New Reviews by Title: A-D

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

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

This delightful travel audiobook features commentary and an accompanying pdf of photos of unique, quirky, and splendid sites around the world that emulate renowned film director Wes Anderson's visual style. Seamus McMahon is a capable narrator, and Jeff Goldblum brings all his acting chops to his performance. With his well-tuned variations in tone and pace, Goldblum's sections,... Read More

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

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

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

Maria Ru-Djen narrates this thought-provoking story about what happens to Dorothy after she returns from Oz. In Sunbonnet, Kansas, everything is black and white. Dorothy's story describing where she's been--Oz's vivid colors, talking creatures, and good and bad witches-- along with her remorse over melting a witch, convince the townspeople that she's possessed by Satan. When... Read More

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

An author and podcaster who studies cult loyalty and other cognitive malfunctions explains how emotions and attachments can distort how we see our power to manage ourselves and the world. Performing this combination of behavioral economics, psychology, and chatty advice for contemporary times, Montell exhibits perky energy and streetwise charm but never trivializes the wisdom... Read More

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

The second Agnes Sharp adventure receives a lighthearted narration from Moira Quirk. The octogenarian residents of Sunset Hall are tired of all the inconveniences in the village of Duck End, so when ditzy Edwina wins a vacation at a posh hotel in Cornwall, they all book rooms to chaperone her. Amid the luxury, Agnes witnesses what might be a murder. Quirk maintains the suspense... Read More

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

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

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

Jefferson Mays has his work cut out for him as he gives voice to the myriad characters in this time-traveling story of murder and revenge. He is certainly up to the task. The mystery is part of the ongoing series featuring FBI Agent Aloysius Pendergast and Constance Greene as they attempt to corral the monstrous serial killer Enoch Leng. Listeners new to the series may find the... Read More

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

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

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

Narrators Soneela Nankani and Amanda Leigh Cobb deliver a story told from the alternating perspectives of two friends downtrodden by life. Former activist and current professor Emily is disappointed by her students. Liv is a real estate agent whose success is hindered by her people-pleasing ways. Emily and Liv are shaken after witnessing an attempted robbery and join Fearless... Read More

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

Olivia A. Cole narrates her novel-in-verse about teenage Ariel, who is dealing with undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder and aloof parents. Ariel's days are spent working at a carnival with caring friends and warding off the intrusive violent thoughts she calls "the crocodile." Afraid she won't live up to her parents' or society's expectations of what it means to be a good... Read More

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

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

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

With his deep baritone, narrator Leon Nixon transports listeners to a gritty 1965 Los Angeles. It's there that crime photographer Harry Ingram documents police officers as they attack an unarmed protester in a barrage of violence. He soon finds himself awakening in the hospital with his camera nowhere to be found. In a tone brimming with intrigue and suspense as Ingram... Read More

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

A couples group arrives for a weekend getaway at an astrologically themed coastal inn in this full-cast production involving unresolved issues and closely held secrets. As the story is told primarily through the first-person perspectives of Margot (Soneela Nankani), Aimee (Allyson Ryan), Farah (Gilli Messer), Rini (Sura Siu), and Adam (Sean Patrick Hopkins), listeners are... Read More

Neil Lawrence narrates his audiobook on why in this world of exponential digitization humanity is more significant than ever. If large language models are able to predict the next word of text, recognize and create images, and essentially replicate the essence of being human, could it be that there's no point to being human? Lawrence provides a thorough rebuke of this fallacy.... Read More

Narrator Hillary Huber delivers a stellar performance as she creates the impression of a full-cast production. In this third installment of Tami Hoag's series, Detectives Nick Fourcade and Annie Broussard are each investigating missing persons cases, which may be linked to the unidentified body of a shotgun victim pulled from the local swamp. One missing person is a town hero,... Read More

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

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

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

Victoria Villarreal brings this story of community activism to life with her stirring narration. Smoothly shifting between English and Spanish, Villarreal tells the story of a girl joining her community to demand a park in their neighborhood. The community of Barrio Logan, San Diego's oldest Chicano neighborhood, has wanted a park for years, but they've been ignored. After... Read More

This audiobook, which is reminiscent of a stream-of-consciousness poem, is an ode to basketball great Julius Irving. At the same time, it features the storytelling approach of a memoir, which poet Ross Gay enhances in his narration. He knows how to use intonation, when to ratchet up his energy, and when to gently slow the pace. Not everyone can narrate their own words, but Gay... Read More

