payal's long-term crush on Jonathan, the six-foot blonde Adonis of her senior class, whom she first meets at a party when he vomits on her shoes. After he tells her being South Asian keeps him from dating her, her fury leads her to persuade her academic nemesis, Philip Kim, to show Jon how worthy she is, never imagining she will find a... 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

Though this is a long audiobook, stellar narration by Giordan Diaz and Stacy Gonzalez keeps listeners engaged. The story is told from alternating perspectives. Margot Ortega, voiced by Gonzalez, has it all--a well-known family, money, a good career, and a perfect fiancé. When she suffers a panic attack on her wedding day and calls it off, she spends the night in a bar, dancing... 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

Narrator Stephanie Bentley initially presents Aila as shy and geeky; later, she captures Aila's professional and romantic growth. At a zoo full of magical creatures, Aila anxiously tends endangered Silimalo phoenixes and seeks a new bird for mating. Her charming crush, Connor, offers to help with the preparations. Still feeling overwhelmed, Aila enlists the aid of her outgoing... 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

Ray Porter's solid performance complements this engaging foray into the development of the visionary James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)--which almost wasn't. This absorbing and well-researched production sets the stage for the JWST's emergence on the scientific stage in 2021. There's essential background on its monumental predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the dogged... 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

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

January LaVoy performs this genre-bending audiobook with expert skill. Stephenson's new audiobook, while shorter than his usual work, is the first part of a promised series. The action centers around Dawn, who as a young adult is deployed as a Russian spy, gathering intel for a large Communist movement. The story hops around the globe from Russia to Chicago to Washington, DC,... 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

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

Hannah van der Westhuysen gives a quiet, melancholic performance of this contemplative, grief-filled reimagining of KING LEAR. Set in a vague future of half-drowned cities and constant rain, the story revolves around three queer sisters after the death of their famous father, an architect. Estranged from him and each other, the three women navigate their romantic relationships,... 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

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

Rosa Escoda's performance captures the essence of this magical and emotional story. Serin is a lonely young woman who enters a magical market where she must choose her perfect life within a week--or risk vanishing forever. Escoda's voice draws listeners into this enchanting world, skillfully rendering each character in their own distinct tone, making their interactions feel... Read More

This audiobook examines our national discourse, particularly during the Trump era. Although written prior to his reelection, its relevance has only increased as it presents contrasting arguments about democracy and potential threats to it. Justin Price narrates effectively, in a style that complements the intensity of the arguments, particularly those warning of a shift toward... 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

Novelist Isabella Hammad delivered the Edward W. Said Memorial Lecture at Columbia University in September 2023. In this powerful audiobook, she reads that lecture with poise and urgency. Her voice is assured and firm, inviting listeners to truly sit with the impact of her words. She examines the fight for Palestinian liberation through the lens of fictional and historical... 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

Suh! This talented cast of narrators cops an attitude, takes a "so what" tone, and gives "holy cow" deliveries of this satirical take on modern love. Big yikes. In "Pics," narrator Allyson Ryan depicts a delulu young woman whose one-night stand becomes an obsession amped up by social media. Oh, my. The seven interconnected stories depict besties with rizz who pop up in... Read More

Jen Zhao delivers an insightful performance of this novel, which is structured around several family vacations. College sweethearts Keru and Nate have never fit in with their families and have made their own family with their sheepdog, Mantou. Cultural differences between Keru's cautious immigrant parents and Nate's boisterous American parents have created an additional... Read More

Ekua Ekumah and Sara Novak's narration brings layered voices to this story of rediscovery and healing. Whitney Appiah is a masseuse with a special skill--she can sense where her clients are hurting and heal them. The twist comes when she realizes she has roots in a traumatic past. Ekumah's and Novak's deliveries highlight the shifts between Kumasi, Ghana, in the 1990s and... Read More

Hanako Footman performs this feel-good novel about Chef Negare and his daughter, Kioshi, who run the Kamogawa Diner in Kyoto. Together, they are the Kamogawa Food Detectives, who track down lost recipes from their clients' pasts. In each chapter, they handle a new case in which a client comes to them looking for a unique dish made with exact ingredients. Footman's narration... 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

