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

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

Narrator Helen Laser breathes life into Minnie Soffer, who narrates her family's story of coming to America and making a new life for themselves in 1920s New York City. The Soffers, Jewish Americans from Ukraine, are acculturating while retaining their religious rituals and attitudes. The father, Ike, runs a speakeasy and is involved in racketeering, bootlegging, and enforcing... Read More

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

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

Amelie Griffin shines in this spicy holiday romance novella. Everleigh Dangerfield's a bit of a hot mess. She's spending one last Christmas in her late grandmother's home and is decking it out with holiday cheer to honor her grandmother's memory. But her gingerbread cookies and kitchen go up in flames, she nearly falls off the roof, and every time, the disarmingly handsome... Read More

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

Narrator Brittany Pressley brings the perfect Southern touch to her narration of this romance novel. Lila Matthews moves back to Ditto, Texas, after inheriting her Aunt Gracie's home and strawberry fields. There she discovers that her family has secrets she needs to get to the bottom of. As the late Gracie whispers advice in Lila's ears, Pressley gives her voice just the right... Read More

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

Golden Voice January LaVoy delivers an exceptional performance as Vida, who possesses a profound understanding of the mountains where she was raised. This knowledge is central to her existence. Her expertise becomes crucial when she suspects that the death of her beloved José Nochelobo was not an accident. LaVoy's precise and skillful portrayal of each character and moment adds... Read More

Narrator Eva Kaminsky provides great character differentiation in this second-chance romance, and her energetic delivery enhances the comedic aspect of the story. Post-divorce and looking for a place to stay, rental property agent Tilly plans to spend the holidays at what she thinks is a vacant Victorian mansion. She's dismayed when the new owner, George, shows up unexpectedly... Read More

Carly Robins and Teddy Hamilton mesmerize listeners with their performance of this emotional contemporary romance. When Allie Rousseau, an elite ballerina, suffers an injury, she returns to her summer home to heal and recover. Hudson Ellis, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, always had a deep connection with Allie--until the night he left for Basic. Years later, Hudson's niece... Read More

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

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

Yetide Badaki narrates this audio novella about Najeeba, who was introduced in the author's previous novel, WHO FEARS DEATH. Years before that story takes place, Najeeba is a 13-year-old girl who receives the call to the Salt Roads, an experience usually reserved for men. With her smooth voice and precise pacing, Badaki allows the details to linger in listeners' minds as the... Read More

Bahni Turpin's narration draws listeners into the fifth in Ibrahim's Yellow Crocus series. The audiobook opens with a birth and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Turpin gets five stars for realistic childbirth sounds.) Friends since childhood, next-door neighbors Kay Lynn and Japanese-American Kimiko face the challenges brought by WWII. Filled with fear of the unknown, they find... Read More

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

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

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

Longtime series narrator Elizabeth Knowelden's performance brings two occasional government agents to life: Lady Hardcastle, a genteel widow with a less-than-genteel past, and Florence Armstrong, her companion and confidante, who is also a martial arts expert. In the 11th Lady Hardcastle mystery, it's 1912, and the Secret Service Bureau dispatches Lady Hardcastle and Florence... 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

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

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

Zarifa Adiba's joy and hopefulness shine through her story and in every word she speaks from her memoir. Zarifa has big dreams to play the viola, conduct an orchestra, go to Harvard, meet Michelle Obama. She also faces major obstacles as she grows up in a country that doesn't value girls and opposes any musical expression. Zarifa earns money for her family by teaching English... Read More

Golden Voice narrator JD Jackson's tone reflects the seriousness of Kozol's brief but disturbing audiobook. Jackson performs this indictment of the "savage inequalities" of American schools with a measured pace and controlled cadence. He conveys the vigor of Kozol's takedown of the country's segregated schools, which he criticizes for their dilapidated buildings, stultifying... Read More

Narrator Daniel Henning breathes life into these three stories focused on Yuri Kozlov, "Russia's most famous spy." Against the backdrop of Putin's war with Ukraine, Kozlov comes to the U.S. under the pretense of defecting, but the CIA has questions about his legitimacy. As his handlers attempt to get information and parade him around with politicians and celebrities, listeners... Read More

