New Reviews by Title: K-O

Famous Filipino American drag queen Manila Luzon gives a heartfelt, charming narration of this delightful rom-com. Rex takes his drag queen persona, Regina, online in order to use his popularity to save a karaoke bar--all the while keeping his drag life a secret from his father. As he becomes successful, he also is faced with the need to reveal who he is to the world in order... Read More

Narrator Peter Romano's soft voice is at an appropriate volume for Syrian American Kareem, a middle child who feels unseen at home and at school. Kareem's deep feelings are revealed through the verses delivered by Romano. He narrates attentively with careful attention to the football idioms and metaphors that depict Kareem's passion. Romano's ability to shift between Syrian... Read More

The Scopes Monkey Trial was settled almost a hundred years ago, but if you think the issues it raised regarding what can be taught in public schools were settled, you're wrong. Brenda Wineapple's history of the trial, its antecedents, and its aftereffects--ably narrated by Gabra Zackman--ties the trial into continuing themes in American culture and politics. Science and... Read More

Actor, filmmaker, and author Edward Burns's narration features gentle humor and an unmistakable Long Island accent. His novel takes listeners on a bright-eyed and bittersweet tour of a sensitive child's recollections of growing up in the outer reaches of New York City in the 1970s. The novel seamlessly weaves tales of his 1940s immigrant grandparents; his stern father, a cop;... Read More

Narrator Troy Glasgow is a gift--a natural storyteller who knows how to pace this dynamic debut. Glasgow's acting prowess is on full display as his baritone voice seeps into listeners' ears--and into their souls. He carries listeners into, as described in this book, "the secret side of [London], full of winding, serpentine streets and back-alley bargains . . . It was the outer... Read More

Two new audiobooks--THE STALIN AFFAIR and now this full biography--present a fresh, sympathetic view of one of the last century's most intriguing and maligned figures, Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Harriman. She was the daughter-in-law of Winston Churchill, the widow of the astronomically wealthy Averill Harriman, the lover of a legion of powerful men, the patron to a... Read More

Narrator Caroline Fantozzi's exultant performance will swell the Scroogiest listener's heart as she recounts the challenges surrounding an underdog CHRISTMAS CAROL production. Fantozzi illuminates the pure soul of school counselor Harriet Smith, who fights her Christmas mopes with diligent care of five at-risk teens. Harriet sounds both determined and desperate as she faces... Read More

Crews's novel, published in 1988, is finally on audio, and it's worth the wait. Matt Godfrey's masterful storytelling brings it to life. Part of "Southern grit lit," the story focuses on Eugene Talmadge Biggs, a prizefighter who discovers that his most lucrative skill is his ability to knock himself unconscious. Biggs capitalizes on the public's thirst to see this talent,... Read More

Mary Mouser, Tyler Posey, and a full cast delight listeners in this immersive rom-com. Cleo has been obsessed with the decades-old game show "Know Your Newlywed," in which married couples compete. Currently pursuing her PhD in anthrozoology, she has put aside finding a relationship. But then she comes across Javi's dating app profile and discovers he loves "Know Your Newlywed,"... Read More

Expertly narrated by Imani Jade Powers, this speculative fiction enters the mind and motives of Lady Macbeth. While she's reminiscent of Shakespeare's character, many of the events depart from the play's, allowing us to see things through her eyes. Seventeen-year-old Roscille, allegedly cursed by witches, drives men mad after one look into her eyes. Against her will, she's... Read More

Speaking with a Wisconsin accent, Brian Reisinger pours a lot of passion into this audiobook, so it's appropriate that listeners can hear the emotion in his voice. This audiobook is part memoir and part history of the ongoing challenges faced by American farmers. Reisinger weaves the two narrative threads skillfully. Sometimes the narration sounds rushed, and occasionally even... Read More

Hanako Footman's delicate tones resonate with the otherworldly atmosphere of this short novel about revisiting cherished memories. Footman sustains the intrigue regarding Mr. Hirasaka, an affable guide of the afterlife who owns a fantastical photo studio somewhere between life and death. Although he assists each of the three characters--an old woman, a gangster, and a girl--to... Read More

A supremely talented cast narrates 12 short works that could only have originated from master storyteller/director Pedro Almodóvar. This first collection ranges from personal essays--there's one about the death of his mother--to a fascinating retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" that revolves around the Spanish Queen Juana la Loca. Fans of Almodóvar's work will recognize the story... Read More

In this locked-room fantasy, Moira Quirk's vocal confidence and captivating talent are on full display. Just two months after giving birth, the famous Hound Guildmember Kembral Thorne attends a New Year's Eve party. But what's supposed to be a gathering of various public officials and guilds quickly becomes a bloodbath. Violent creatures come out of nowhere to kill guests and... Read More

Tamika Katon-Donegal narrates this fantasy, the first in a series. From the moment Kai wakes up in the woods with amnesia and discovers her belongings have been looted, life becomes a struggle. With the help of a gorgeous man who, suspiciously, seems too skilled at swordplay to be stuck in such a remote town, Kai hopes to regain her memories. Narrating quickly, Katon-Donegal... Read More

John Pirhalla portrays an everyday guy named Frank whose life is turned upside down when his estranged daughter gets in touch to announce her wedding to Aidan, the son of a tech billionaire. When Frank mysteriously receives a photo of Aidan with a missing girl, he decides to investigate to ensure the safety of his daughter. Pirhalla's excellent narration highlights Frank's... Read More