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

This sequel to THE VERIFIERS more than lives up to the first audiobook in the series. Claudia Lin is juggling dysfunctional relationships with her mother and her siblings; an attraction to her co-worker Becks, as well as a crush on a woman she meets as part of a case; and investigating the death of a man who came to her company for help. Narrator Eunice Wong is so engaged with... Read More

Janet Metzger's narration brings measured depth to an otherwise typical coming-of-age story. Teenage Charlotte, the daughter of an American missionary who is being raised in Iraq, runs away in a literal search for identity and self-discovery. Metzger conveys the vibrant landscape of early-twentieth-century Basra. The winding river at the center of Charlotte's quest comes alive,... Read More

If you find Emmy Award-winning actor Uzo Aduba's on-screen performances captivating ("Orange Is the New Black"), wait until you hear her narrate her life story. Aduba's lifelong habit of journaling produces a memoir sizzling with ambiance-enhancing details, beginning with descriptions of her '90s pop-culture-filled childhood in small-town Massachusetts. The daughter of Nigerian... 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

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

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

Lee Child's short stories, which focus on protagonists from seedier sides of life, including hit men with varying moral compasses, are an interesting collection enhanced by a one-man show of narration by Edoardo Ballerini. Short stories might provide the biggest challenge for a narrator, and he is definitely up to it. Ballerini uses a variety of techniques--ranging from clipped... 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

Narrated by the author, this charming original story reveals that Santa himself never celebrated Christmas until one year when a gruff, growly polar bear pointed this out to his elves. They decide to treat Santa royally and help decorate his house for a holiday celebration--complete with gifts delivered by the bear, who is dressed in red and growls a deep-voiced "ho-ho-ho."... 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

Thom Rivera narrates Herrera's latest novel, which features Benito Juarez, the first Indigenous president of Mexico, who was in office from 1858 to 1872. This short yet unhurried work takes place in the 18 months of Juarez's exile in New Orleans. He funds his exile with odd jobs and spends his days drinking coffee with fellow outcasts. Rivera's clear narration delivers flawless... 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

Playwright Jeanne Sakata's newly commissioned version of this beloved classic for L.A. Theatre Works is both well produced and thoughtful. It provides backstory for Mary Lennox before turning the dour child over to Archibald Craven, her remaining relative, after an outbreak of cholera takes her family in India. Mary, voiced by Alma Marian, moves from petulance to wonder as she... 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

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

Anire Kim Amoda brings youthful enthusiasm to her portrayal of a biracial girl named Hana and her culinary challenge. Grandma and Grandpa Williams are from South Carolina, and cherish gumbo, while Halmoni (Grandmother) and Harabeoji (Grandfather) are from South Korea, and savor kimchi. What can young Hana cook to please everyone's palate? Amoda's light, engaging voice brings... 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

Narrator Jesse Vilinsky captivates listeners with this dark romantasy- adventure. Ever since her mother died, Vaasa Kozar has had dark magic building inside her. She's unaware of its power and how to control it. In one last political scheme, her heartless brother marries Vaasa off to Reid of Mireh, a powerful foreign ruler. Vaasa attempts to escape the marriage but soon... Read More

Author and narrator Robin Wall Kimmerer, who is Potawatomi, gently guides listeners through this thoughtful exploration of gift economies and cultures of reciprocity. Using the framing device of an outing to gather serviceberries, which are also popular with the local birds, Kimmerer traces the pathways of mutual obligation and abundance seen in nature and in many traditional... 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

Listeners must sort out where the truth lies in this intricately plotted psychological novel revolving around the death of a wealthy Florida real estate developer. Accomplished narrator Tavia Gilbert tells this story about love, resentment, confessions, dark suspicions, climate change, and other crises. While Gilbert skillfully portrays multiple characters, her rendering of 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

Narrator Mark Sanderlin creates an energetic and determined voice for 12-year-old Alex Sherlock, who establishes "The Sherlock Society Detective Agency" with his sister, Zoe, two best friends, and his retired grandfather. When his mom finds out and puts an end to it, the group decides to try to find Al Capone's hidden treasure instead. While trying to solve this mystery, they... Read More

Michael David Axtell gives a confident, clear performance of this dystopian audiobook. In a not-too-alternative world, high school students undergo a multitude of intellectual and aptitude exams. Some students can expect to pursue their own hopes and dreams, while others face being auctioned into the servitude of the world's billionaires. It's a dark listening experience... Read More

