New Reviews by Title: E-J

Helen Castor delivers political intrigue, dynastic maneuvering, romance, treachery, and war during the reigns of Richard II and his usurping cousin, Henry IV, up to the accession of Henry's son, Henry V. Overall, Castor narrates this historical drama with suitable intensity. Some authorial liberties, such as expressing the inner thoughts of historical personages, blend into the... Read More

The ensemble cast of Kim Durham, Clare Corbett, and Natalie Nightingale captures the heart of this poignant story. Ninety-year-old Eddie is looking to have his first kiss with the matchmaking assistance of his 20-something co-worker. Durham gives Eddie a warm voice that embodies his romantic optimism. Corbett and Nightingale convey matchmaker Bella's emotional depth with... Read More

Warm music welcomes young listeners who are preparing to light their menorahs--and any children curious about the meaning of Hanukkah. Emily Lawrence narrates this sweet children's audiobook with a bright and engaging voice. One story features a family gathering to share food and celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with their loved ones. Informative text explains Yiddish and... Read More

This collection of Hanukkah noir, edited by Tod Goldberg, offers 11 gritty crime-filled stories better suited for listeners who are noir enthusiasts than those seeking lighthearted holiday tales. Contributors include Ivy Pochoda, David L. Ulin, Lee Goldberg, Liska Jacobs, and Tod Goldberg. Each story is narrated by one of four masterful narrators who expertly flex their timbre,... Read More

Listeners who relish histories that deflate legend will particularly appreciate this unvarnished portrait of El Cid, Spain's symbol of liberation from the Moors. In reality, the Cid was an eleventh-century mercenary named Rodrigo Diaz, who fought for Christians and Muslims alike. But over the centuries, with the help of a few enterprising monks, Diaz evolved into a symbol of... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld brings life to this story of plague, death, misogyny, and a gifted young midwife in Provence in 1347. Leaving midwifery to fight the plague is hard enough, but when the terrified citizens start a literal witch hunt looking for a scapegoat, Elea must save herself and her twin, Margo. Maarleveld's narration is spirited, meaningful, and skilled. With inflection... Read More

Patricia Rodriguez wisely takes her time performing this biography of physicist and chemist Marie Curie. Curie's life was chock-full of scientific breakthroughs, tragedy, sexism, and dozens of female scientists who worked with her. It's a lot to keep straight. Most of Curie's life was spent in Paris, so Rodriguez's skill with French enhances this audiobook. Curie was the first... Read More

Using research and case studies from large and small companies, a behavioral economist and business strategy expert shows how employees who feel respected invest more of themselves in a company's mission and impact customer loyalty. Despite investor and analyst griping about labor costs, these human-centric companies are also more profitable than those that treat employees... Read More

Narrated by the excellent Brittany Pressley, this debut follows Posey Jarvis; her husband, Vern; and their 19-year-old daughter, Callie Jane, who live in 1960s Tennessee. Posey and Vern are in a loveless marriage, and Posey is still pining for a lover who abandoned her years earlier. Callie Jane is unhappily engaged to her childhood friend and dreams of moving to California... Read More

From the time of Louis XIV's Versailles through the 1930s, the world of fashion was dominated by the French. Gail Shalan narrates this fascinating account of the dramatic and permanent changes in the industry instigated by the Nazi invasion of Paris in 1940. Women were most influential in the birth of New York's Seventh Avenue as the heart of new fashion. Shalan describes the... Read More

With his youthful-sounding voice and optimism, voice pro Toby Tomplay's performance makes this practical advice something listeners will want to consider. None of the author's 10 lessons are new or groundbreaking. He offers a combination of advice about living wisely, being a productive individual, and conducting a business that focuses on honesty, gratitude, and service to... Read More

Narrator Saskia Maarleveld portrays 12-year-old Marta, who is traveling home to Germany with her father on the British ship LUSITANIA in 1915. Maarleveld's delivery reflects the pair's need to disguise their German accents to avoid the other passengers' suspicion that they're German spies. When the ship is torpedoed by a German U-boat, Maarleveld delivers heart-pounding scenes... Read More

Lee Osorio's skilled narration is perfectly matched to this genre-bending mystery. After the tragic death of his wife, private investigator Riv leaves his New York home and heads to Colombia, where he reconnects with family. There, he is drawn into finding a missing young woman who is feared to be in the clutches of the feared villain Exeter Mondragon. With his use of accents... Read More

Golden Voice Juliet Stevenson's wise, somewhat bemused voice has introduced dozens of British classics to a generation of listeners. Her approach is familiar, subdued, precise. She skillfully builds and shapes this unexpectedly compelling history of the world's most performed piece of music. How Handel's MESSIAH came to be is a story with many twists, but it provides a focus... Read More

Lindsey Dorcus narrates this historical mystery set in Washington, DC, in 1927. The story is told by Gertrude, a judge's daughter who attends a seminary for young women that prepares them for finding favorable marital matches. Prohibition is in full swing, but speakeasies abound, and Gertrude and her friends are not about to miss out. Everything changes when the headmistress is... Read More

