New Reviews by Title: K-O

Narrator Rosalyn Landor is a one-woman full-cast production. Alison Weir turns history into flesh and blood. The combination is extraordinary. The story of Henry VIII's fifth wife reminds us how deadly dangerous he was. Before she even imagines going to live in the court, Katheryn Howard--beautiful, young, willful, and from a prominent family--makes several bad choices in men.... Read More

Narrator Rebecca Lowman ably depicts the volatile emotions engulfing three California families in the aftermath of a toddler's tragic death. This visceral coming-of-age story is enhanced by Lowman's keen characterizations and emotional acuity. The narrative alternates between 1993 and 2015, transporting listeners between Rory's seminal year on a horse ranch in California and... Read More

Stephen Haff's passionate narration adds power to his remarkable audiobook. Haff oversees Still Waters in a Storm, an after-school program in Brooklyn for undocumented students. The program is a place of calm for students whose lives are anything but; many face the threat of deportation and the toxic climate fomented by the current president. Haff's one-room learning space is a... Read More

This first entry in a new cozy mystery series is performed by Brooke Hoover. Parker Valentine doesn't grow her own grapes; instead, she's a winemaker who buys her fruit from California vineyards. After years of work, she's sure she's thought of everything to make the opening of her Boulder, Colorado, tasting room a success. What she hasn't counted on is the death of a famous... Read More

Narrator Brittany Pressley portrays Jessica Yardley, who, 14 years ago, while pregnant, discovered that her husband was a serial killer. Pressley conveys high emotion in her voice, tone, and tempo as she voices Jessica, who is now a federal prosecutor raising a teenage daughter. Jessica is drawn into investigating a series of brutal murders in what appear to be copycat versions... Read More

Narrator Jesse Vilinsky's silvery voice takes listeners to Orkena, a kingdom where the type of magic one possesses determines one's destiny. Longing for more in life than working with her minor abilities, Zahru breaks the rules to escape the monotony for one night of freedom. When her escape backfires, she becomes slated to be the heirs' human sacrifice. Vilinsky expertly... Read More

With a smooth tone and steady pace, narrator Michael Crouch opens this dark coming-of-age audiobook. Michael Hesketh is lonely, gay high school student. When the awkward and unusually tall girl next door, Bunny Lampert, catches him smoking in her backyard, they forge an unlikely friendship. Bringing the characters to life, Crouch makes their voices recognizably different... Read More

Narrator Angela Brazil brings spirit and animation to Wendy Williams's personal look at one of nature's most cherished, admired, and vulnerable species. The study of butterflies has never been far from the collecting of specimens, and that pursuit has attracted more than its share of "thieves, hoarders, scientists, and other obsessives." These make for a high romance, for which... Read More

Listeners will cherish having familiar narrator Kirsten Potter kick off Duvall's Immortal Guardians spin-off series. Not only does Potter voice the cheerful, giant warriors who protect Earth from vampires, she also introduces listeners to a new pairing, Lisa and Taelon. The couple meet as prisoners in a government laboratory. They use their telepathic gifts to escape and seek... Read More

Much has been written about Sylvia Plath, the iconic American poet whose untimely death in 1963 has haunted and intrigued admirers of her work. This audiobook relies on newly released information, as well as exclusive access to previously unavailable papers belonging to Plath's therapist. All this is well and good, but Rollyson's text lacks the energy and cohesion to make this... Read More

Narrators Dan Bittner and Khristine Hvam help listeners navigate a story told from dual points of view. Bittner portrays Toby, an 18-year-old artist looking to alleviate the burden of a regrettable past. Bittner expertly delivers his earnest tone and breathless manner of speaking. Hvam portrays Honey, the oldest of the three Juniper sisters, who live with their mother in a... Read More

Narrator Tim Andrés Pabon captures the uniquely American tone embodied in this globe-trotting novel based on the life of Joe Sanderson--a Midwestern kid who began his life on the road in 1960 by hitchhiking to Mexico City. In pursuit of endless adventure and grist for his never completed "great American novel," Sanderson moved from hanging out with Rastas in Jamaica to crossing... Read More