This audiobook begins with a thoughtful foreword, written and narrated by Idra Novey, and a comprehensive introduction that provides essential historical and linguistic context, narrated by translator Gwendolyn Harper. Then, Vico Ortiz vividly narrates the selection of crónicas (short chronicles) written by Chilean queer activist and artist Pedro Lemebel. These essays are a... Read More

In this dual-perspective romance, Ellie Gossage ably performs both narrators with voices that fit their distinct personalities. Bubbly, optimistic Opal wins the lottery and uses most of her newfound wealth to outright purchase a beautiful flower farm in Appalachian North Carolina. But when she arrives at her new home, she discovers cynical Pepper, who has been living and... Read More

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin has reconstructed her set of presidential biographies about four great American leaders to aim at a young audience. Briefly describing each president's early years before expanding on his leadership skills, Kearns encourages listeners with the idea that anyone can rise to an influential role. Lincoln is surprisingly voiced by Graham Sibley as a... Read More

L.J. Ganser gives a superb performance of this true account of how five shipwrecked sailors, three British and two American, survived on the Falkland Islands for 18 months during the War of 1812. Dolin's work is amazingly detailed with all things Falkland--history, flora, fauna, oceanography, meteorology--and he makes all of it interesting and engaging. He gives spellbinding... Read More

Le Guin's thought-provoking classic can be a challenge for any narrator. Her ahead-of-its-time narrative is a crazy quilt of excerpts from anthropological reports, cultural myths, and even a personal journal. Yet that doesn't seem to faze Golden Voice Michael Crouch in this gripping audiobook. Using a variety of accents, he brings to life the difficult mission of a human envoy... Read More

Narrator Annie Maynard's comfortable tone and Australian accent set the scene for this audiobook. Kerryn Mayne's debut introduces listeners to Lenny Marks, a fifth-grade teacher in her mid-30s. When a letter from her parole board addressed to Helena Winters is delivered to her school, Lenny's long-buried past is resurrected. Maynard injects humor and pathos as she brings this... Read More

Narrator Mia Barron displays deft timing and impressive range in her performance of this story of a blockbuster author beset by writer's block and her biggest fan. When early-onset dementia overtakes 40-year-old Libby Weeks, she's desperate enough to seek out 11-year-old Peanut, whose persistent fan mail suggests she might be able to help Libby finally complete the much-delayed... Read More

While listening to this audiobook, one must believe the impossible is possible--maybe even probable. The otherworldly story begins with an email from a despondent college student, Morris, to his former math teacher, Grace. Jordan Stephens narrates the gloomy email, and listeners feel his pain. Grace responds by telling her amazing story of how she, at age 72, found new energy... Read More

In this entertaining account of the jazz saxophone player's life in music, we hear about the hard work, maturity, and self-respect that Kenny G applied during every phase of his fifty-year career. The diminutive Jewish boy who was bullied at his Seattle high school recounts discovering the saxophone and playing pro gigs with prominent jazz and pop bands as a teenager. Learning... Read More

Comedian, actor, and writer Jenny Slate is observant, sharp, and vulnerable in her latest audiobook about the nature of life. Her focus is wide--ranging from pregnancy and birthing to her place in the universe. The totality of the listening experience is deeply moving and delivered with a kind of openness that simply compels listeners to pay attention. Slate is not above the... Read More

With his recognizable gravelly voice, the Hootie and the Blowfish singer delivers his heartfelt memoir with genuine gusto. He narrates clearly and naturally, always sounding engaged with the considerable pathos of his personal life and career in music: his substance abuse, early career playing at frat parties and dive bars, and eventual status as a solo country music star. What... Read More

Narrator Shannon Tyo delivers this audiobook's author's note, briefly describing Seal's real-life struggles with anorexia, clinical depression, suicidal ideation, and skin picking--all of which started during her teen years. Tyo tempers this opening with the author's understanding of and respect for resilient teens who currently face these challenges. Once the story begins, Tyo... Read More

Bahni Turpin's performance takes listeners to that time in the early 1990s when the world was changing and the latest alternative rock bands were everything. Jane meets burgeoning rock star Elijah in an Internet chat room, a connection that leads to a deep professional and personal bond. They form The Lightning Bottles and amass a devoted fan base, with Jane providing the... Read More

Rebecca Lowman superbly narrates this messy multigenerational story of ambition and intergenerational trauma. Lowman's tones of indignation and ruthlessness capture Lila, executive editor of a prestigious Washington, DC, newspaper. After enduring a brutal childhood, Lila's focus is on her career; she leaves the care of her three daughters to her supportive husband, Joe. Her... Read More

Eunice Wong's narration of this debut novel captures the essence of its story with a perfect deadpan tone. Linh Ly is confronted with a multitude of challenges that disrupt her routine. First, she finds herself coping with her mother's new dating life and with an active shooter lockdown at work. She's also experiencing palpable anxiety as she grapples with her past, family... Read More

Adepero Oduye and Chukwudi Iwuji perform this whirlwind story told by a group of characters who are all connected by the events of a single night. In an unnamed city in Nigeria, Kalu attends a sex party to help him forget that his girlfriend, Aima, has just left him. But everything goes wrong, and Kalu finds himself sucked into the city's seedy underbelly with no way out. Oduye... Read More