Lakota/Mohawk narrator Charley Flyte returns to draw listeners into the brutal earthly and sad spiritual worlds of forensic photographer Rita Todacheene. Flyte masterfully meets the challenge of voicing Todacheene, conveying her torturous special gift to see and hear the spirits of those who have died by violence. Shifting seamlessly between Todacheene's perspective and the... Read More

Cassandra Campbell offers a compelling saga that spans 25 years and eventually reveals carefully kept secrets. In the summer of 1932, on Cumberland Island, Georgia, an annual party is held at the Carnegie mansion. Present are families of the Gilded Age, including spoiled socialite Joanna Burton; her fiancé, Ellis Piedmont; and budding artist Cleo Woodbine. The three form an... Read More

Wes Anderson flawlessly portrays the prestigious C.C. Cecily, senior secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club. Cecily encourages kids to write to and get replies from beloved--or reviled--story characters. As delivered by Lydia Fox, Sleeping Beauty's yawn-filled commentary is sleep inducing as she describes her "exciting" life with the Prince. An 8-year-old asks Humpty Dumpty,... Read More

Narrators Connor Crais and CJ Bloom complement each other as a fake betrothed couple who are determined to end a generations-long feud between their families who own warring fruitcake and gingerbread businesses. Dane (Crais) and Amanda (Bloom) are tired of the fighting and the pressure to inherit the family businesses. As some family members try to get along, letters begin... Read More

Narrator JD Jackson's enchanting gravelly voice is an inspired match for this roller-coaster ride of an audio. As a young medium in a family of magic workers, Theo Tatterly considers himself up to any ghostly challenge. But when a terrifying hag appears during a field trip and his aunt has a premonition of doom, Theo finds himself tested to his limits and fighting for his life.... Read More

This audiobook is a wonderful example of the magic that occurs when a complex story is brought to life by the Golden Voice of Simon Vance. At its core, this is a mystery revolving around the sudden reappearance of Claire Lidman, who has been presumed dead for 14 years. Claire's husband, Samuel, hires Hans Rekke, a disgraced professor, and Detective Michaela Vargas to solve the... Read More

This audiobook challenges the notion that artificial intelligence has emerged without human involvement, thoroughly examining the toll AI has taken on the countless unseen workers who were so crucial to its development. Narrator Orlando Wells is superb. Reflecting grit and candor, he recounts the development of AI from the vantage point of its often unheard workers. These... Read More

Sneha Mathan's narration immerses listeners in a story of forbidden connection and social upheaval. Vijaya is the daughter of aristocrats, and Krishna is the son of one the family's servants. Their bond is forged across entrenched divides of class and privilege. Mathan's delivery evokes the contrasting worlds of the two families, with each character brought to life through a... Read More

Narrator Amy Hall sensitively recounts this children's story. Twelve-year-old Wren's mom is one of many Indigenous women who have gone missing in Oklahoma. Channeling her desire to find out what happened to her mother, Wren volunteers at an animal shelter, finding lost pets and working on other cases involving animals, and, ultimately, one involving a friend. Hall portrays Wren... Read More

Narrators Hathaway Lee and E.J. Bingham delight listeners in this heartfelt contemporary romance. Lucie Stone is a single mom, a mechanic, and a hopeless romantic. Aiden Valentine has fallen out of love with love. Ironically, he hosts Baltimore's late-night romance-radio hotline. When Lucie's daughter calls the hotline seeking advice for her mom, Lucie's conversation with Aiden... Read More

Katie Koster will charm a wide audience with this fun romantic performance. Wordle enthusiast Emily daydreams at her dead-end job as a receptionist at a car shop. When her car's alternator dies, her co-worker, John, comes to her rescue, and the bland mechanic suddenly becomes interesting when he shares his own enjoyment of Wordle. Koster offers an authentic narration of this... Read More

Add "outstanding audiobook narrator" to Brown's impressive resumé. He is, after all, a Food Network personality, a cookbook author, and an avid food science researcher. Given his long-running gigs on "Iron Chef" and "Good Eats," along with his work as a pitchman for GE, it's no surprise that he performs his "essays and ruminations" smoothly and wittily. His range of interests... Read More

Safiyya Ingar's passionate, energetic narration enhances this audiobook retelling of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, reimagined as a girl's quest for revenge. After nearly a year in prison for a crime she didn't commit, Dania is determined to escape and hold her ex-lover, Mazin, responsible for his betrayal. Her partner in this venture is Noor, a fellow prisoner with the ability to... Read More

Sophie Amoss narrates this story set in nineteenth-century Russia's Jewish communities. After fleeing from an arranged marriage, 17-year-old Sorel navigates gender identity. Sorel assumes the masculine identity Isser Jacobs, only to learn that Isser Jacobs is a real person who sold illegal political pamphlets translated into Yiddish. Magical elements including dybbuks (angels)... Read More

Elliot Fitzpatrick does a good job of narrating this account of the Siege of Leningrad, 1941-44, which has a slight twist to it. This story focuses on how a small group of botanists and their assistants saved the world's largest seed bank from being consumed. The seed bank was collected by Nikolai Vavilov, who was arrested by the secret police before the war and died in custody... Read More