Australian actor Luke Arnold narrates his debut fantasy novel in which a magical city shudders at the sudden loss of its magic. Fetch Philips takes odd jobs as a detective in Sunder City; his latest task is finding a missing teacher, a vampire whose body is slowly turning to dust without magic. Arnold portrays Fetch with pathos and differentiates the other characters, giving... Read More

René Ruiz does a splendid job narrating this fascinating history. Listeners will be engaged by this detailed work about the spy ring of 14 men and women, known as the Wasp Network, who were sent by Cuban intelligence to infiltrate anti-Castro groups in Florida in the 1990s. The ring was eventually found out, and several of its members sentenced to long prison sentences. The... Read More

Catherine Ho narrates a debut audio rom-com set in Singapore. According to her mother and aunts, successful Chinese-Malaysian lawyer Andrea Tang is missing something important in her life--a husband. As she rediscovers the dating world and connects with an affluent entrepreneur, she finds herself falling for her biggest work competitor. Ho's lively narration keeps the listener... Read More

Kyla Garcia, Rachel L. Jacobs, and Karissa Vacker join forces to narrate this story of three women facing major life changes. Set during the real-life 1935 Labor Day hurricane, the audiobook is told from the viewpoints of three women: pregnant Helen (performed by Vacker), a native of Key West who dreams of leaving her abusive husband; newlywed Mirta (Garcia), who arrives from... Read More

In this audiobook, friends Codi, Ja-kory, and Maritza are inseparable. During the summer before senior year, Ja-kory and Maritza sneak out to their first house party and ask Codi to pick them up. In doing so, Codi stumbles upon school athlete Ricky sharing a kiss with a boy and promises not to tell anyone. Ricky eventually becomes friends with Codi, and they spend the summer... Read More

Narrator Vikas Adam is versatile in portraying various characters in this original, if overstuffed, work about family and nature. Adam narrates four somewhat interconnected stories with relaxed pacing and authentic accents. In "Islands," an Indian woman can talk to spirits. In "Faultline," an abused woman is searching for her long-lost son. "Valley" and "Snow Dessert" are... Read More

Cris Dukehart delivers a thoughtful and lively narration of this feel good story. Dodie hasn't achieved her dreams of becoming a renowned artist and a mother. But upon hearing the news that her beloved library is closing, Dodie pulls up her sleeves and fights to open a small lending library in its stead. Her world opens up as she meets new bibliophiles and is given the... Read More

Narrator Tara Sands serves up a deliciously silly performance in this energetic picture book told in rhyming verse. Ms. Bronte, the dinosaur librarian, knows that library books are not for eating, but she just can't help herself. How can she be a librarian if she keeps snacking on the collection? To accent her lively narration, Sands creates outrageous voices for Ms. Bronte and... Read More

On one level this is an exciting story about Chinese university students under attack by the Japanese in 1937. On another level it is about folklore, magic, and spirits that are ever present. Both genres are ably presented by narrator Emily Woo Zeller, whose soft yet confident voice persuades us that the magic is real and the plight of the student refugees, difficult and... Read More

A meeting at a New York City bar in 2001 has Cecily, steadily voiced by the talented Brittany Pressley, falling for Grant, whose mysterious nature is rendered in a somber and tender tone by narrator Will Damron. Then Grant goes missing after 9/11, and Cecily discovers she's not the only one looking for him. This development has her questioning how well she knew him--and how... Read More

In a reverent tone, narrator Karen Chilton brings dignity to remarkable and often overlooked African-American women who fought for suffrage in the U.S. Beginning with the start of the Abolitionist Movement in the 1830s and continuing to present-day efforts by African-Americans to fight against voter suppression, this audiobook demonstrates how Black women have had to battle... Read More

Narrator Angus King introduces Detective Chief Inspector Jack Logan, who is sent to the Scottish Highlands to investigate a child abduction similar to one he solved earlier. Logan is confident and tough but also vulnerable; his transition from Glasgow to the countryside is amusing. Listeners will meet his engaging and conscientious team and feel themselves to be in the middle... Read More

Shakespearean scholar Summer Merriweather has returned to her childhood home on Brigid's Island in North Carolina upon the sudden death of her mother in this cozy mystery. Narrator Christa Lewis matches the pace of this audiobook--laid-back and slow much of the time but energetic as the pace builds. When Summer finds a death threat addressed to her mother that orders her to... Read More