Drawing inspiration from BLACK MIRROR, THE MATRIX, and 1984, this debut audiobook takes listeners inside the evolving world of AI with a dystopian twist. Although it's set in a world of cutting-edge tech, it is a deeply human story, and Joe Knezevich's narration imbues it with warmth and subtlety. When a tech start-up creates an algorithm that can change events in the real... 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

Listeners will feel like they're nestled in the small town of Bethany, Vermont, in the 1960s. Bostonian Franklin Warren is new in town, having just moved there to take a position as a state police detective. Just as he settles in, there is a disastrous barn fire on Agony Hill. When Warren goes to investigate, he shakes up long forgotten secrets of the town. This mystery is... Read More

What do you get when you bring together the expertise of master thriller writer Jeffery Deaver and the real-life law-enforcement experience of talented author Isabella Maldonado? A fast-paced nonstop thriller delivered by two well-matched narrators: Aida Reluzco and André Santana. DHS agent Carmen Sanchez reluctantly partners with cyber genius Professor Jake Heron to apprehend... Read More

Natalie Naudus narrates this fantasy-romance. Pell has an affinity for machines. That comes in handy as she digs artifacts of the Ancients on the once inhabited planet of Tampere and restores them for use by the villagers. The keepers of the tower claim they're gods and ask her to restore a complex series of machines. As Pell tells her story, Naudus communicates her enthusiasm... Read More

In this captivating slow-burn romance narrated by Elyse Dinh and Teddy Hamilton, Willa has just moved into her late aunt's home on a remote island in the Pacific Northwest. Recovering from the death of her husband and years of caregiving, she endeavors to restart her career as a cookbook ghostwriter. Hudson, the island's handyman, voiced by Hamilton, is striving to establish... Read More

Emily Lawrence captures the snarky, often exasperated, voice of Bernadette Fareown as she looks back at her Midwest childhood. In the shadow of her free-spirited older sister, Joanne, Bernadette observes her parents' volatile marriage and the effects of generations of mental illness. The novel's setting is the 1980s farm crisis, which will permanently shape Bernadette's... Read More

Various audiobooks have attempted to condense the history of the world into a reasonable listening time, but here the divisions between lands and nations provide a unique common denominator. Narrator Matthew Lloyd Davies has a reliable, highly agreeable voice, mellow with a bit of burr. It's especially effective when the narrative turns ironic and bemused. Where have they gone,... Read More

Narrator Emily Lawrence uses an energetic voice as Veridian, a recent Rhode Island School of Design graduate who is looking to have her work shown at an art gallery in New York City. Lawrence's voice matches Veridian's flagging optimism after several rejections. She's determined to work as an original artist in New York City, but people are only interested in her ability to... Read More

Bahni Turpin delivers this story of feminist entrepreneurship and second chance love with the humor and hilarity it deserves. Toni is a single mother of twins with big dreams. Turpin captures Toni's spunkiness as she balances motherhood and a demanding job with her aspirations for entrepreneurship. Turpin deftly portrays Toni's loving, if chaotic, world, which includes... Read More

Rob Shapiro immerses listeners in this historical fiction. The novel is about the infamous outlaw Butch Cassidy, who planned to spend his post-outlaw days staying lying low. So here he is in Paris, where he meets talented singer Jane Touissant and introduces himself as Mr. Noble Salt. Touissant and Salt's (Cassidy's) connection and mutual goal of keeping their secrets... Read More

Robert Fass performs this homage to New York City's northernmost borough, the Bronx, thoughtfully and skillfully. His pace reflects the author's peregrinations and considerations of the only part of the city connected to the continent. His tone is that of an engaged reporter committed to noting things large--the highways that penetrate the Bronx--and small. Through it all,... Read More

Narrator Brittany Pressley adds a Southern touch to her portrayal of Libby O'Dell as she starts a new life in the small town of Sawmill, Texas. Libby has taken a job running Benny Taylor's antique store. Minilee and Opal are Libby's elderly neighbors across the street, and Pressley ages her voice appropriately for them. Libby hears the voice of her crotchety deceased... Read More

Soneela Nankani's narration maximizes this story of reunion and suspense. Her expressive voice captures the complexities of Raj and Rachel Ranjani's special weekend. Their lavish plan to celebrate the launch of their high-end winery in Napa Valley with their best friends from college exposes simmering tensions beneath the surface. Nankani's skillful character differentiation... Read More