Moira Quirk is a virtuoso in narrating all manner of fantasies. Here she delights in turning to the dark side. When a lonely, bookish adolescent is offered a magical deal to hop from a cancer ward to the realms of her favorite fantasy novels, she jumps at the opportunity--with one caveat. She wants to be one of the villains. As this wonderfully campy send-up of bodice-ripping,... Read More

Narrator Jack de Golia wields impressive vocal skills to create vivid characters in this sci-fi audiobook. James is a typical high school student who is crushing on a cute girl and drawing comics with his friend. But after an accident, his dreams become full of alien wonders, he hears voices, and his drawings look more like schematics than comic characters. Fearing he could be... Read More

Vivienne Leheny will keep listeners guessing as she narrates this smart story about a thirty-year-old mystery involving the disappearance of three members of a wealthy Nevada family. The incident resulted in national headlines. Leheny's wonderfully breathy presentation adds to the drama. The story starts simply enough: Dr. Sloan Hastings sends her DNA to a genealogy website and... Read More

Coauthor and narrator Lexi Underwood brings high schooler Jordyn to life in this young adult audiobook about the power of art. Jordyn wants a fresh start at her new school. But when an anonymous podcaster reveals intimate secrets about students, including a piece on Jordyn's past, she teams up with her new friends to take down the podcast for good. Underwood primarily narrates,... Read More

Kelli Tager narrates this holiday romance set partially in small-town Vermont and partially in big-city Manhattan. As the only Jew in town, grumpy café owner Abby Cohen gets "volun-told" to organize a Hanukkah Festival to save the locale's quaint shops. This is how she finds herself fake dating her least favorite customer in exchange for his vendor contacts and a visit to his... Read More

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson narrates her audiobook with the precision and thoughtfulness that characterize her legal decisions. She straightforwardly describes the struggles of her progenitors during segregation. Her delivery grows more personable as she depicts her childhood love of learning, as well as memories of high school debating, Harvard friendships,... Read More

A fantastic ensemble cast narrates Lucy Westenra's story where her original story in DRACULA leaves off. Billie Fulford-Brown voices Lucy in two separate timelines: through her journals in 1890 and her therapy transcripts in 2024. Her transformation from a naïve girl to a capable vampire is perfectly realized through Fulford-Brown's powerfully emotional performance. In the... Read More

Golden Voice Narrator January LaVoy becomes the characters of Troy, Georgia, as they face off on the issue of banning books in libraries. Lula Dean, the prime book banner, fills her little free library with "wholesome books." Little does she know that her rival, Beverly Underwood's daughter, Lindsay, put banned books beneath the wholesome book jackets. Oh, my! LaVoy imbues... Read More

Mackenzie Cartwright and Teddy Hamilton join forces to portray the romance between Jackson Justice and April Hoffman. April is working for Jackson's lumber business in Maine when she's involved in an accident that leaves her with amnesia. Her memory lapses give insecure Jackson the opportunity to admit his feelings for her. Hamilton projects all of Jackson's masculinity, along... Read More

This theatrical production brings a cast of nearly 30 actors (and the author) to the recording booth for a dramatic four hours of audio entertainment. Julia Whelan delivers a sure-footed performance as Sara Branford, narrator and a participant in the story. Set in the small town of South River, the mystery opens with news of the shooting of Gin Talcott and her second husband,... Read More

Sophie Dahl narrates her short adventure story featuring Mabel, a girl living in her parents' Mermaid Hotel, and Madame Badobedah (rhymes with "ooh-la-la"), the hotel's quirkiest resident. Madame Badobedah's indeterminate accent suits her mysterious background and eccentricity. Did she really steal a priceless emerald from a museum? Mabel speaks with Dahl's English accent and... Read More

Shiromi Arserio narrates a fantasy set more than 400 years in the future. After a gangster destroys her home, Adya must work with a despised rival to save her sister--and the world. Adya has led a difficult life, and her anger, resentment, and general mistrust are highlighted in Arserio's portrayal. Princess Imral has led a sheltered life, and Arserio's portrayal is a... Read More

Narrator Sunny Lu creates charming character voices in this action-packed retelling of a children's classic that is a perfect family listen. Amy is struggling with art assignments in school, missing the days she spent drawing her fantasy creature, Luna. When she's visiting her Lao Lao (grandmother), she discovers a jade paintbrush that literally brings her drawings to life,... Read More

Dara Rosenberg returns to narrate another Meltzer contemporary romance, this time featuring a Jewish shop owner in Woodstock, New York, and the man who might be a golem she accidentally summoned. After an anti-Semitic group papers the town with hateful flyers, Faye drowns her fears in wine and performs a ritual for protection. The unexpected appearance of a handsome man with... Read More

Karen Novack takes on the joint roles of narrator and 40-year-old recently divorced Jessie, whose fresh start begins when she's hired as caretaker of an old house in the Sierra Foothills. Little does Jessie know that the house comes with secrets and strange employees. But Jessie has self-appointed protectors: the aging, ultra-stiff gargoyle/butler, Mr. Tom, portrayed by RJ... Read More

Aaron Goodson presents moving personal essays that vividly depict the joys, sorrows, and frustrations of an American Black man. Listeners meet Jerald Walker, a former cult member who is now a successful academic. Goodson energetically shares Walker's years as a member of the Worldwide Church of God, whose founder he hilariously compares to Donald Trump. Listeners will be... Read More