In the sequel to Korn's YOURS FOR THE TAKING, narrator Gail Shalan captures the desperation of two women as each works to survive in a world changed by politics and climate. Listeners learn why Kelly deserted her daughter, Orchid, seven years earlier and is making the dangerous trip home in 2041 to reunite with her. Woven into this story is Orchid's quest in 2078 to find her... 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

When NBC "Dateline" reporter and producer Dan Slepian stumbled upon evidence that a number of men serving lengthy terms in the New York State prison system may have been innocent, he couldn't let it go. In a voice bristling with urgency, empathy, and determination, Slepian recounts how false identification, racial profiling, prosecutorial misconduct, incentivized witnesses, and... 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

Rachanee Lumayno performs a whimsical tale that features Spella, a young orphan who is being raised by her Aunt Cauldroneyes. Spella spends her days discovering how to make magical hats and learning about the magical creatures that live around her cottage. But when a mysterious man arrives and abducts her aunt, Spella must go to Dragon's Knob, a magical school, to get help to... Read More

Maya Hawke performs this classic collection superbly. She pays attention to Joan Didion's exquisite prose and captures her careful observations--such as a 5-year-old on acid in San Francisco and the evolution of her native Sacramento once aerospace engineers arrived, among other topics. Hawke gets Didion's measured pace and thoughtful tone just right as she conveys the... 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

This audiobook profiles unsung heroes of American history, most of whom you wouldn't recognize. Author Sharon McMahon offers a narration that is almost loving in tone as she tells their stories. Her voice is gentle on the ears and easy to follow. Yet she also captures the drama and significance of each life. McMahon primarily uses declarative sentences, which translate well to... 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

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

Brie Carter, Chandler Gregoire, and Lauren Ling Brown bring distinct performances to this layered mystery. The ensemble performances add depth to Maya's college reunion at Princeton, which transforms into a harrowing investigation of her sister Naomi's death. Carter's portrayal of Maya skillfully conveys her mix of grief and determination, immersing listeners in her search for... Read More

Narrators Ell Potter and Steve West are a dynamic duo escorting listeners through a bombastic adventure. Despite being gay, Sir Horley has pledged to marry a lovely woman, but his best friend, Arabella, won't have it. As Arabella whisks Horley away on his wedding night, their unbreakable bond is tested against silly challenges and the cold, hard truths that come with being... 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

Cork O'Connor's diverse heritage plays a pivotal role in the latest audiobook in this consistently engaging series. O'Connor, who has both Irish and Ojibwe lineage, uses his background to unravel the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of a local politician's teenage daughter and the grave of a young Ojibwe woman. David Chandler is an excellent choice as narrator. His use... 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

Native voices resonate in this account of the infamous American Indian boarding schools. Ojibwe poet and activist Denise K. Lajimodiere delivers her foreword, and Ponca author and filmmaker Dan SasuWeh Jones narrates his introduction. Then, Blackfoot actor Shaun Taylor-Corbett takes the mic to narrate Jones's combination of memoir and history. Four generations of Jones's family... Read More

Narrator Marissa Czyz establishes youthful, high-pitched voices for 7-year-old Stella and her 4-year-old sister, Marigold. From the moment Stella met her new baby sister, she promised to tell her all about the world. Stella and Marigold have all kinds of adventures in their home and community as they learn and grow, sometimes even getting into squabbles with their parents.... Read More

Julienne Irons returns to narrate this entry in Kevin Henkes's Miller family stories. New first-grader Sal finds herself with a major case of teacher envy when her best friend is assigned to a different classroom with a charismatic, young teacher, while she's condemned to spend the year with a grandmotherly woman who calls her Sally. Henkes writes in short, declarative... 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

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

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

Soneela Nankani and Imran Sheikh narrate this take on fake dating and modern love. Even though she lacks a Bengali background, Naomi is hired to rebrand Gia's bazaar, a run-down Indian marketplace. At the same time, Gia engages a matchmaker to find a wife for her reluctant son, Dev. Soon, Naomi and Dev team up--Naomi pretends to be Dev's girlfriend, and Dev teaches Naomi about... 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