Vikas Adam brings color to this unique international drama. His expressive voice captures the ups and downs of young Egyptian American Azaan's life in California. When Azaan's parents catch him kissing Madison, his American crush, he is exiled to Egypt. Adam dramatizes Azaan's development from a rebellious teen who is forced to study religion to an adult who poses as a fake... Read More

Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich deliver this novel revolving around the Babineaux family of Grand Isle, Louisiana, as it was impacted by the Deepwater Horizon explosion and Hurricane Alex in 2010. Amoss lets us hear Josie's excitement when a magazine plans to spotlight her family's restaurant to kick off tourist season and her frustration when her children blame her for the... Read More

Anyone who finishes this audiobook about land use and isn't outraged just wasn't listening closely. When land is treated as a commodity rather than as a historical asset, society and, ultimately, the planet suffer. The author looks at the history and contemporary impact of land-use practices and policies. Golden Voice Bahni Turpin offers a solid, clear narration. She captures... Read More

Narrator Dara Brown's performance--full of foreboding--will have listeners questioning everything in this twisty thriller. Rookie PI Bailey Meadows goes undercover at an isolated Topanga Canyon writing retreat to find a missing woman. Brown channels Bailey's anxiety as she navigates the harsh landscape and tight-lipped canyon community. Bailey must also investigate her host,... Read More

Narrator Kitty Bang draws the listener into the romance between television production assistant Anika Fox and Luca St. Marten, the king of a small European country. Hoping to bring tourists back to his country, Luca has agreed to be part of a reality dating show. Anika starts as a production assistant but ends up as a contestant. Luca and Anika met prior to the show, but she... Read More

This fast-moving story is about a couple of ex-journalists who take on a "simple" job in Havana. Timothy Andrés Pabon perfectly fits his narration to the tone of the work. Coming in at a scant 85 minutes, the audio features clever dialogue between the journalists and their Cuban contacts. George and Joe are rightfully angry because they were laid off by their newspaper in a... Read More

Myriam J.A.Chancy's complex story looks at the fallout from colonialism, family secrets, class, and racism on the split island of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Golden Voice Robin Miles does a good job of putting listeners on the island as schoolgirls Gertie and Sisi become best friends in 1940s Port-au-Prince in spite of their very different class and family standings.... Read More

Andrew Sean Greer enthusiastically captures the inherent absurdity of an odd couple and their road trip. The brief audio story depicts the author/narrator and his mother as they travel from Kansas to California. Greer, who won a Pulitzer for his comic novel, LESS, is a natural raconteur--for photo ops he wears a fried-egg costume, and his choices for places to stay are... Read More

Elyse Dinh delivers a performance that brings the glamorous world of 1950s L.A. to life. She captures Cordelia Mai Yin's grit as she tries to launch a career in fashion as a Vietnamese designer. Dinh will have listeners glued to their earbuds as Cordi attempts to navigate a city darker and more complex than she ever imagined. Eventually, Cordi discovers a stranger with the... Read More

Tom Parks does an excellent job delivering Todd McCracken's foreword. He is bright, breezy, and positive as he lays out Cynthia Kay's background and enthusiasm for the exciting journey to be found in creating a small business--from startup to eventual exit. The remainder of the treatise is, sadly, not as well performed. While Kay's role as a business consultant is clearly... Read More

An all-star ensemble of historical fiction authors and talented narrators make this collection excellent listening. Each short story features a compelling female character who is breaking barriers, pushing back against limiting expectations, and finding her power. The stories span decades and showcase characters impacted by war, artistic and social movements, cultural shifts,... Read More

Narrators Almarie Guerra and Feodor Chin reunite to bring the second installment in the Daniela Vega series to life. FBI agent Dani Vega emerges as a female counterpart to author Lee Child's hero Jack Reacher--savvy, justice driven, and a military-trained fighting machine. The narrative delves into Vega's past, recounting the haunting discovery of her father's murder when she... Read More

Shamaan Casey brings a deep, captivating voice to his stellar performance of this recounting of one of America's first prisons for profit. The story includes the 1846 murders that resulted from its operators' greed and brutality. William Freeman, serving five years in the Auburn, New York, penal institution, was left brain damaged and partially deaf after guards beat him. He... Read More

Shridhar Solanki, Sharmila Devar, and Kemmer Keswani Cope work together to bring to life this well-told family drama. Devar is the voice of the aging matriarch Sultana, who is wasting away from illness. Cope and Solanki dramatize the siblings Imran, Sumaya and Majid, who go in separate directions after their mother's death. Well-versed in South Asian culture, the narrators... Read More