Adetinpo Thomas narrates the story of 17-year-old Small Sade as she leaves the orphanage in the magical city of Oluwan to find work. She accidentally binds herself to a powerful god called the Crocodile, who hopes Small Sade's Curse Eater abilities can save him. But all she aspires to is keeping her head down as the humble worker bee she was raised to be. While occasional lines... Read More

Childhood sweethearts get a second chance in this bittersweet holiday romance. Serious, closed-off violinist Charlotte is devoted to her successful classical quartet, and narrator Kristen DiMercurio gives her an unemotional, lower-register voice. Singer-songwriter Brighton is reeling from being kicked out of her own band. Five years earlier, Brighton left Charlotte at the... Read More

While most would not consider a Kafka work to be a pleasant listening experience, Pugh does a splendid job at narrating Kafka's account of the (mis)adventures of one Karl Rossman in a post-World War America. The plot is not as surreal as the author's METAMORPHOSIS or some of his fables such as "Before the Law," but it is nevertheless a somewhat surreal set of adventures,... Read More

Sophie Amoss's engaging performance enhances this young adult fantasy about a world divided between those who have the signs of magic on their palms and those who do not. The disenfranchised latter are called the Markless. When Ruti, a frank and sarcastic Markless witch, is apprehended for royal theft, she is coerced into helping the haughty Princess Dekala in her quest to rule... Read More

Vikas Adam and Soneela Nankani narrate a story of a fake marriage of convenience loosely inspired by Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT. Veera Mathur and Deepak Datta never meant to end up married to each other, but they decide to make the best of the situation as it solves problems for both of them. However, all too soon their feelings become too real to ignore. Veera has quite a bit... Read More

A cast of narrators tells Audrey Carlan's second "Marriage Auction" story from each character's perspective. As the auction approaches, listeners hear each couple's backstory in differently voiced chapters. From the sizzling attraction that narrators Wesleigh Siobhan and Winston James create for their characters to the world-weary bachelor Rhodes, narrated by Aiden Snow, and... Read More

Marvel Comics fans will love this behind-the-scenes look at the creation of many of the company's lesser-known characters, such as Killraven, Man-Thing, Omega the Unknown, and others. Todd Menesses delivers a punchy, well-paced work with welcome enthusiasm about the subject matter. Clearly, he gets it. There is a slight problem with his pronunciation of some words like "genre,"... Read More

When private eyes Bill Smith and Lydia Chin are hired to discover the whereabouts of the son of New York's first female mayor, they soon discover that there is more to the investigation than finding a teenage runaway. Narrator L.J. Ganser is the perfect match to this mystery, which is told from the viewpoint of Bill. Especially strong are Ganser's strong portrayals of Bill and... Read More

Narrator Sura Siu exudes an irrepressible spirit as she leads a full cast through this celebration of community for middle-grade listeners. When Kacie arrives home after a summer away to find her best friend, Nisha, absent and Nisha's dad's convenience store all boarded up, she is hurt and angry. It falls to the "bench grandpas" in the park to help her understand that change is... Read More

This fun and evocative audiobook begins with narrator Paul Woodson's authoritative and upbeat delivery of the author's many accounts of urban wildlife. Keim's description of San Francisco's coyote population, performed with an air of respect and wonder, is particularly joyful. Woodson shifts his tone as the author discusses his deadly serious new vision for wildlife science and... Read More

Anna Caputo brings both joy and melancholy into her narration of Jenny Green's failure at life as she has watched her friends succeed. At her college reunion, she is given a chance to make amends by a secret consortium of women who give out memos for success. Now Jenny travels back to key moments in her life, guided by her memo, which dictates what choices to make to succeed... Read More

Anna Marie Tendler narrates her memoir of a short stay at a psychiatric hospital at the beginning of COVID as she attempts to deal with self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and an eating disorder. Along with a brutally realistic take on her stay, she includes scenes of her relationship with her mother, as well as older men with whom she was sexually involved as a minor. There's also a... Read More

Stellar narrator Jefferson Mays and bestselling author James S.A. Corey are in warp drive as they launch the first book of a planned trilogy set in the far future. This loose reinterpretation of the Book of Daniel begins on a planet settled long ago by humans. When the planet is invaded by a hostile force interested only in utility, selected people are transported to an alien... Read More

Author Ta-Nehisi Coates narrates this must-listen, a powerful and thought-provoking collection of essays. In recounting his travels to Senegal and South Carolina, Coates incisively reflects on slavery and white supremacy. From his travels to Israel and Palestine, Coates meditates on the trauma of the Holocaust, segregated society, dehumanization, and voices that are missing... Read More

Those who listen to this audiobook will join a group of friends lost to time. It's been 25 years since the last meeting of the Midnight Club. The old group of friends who bonded over the campus literary magazine have returned to campus, where they're also bonded by having experienced something sinister all those years ago--the death of their friend, Jennet. A mysterious... Read More

Most very good novels, like this one, cover a broad range of subjects, but they also often focus on some specific questions about human existence--in this case, what we do for love and how we recover from that. Narrator Marin Ireland manages to keep everything in this novel tied together without creating voices for all the numerous characters. She trusts the text to tell us who... Read More

Elizabeth Knowelden's vibrant performance sparkles in a fantastically fun story that celebrates uniqueness. Young Millie Fleur La Fae's garden, with plants like sneezing stickyweed and fanged fairy moss, clashes with Garden Glen's theme of sameness and perfection. Millie considers planting more ordinary flora that would blend in and be considered less "weird" but devises an... Read More