A. Almeida narrates the story of Wendy, a 30-year-old woman who is navigating the ups and downs of being transgender. As she deals with the challenges of how people respond to her, she discovers that her Mennonite grandfather also may have been transgender. Almeida brings a youthful dryness to her narration. And it works. The characters have similar-sounding voices--mostly... Read More

After taking us from Mesopotamia to Rome, this audiobook focuses primarily on English-language poetry. Brief excursions take place into other languages, but the only one whose poetry is considered in any real depth is English. Its exploration of that is pretty thorough, though, and Ralph Lister's narration is exemplary. He clearly differentiates between the historical and... Read More

This prescient thriller was written in 2005 but turned down by publishers, who thought the story about a global pandemic that forces London into quarantine was "ludicrous." The Scottish author's frequent collaborator, Peter Forbes, narrates this chilling story with an edginess that perfectly mirrors the action. Centered on D.I. Jack MacNeil's efforts to track down the murderer... Read More

Joe Pickett fans will be delighted that David Chandler is returning to narrate the newest installment in the series. Chandler portrays Pickett without embellishment; the Wyoming game warden is a straight shooter (literally and figuratively), loyal to his friends and family, and committed to upholding justice. At 50, Pickett is capable of handling almost everything and surprised... Read More

Narrator Christopher Ragland sounds like an approachable guy you might want to have coffee with. This warmth makes him an ideal choice for an audiobook that explores the practice of minimalism. Ragland comes across like a knowledgeable friend. Listeners will lean into chapters that examine the roots and benefits of minimalist culture. His quick, upbeat pace keeps his... Read More

With subtle variations in intonation and accent, narrator Lisa Flanagan contrasts present-day characters with Renaissance Venetian counterparts in this intriguing and romantic audiobook. William Lomazzo, a married artist, brings an old treatise on art that has been in his family for generations to Rose, a book restorer. As they gradually uncover a hidden text, they realize it... Read More

Micky Shiloah's emotional and introspective narration is just as powerful as playwright David Adjmi's prose in this lyrical memoir about family and identity. Adjmi writes about his Brooklyn childhood in an insular religious community of Syrian Jews, his struggles with depression, his continual sense of not fitting in--whether due to his being gay or his doubts about God--and... Read More

True baseball fans know Lou Gehrig's time on the diamond served as a critical component of the Yankees' classic teams. He should not be regarded as having stood in Babe Ruth's shadow. Non-fans know Gehrig as the namesake of the disease that cut short his life. Historian Alan D. Gaff has brought to life lost newspaper columns by the Iron Horse, and narrators Angelo Di Loreto and... Read More

This short and sweet novella on audio will satisfy fans of SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA and LEAH ON THE OFFBEAT. Michael Crouch, who narrated SIMON to excellent effect, is joined by three actors who are new to the series. Told entirely through emails, the story follows high school friends Simon, Blue, Leah, and Abby in their first year of college. Leah and Abby are... Read More

Gibson Frazier narrates this political satire, which takes aim at the president of the United States and the workings of government writ large. Frazier, narrating as incarcerated Chief of Staff Herb Nutterman, manages to root this audiobook in a calm, almost placid, tone. As the insanity and political backstabbing spiral out of control, Frazier keeps calm. Because he makes this... Read More

Narrator Cassandra Campbell exquisitely evokes the existential dread that permeates Josh Malerman's well-wrought follow-up to his popular sci-fi suspense novel, BIRD BOX. America remains rife with creatures that drive viewers insane. Blindfolded and hooded, Malorie has kept her now-teenage children safe for 16 frightening years. Then they learn that Malorie's parents may be... Read More

Aping exactly the hauteur of a French aristocrat, narrator Saul Reichlin embodies La Belle Epoque. Dr. Samuel Pozzi (the man in the red coat ) was a climber and a dandy. Vanity, adultery, and the acquisition of rare objects were his passions. Booker Prize winner Barnes sets traditional narration aside to give a pre-COVID embrace to an era that is known--if it all-- by the... Read More

Narrator Soneela Nankani enhances this witty story with her fantastic accents. Due to a misunderstanding, Layla and Sam find themselves sharing an office above her family's restaurant. This is not an easy feat for two people with vastly different styles. Newly single and busy with her new business, Layla is unaware that the 10 suitors who show up for blind dates with her have... Read More