Jonas Oloffson's exploration of the sense of smell starts with herring: Narrator Adam Verner's light tone suggests Oloffson's awareness that his love of the fish dish is not widely shared. As a smell researcher, Oloffson undertakes such activities as smelling lampposts to understand what dogs smell and trying pungent durian ice cream in Singapore. Verner captures the author's... Read More

This brief but delightful and highly informed audiobook begins and ends with blue spheres. First, listeners learn that the blue marble that astronauts photographed from space actually had the South Pole on top until NASA flipped the image. It ends with the ever-present iPhone blue dot that locates Apple map users. Narrator Liam Garrigan has a natural storytelling style, and his... Read More

There's a presumed sense of fairness in our justice system. But Michael Beck's harrowing performances of 10 true stories of devastating injustices reveal the error of that presumption. A neighbor is falsely accused of murdering a woman on the same day that his wife has major surgery. Four Navy sailors are pushed into falsely confessing to a vicious crime in Norfolk. A man goes... Read More

Jennifer Sun Bell narrates this early novel by PACHINKO author Min Jin Lee. It's the story of Casey, a young Korean American woman who is striving to make her mark in New York City's wealthy financial sector. Bell does a proficient job narrating Casey's coming-of-age story; however, while she captures Casey's youthful spirit, her voice lacks the gravitas needed to animate the... Read More

An ensemble cast dramatizes the story of Poppy, destined to be the Maiden, who struggles against a life of restrictions while secretly training to fight. Her world unravels when Hawke, a charismatic guard, questions her beliefs and ignites forbidden desires. Amid political intrigue, deadly Craven, and rising rebellion, Poppy must confront the truth about her kingdom and... Read More

It would be an understatement to call actor Josh Brolin's candid and honest memoir bizarre and epically confusing. He narrates the content artfully and understandably, with solid enunciation. However, the content takes the form of what sounds like brief diary entries that discuss his films, his parents--actor James Brolin and former casting director Jane Cameron Agee--and his... Read More

George Blagden offers a winning performance of travel writer Gabriel Dax, who finds himself a pawn in a game he never expected to find himself playing. Not long after Gabriel's interview with Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, she is killed. A series of strange coincidences occurs, and suddenly Gabriel is reluctantly up to his neck in spy craft. MI6, the CIA, and... Read More

Narrator Patricia Santomasso captures Maggie's turmoil when she discovers a dead body with a boot tied to it buried in her hometown's community garden. The amateur sleuth has just moved back to Marlowe, Massachusetts. In this award-winning debut mystery, Maggie is at least one step ahead of the local police, who want her to stay out of their investigation, which of course she... Read More

Glory Edim, founder of the Well-Read Black Girl book club, performs her eloquent new memoir with charm and enthusiasm. The memoir is structured around the books that have been significant in her life, particularly those written by Black authors: Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde, and more. Growing up in Arlington, Virginia, the child of Nigerian... Read More

Narrators Délé Ogundiran and Ore Apampa-Araba take turns contributing a feminine, Nigerian-accented narration to this collection of 12 short stories by Nigerian American author Pemi Aguda. Spanning various swaths of life across Lagos, the befittingly accented voicings set the scene for new mothers and fathers, a nanny, children, teenagers, and adults alike. With themes of... Read More

Hannah Van Der Westhuysen narrates this beautifully crafted biography, which captures the wonder of Jeanne Villepreux-Power's life. Born in 1794 to a dressmaker and a cobbler, Jeanne spent her childhood watching her parents transform scraps into something remarkable. Eventually, she became an acclaimed seamstress herself. However, her deepest passion lay in nature, particularly... Read More

Golden Voice January LaVoy clearly differentiates the many characters in this story and smoothly transitions among them. She gives the deepest portrayals of the two main characters and their developing relationship: sullen, angry 14-year-old Ruby, who is accused of murder and is facing being moved to an adult women's prison, and compassionate Cadence Ware, the calm social... Read More

As she performs this galvanizing piece of cultural history, Adenrele Ojo's pacing and vocal character balance the formality needed for the material and the inviting tone that makes the story engaging. A financial media journalist and economics scholar recounts the trailblazing efforts of entrepreneur Carol Green and other prominent women to start a bank that would treat women... Read More

Narrators Victoria Connolly and Jason Clarke enchant listeners in this heartfelt contemporary romance. Millie loves her job as an entomology curator at a museum; now she has the opportunity to interview for the position of department director. Finn is learning how to handle his job at the museum while raising his nieces after the death of his sister. These two may need each... Read More

A stellar cast performs Tennessee Williams's first major play, produced here by L.A. Theatre Works. Calista Flockhart has the difficult role of the painfully shy Laura Wingfield, while Julie Harris is her overbearing and talkative mother, Amanda. John Goodman soberly narrates the painful story, which is based on Laura's brother Tom's memories of his family's struggles to stay... Read More

In French author Giebel's homage to John Steinbeck's OF MICE AND MEN, narrator Max Meyers portrays the loving brothers Léonard and Jorge with deep empathy and the increasing tension of inevitable tragedy. Léo, who was a foundling, is continually victimized because of his size and reduced intellect. In addition to extraordinary abuse, he suffers from the delusion that his... Read More