An Albanian interpreter in New York City becomes more and more involved in the life of her client, Alfred. They develop a speedy intimacy as she interprets personal information in a therapy session that leads to some challenging moments in her marriage. Narrator Morgan Hallett employs accents to distinguish the Albanian characters and adopts a relaxed pace. Her tone... Read More

Nic Davey-Greene delivers this environmental adventure. Listeners meet gamer and fast-food lover Finn and shy genius Milo, called "Prof," who are reluctantly participating in an Alpine class trip. They'd rather be home doing their own thing. Soon they find a 65-million-year-old egg that hatches. Vivid descriptions of Finn's connection to newly hatched, squawking Arty segues... Read More

Narrator Lauren Ambrose is back for the latest Molly the Maid installment, and her crisp diction and emphatic tones are perfect for the neurodivergent title character. Molly and her boyfriend, Juan, are intent on making Christmas festive in this heartwarming story. Instead of solving a murder this time, Molly is trying her best to decipher the secretive behaviors of everyone... Read More

Gabby Beans performs this suspenseful novel about a Black nonbinary protagonist who is haunted by the events that occurred at their childhood home. After years of living in the UK, Ezri finds themself on a plane back to the U.S. to visit their parents in their suburban home outside Dallas, Texas. There, Ezri finds their parents dead and begins trying to reconstruct their last... Read More

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Diane Seuss reads her own work at a stately pace. Some listeners may find this hard to get used to, but it gives them the opportunity to think about the poems, rather than just experiencing them. They are a portrait of the author--who she is and how she became that person. Her love of Keats (the man and his work) is a theme, and the title poem is a... Read More

Patty Nieman's pleasing voice and steady pace keep this biography of painter Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) interesting. Nieman provides the right amount of expression and manages Dutch and French names with a convincing accent as Mondrian moves from the Netherlands to Paris and London. Mondrian evolved from painting profitable landscapes, portraits, and flowers to his deceptively... Read More

Dan Bittner performs a middle-grade story about an anxious boy who is pulled into a horrifying situation after watching the scariest movie ever made. Ethan is terrified of everything, but his understanding friends try to help him through his fears by inviting him to a horror movie. However, the movie isn't a movie but an actual monster that Ethan is the only one to escape from.... Read More

A full cast of creatures--including a shape-shifting coyote, werewolves, vampires, fae, the local witch, and humans--are depicted by a talented cast of voice actors. Most impressive is Khaya Fraites, who takes on the role of first-person narrator Mercy Thompson, a plucky 20-something mechanic and shape-shifter. Mercy and macho neighbor Adam Hauptman, an alpha werewolf voiced by... Read More

Gabra Zackman performs this ambitious novel, which attempts to turn the legend of King Arthur on its head. In an alternative future 11 thousand years from now, an orphan boy named Ariel chooses not to pull the sword from the stone. Instead, he finds a different sword, an ancient artifact that carries with it a sentient AI that tells him of times past. From there, Ariel starts... Read More

Narrators Angela Dawe and Gary Furlong delight listeners in this contemporary romance revolving around grieving and love. Callum Flannelly is a happy recluse who would love to own his family's undertaking business. To do that, he must marry before he turns 35. Lark Thompson escaped to Ireland for a new job opportunity and to move on with her life after her husband's death. Lark... Read More

Narrator Abigail Reno transports listeners to November 1957 and a dysfunctional marriage. The story begins on an unseasonably warm fall day. Kathleen decides to skip church and instead sends her boys and her husband, Virgil, out of the house for the day. As Kathleen reflects on how she went from college tennis star to homemaker and mother, Virgil spends the day reflecting on... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld and Zachary Webber narrate this suspenseful romantic suspense. Maggie Chase writes cozy mysteries, and Ethan Wyatt writes popular thrillers. Maggie hates Ethan. Both have been invited to attend a Christmas party at an English estate. Upon arrival, Maggie and Ethan are stunned to find out that world-famous mystery writer Eleanor Ashley is hosting the party;... Read More

The illuminating story of the Women's Liberation movement in the pivotal period of 1963-1973 is powerfully told by multiple narrators who give voice to nearly 150 women activists and nearly 20 men. This inclusive work creates a representative account of Second Wave Feminism by centering contributions from women of color and queer women. Kamali Minter, Janina Edwards, Natalie... Read More

Whitstable is a peaceful English village in which a few residents enjoy the benefits of having a garden allotment where they grow flowers and vegetables and tend bees and hens. Jennifer Kirby portrays Pearl Nolan, who enjoys a plot, along with a close-knit group of villagers. Kirby provides the wit and spark of this sharp restaurateur and independent woman. Soon, however, the... Read More

Charming characters populate this delightful series debut, wonderfully narrated by Philip Battley. City-dweller Addison Harper travels to the tiny New Zealand town of Milverton to deal with an inheritance from an uncle he barely remembers. He meets a snarky attorney whose irritating manner causes his blood to boil. When Addison finds the attorney murdered later that night,... Read More

Helen Lloyd provides an excellent portrayal of Berit Gardner, the author turned sleuth who is the heroine in this new Swedish mystery series. Berit is only one of a cast of eccentric characters in the rundown village of Great Diddling. After an explosion in the library of a manor house kills a local man, Berit ends up taking part in running a book-and-murder festival designed... Read More