In this delightful audiobook, Juliet and Reverend Brooks's wedding day has arrived, and it seems that anything that can go wrong does so. The next morning candymaker Bailey King goes to inspect the church and finds the murdered body of a woman who tried to crash the wedding. The murder leads to Bailey's most dangerous investigation yet. Rebecca Mitchell, narrating in the voice... Read More

Mickey Spillane mysteries are classics, and this audiobook--written by Collins, who has taken over the character--is as entertaining as any. Narrator Stefan Rudnicki's gruff voice provides an ideal complement to the latest novel featuring Mike Hammer, a PI whose techniques and style break the mold. Hammer is hired by the father of Wall Street financier Vincent Colby, who is... Read More

Psychologist Lara Fielding's narrating personality is well suited to her helpful lesson on managing difficult and intrusive feelings. She delivers her work, aimed primarily at young adults, with professional-level clarity and a cheerful tone. The latter quality is necessary, given the types of emotional distortions and painful instability her suggestions target. From her... Read More

Recognized as a classic of feminist and experimental literature, this Canadian novel, first published in 1987, reads like an extended narrative poem rather than a novel. The central story is ostensibly a coming-of-age journey, but the plot has no cohesive structure or consistent pattern of development. Allegra Fulton offers a dramatic, velvet-voiced narration in which she... Read More

Narrator Kate Rudd creates unique voices for mysterious mermaids, powerful witches, and evil pirates in this fantasy adventure. Flora, a young woman forced to make terrible decisions to survive, works as a man aboard a pirate ship that sells unwitting passengers into slavery. When she falls for Evelyn, a passenger on her way to an arranged marriage, Flora finally fights back... Read More

Frankie Corzo's velvety voice puts listeners under her spell as she narrates this horror audiobook. Noemí Taboada is a clever 22-year-old anthropology student buzzing between parties in 1950s Mexico City. She is quite put out when her father sends her to the countryside to check on her recently married cousin, Catalina, whose in-laws built their fortune with an ill-fated mine.... Read More

Jake Abel gives a skilled performance of this story, first told in TWILIGHT, now told anew from the vampire Edward's perspective. The novel offers sophisticated language, which longtime (and now grown) fans will appreciate. Edward's frustration over the monotony of vampire life changes to vitriol when he meets the tantalizing and challenging human high schooler Bella, whom Abel... Read More

Roslyn Oades robustly narrates this charming and unique tale set in a Russian museum. The story is based on the cats of the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's home, and the British Museum. Late on a stormy night, Peter, a bedraggled kitten, is left in the museum. Listeners will join kittens Boris, Bianca, Tasha, and their grandad, Ivan, who live in the building and spend nights... Read More

Narrator Barrie Kreinik's portrayal of a complicated woman struggling with personal tragedies is heartbreaking. Listeners follow Fanny Stone, an Irish ornithologist with a need to wander. The audiobook recounts Fanny's mission to follow migration patterns on the fishing boat she joins after convincing the captain she can contribute to the work of the crew. While on board, Fanny... Read More

This title may be familiar because of the movie of the same name, directed by Clint Eastwood. Not surprisingly, if you saw and liked the movie, you'll love this listen. Narrators David Colacci and JD Jackson make this an engaging, captivating story of life inside and outside the squared circle. They capture the feel of a ratty old gym as well as the hope of an underdog boxer.... Read More

Who better to narrate etiquette maven Miss Manners' audiobook than her daughter, Jacobina Martin? The queries discussed range from earnest to almost nonsensical, particularly when technology and contemporary behavior are the subjects. Martin's impressive talents perfectly mirror the questions asked and her mother's often hilariously sarcastic responses to "gentle readers."... Read More

Narrator Eve Passeltiner delivers a relatable performance as Stevie, a kitchen manager who is a recovering alcoholic, in this somber novel. Stevie has had a hard life since she was gang-raped and left pregnant at a young age. She now keeps her feelings compartmentalized. Passeltiner displays Stevie's reluctance to engage with her emotions by keeping an even tone and unhurried... Read More

Journalist and comedian Sopan Deb tells his story of turning his estrangement from his parents into a deep and meaningful relationship while redefining his own South Asian identity. His fast-paced narration and straightforward candor lend themselves to a rapidly unfolding and exciting listen filled with a mix of raw authenticity and laugh-out-loud humor. Deb offers distinct... Read More