The warmth of Shamaan Casey's baritone surrounds listeners just as words envelop young James Baldwin in this biography. Quartez Harris's text shifts between a straightforward account and an ecstatic celebration. Casey navigates these tonal transitions with ease, expressing "Jimmy's" fascination with language in occasional meditative recitations of words and phrases. Sorrowful... Read More

This audiobook tells the story of 30-something Téo, who becomes the guardian of a toddler named Joel after the suicide of the boy's mother. Téo is joined in this new endeavor by three others: Ben, his best mate; Sybil, a progressive female rabbi; and Vic, his elderly disabled father. Jot Davies narrates this family story. While some voices, like that of Joel, prove a bit... Read More

Ruth Wison's narration of this children's classic gives listeners an alternative to the previous full-cast version. In 11-year-old Lyra's parallel version of Oxford, human souls take the form of lifelong animal companions called daemons. When her friend Roger is taken by child-snatchers known as Gobblers, Lyra's quest to bring him back leads her to a tribe of seafarers,... Read More

Asian American actors Angela Lin and Jenapher Zheng are perfect as a determined lawyer who hires her independent-minded sister to be a Mandarin-English translator in a high-stakes multinational lawsuit. In this complex and compelling drama, emotions run high, and ethics run low when the Chinese government partners with an American tech giant to enhance the country's internet... Read More

Author Emi Watanabe Cohen narrates her second novel, a story of Jewish identity and magic. When Faye's estranged Jewish grandfather sends her older brother a lump of clay for his bar mitzvah, the gift propels the two kids into an adventure in Jewish history and culture. Listeners will assume that this is a conventional middle-grade fantasy, but it turns complex and dark about... Read More

Golden Voice narrator January LaVoy brings empathy and believable characterizations to this multigenerational saga by the author of the bestselling novel BLACK CAKE. Years ago, Ebby Freeman's brother was killed and a family heirloom shattered in a still unsolved crime. In the present, Ebby, who's from an affluent Black family, has been jilted by her white fiancé. After bolting... Read More

Nila tells no one who she is in this coming-of-age story of a 19-year-old Afghan girl who lives in Germany, where she tries to find her way to adulthood. Narrator Mozhan Navabi ably portrays Nila in a breathy voice. Her life is full of anger and pain from the recent loss of her mother. She becomes romantically involved with an older American man named Marlowe, a writer whose... Read More

Soneela Nankani's narration adds depth and charm to this unique take on a woman's divorce forcing her into discovering her resilience. When dutiful Jyoti, at her husband's request, quits her job and then fails to have their baby, he divorces her, and she finds herself truly at rock bottom. Through Nankani's skilled performance, Jyoti's journey from conformity to empowerment... Read More

Top-notch narrations from Ony Uhiara and Sam Stafford make Jay's unflinching look at systemic racism sound and feel truthful. After numerous rejections from white London publishers and agents, determined playwright Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo, aka "Eddie," hits upon a daring scheme to get her play performed on the London stage. Uhiara's range of voices is impressive. She... Read More

Bernhard Schlink's new novel is an exceptional audiobook. The nuanced portrayals of the characters come through remarkably well for listeners. Both Richard Burnip and Sarah Moule are fine narrators who perform with an impeccable tempo, pace, and cadence. The mysterious plot concerns a Berlin bookseller, Kaspar, who engineered his wife Birgit's escape from East Germany 40 years... Read More

While a dark mystery propels this narrative, the novella is really a character study of five insomniac night owls brought to life by five talented vocal artists. During their customary cemetery meetup, Edie, Hannah, Theo, Tuck, and Tamar find an unusual hole in the ground, which a gravedigger has filled with mutated rats. Curious--the group uses their specialties--Edie's... Read More

Bianca Amato's warm, beautifully enunciated narration adds to the enjoyment of spending time again with Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi of Botswana in the 25th installment of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The South African actor understands that the series' gentle humor and wisdom about human frailties are as important as the detective cases. In this instance, a succession... Read More

Frankie Corzo narrates a sprawling audiobook inspired by Belgium's long-running Tomorrowland music festival. Multiple storylines come together in a fantasy that spans several realities as the forces of good and evil clash. Corzo does an admirable job with the many characters and entities she is called upon to voice, and, ultimately, she pulls together a somewhat disjointed and... Read More

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith narrates an immersive fantasy set in post-WWII London. When Dennis Knuckleyard suddenly and violently learns there is a second London alongside the one he knows, it causes his entire worldview to reshape itself. Holdbrook-Smith depicts Dennis as naïve and somewhat feckless, mostly harmless, and truly out of his depth. The vast scope of characters Dennis... Read More

With his friendly, reedy English accent, content creator and social media stalwart Adrian Bliss takes the listener on a wonderful and often laugh-out-loud tour of the back pages of history, told from the perspective of some very odd characters. There's the ferret (or is it an ermine) that posed for one of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous paintings. A giant oak tree that helped... Read More

Avast, me hearties, what could be more fun for a seasoned narrator than to talk like a pirate for 12 hours? In this happy mash-up of Jules Verne, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Doctor Who, Colby Elliott gives distinctive voices to a number of landlubbers and the crew of the mighty, magical pirate ship THE ARK DE TRIOMPHE. After a close encounter with a Martian space fleet that... Read More