Ina Garten narrates with the same precision, charm, poise, and irreverence exhibited on her "Barefoot Contessa" television productions. That same independent woman people know from her food preparation shows on Food Network spins quite the tale. Her philosophy has been to make quick decisions and "dive in"--figuring it all out later. Raised by exceptionally strict parents, she... Read More

Maria Liatis delivers a heartwarming performance as a 13-year-old with a passion for fútbol and her family. Valeria is a star player on the boys’ soccer team, coached by her gruff abuelo. Through spirited yet subtle energy, Liatis adds credibility to Valeria’s perseverance through trying times, including her mortification at getting her first period and losing her standing on... Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ulka Simone Mohanty provides a down-to-earth narration of this Bill Gates profile. Her impartial voice is ideal for hearing about the myriad facets of Gates, and her earnest tone personalizes the related figures who weave through the narrative. This audiobook is a study of how Gates has both shaped and punctured popular cultural phenomena, such as wealth inequality,... Read More

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

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

Narrator Rachel Atkins conveys the heartbreak, pain, and confusion experienced by Sarajevans under siege during the first year of the Bosnian War in 1992. Artist Zora Koovi chooses to stay in Sarajevo even as family members flee, bombs begin to fall, and snipers wreak havoc from nearby rooftops and hills. Atkins provides a pitch-perfect performance, capturing Zora's love for... Read More

Narrator Peter Forbes, the voice behind Peter May's audiobooks, returns us to the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides. Forbes's skill with Scottish accents, his ability to differentiate characters, and his convincing performances of both male and female voices make this a captivating listen. For fans of the Lewis Trilogy, this fourth audiobook offers an opportunity to follow Fin... Read More

A full cast performs this heartfelt audio set in Jim Crow Virginia. Charley Cuffey loves two things best of all: playing baseball and her Nana Kofi's stories of Africa. When Charley and her friends move a meaningful game to the whites-only field across town, the resulting backlash brings the widespread impacts of racism and violence to her door. All the narrators' voices mix... Read More

Louis Hill and Georgina Jane narrate chapters featuring two British siblings who are doing unique sleuthing during WWII. Hill portrays serious 19-year-old Jakob, who is consumed with finding solutions to Germany's Enigma codes at Bletchley Park. While Hill portrays Jakob's straightforward focus, he hints at how his work distracts him from his grief over the loss of his mother,... Read More

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

Narrator Moira Quirk shines once again in this dark academic fantasy, which explores the ripple effects of colonization. As the first-ever female highmage, Sciona has dedicated her life to overcoming misogyny, pursuing her magical research relentlessly within the male-dominated High Magistry. But as she learns about the ugly machinations that underpin her people’s magic, she’s... Read More

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

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

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

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

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

National Book Award finalist Sarah Smarsh performs a collection of her essays written from 2013-2024. After growing up on a wheat farm in Kansas, Smarsh went on to join academia and found herself writing about her working-class childhood. Drawing connections between such diverse topics as the relationship between socioeconomic status and access to dental care and the fallacies... Read More

Narrator Saskia Maarleveld maintains a deliberate pace in this packed history of America's newborn spy network during WWII. The unexpected heroes are librarians, professors, and other bookish types who were experts in gathering--and fabricating--information. And what a story Maarleveld tells. Even familiar episodes like the planning of D-Day take on new fire and urgency in this... Read More

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

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

A young mother and daughter who are struggling to survive the horrors of WWII London find solace in books in this novel, smoothly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. With a pleasing accent and a mostly straightforward delivery, Maarleveld describes the community of a subscription library. Called booklovers' libraries, these staples of early-twentieth-century England provided curated... Read More

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

With his gritty brogue, narrator Ralph Ineson welcomes listeners to an icy summit where a plane has just crashed. The survivors see a stone fortress in the distance. Can they get there without freezing to death or being attacked by wolves? More to the point, can they survive what awaits inside it? Ineson's delivery is punctuated by an unnerving soundtrack and realistic sound... Read More

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

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

Natalie Naudus narrates this delightful romantic comedy with confidence. After adventurous escapades June comes back to her beachside hometown to manage her late sister's struggling tea shop. At the same time, Levi, recently thrust into the spotlight due to a public breakup, returns to assist Dylan, June's younger brother, with his upcoming wedding. When a chance photo of June... Read More