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

The rich, evocative voice of Justin Price conjures the members of three North Carolina families who live on a tobacco farm during the '50s and '60s. One family is the Talmadge family, landowners and wannabe local gentry. Two sharecropper families, one Black and one white, also capture the interest of listeners. This enthralling family saga includes episodes of racism, cruelty,... Read More

Author David Allen, an individual productivity expert, partners with a colleague to offer best practices for all types of teams, including families. Edward Lamont narrates most of this useful guide, while Allen performs pertinent anecdotes. Both authors narrate with appealing tone and clarity. This excellent lesson is notable for its common-sense ideas about team collaboration... 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

Phyllis Ho narrates this gentle fantasy audiobook. Tao, an immigrant woman who stands out wherever she goes, travels the country as a fortune teller. When she meets an ex-mercenary who is searching desperately for his kidnapped daughter and the reformed (mostly) thief who joins him, they team up for the search. They are later joined by a talented baker whose delectable pastries... 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

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

Listeners join Cordelia Black as her carefully constructed life starts to fall apart and her secret hobby of killing predatory men is at risk of being revealed. Narrator Stefanie Kay is the perfect voice for Cordelia, whose thoughts she brings alive. She successfully reveals both Cordelia's superior attitude and her strong desire to protect her loved ones, as well as the... Read More

Weruche Opia and Florence Howard's narration offers a vivid portrayal of Funke's journey between Nigeria and England. Opia brings authenticity to Funke's voice, capturing her initial contentment, her eventual grief, and her resilience as she navigates cultural dislocation and family estrangement. Howard complements this with a nuanced portrayal of Liv, whose warmth and... Read More

Author and lifelong scientist Alan Townsend offers a moving account of how he learned to draw on a healing faith rooted in science to sustain himself amid catastrophe. Townsend shares how his family was asked to imagine the unimaginable: First, his young daughter and then his brilliant wife developed unrelated, life-threatening brain tumors. Listeners will be touched by the... Read More

This cozy, romantic audiobook shines with personality and heartfelt emotion. Four champions saved the realm of Mythria from evil 10 years ago, but only three survived. January LaVoy voices Beatrice's grief and regret as she dwells on the past. Her ex, Sir Clare, is voiced by Alexander Cendese with optimism that hides the feelings he still holds for Beatrice. Elowen, voiced by... Read More

In this biography of Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn, British actor Anna Wilson-Jones brings a clipped tone to the complex story of the King's efforts to divorce his first wife, Catherine, so he can marry Anne. Though Henry succeeds, the repercussions eventually result in England's break with the Vatican. Soon, Henry, tiring of his wife, has her beheaded so he can marry... 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

Barnaby Edwards's storytelling verve in this far-future adventure will have listeners rapt. Edwards is equally believable as a fussy tutor, a girl who is forced to fight mechanical monsters for entertainment, a washed-up soldier, and the rest of the characters who make up the story's motley crew. When Miss Torpenhow's city of Thorbury is taken over by hostile forces, she... 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

Fans of Baldacci's Travis Devine series will find everything they've come to expect: a multilayered plot, high-stakes action, and bodies dropping everywhere. Narrator Zach Villa leads as Travis Devine, supported by a well-matched cast who heighten the listening experience. This time, Devine must protect 12-year-old Betsy Odom in Seattle. A complex web of conspiracies draws in... 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 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

Unexplained deaths, betrayal, corruption, secret societies, and buried treasure are only a few of the plot threads in Tom Ryan's twisty new mystery, and narrator Graham Halstead meshes them seamlessly. Peter Barnett's routine life changes after his estranged grandmother contacts him, inviting him to share her Maple Bay, Nova Scotia, mansion. Failed writer Cass is house-sitting... 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

Catherine Ho's thoughtful delivery is ideal for this enchanting story contrasting Eastern and Western dragon mythologies. Listeners meet an Asian American boy whose mother's storytelling introduces his dual heritage. The boy's grandmothers become involved, too, and Ho never missteps in portraying each woman's gentle and loving voice. The Western grandma describes a dense forest... 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

This fascinating and aptly named audiobook features two very different "good" men," each fighting for justice in a completely different way. Narrator Curt Bonnem keeps listeners mesmerized with his pitch-perfect performance of mild-mannered scientist Dick Raynes and his counterpart, brilliant FBI Agent Steve Patterson, who is in love with Raynes's sister, Dee. After a lifetime... Read More