Catrin Walker-Booth narrates a fantasy inspired by British myth and legend. Jenny Greenteeth has lived a solitary life in her pond for hundreds of years, just as she likes it. When a witch is tossed in the pond to drown, Jenny has to re-evaluate what is important. Walker-Booth's portrayal of Jenny's emotional journey mirrors the quest she embarks on. It's difficult and at times... Read More

For those looking for a fun, at times even rollicking, cozy mystery full of delicious Filipino food and a bevy of delightful female characters, this installment of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries series, narrated by Danice Cabanela, will fit the bill. Set in the fictional Midwest town of Shady Palms, the story features Lila Macapagal, owner of the Brew-Ha Café, who is... Read More

Caitlin Kelly brings authenticity to her narration of this heartwarming debut middle-grade novel. Dee and Juniper were inseparable until sixth grade, but now they're in different classes, and Juniper seems to have found a new group of friends. Feeling isolated, Dee often hides in the bathroom, especially after an embarrassing incident with her mother. It's there she hears... Read More

Crisp and to the point, Matt Godfrey delivers this timely audiobook in a tone of urgency and optimism. Heaphy led the legal team charged with investigating the Unite the Right riots in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 and the January 6 riot in Washington, DC, in 2021. Listeners hear a concise overview of those events with well-organized details that illuminate how these... Read More

Amanda Troop narrates an intriguing nonlinear thriller about two estranged sisters who are searching for their mother, who abandoned them years earlier. Jane has settled into normalcy with a decent but dead-end job, a loving family, and an absent-minded father. Then she receives an email from her estranged twin sister, Lila, hinting that she knows the location of their mother.... Read More

Singer-songwriter Neko Case narrates her memoir and brings to it a vitality and dynamism that give the listener a sense of actually being with her as she falls victim to manipulation by her mother, beginning at age 8. Case allows us to feel the tumult and trauma of impoverishment, neglect, and a steady stream of dislocations and relocations. Case balances these with a gentler... Read More

Narrator Robin Miles doesn't miss a nuance in this passionate fictionalization of Jessie Redmon Fauset's life (18821961). W.E.B. Du Bois, founder and editor of the NAACP's magazine THE CRISIS, hired Fauset as literary editor, a prestigious appointment unheard of for a woman, particularly a Black woman, in her time. Fauset's unprecedented work finding and first publishing... Read More

Harpo Marx was known as the silent Marx Brother. In the foreword of this audiobook Johnny Heller describes the voice he uses to narrate the pantomime comedian's fascinating recollections of his life from childhood to stardom, first published in 1961. Heller refers to the voice he created as "1930s East Side" and resembling that of Harpo's brother Groucho. As for tone, Heller... Read More

Maggi-Meg Reed shines in this psychological thriller pitting an octogenarian against an 8-year-old boy. Listeners are in for dark humor, plot twists, and increasing suspense. Set during Covid at the Royal Karnak Hotel on the banks of the Nile, the story features 81-year-old Maggie Burkhardt, a meddler who gets involved in fixing people's lives--even when she shouldn't. After... Read More

This audiobook, translated from the Korean, follows Jungmin, a young woman who quits her job and isolates herself in her apartment. When she goes for a walk and stumbles into a pottery workshop, it opens up her world again. Jennifer Kim narrates with a scene-setting Korean accent and effortlessly pronounces the Korean names and words. While her delivery can be somewhat choppy,... Read More

In a warm, comforting voice, award-winning narrator Kimberly Farr brings this epic love story to life, giving full attention and spirit to each character. Farr's voices are easily distinguishable, and each one is perfectly suited to the person portrayed. Abe and Ruth Winter met on a blind date in college in the 1950s and moved through the ups and downs of marriage, children,... Read More

Narrator Rong Fu returns in the next audiobook in the Iron Widow series. Zetian has awakened Qin Zheng, legendary emperor of Huaxia from centuries past. He desires a complete overhaul of Huaxia to eliminate corruption and misogyny, but despite a common goal, it is still one Zetian is forced into. Fu skillfully adjusts her accent when voicing Qin Zheng, using a British accent... Read More

Esme Lonsdale, Vidish Athavale, and Rachel Petladwala bring palpable chemistry to the complex relationships in this epic fantasy. Something is afoot in the empire as three young people walk toward their destinies: Aiz communes with a holy spirit to get power to avenge her oppressed people, Prince Quil must soon step into a leadership role, and tracker Sirsha gets wrapped up... Read More

Listeners who know England's King Henry V primarily through Shakespeare's history plays will be enlightened and only a little disappointed with this authenticated, unromanticized biography of the storied "warrior king." With urbane ease and a gift for telling detail, British popular historian Dan Jones guides listeners through the tangled histories of the Hundred Years War, the... Read More

Brittany Pressley narrates a fun time-travel romance set in Chicago. Recently divorced museum conservator Emily Porter is startled to hear a voice in her head, and even more startled when a statue of Sir Griffin de Beauford comes to life. Pressley captures the humor inherent in the fish-out-of-water elements of Griffin's experiences as a knight from 1428 who has been... Read More