Author Meik Wiking uses a soothing and peaceful tone to narrate the history and philosophy of the Danish concept of hygge. He comprehensively explains its foundations, focusing on how prioritizing a pleasant atmosphere and immersing oneself in life's simple joys can lead to happiness. Wiking is engaging, enjoyable, and comfortable with his narration as he explains how to... Read More

A trio of talented narrators brings the story of these independent women to life. When grandmother Olvido dies suddenly, her daughter, Angustias, and granddaughter, Felicitas, travel home. Olvido pesters Felicitas, who is able to see the dead, to improve Angustias's life. Yareli Arizmendi portrays Olvido as she ages from domineering mother to caring grandmother with a deep... Read More

This audiobook is a charming rom-com with a paranormal twist, and the narrators, Daniel Henning and Helen Laser, bring the story to life with flair. Henning's portrayal of Reginald captures every bit of the vampire's quirky, old-fashioned charm. Laser gives Amelia's practical nature and wittiness a grounded quality that contrasts perfectly with Reggie's flamboyance. The... Read More

Quyen Ngo immerses listeners in this dual memoir whose chapters alternate between a father and daughter. Nghia M. Vo delves into the period when he fled Vietnam by boat to take refuge in the U.S. after the fall of Saigon in 1975. Decades later, his adult daughter, Christina, who was raised in the U.S. and longs to learn about their family's homeland, travels to Vietnam. Ngo... Read More

Lee's well-researched portrait of Thelma Catherine "Pat" Nixon is a delightful and informative experience brought to life by narrator Jane Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer's slightly hoarse timbre and intimate tone suit the intelligent, reserved, and poised former First Lady of the United States. President Richard Nixon certainly gets his due in this audiobook, and, happily, the... Read More

Fred Berman narrates this narrative nonfiction, which puts young listeners in the perspective of an Arctic narwhal with an ivory tusk that is as "thick as a lamppost, taller than a man." Berman delivers the sounds of clacking as the narwhal jousts with another male and the narwhal's sigh of relief when the ice opens up to allow it to breathe. Berman delivers sensory... Read More

Sophia's current beau, the man of her dreams, surprises her with a cruise to the Galapagos Islands. Just as they are boarding, he gets an "emergency" call from his ex-wife and tells Sophia he can't go. At his insistence, she decides to go alone. Narrator Erin Bennett gives a great performance, delving into Sophia's ruminations with excellent pacing and varying tones that reveal... Read More

Marc Vietor narrates a dark fantasy epic about a family of merchant bankers and the prince who is poised to take over the kingdom. Davico di Regulai, armed with an ancient dragon eye and his own wits, steps up to control a vast banking empire. He soon learns that kindness is a weakness that will get him killed. A slow build follows Davico from childhood to adulthood. As Vietor... Read More

Libby Cudmore and Jay Karnes take turns bringing vibrancy to lead characters Valerie and Martin in this tightly woven noir. Cudmore's delivery reinforces Valerie's practical personality as she leaves behind a shadowy past and starts anew as an assistant at Martin's PI firm in Upstate New York. Karnes gives ex-punk rocker Martin a dismissive tone that hides a vulnerable soul.... Read More

Narrator Gabriela Tola uses an expressive voice for Brazil native Sol Carvalho, a software designer at a video game firm in Copenhagen. She loves the city and wants to stay, but that depends on whether she gets a promotion that hinges on various team-building exercises. In the meantime, she rents a room from Viking look-alike Erik Storm. Throughout, Tola blends Danish accents... Read More

Narrator Michael Larkin throws himself into enthusiastic theatrics in this fantasy-adventure. Unremarkable Marilyn Sparks is content just to listen to the exciting stories of her eccentric Aunt Zenobia. But when Zenobia entrusts her with a cursed amulet containing an ancient demon, Marilyn finds herself fighting for her life and the fate of the world. Larkin adeptly creates a... Read More

Ruby Corazon delights as the narrator of this debut contemporary romance featuring a librarian and an ex-NFL star. Each is attempting to get over their feelings for their ex--both of whom are newly engaged. Can they do so by hooking up with each other? Everyone thinks Marcela Ortiz and Theo Young are sleeping together anyway, so why not play along? When their ruse turns into... Read More

Jenny Funnell impeccably presents this mystery set in an English assisted-living facility. It becomes much more than a whodunit as it offers moving themes of love, friendship, and aging. Listeners meet invincible 87-year-old wheelchair-bound Florrie, who is investigating whether the fall of the home's manager was an attempted suicide or murder. As Florrie investigates, events... Read More

Leigh Ann Henion's fascinating exploration of the natural world after dark is indeed magical. With genuine enthusiasm and a warm hint of a Southern accent, Henion invites listeners along on her adventures to seek out salamanders, fireflies, moths, glowing fungus, screech owls, night-blooming flowers, and other nighttime denizens. She spends time getting to know the nightlife in... Read More

Narrators Gilli Messer and Josh Bloomberg team up for a compelling performance of this young adult paranormal adventure. Molly is a vampire, and Boaz is a young man who can see the undead. When Molly's girlfriend, Anat, goes missing within the dark depths of New York City, Molly suspects Boaz is behind her disappearance. To ensure Anat's safe return, Molly must work with Boaz,... Read More