Karen Chilton narrates a postapocalyptic friends-to-lovers romance. Now that the world is starting to return to normal several years after the Flare, Maggie Seong has the opportunity to leave home and attend college, but she is not sure if she wants to. Chilton captures Maggie's vibrant and snarky personality, while allowing her insecurities about leaving home and struggles... Read More

Landon Woodson's quiet confidence is a great vehicle for expressing the perspective that permeates this important audiobook about racism. The young actor connects in a balanced way with the author's mission to call out the realities of slavery and the rationales, denials, and hypocracy associated with its continuing effects on African-Americans. Woodson's matter-of-fact tone... Read More

Natasha Gregson Wagner, daughter of Natalie Wood and British producer Richard Gregson, bravely narrates a work that is, at once, a personal memoir and an abbreviated biography of her actress mother and actor stepfather, Robert "RJ" Wagner. Wagner was 11 when Wood's body was recovered from the waters off Catalina Island. Her narration, as well as her story, are highly personal,... Read More

Narrators Rachel L. Jacobs and P.J. Ochlan deliver a swoon-worthy performance of this YA novel. Engaging listeners right off the bat with a stellar British accent is Ochlan as Luke, the son of a famous UK rock star. Luke is a masterful songwriter, yet he struggles with stage fright. Vada, currently working at a legendary bar and writing a music blog, is laser focused on her... Read More

For almost four decades, any player or manager, or anyone associated with the New York Mets, has known of and appreciated Jay Horvitz. The likable New York Mets PR man's memoir is as much a story of his life growing up as it is a history of the team. Barry Abrams brings his engaging, animated voice to the narration. He alters his tone when narrating quotes from the many... Read More

Royal Shakespeare Company performer Matthew Lloyd Davies doesn't just narrate this new audiobook--he turns his entire performance into a one-man show. Tiny Tim is no longer so tiny. With the loss of his father, Bob Cratchett, the adult Timothy has lost his pious nature and turned to living in brothels and checking the pockets of the dead for money. When he discovers the bodies... Read More

This audio whodunit stands out because it is beguilingly set in fin-de-siècle Cracow. Featuring a self-important amateur snoop addicted to reading cozy mysteries, it should be stylish period fun, like Benson's Mapp v. Lucia stories. Unfortunately, given the shrill bossy voice Moira Quirk gives our social-climbing housewife sleuth, Zofia Turbotynska, she comes across as... Read More

Amateur sleuth Kitty Underhay gets involved in another case in this audiobook set in 1934. This time, her friend Matthew Bryant is arrested for murder. Someone strangled aspiring actress Pearl Bright with Matt's bootlace. Once Matt is released from jail, Kitty must find the real killer to save Matt's reputation and career. As narrator Alex Tregear makes this audiobook come... Read More

Narrator Suzanne Toren's star-quality performance makes the 23rd episode in Victoria Thompson's Edgar and Agatha Award-nominated Gaslight mysteries delightful listening. When a woman who works at the Daughters of Hope Mission settlement house in East Harlem disappears, P.I. Frank Malloy; his sleuthing partner, Gino Donatelli; and his wife, Sarah, are drawn into the... Read More

A. Kendra Greene's love for Iceland, its hundreds of quirky museums and private collections, and the people behind these diverse institutions is obvious in her delightful narration of this unusual travel book. Greene's voice is rich and expressive, and she rolls through the Icelandic words with authenticity. (She thanks her language coach in the acknowledgments.) Her curiosity... Read More

Seema Yasmin is proud of the unique Muslim women she knows personally as well as the increasing number of Muslim women role models in the public sphere. As narrator, her enthusiasm spills over to listeners in this series of short essays about Muslim congresswomen, athletes, and musicians who defy media stereotypes. Those interested in feminist identity will enjoy this... Read More

Narrator Grover Gardner returns to breathe life into listeners' favorite dog-loving lawyer as Andy Carpenter defends a man declared dead in a boat explosion. Gardner makes listeners root for Andy as he becomes embroiled in the case when the supposedly dead man retrieves his beloved companion from Andy's dog-rescue charity. After the police charge the man with murdering his... Read More