Brian Nishii, who was born and raised in Tokyo, is the perfect voice to narrate these eyewitness accounts of the bombing of Hiroshima. This volume is the first of a two-volume series on the atomic bombings of August 1945. Drawing on extensive interviews with those who survived, called "hibakusha" in Japanese, author Sheftall gives great detail on the day-to-day lives of the... Read More

This somewhat tongue-in-cheek memoir of a boy's coming of age in Britain before, during, and after WWII is splendidly narrated by Gerard Doyle. Rendel, who was born in 1926 and died in 2014, describes his life with humor and insight. His service as a coder on HMS CAVENDISH in the Pacific is interesting as it presents a common sailor's remembrance of the British contribution to... Read More

Narrators Katharine Chin and Kenneth Lee captivate with this 60-year saga. Childhood sweethearts Haiwen and Suchi grow up in the same Shanghai neighborhood before being torn apart by war and time. Suchi's perspective, narrated by Chin, moves forward in time, while Haiwen's, narrated by Lee, moves backward. Chin's voice is warm and emotive, capturing Suchi's personality as she... Read More

Narrator Amanda Lee Cobb begins her portrayal of Zo Grey's many troubles in a depressed tone. Zo can't hold a job because she's taking care of her dying mother, a situation that adds to her financial struggles. But when a fire kills her mother, Zo's given a life-changing inheritance with some otherworldly strings. Cobb's performance matches Zo's anxiety and cautiousness as she... Read More

A cast of talented narrators lend their voices to the 30th installment of the Alex Cross series. Supreme Court candidates are being murdered as the president-elect plans her inauguration. Cross and his colleagues must figure out who is behind the killings and why. As he draws closer to the answer, his wife and best friend disappear, leaving him with two major cases to solve.... Read More

The third book in the Witchlings series, delightfully narrated by Cyrina Fiallo, sees friends Seven Salazar and Thorn Laroux searching for a cure for their best friend, Valley Pepperhorn, who has been turned to stone. As "spares" of Ravenskill, the girls have less magic and power than traditional witches. And as the tension between spares and witches escalates, spares begin to... Read More

Imani Jade Powers performs a cozy fantasy about a grieving witch who finds solace at a magical home under the watchful eye of a mythical beast named Frank. Saika lost her magical powers in the same series of events that took her beloved sister. She journeys to put her sister to rest and arrives at the famous Ash Gardens, where she's quickly taken in by Frank and then discovers... Read More

Chris Abernathy's clipped narration exudes the enthusiasm of David Novak, who believes that the best leaders commit to a lifetime of learning. Novak's charmed ascent from a trailer park childhood to cofounding Yum! Brands is made more remarkable by his approach to business leadership. Social media, fantasy films, and gaming references abound, and listeners dedicated to those... Read More

Every second of this dynamic production--from the bouncing notes of the opening theme to the last snapped finger--creates a musical soundscape. Narrator Karen Murray's sweet and steady tones guide the listener through a history of Black music told in rolling lines of poetry. Murray moves seamlessly from the talking drums of Africa through the origins of the blues, jazz, funk,... Read More

Beverley A. Crick returns to narrate another Bateman Regency romance, the second in the Her Majesty's Rebels series. Eleanor Law, one-third of the King & Co. private investigation firm, finds herself working closely with dashing thief Harry after he brazenly steps into the role of the business's fictitious owner. The duo's attraction is undeniable, but can it survive... Read More

Singer-songwriter Randy Preston gives voice to and plays music for the third book in this "how to" series. Opening with guitar music, Preston then provides a nuanced, emotional performance of the text. Speaking with energy and varied volume, pacing, and pitch, he encourages kids to listen to sounds all around them, feel the music inside them, and let it take control as it goes... Read More

Disability rights advocate Johanna Hedva performs their essay collection, 10 years in the making. Hedva's observations about society are sharp and insightful. Disability sits at the core of their writing, and they challenge listeners to see it as a social experience, in addition to a biological one. Their essays also tackle other topics, such as Asian American identity,... Read More

Performing this moving guide to dealing with cold weather and other life challenges, mindset expert Kari Leibowitz sounds like the curious and indomitable researcher she is. The energy in her voice conveys a faith in humanity that works well with her optimistic insights and thoughtful suggestions. She pursued her interest in how the mind influences the body by taking a... Read More

Allison Sweet Grant portrays 19-year-old Elisabeth Amos, who has fled her home to live quietly in an isolated Wisconsin town. The audiobook moves back and forth in time. Surviving brutal medical procedures done to lengthen Elisabeth's bones takes place at home, and enduring a snowstorm and power outage takes place in Wisconsin. Time shifts are differentiated through chapter... Read More

Jacqui Bardelang's narration plays up the various elements in this rom-com, which turns into a murder cover-up. Journalist Khin Haymar is sent to secure an exclusive interview with Tyler Tun, a reclusive movie star who is filming in Myanmar. Bardelang's delivery captures Khin's determination and increasing inner conflict as she balances her journalistic ambition and her growing... Read More

Narrators Shahjehan Khan and Jennifer Blom excel as the stakes rise in this suspenseful thriller. When the body of his girlfriend, Ashley, is found at the bottom of a ravine near the home of her ex-lover, Bella, small-town reporter Roman Grady's investigation into her death sparks a flame that threatens everyone. When did Ashley reconnect with unstable Bella? What is everyone... Read More