Narrator Julia Whelan portrays Nora Noone with an earnest tone in this gripping family drama. Nora's father, Liam, a thrice-married hotel magnate, has become distant from his grown children. After recently changing his will, he falls from a slippery cliff at a California seaside cottage. Did he slip, or was he pushed? Whelan voices Nora's estranged stepbrother, Sam, with a... Read More

Narrator Ellis Evans's total commitment makes what could be a ridiculous premise a fun and compelling listen. College student Nicholas "Coal" Claus is the heir to Christmas. After his attempt at spreading joy goes wrong, Coal shares a drunken kiss with a man who then disappears. Fast-forward a couple of years, and Coal finds himself facing an unwanted arranged engagement to his... Read More

This stunning collection of short stories is narrated beautifully by a quartet of gifted narrators who bring to life the reimagined lives of the nine-tailed fox of Asian folklore. As each story unfolds, the narrator imbues it with passion, sensuality, and a healthy dose of feminist perspective. Nancy Wu, Annie Q, Jen Zhao, and Eunice Wong have engaging and charming voices, and... Read More

Narrator Dominique Franceschi narrates this sweet story in a joyful, tender tone. La Señora Mimi has been babysitting for Ana daily while her mom works; together, they go to the park, have snacks, and feed squirrels. All will change when Ana's grandmother comes to live with them; Ana will no longer need to have a babysitter. Happy, at first, that her grandmother will be with... Read More

A trio of narrators brings to life this dark, brooding mystery. Shaun Taylor-Corbett narrates most of this story from the point of view of Toby Tucker, who suddenly marries into the wealthy Wright family, famous for their televangelist patriarch, Jerome. Severe weather strands the extended family at their Texas compound, and when Jerome is found dead, deep family secrets emerge... Read More

Dion Graham's masterful narration clarifies this novel's shifts in point of view and vividly defines its main characters, 107-year-old Josey Kravitz and 12-year-old Alex. The richness of Graham's Polish accent for Josey augments the power of his storytelling and his tragic past, as well as his caring personality. Graham's delivery also reveals Alex's feelings of hopelessness... Read More

This audio biography doesn't shimmer as brightly as its subject, the wildly talented and stereotype-defying Chinese American actor Anna May Wong. The author narrates the preface slowly in a wooden tone. Caroline McLaughlin narrates the rest in a scratchy voice that evokes the tinny, high-pitched quality of audio recordings made during Wong's career apex in the early twentieth... Read More

Pastor, speaker, and podcaster Davey Blackburn shows his talent for storytelling, his knowledge of the Bible, and the strong religious belief that centered him after the murder of his wife. He calls this audiobook the book he "never wanted to write." Blackburn's transitions are clear as he weaves the multiple elements of his memoir. His narration varies from accounts of... Read More

Black romance novelist Saira Wright seeks holiday inspiration and finds love in Santa Claus, Indiana. Portrayed by Charlie L. Wood, Saira, exudes self-confidence and competence as she enjoys Christmas traditions along with the owner of her vacation rental, widower Dorian Black. Tony Roberts's quiet and emotionally controlled narration demonstrates the tightly held grief that... Read More

Narrator Lorelei King once again works her magic in bringing to life Stephanie Plum and her crew of quirky characters. The previous audiobook in the series left fans hanging with Stephanie engaged to the two sexy men in her life. Of course, as Stephanie would say: "It's complicated." The plot relies on familiar situations that go from silly to outright ridiculous, but thanks to... Read More

Jen Zhao's narration of this silkpunk fantasy enhances the intriguing story. Aihui Ying dreams of becoming a master engineer like her father, but women are barred from the Engineer's Guild. After witnessing her father's assassination and receiving his journal, Ying sets out to avenge his murder. Disguised as a boy, she travels to the capital to take the guild's entrance exams.... Read More

In this engrossing and challenging examination of freedom and what it means to be free, Yale historian Timothy Snyder employs a heady mix of history, biology, civics, memoir, philosophy, and personal observation. Sounding like a favorite professor, Snyder demands the listener's undivided attention as he draws a distinct line between our freedom from such phenomena as government... Read More

Elizabeth Robbins and Jesse Inocalla narrate Anna Sortino's novel about two challenged teens. Robbins ensures that Ellie sounds angry when her boarding school for the deaf closes. Forced to return home to her hearing family and a public high school where she'll probably be the only deaf student, she wonders how she'll survive senior year. Portraying Jesse, Inocalla careens... Read More

Elisabeth Rodgers's talented narration perfectly complements this fun adventure, featuring Kira Drake and her rescue dog, Mack. Jack Harlan's brother was killed by supervillain Taylor, and Jack wants him to face justice. Rodgers's stylish characterizations brings these larger-than-life figures to life, infusing Jack with a delightful touch of pomposity while creating a... Read More

Lucy Strange gives a lucid yet dreamy performance of a dark fantasy with massive world-building. In a future full of sickness caused by emotions, Payton is focused on becoming a "methic" in order to cure her mother's illness. With her sister, Ani, she explores the darker secrets of the hospital they grew up in before they were separated and introduced to the wilds outside.... Read More

Trista Shaye zestfully looks at who may have invented one of the world's favorite foods--pizza. Listeners meet an array of memorable characters. In "Galileo's Neighbor," a baker crashes into his gravity experiment using dough, cheese, and tomato, resulting in mouthwatering results. Shaye's relatable voice and humor are winning, and outstanding sound effects--a falling tomato,... Read More