In this historical fantasy account of the life and times of Calamity Jane and Annie Oakley, narrator Sophie Amoss keeps the bizarre world of talking dogs and werewolves firmly rooted. The narrative goes over the top when the writers pop in to talk directly to listeners, yet the thread is never lost. Amoss deserves the credit for that. She narrates with calm assuredness in the... Read More

Narrator Nancy Wu's confident and girlish voice pulls listeners into Iris's dream world, in which weed, fashion, and Sephora are paramount. When Chinese-American Iris fails her senior year of high school, she is sent to visit family in Beijing. The opportunity to connect with her culture is challenging. Her difficulty is reflected in slow, deliberate pronunciation as Iris... Read More

This listen couldn't be more timely. In the midst of the Black Live Matters movement, Sellers shares his story of growing up Black in the South and making his way to national prominence as a politician and then a CNN analyst. He's the son of activist parents, so the path he took is not surprising. Nor it is surprising to learn he has a smooth, confident delivery. Sellers... Read More

In an understated, melodious narration, Kaitlin Curtice unfolds her story of reclaiming the Potowatomi culture of her father, which was put aside after her parents divorced and Curtice was being raised by her mother and stepfather in a white, evangelical Christian household. Narrating unhurriedly, in a steady cadence, Curtice spools out her riveting journey through the telling... Read More

Kevin R. Free narrates the first full-length Murderbot novel, after four previous novellas. Once again, Murderbot has to rescue its humans from the idiotic mess they have gotten themselves into when it would really rather be left alone to watch its media in peace. Narrator Free perfectly captures the acerbic, exasperated tone of Murderbot that makes it so relatable. He also... Read More

With a thoughtful and heartfelt narration, Timothy Andrés Pabon gives voice to 21-year-old Emilio, whose undocumented status in the U.S. upends his life. After spending most of his life in California and attending college there, Emilio is deported to Guatemala when he can't produce the police with identification after a car accident. Emilio is determined to return to his... Read More

Entertainer Mike Birbiglia and his wife, J. Hope Stein, work together to present a humorous contemporary story of reluctant parents. The pair are excellent foils. Birbiglia is lively--full of ironic observations and laugh-out-loud one-liners. Stein is more reserved, breathy and sincere as she reads her original poems, which are sprinkled throughout. In this audiobook listeners... Read More

This short and informative audiobook is the latest from the Pocket Change Collective, a series of small books by artists and activists exploring politics and social justice. In a warm and conversational tone, author and narrator Adam Eli lays out a framework for a new generation of queer activism based on kindness, radical empathy, and community responsiblity. Drawing on the... Read More

Three narrators--James Chen, Adenrele Ojo, and Allyson Ryan--ramp up the tension in this literary thriller about an Asian man learning the ropes of life while reeling from the sudden loss of his friend. Margo and Lucas work at a tech company called Nimbus. When Margo is fired, they steal Nimbus's data to get new jobs at a different company. As they settle into their new... Read More

Nicholas Boulton is simply a masterful narrator. His tour-de-force performance of this Dickens classic shows the full complement of his vocal ability: He does all manner of English accents, from Yorkshire farmer to clerk to the upper class; he dexterously captures age, gender, and geographical idiosyncrasies. In a novel teaming with vicious characters (Wackford Squeers and... Read More

Oates taps into the current zeitgeist with a timely story about police brutality and its implications on a family. Cheryl Smith's poignant depiction of the characters as they deal with the consequences of that senseless act conjures listeners' empathy. It's the dominant parent who is killed, and the death sets in motion a series of reactions from his children and, most... Read More

If you're a fan of twists and turns, whodunits, and why'd-they-do-its, this is a must-listen. Narrator Megan Tusing does a great job capturing this engaging mystery. The story centers on a veterinarian who's a loving mom, devoted wife, and doer of good deeds. That last part is what gets her into trouble. Has her past finally caught up with her? Is it true that no good deed goes... Read More

Provocative, powerful, and informative, this audiobook about how our nation criminalizes immigrants is an important and timely listen. Immigration rights activist and attorney Alina Das, author and narrator, draws in listeners with an impassioned introduction that lays the foundation for her work. Narrator Roxana Ortega shares the heartbreaking and compelling stories of those... Read More