Gail Shalan's narration provides a lighthearted tone to Beth Kander's clever and insightful story, which will allow listeners to empathize with her protagonist and enjoy this take on the difficulties of grief. Eve is overwhelmed with her life, dealing with worries about potential layoffs at work; her upcoming 40th birthday, which will coincide with her younger sister's wedding;... Read More

Smoothly shifting between tones of self-indulgence, sincerity, sarcasm, and abject fear, Vikas Adam narrates this comedy of errors in which the protagonist may end up either in jail or on the NEW YORK TIMES Best-Seller List, or both. It all starts when a down-in-the-dumps, down-on-his-luck gay writer uses a dating app to connect with a handsome stranger, has a wonderful night... Read More

Erin Moon regales listeners with this close-up look at the inner workings of a family that is faced with coinciding personal and global crises. Canadians Marlen and Hilda must process a terminal diagnosis, along with news of an oncoming cosmic disaster. Moon capably balances portrayals of the extended family members who gather on the family farm at Christmastime and the... Read More

Janina Edwards's warm voice and calm delivery welcome listeners into this history of the rivalry and struggle that brought about legal birth control in America. Beginning in the 1910s, Margaret Sanger and Mary Ware Dennett waged individual battles for women's reproductive autonomy. Over the years, Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, and Dennett, author of the educational... Read More

Bahni Turpin gives voice to an appealing heroine in this compelling fantasy mystery set in the U.S. during the early 1930s, when Prohibition outlaws both alcohol and some magic. Stunt pilot and former bootlegger Velma Frye also works for a magical rights group. A murder investigation leads her to the existence of magical objects that cause harm, and tracking them down takes... Read More

Narrator Alexander Skarsgard provides the ideal voice for this audiobook. Just as one settles in with what seems like a typical Western, something occurs that reveals there's nothing typical about it. Hakan, a reserved Swede of intimidating size, must navigate a strange country where dangers abound. Skarsgard's gentle tone suggests an innocence glowing halo-like over Hakan. At... Read More

Scott Brick is the voice of ex-military cop Jack Reacher in this 29th installment in the series. Here Reacher is suffering from memory loss following a car accident that killed the driver. He awakens strapped to a table by people who think he's the driver's accomplice. He then becomes embroiled with four thieves, each of whom is trying to outwit and double-cross the others.... Read More

Shaan Dasani's engaging performance captures all the tumultuous emotions Darby experiences upon returning to his Illinois hometown for the first time since he transitioned and came out. Adrift and unmoored, he discovers a portal in the bookstore he used to work at that allows him to talk to his teenage self. Dasani's voice moves between exasperation, confusion, pent-up anger,... Read More

Narrator Natalie Naudus voices this intriguing teen fantasy about an outcast princess with the rare ability to control both fire and water. After surviving multiple attempts on her life and being betrothed against her will, Princess Teia hatches a plan to infiltrate the rebellious Dawnbreakers and betray them to her cruel older brother to gain his favor. Naudus narrates... Read More

Narrating in his gravelly timbre and Scottish accent, Callum Robinson invites listeners into his workshop as he recalls the highs and lows of his bespoke woodworking business. The son of a master woodworker, Robinson found his way into the profession as an apprentice and then learned more through his travels. Reflecting on childhood lessons, he marvels at how far his father's... Read More

Magic-loving young listeners have a new world to explore. With a crisp English accent and a spirited performance, Ell Potter invites listeners into this middle-grade adventure. Eleven-year-old Meticulous (Metty) has been afraid of her own fate ever since her magical tattoo predicted she'd become a murderer. When her father disappears, Metty is desperate to find him. As she... Read More

Author Cornelia Funke narrates an introduction that reviews the previous books in this complex multi-world fantasy series. Then narrator Allan Corduner takes over, expertly delivering Funke's dark storytelling style. Corduner's deep and emotive voice conveys the dread of Dustfinger, the Fire-Dancer, and his companions as they maneuver to thwart the plans of Orpheus, a vengeful,... Read More

Leadership expert Adam Galinsky, who is also a social psychologist, offers tips, research, and stories in support of his belief that effective leadership is created through leaders inspiring others, rather than infuriating them. Narrator Will Damron's clear performance is perfectly matched to the material. Damron's narration exudes the author's gravitas and sense of urgency.... Read More

Jon Waterman has written an ode to an Alaskan wilderness that is quickly disappearing due to climate change. His warm, almost poetic text, combined with photos in a pdf file, paints a clear portrait of what is and what was. Sadly, his narration doesn't match his words. The tone is reverent, and his delivery generally matches it. But many times he starts a sentence with a loud... Read More

Adam Verner narrates the story of the 1924 attempt to fly around the world, which brought together American, British, French, Italian, and South American pilots. The Americans started in California and headed west--the others, east. Their goal: to circumnavigate the earth by air, hopscotching from landing fields over lakes and rivers, icy glaciers and deserts while battling... Read More