Narrator Tanya Eby masterfully handles the large cast of characters in this Christmas story. Julie Parker has been planning a quiet Christmas with her younger boyfriend, Heath, but her two grown children, Nick and Dana, insist they celebrate together at the family cabin. Joining them are Nick's wife's estranged mother and her uncle, as well as Heath's two young children and... Read More

This thrilling performance by Katherine Littrell will captivate a wide audience. Junior high schooler Gigi is engrossed in her friend group and her crush on classmate Mari until she finds one of her teachers, Mr. Ford, murdered in a classroom. When Gigi and her friends team up to identify the murderer, she uncovers odd mysteries surrounding Mr. Ford. In addition, the romance... Read More

Narrator Christian Barillas's youthful, expressive voice tells the story of 17-year-old Nico Kardos. Nico can't get over the death of his friend, Rosario. The story, written as journal entries, sheds light on Nico's feelings as he aspires to attend college and become a writer. But his ambitions are halted when his single mother gets cancer and the care of his 12-year-old... Read More

Author and narrator Herbie Pilato stitches together the facts surrounding the attractive, highly talented English-born actress Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg. She is most famous for her role as Emma Peel in the iconic 1960s television series "The Avengers." Pilato's narration is understandable, workmanlike, and without much flair or intonation. Direct quotes from other sources... Read More

With her vibrant and expressive delivery, Weruche Opia's narration elevates this family comedy about Temi, a young Nigerian woman who plans to have glute-enhancing surgery. Her ability to capture the distinct voices of Temi, her family, and the extended family of female characters adds depth to each personality, making the listener feel fully immersed in their world. Opia's... Read More

Ruby Corazon brings festive cheer to this sweet and spicy holiday novella. Evie Cruz is on a tight deadline illustrating superhero comics, so much so that she's barely unpacked into her new apartment. At the start, Corazon's voice reflects her stress, but she brightens up as Evie discovers anonymous Christmas ornament gifts left at her door--and gets delightedly flustered at... Read More

Elizabeth Knowelden will capture listeners' hearts with her charming performance. Rival ornithologists Beth Pickering, a recent graduate, and Professor Devon Lockley are on the hunt for the death whistler bird, one of the rare jewels in birding. While Beth finds Devon to be brash and egotistical at first, it's only a matter of time until Devon's charm sucks her in. Knowelden's... Read More

This audiobook reveals often untold stories of early trans athletes and their battles for equality during a time of severe prejudice. Narrator Jennifer Pickens brings the stories in this superbly researched audiobook to life. Pickens expertly conveys the emotions of figures like Zdenek Koubek, a European sprinter who ultimately lived as a man, and Mark Weston, a British field... Read More

With her literary skills on full display in this absorbing memoir, a senior editor for a media company combines an elegy for two departed friends with absorbing philosophical perspectives on how language is formed and passed on to others. She narrates her lyrical writing in hushed tones, sounding as though she's sharing intimate feelings and creating an atmosphere that is... Read More

Peter Hessler arrived at Sichuan University in 2019 to teach nonfiction writing just in time for the first wave of Covid in nearby Wuhan. Hessler's performance is a pleasure to listen to--authentic, engrossing, and often wry. He speaks Mandarin, so the multiple Chinese words, names, and phrases are naturally interspersed. Hessler's experience teaching in China more than 20... Read More

In practically his first audiobook credit, British actor Prasanna Puwanarajah delivers a masterful performance as David Win, the British Burmese protagonist in this latest by one of Britain's most esteemed novelists. Like earlier Hollinghurst protagonists, David is a prism: a gay outsider who is given entry into a world of wealth and privilege. The action is subdued, episodic,... Read More

In this audiobook thriller, women take action against violent men, cruel women, and a world that underestimates them and takes them for granted. Sisters Paula and Julie grow up with a vengeful mother, ultimately paying the price for her choices. Three narrators take turns voicing the lead as the story jumps around in time, making the shifts easy for listeners to manage. As... Read More

Edoardo Ballerini's spellbinding performance of this intergenerational tale of love and survival lingers in the mind long after one is done listening. Based on memories of the author's Dutch grandmother, the novel incorporates two stories--the child Mieke, who is trying to survive Holland's "Hunger Winter" of 1944, and Mieke's adult grandson, Will, who visits his now elderly... Read More

Narrator Sisi Aisha Johnson creates a determined voice for seventh-grader Melody, who has cerebral palsy and uses a device to communicate with others. When her neighbor, Miss Gertie, has a fall, Melody jumps in to save the day by calling 9-1-1 on her device. Following the incident, Melody is invited to speak at a symposium in England and travels there with her newfound friend,... Read More

Popular author Brigid Schulte delves into the complicated problem of a struggling and exhausted American workforce with thorough investigative reporting, bold arguments, and comprehensive recommendations on how to fix it. Rachel Perry approaches her narration with the same intensity that the author has as she explains crucial research, channels personal stories of burnout, and... Read More

Narrator Ann Richardson performs this beautifully crafted story about female bonding, personal growth, and the transformative power of friendship. The audiobook alternates between the viewpoints of an aging, reclusive bestselling author, Inez, and her cleaner, Meja. Meja lacks direction in her life and comes to help Inez declutter her cottage in coastal Sweden. The story is... Read More