Author/narrator Joe Palermo shares his life in 1980s Japan. After college, he decides to teach English while also improving his Japanese language skills. A born storyteller with a warm and charismatic personality, Palermo gets to know the locals everywhere. Listeners will join him as he realizes mice are welcome "houseguests," learns how to effectively deal with pesky... Read More

Aboard the American sailing ship HERBERT FULLER in 1896, the captain, his wife, and the second mate were murdered with an ax for no discernible reason, and the killer remains unknown. Actor Daniel Thomas May narrates this tale in the authoritative tone of a newscaster, which works well when he delivers the author's own words. However, when the author quotes from contemporary... Read More

Lacy Crawford is riveting as she narrates her stunning memoir of sexual assault--you can't rip your ears away. Her voice is lovely, with wry undertones, and she has a keen sense of emotional intelligence. Crawford's story is not unique, but that is precisely what makes it so infuriating. When she was a student at St. Paul's School, in New Hampshire, those in charge chose to... Read More

Avi's award-winning story about an act of rebellion gone awry is brought to life in this brief but powerful audio production. Mikey Mousaw portrays Philip Malloy, a ninth grader who has nonchalant and naïve tones except when he's talking about track (which he loves) or Ms. Narwin (whom he despises). When Phil openly disrupts Ms. Narwin's class in an attempt to be transferred... Read More

Narrator Rebecca Gibel offers a humorous performance of this collection of satirical essays that provide insight into several political topics. Gibel's crisp and understated yet energetic voice explains how safe spaces coddle American children and deny them the same struggles their parents experienced. With tongue in cheek, Gibel also states the author's "claim" that Trump is a... Read More

Chris Abernathy's narration starts off by putting listeners at the scene of the Astor Place Riot of 1849, which the writer Ned Buntline was involved in. Abernathy puts a sense of urgency into the blow-by-blow accounts of violence in Buntline's life story. Elsewhere, there's amusement in Abernathy's voice as he reads newspaper clippings on the play Buntline wrote for William... Read More

Known as the Queen of Folk during the 1950s-60s, the mononymous singer and guitarist Odetta was also an important Civil Rights activist. A newcomer to audiobook narration, Rosa Howard turns out to be outstanding in her narration of this first full-length biography of an influential but enigmatic figure. Howard is comfortable with Zack's narrative; she makes his interviews and... Read More

Singer, actor, and author Dr. François S. Clemmons, known to many as Officer Clemmons from "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," recounts his unforgettable life story in this captivating memoir. Clemmons's voice is serene and unwavering as he paints a vivid picture of his difficult upbringing, which was marked by violence, abuse, discrimination, and confusion about his sexuality. In a... Read More

Author Martyn Waites deftly switches from pen to mic for his exciting, sometimes terrifying, mystery set in rural Cornwall. Secretive Tom Killgannon--ex-military, ex-police, and now in the Witness Protection Program--is living in St. Petroc, where he works in a pub. Listeners will be shocked when he finds frightened 17-year-old Lila in his remote home. Waites perfectly creates... Read More

CNN's chief international correspondent, Clarissa Ward, narrates her own life story as an award-winning conflict journalist. Both her writing and delivery are concise, clear, and to the point. Listeners follow Ward as she acquires these communication skills as a fledgling journalist in post 9/11 Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. Her viewpoint as a feminist covering the words and... Read More

Danny DeVito voices the part of Bob in the upcoming movie THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, and here he enhances the self-centered canine in this audiobook. DeVito's rough-and-tough humorous performance is a perfect fit for Bob. His narration of the free-form verses reveals Bob's sardonic nature. He's "never been accused of being a good dog." He eats cat litter, hogs the couch, and "may... Read More

Michael David Axtell narrates this inspiring audio in an earnest, believable tone that is never too dramatic. He has an appealing way of varying his pacing--some phrases quick, others measured--that works well with this intense account by a thoughtful neurologist who responded to his calling by working in socially and economically impoverished Haiti. The contrasts are riveting... Read More

Narrator Laural Merlington conveys a sense of urgency as she recounts the contentious history of immigration reform in twentieth-century America. The years between 1924 and 1965 brought unprecedented change to immigration policies, moving from the overtly racist Immigration Act of 1924 to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which finally made it possible for Asian,... Read More