Narrator Stina Nielsen's soft tones are a gentle respite from this complex, sometimes vicious, murder mystery set in Sweden. The second case for Detectives Charlotte von Klint and Per Berg begins with a bomb in a public square, followed by a series of robberies, then a drowned woman in the river, then another and another, all seemingly disconnected--but are they? Throughout,... Read More

Braden Wright confidently narrates this charming space adventure. In an increasingly authoritarian galactic empire, the Grand Abeona Hotel is a beacon for weary travelers and offbeat employees alike. As this aging starliner plays host to a quirky academic conference, a pair of lovebirds, and a series of imperial spies, the crew race to decode the mysteries at the heart of a... Read More

In this suspenseful thriller, Helen Laser narrates with the grit required to authentically portray Lee Ellerin, a New York city reporter turned private investigator. She's hired by the mother of Amanda, a pregnant college student who attempted suicide under suspicious circumstances and is in a coma. Marli Watson sensitively portrays Amanda in the past as she describes how she... Read More

In this short story narrated by Joyce Bean, we follow three elderly friends--Myrna, Leonie, and Chrissy--who gather once a week to taste exotic cheeses. Their routine takes an unexpected turn when they decide to take revenge upon a group of male poets who ruined the career and well-being of their dear friend, Fern, years ago. The story primarily revolves around the themes of... Read More

Erin Moon performs this debut novel set in the 1990s among the California redwoods. The Red Grove provides a safe haven for women seeking refuge from patriarchal violence. Luce lives in the Red Grove with her mother, Gloria, and her little brother, Roo. When Gloria disappears, Luce is determined to find her and accidentally uncovers the Red Grove's secret history. Moon's... Read More

Jennifer Aquino, Christina Ho, Naomi Mayo, and Kenneth Lee perform this new thriller about two sisters who survived a small plane crash and 12 terrifying weeks in the Washington wilderness. As adults, Fiona and Violet Seng have kept their silence about the horrifying ordeal of their childhood. When their father's former lover comes forward with details, the Seng girls find... Read More

The stentorian voice of Leon Nixon adds gravitas and depth to a sweeping historical study of the Blood family. This noteworthy family embraced the wildness of the American continent, westward expansion, and the mythos of the American Dream as they explored, settled, and developed their claims from the seventeenth century through the beginning of the twentieth. Nixon's rich... Read More

Tavia Gilbert portrays the alternating points of view of sisters Eddie and Barrett Grant, whose stories revolve around the dreams and heartbreaks of a Nantucket family. At Barrett's request, Eddie takes a leave from her glamorous New York life as personal assistant to renowned romance novelist Dinah Lavender to help Barrett open her new gift shop and take care of their father.... Read More

Brian Holden delivers a portrait of quintessential "theater kids." His amused tone and playfully self-deprecating comments are narrated with candor and appropriate snarkiness. He portrays theater kids (TKs) as oddball individuals who joined the drama club in high school and college, and who kept "playing" long after graduation. Thanks to these self-proclaimed "queer" actors,... Read More

Caitlin Elizabeth, Victoria Mei, Will Thorne, and Adenrele Ojo perform the first entry in a fantasy epic laden with erotic suspense. For thousands of years, a pact has existed between humanity and the gods: Every 100 years the current human king is bound to send a consort to the king of the gods, Ash, who has the ability to shift forms. Now the current human king is training... Read More

Moniqua Plante and Jacob York narrate this contemporary romance, which salutes southwestern cuisine, the entrepreneurial spirit, and love. Plante creates a memorable heroine in Elena, a Latina who is about to become head chef of the Orange Bear, a new upscale restaurant in Aspen. Despite her natural reserve, Elena finds herself falling in love with Julian, a Hollywood director... Read More

Scarlett Everdeen and J.T. Londale bring to life the adventures of Meara Delcourt and Edge, who are both vampires. Meara, Edge, and their friends are in a battle with a group of evil wizards who want to destroy them. Meara is a 300-year-old aristocrat with a haughty tone matching her personality. Edge has a chip in his head; both Londale and Everdeen successfully convey his... Read More