Eric Yang's quiet narration of this free-verse story inspired by history contrasts with the harsh situation in which 17-year-old Tai Go finds himself. A Chinese immigrant who is traveling with his father and grandfather, Tai Go is held at Angel Island in 1924, waiting to be interviewed so that he can enter San Francisco. Yang's soft tone represents the outwardly subdued quality... Read More

Singer and activist Mavis Staples brings her iconic, resonant voice to the narration of this audiobook, giving young listeners an unforgettable glimpse of her remarkable musical life. In a voice ringing with warmth, humor, and conviction, Staples describes her musical roots, which began with gospel and later branched out to soul, R&B, and more. The rich timbre of Staples’s... Read More

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

Barbara Bradley Hagerty narrates her audiobook in a clear tone that is refreshingly free of nonsense. Hagerty recounts the story of the wrongful conviction of Ben Spencer for murder and carjacking. After questionable witness testimony and the prosecutor's need to secure a conviction, Spencer spent decades in prison despite mounting evidence that should have exonerated him.... Read More

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

Sophie Amoss handles the narration of this audio mystery wonderfully. Willa, a child psychologist, endures a public moment that goes viral and threatens to undermine her work and life. She heads to Broken Bayou, where she spent summers as a girl. Slowly, horrific discoveries are made, and Willa finds herself in a troubled and dangerous place. Amoss stays energetically involved... Read More

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

Ashley Callingbull gives a heartfelt narration of this story of Summer, a 12-year-old girl who starts having strange dreams while visiting family on the Cree reservation. Everyone is talking about researchers discovering unmarked children's graves at the nearby residential school. Summer is curious to learn more, but it's a painful history. Callingbull brings a youthful... Read More

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

An amazing group of narrators enlivens this collection of 13 stories. They range in subject matter from ancient Greece and Rome to modern times and beyond and share a common theme: finding and seizing destiny. Genres vary from fantasy to fairy tale, mystery, and science fiction, and they include dragon riders and pirates. There are plenty of surprises, but one thing is... Read More

Narrator Alyssa Appleton takes charge of this offbeat mystery with her confident portrayal of Oxy-addicted PI Tori Swenson. The action takes place in Kansas City, where Tori is investigating a murder at her estranged family's barbecue business. The off-center plot teeters between a traditional whodunit, a cozy, and a culinary mystery à la KNIVES OUT. Sprinkled on top of this... Read More

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

Rebecca Nagle gives a clear and compelling narration of her look into how a small-town murder in the Muscogee Nation led to a significant 2020 Supreme Court case--and the largest restoration of Native tribal land in American history. She shares her extensive research into the history behind this case while also contextualizing its impact on her own nation, the Cherokee, other... Read More

A full cast from L.A. Theatre Works performs this short play about Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi, voiced by André Sogliuzzo, and his invention of the wireless telegraph. The use of antique Morse code and radio equipment gives a period ambiance to the production, though the dialogue often sounds more modern. The format of an old radio show features Marconi's daughter,... Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Narrator Nikki Massoud performs this heartfelt and hilarious holiday romance about a former child star turned artist who finds love in the most unexpected place. As a child, Charlotte never expected that her small role in a holiday classic would later turn her life upside down. Now, years later, she flees the country after turning down a reboot opportunity due to backlash from... Read More

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

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

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

In this debut novel, Jessica Regan becomes the voice of every woman who has ever struggled for personal freedom amid limited choices. Set in the mid-nineties in Ireland, the story focuses on three women who are in troubled marriages. With divorce illegal at the time, they labor to make their own choices--despite the men who control them and, ultimately, the outcomes of their... Read More

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

Narrator Kristen Ariza lends her expert skills to this intimate character study. The story follows Jane, a biracial author who is struggling with finishing her novel, which she believes to be revolutionary. She moves her family near Hollywood, where she meets a producer who wants to make her book into a television show. Jane is a complex character who is often skeptical, and... Read More

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

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

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

Golden Voice Kate Reading captures the foolish and the wise in this charming story of a Jewish village. When twins are born to the Cohen family, their mother quickly discovers that the male twin is receiving more attention and affection from the community than her little daughter. When Mrs. Cohen is invited to join a secret group of wise women, she soon learns the ways they use... Read More

Chanté McCormick narrates this queer, anti-colonial sci-fi novella. Virika struggles to thrive on a colonized space planet under the control of an empire in the same way that her ancestors struggled to get ahead when the British Empire ruled the British West Indies. She worked hard to succeed in the Merchant Marines, but when her captain dies, she is convicted of treason for... Read More