Clinical psychologist Robin Smith and actor Courtney Vance share their experiences and insights about how Black men can deal with the emotional effects of racism in America. They alternate narrating this important memoir/guide, Dr. Smith with empathy for the Black men and families she's treated and Vance with his rich voice and dramatic flair. Their performances are well suited... Read More

A new audiobook fantasy series begins with the awakening of a magical race that has been hibernating for hundreds of years. Now they are bent on destroying the mortals who kept evolving while they were sleeping. Narrator Kate Rudd nails the main character, Robinson, who has developed a new way of training sorcerers. Rudd does well with male characters, especially Robinson, a... Read More

In this touching memoir, author Paul Weigel describes surviving an emotionally cold childhood by persevering with his schoolwork and entering athletic competitions. Later, as a dad, he describes the importance of his devotion to his daughter. Being a father is a source of peace and inspiration for the author, whose love for his daughter was essential to his overcoming cancer... Read More

Narrator Kerry Gilbert embodies spunky journalist Anna Appleby, a newly divorced mother of two who has sworn off love and dating in this charming British rom-com. As Anna valiantly juggles work commitments and her children's needs, her new co-worker, Will, makes a move to take over her weekly column. To keep her job, Anna pitches a new column idea that has her children choosing... Read More

Does your work give back as much as it takes away? That's the question asked by two academics whose interests are in organizational life and the philosophy of work. Full of vivid stories about people who are and are not fulfilled by their jobs, they describe the obstacles people face who look for meaning in how they earn a living. The two authors narrate the preface and... Read More

Narrator JD Jackson delivers a stirring performance of this cathartic companion to Daniel Black's DON'T CRY FOR ME. Isaac, a young, queer Black man, undertakes therapy for help processing his emotions following the death of his father. His therapist encourages him to write down his life story to help him unpack its difficult circumstances. Jackson moves listeners with his raw... Read More

Set on an island off the coast of Maine, this compelling coming-of-age novel captures the listener's attention. Evan Sibley performs this audiobook with narrative drive, a convincing tone, and a sure sense of the unfolding drama. The setting is a posh but remote club on fictional Whaleback Island--just the place to retrain young misfits to work hard on land and sea to please... Read More

Fiona Hardingham narrates this fictional memoir of orphaned noblewoman Marguerite de la Roque, ward of her cousin, the adventurer and speculator Jean François de la Roque de Roberval. Hardingham's unemotional tone varies subtly to capture Marguerite's and Roberval's aristocratic status. Telling her story as a flashback, Marguerite painstakingly recounts her life of loss,... Read More

Emily Lawrence and Andrew Eiden delight listeners in this heartfelt, hilarious romantic comedy. When Emily Edwards decides to fulfill her late father's bucket list by visiting a remote island, she hires a tour guide to help with her lack of outdoor experience. Ryder Fleet isn't a wilderness expert, but he needs some money to preserve his brother's memory and his adventure... Read More

It's easy to understand why Brad Meltzer and many other authors love to have Scott Brick perform their work. His delivery is impassioned, impossible to ignore. When he's excited about a passage, which is often, the excitement is contagious, making the work impossible to turn off. Brick's no-nonsense style makes the audiobook even more enjoyable. He's a good match for Meltzer,... Read More

Authors Ethan Bernstein and Michael B. Horn narrate this audiobook's introduction and acknowledgements, while voice pro Adam Barr performs the chapters. In a clear, steely voice, Barr performs the thoughtful guide to job hunting with a vocal tone and phrasing that convey friendliness and respect for the authors' empowering message. Through their research and consulting... Read More

Richard Armitage narrates the 20th Anniversary Edition of this sprawling fantasy with elegance. In 1806, the slightly pompous and painstakingly precise Mr. Norrell emerges from rural obscurity to proclaim himself the last true magician in England. As an epic story of the Napoleonic Wars and wizardry unfolds, audacious Jonathan Strange becomes, first, Norrell's pupil and, then,... Read More

Narrator Emily Lawrence aids listeners in picturing Yocheved (Yoyo) Gold, eldest daughter of an Orthodox rabbi. Lawrence captures the intelligence, wit, and leadership that have made her a respected, responsible family member and friend. Lawrence also depicts Yoyo's sense of irony and inner turmoil when her best friend is sent away to a boarding school after kissing a boy.... Read More

Any listener who's a fan of Julia Child will delight in this audiobook, which is a metaphorical time capsule of American home kitchens in the second half of the twentieth century. Elizabeth Wiley describes how Julia and her husband, Paul, organized their kitchen for comfort, efficiency, and hospitality in their Cambridge home. Wiley warmly narrates the many interviews of the... Read More

Narrators Isabelle Turner and Lee Samuels combine their talents to depict the romance between Lauren Connelly and Chase Gossard. Lauren needs a date to bring to her sister's wedding. Chase has been roped into being in a bachelor auction, and Lauren bids on him for the weekend wedding. Both Turner and Samuels deliver smooth narrations with each handling male and female voices... Read More

Connor Crais and Samantha Cook combine their talents to narrate the romance that sparks between Samantha Dare and Dex Sterling. Samantha is running away from her wedding after finding out her fiancé has been cheating on her. While running, Samantha is nearly hit by Dex Sterling's car. The two know each other, and Dex whisks her away. Dex has always had feelings for Samantha,... Read More