Entrepreneur and business coach Dave Kerpen shares knowledge and skills he gained from launching and growing multiple businesses. His treatise addresses the impacts of AI, social media, gig work, and remote work. These developments require that today's leaders concentrate on the most important, not necessarily the most urgent, company matters--and delegate essentially... Read More

Nicholas Boulton delights in this story of passionate lovers. It's told from the perspective of a detective who is determined to charge the lovers with a crime following their torrid night of lovemaking in Spain's Guggenheim Museum. Boulton speaks brusquely as Detective Larramendi separately interviews the couple, who both offer the same explanation. Boulton uses pacing to... Read More

Soneela Nankani creates a sympathetic portrayal of Vandy Guru, a mother and advice columnist who is looking for her missing daughter, Mallika. This audiobook features an experienced narrator and a sophisticated story. Nankani captures the many conflicts facing women of Indian origin in contemporary American society. Trapped between her secrets and her ambition, Vandy finds that... Read More

Ana Osorio's youthful voice seems an appropriate vehicle for recounting the story of a young Venezuelan reporter who experiences the personal and political upheaval that is taking place under the government of Hugo Chavez. Poignant moments occur throughout the audio; for example, Ramón imagines that a coup might rescue her from having to finish homework. Osorio's voice takes on... Read More

Krystal Hammond's warm voice creates a familiar atmosphere and relatable characters for a story that takes place during the pandemic. This is a feel-good audiobook about an elderly woman, a middle-aged mother, an angsty teenager, and a disabled little girl who are finding hope amid the lockdown of COVID-19. Recent widow Vivian Laurent finds her saving grace when she offers to... Read More

Barrie Kreinik narrates the story of Helen Montgomery, the beautiful daughter of a blue-blood Philadelphia family in 1927 who would rather raise cattle than seek a husband. With elegance and a touch of innocence, Kreinik portrays Helen's frustration when she realizes that she must abandon her dream and marry for money and connections because of the financial crisis caused by... Read More

Ryan Hawk, an accomplished host of a successful leadership podcast, is also a former Ohio high school athlete coached by Brook Cupps. They have joined forces to present this highly competitive team- sport-centered treatise on leading by establishing highly personal core values. Hawk's vocal enthusiasm makes him sound much like a cheerleader. Cupps is noticeably slower and a bit... Read More

At the beginning of Abrahm Lustgarten's futuristic look at climate change, narrator Patrick Lawlor depicts the fear in the voice of a woman who wants to leave California because of its worsening wildfires. Lustgarten predicts that a wave of migration will soon affect the U.S., with Americans moving north to beat the heat and Latin Americans heading away from an even hotter... Read More

Narrators Soneela Nankani and Vikas Adam delight listeners with this heartfelt romance with a dash of mystery. Jessie Ahuja, a hardworking freshman engineering student, is intrigued with the history of Davidson Tower and its ruinous fire. Ravi Kumar is an upperclassman who comes from a wealthy tech family. When the two find themselves locked in the ghostly library, they stumble... Read More

Through Hillary Huber's masterful performance, listeners are introduced to former spy Maggie Bird, who is now happily raising chickens on her small farm in Maine. But a dead body on her doorstep and an attempt on her life force Maggie to use her espionage skills once again. Joined by her fellow former spies, the members of the Martini Club, Maggie travels back to several former... Read More

Narrators Cris Dukehart and Eric G. Dove combine their talents to tell the tale of ghostwriter Liz Danger's return to her small hometown of Burney, Ohio. When she arrives, Liz is pulled over by local cop Vince Cooper. While intending to stay only a few days, she is drawn into drama surrounding the wedding of her ex-boyfriend. Dukehart and Dove alternate the narration, with... Read More

Nancy Wu brings emotion and depth to this sweeping saga, which follows generations of Chinese immigrants, male and female, through multiple trials in the American West. The fresh perspective brings more fullness to history through a railroad worker and a young woman who is sexually trafficked in San Francisco. Wu's talent allows the listener to stay in the story as she portrays... Read More

Narrator Angela Lin's restrained pace and understated delivery channel the heartrending emotion of this literary family saga. In the devastating Tangshan earthquake of 1976, a seven-year-old girl, Xiaodeng, becomes separated from her twin brother, Xiaoda, and their mother, Li Yuanni. Xiaodeng, who grows up to become a successful writer in Canada thirty years later, continues to... Read More