The narrators deliver a genuinely captivating performance that enhances this thrilling tale. An invading king threatens Feyre's land. Melody Muze narrates with a perfect balance of vulnerability and fierce determination that makes her emotional journey all the more compelling. Anthony Palmini's portrayal of Rhysand brings strength and complexity, while the ensemble cast... Read More

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

Emily Woo Zeller narrates this audiobook, which imagines the life of the Evil Queen before Snow White's story begins. After her sister's death, Ayleth becomes heir to one of the powerful witches known as the Five Ancients. And even though she has no power of her own, she disguises herself and infiltrates the White City to bring her dead sister back. As Ayleth moves through... Read More

EJ Lavery's heartfelt narration captures a landscape of emotions and family dynamics in this coming-of-age novel. Lavery's firm yet gentle tone captures the tension and love within Cruzita's family as they try to keep alive the legacy of her great-uncle's bakery and Cruzita's dreams of becoming a pop star. Most convincing are Lavery's portrayals of teenager Cruzita's... Read More

Eric Yang narrates this account of the spectacular rise and fall of FTX's cryptocurrency wunderkind, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF). Author Andrew R. Chow is a correspondent for TIME, and Yang approaches the story with a reporter's detachment, allowing the facts to speak for themselves. And speak they do! While Yang uses a measured tone, avoiding sensationalism, the facts detailing... Read More

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

If narrator Holter Graham's youthful exuberance seems an unlikely match for King's master class on popular horror, keep in mind the timeline. King wrote this analysis of film, radio, and literary horror during the late 1970s--when he was in his early 30s. It makes for a fascinating listen for multiple reasons. As King's own star was rising, high- and lowbrow pop culture were in... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld brings the haunting realm of this dark sapphic academic novel to life with an evocative performance. She captures the fierce intellect of Lorelai, a magical folklorist who is determined to get to the bottom of her mentor's mysterious death. As she investigates, romantic tension develops between her and her enemy turned reluctant ally, Sylvia von Wolff. The... Read More

Fans of the popular "Mystery Science Theater 3000" TV series will delight in listening to Frank Conniff narrate his own novel, essentially a clever, sardonic comic monologue. The over-the-top bleakness of the darkest superhero movies--the films that took the fun out of Batman--are mercilessly and wittily mocked throughout. Dark Apnea, a would-be superhero in a sleep apnea mask... Read More

In a captivating voice, Dion Graham tells the gritty story of Tulane music professor Nick Travers, who seeks to track down the brother of a dear friend who disappeared more than 30 years ago. Nick has long admired the once-acclaimed blues singer. So he travels the back roads of Tennessee and Louisiana as he follows leads and becomes entangled with a variety of... Read More

Joniece Abbott-Pratt, who narrated THE DAVENPORTS, applies a rhythmic, energetic style to this follow-up. The story features four young Black women from Chicago in the early twentieth century. Abbott-Pratt captures their determined searches for love and self-actualization. Ruby deals with rumors that unseat her, while her younger sister Helene struggles to modernize the family... Read More

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

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

Katherine Littrell narrates a mystery set on one of the Thousand Islands of the St Lawrence River in Upstate New York. After accidentally setting a house on fire, Marlowe needs to get away and accepts a summer job at a mansion where a historical mystery once took place. Littrell uses different tones to distinguish Marlowe's story in the present from that of the Ralston family... Read More

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

The health expert Paul Taylor narrates with relaxed pacing and an alluring British accent that make this audiobook a delight to hear. Combined with his accessible writing and impressive research and recommendations, his relaxed performance creates a wonderful atmosphere for engaging with this kind of guidance. He says that today's modern conveniences, processed foods, and... Read More

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

This audiobook offers a charming, romantic performance by narrators Marissa Hampton and Christopher Hampton. When former celebrity chef Sirena's cooking powers go awry, she unintentionally casts a spell that causes the entire town of Freya Grove to repeat the month of October. To restore her powers, she seeks aid from a former reality TV star named Gus; together, they navigate... Read More

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

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

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

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

Narrator Pagnia Xiong offers up a lyrical exploration of growing up Hmong in the Midwest. The various characters who make up Malcolm's world, Hmong and Anglo, are narrated with cultural accuracy by Xiong, Colin Ryan, Kelli Garland, and Gregory Yang. The authoritative voices of Malcolm's teachers highlight the racism he faces in school. At home his discouragement with his... Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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