Inés del Castillo gives spirited voice to absolutely everyone in this packed first novel about a flamboyant Venezuelan family living illegally in Trinidad. Everything is fine until a gangster named Mr. Ugly forces the family to pay off their late aunt's debt by working in his strip club. Del Castillo gives our protagonist, the feisty 20-something daughter named Yola, a nice mix... Read More

David Colacci narrates in an authoritative tone that gives gravitas to the compelling personal stories of the characters in this mystery. His narration is a perfect match for its engrossing and timely plot. Senator Wendy Upton, a well-respected centrist, has been approached by both parties about joining their ticket as the candidate for vice president. Shortly after, she... Read More

No parent wants to hear the words "your child has a tumor." In this audiobook, narrator Ginny Welsch captures the frustration, fear, and disbelief of a woman struggling to care for her child who has brain cancer while also struggling to keep her family, herself, and her faith together. Even though Welsch is sharing the powerful words of another woman, her emotional performance... Read More

Narrator George Guidall brings back the key characters in Silva's Gabriel Allon series. Through a mystery reminiscent of THE DA VINCI CODE, listeners are taken into the world of Catholicism and its historic relation to Jews. Through tone and accent, Guidall differentiates the many characters--some regulars, some new, some good, some quite devious--all of whom move the story... Read More

This entertaining GraphicAudio production about a small town in Oregon where gods go to vacation is packed with mystery, romance, and a whole lot of fun. Police Chief Delaney Reed has a murder to solve, but she also has a handsome and charming childhood friend back in town to contend with. Part of the magic of this story is the perfect performance of lead narrator Colleen... Read More

This full-cast GraphicAudio sequel to the Ordinary Magic series offers great characters, a snappy delivery, and tons of fun small-town antics for an absorbing listening experience. In a quirky Oregon town, Police Chief Delaney Reed usually has her hands full dealing with vacationing gods and other supernatural beings, but the stakes are raised (literally) when a vampire is... Read More

Shayna Small eagerly narrates a cyberpunk thriller in which a gamer unravels a conspiracy. Ashley "Ashura the Terrible" Akachi is a legend in a near-future VR game. Her life takes a turn, though, when she discovers a far-reaching conspiracy involving the game publisher and her love interest. Small gives the characters distinct vivid voices, making it effortless for listeners to... Read More

In this audiobook, Sadie, Will, and their family relocate to an island in Maine. After the murder of one of their neighbors, their lives start to unravel. The story is told from the viewpoint of the key characters, including Mouse, an abused girl; Camille, Will's sassy lover; and Will and Sadie themselves, each revealing a different perspective. Narrator Piper Goodeve gives... Read More

If you are a stickler for thrillers that make strict sense and seem to follow laws of probability or possibility in the known world, this audiobook may not be for you. If you relish a rich stew of human evil with some supernatural gothic touches, marvelously performed, dig in here. Richard Armitage is the principal narrator, and all his impressive gifts for drama, accents, and... Read More

In a voice full of grace, warmth, and determination, politician and activist Stacey Abrams provides listeners with a road map for building a more just and democratic nation. She gives an overview of the history of voter suppression in the U.S. and then delves into the myriad ways Republican lawmakers continue to block minority voters from the polls. As examples, she details... Read More

Liam Gerrard's chipper performance would seem at odds with the subject of Danckert and Eastwood's audiobook. Yet, it's perfect. In this wide-ranging discussion on boredom, Gerrard's tone captures the authors' enthusiasm for a topic most would ignore. Listeners are given background on why people experience boredom. The discussion is philosophically engaging. Is boredom the... Read More

Narrator Kathleen McInerney returns to Amish country to portray Chief of Police Kate Burkholder in this dive into the dark world of police corruption. In the 12th book in the series, Burkholder confronts her former best friend, Detective Gina Colorosa, who is discovered by an Amish farmer and his children nearly frozen to death after having been shot. Castillo opens a window... Read More

Daniel Weyman and Bea Holland deftly narrate this complicated, sometimes far-fetched, mystery set in London and its suburbs. Nick Ashdown and his family were grief-stricken 12 years ago when Rob, his younger brother, was declared dead in a boating accident. Weyman's Nick is hesitant, compassionate, and charmingly self-deprecating. Listeners and the Ashdowns are astonished when... Read More