This post-Cold War thriller set in Moscow in 1976 is primarily a murder mystery with a cameo of Henry Kissinger. Its enjoyable listening benefits from David Aranovich's well-paced narration. The central character is Viktor Moroz, a Russian refusenik who stumbles on a murder scene and is given a choice: Find the murderer, or the KGB will name him the murderer. From there, the... Read More

This layered audiobook could be experienced as one man's midlife crisis. The undistinguished Professor Q steps out of his lifeless marriage to have an affair with Aliss, a mechanical ballerina who somehow comes to life. Greg Chun's subtle performance encourages the listener to look beyond the dullard protagonist to what's happening around him. Q's island country of Nevers is in... Read More

Golden Voice narrator Robin Miles brings a sense of wonder to a near future fantasy that explores the consequences of climate change. Firefighter Syrah Carthan has been angling for a return to Sequoia National Park ever since her family's death there in a wildfire when she was young. After a terrible incident during a planned burn, Syrah discovers there are uncanny forces at... Read More

Narrator Nina Yndis establishes a determined voice for 12-year-old Mika, an orphan in 1880 Sweden who learns of a murder when a baby girl is dropped off at her orphanage in the middle of the night. Now Mika is determined to use her skills to help the local detective identify the killer of the baby's mother. Yndis captures Mika's emotions as she deals with the dire living... Read More

In this second audiobook featuring Detective Harriet Foster, a serial killer in Chicago is killing the city's aldermen. Narrator Chanté McCormick has a strong no-nonsense tone that suits the sharp detective, who has recently lost her son in a senseless murder. McCormick also creates appropriate voices for the various other police officers and for the murder suspect. McCormick's... Read More

Ray Chase performs an unusual story of good versus evil centered on the nicest man in the world. Benny Catspaw is a nice guy who can't hold a negative thought in his head--to his detriment. But then his life starts falling apart, and a large crate arrives containing a seven-foot-tall "bad weather friend." Chase's portrayal suits the jaunty character well, shifting between... Read More

Janine Granda narrates this thriller about a woman and her lover who are on the run from a violent mob family. Melissa and Jake are struggling to keep one step ahead of Lucky Wilson, an assassin with a wealth of emotional problems and a mandate to bring Melissa back to her ex-boyfriend, the mob boss. A bizarre mix of assassins and mob associates await around every corner.... Read More

These six funny, tender, and romantic stories, full of promising beginnings and well-developed characters, are performed by eight talented narrators. Christina Lauren's meet-cute is a strong start to the collection. A high schooler accidentally emails another student instead of a teacher and begins a correspondence tradition on Valentine's Day. Marli Watson and Andrew Gibson... Read More

In a reimagining of JANE EYRE, listeners are taken to seemingly haunted Thornfield Hall. Hoping to rid the manor of its curse, Edward Rochester requests that a Lowood Witch make a visit, though he's skeptical of the witches' abilities. Jane Aire, now an instructor at Lowood, the same school for orphan girls where she was raised, is sent to investigate. Narrating the brief... Read More

This twisty tale challenges Caroline Hewitt to depict the panoply of colorful characters created by Labuskes. Raisa Susanto, one of the FBI's best forensic linguists, is assigned to investigate a recent murder that occurred 25 years to the day after a murder-suicide. Raisa and psychologist Callum Kilkenny use their skills to read between the lines of a case investigators... Read More

In an alternate universe, King Louis XVI has become the first vampire and has now ruled for three centuries. Carlotta Brentan gives a spirited narration of this novel featuring Jeanne, a young commoner who is masquerading as an aristocrat to seek vengeance for the deaths of her family members. Commoners have no rights; they're just a source of blood for the vampires.... Read More

Gail Shalan narrates this fantastical novel set during WWI. It focuses on Petra, a witch who is hidden from the world until she is sought out to join a special group called upon to fight against evil. Shalan's voice is full of feeling. Her deliberate intonation and quick pace create anticipation and a sense of adventure. Beyond the fighting against monsters and other ghostly... Read More

Cultural historian Kliph Nesteroff narrates his affected and opinionated treatise on the evolution of American cultural trends, especially how immediately succeeding generations find newer forms of entertainment to be outrageously without merit. It all adds up to a dry narrative. While maintaining an appropriate pace, Nesteroff's delivery is breathy and includes... Read More

James Babson and Amy Hutchins are the perfect pair for this flirtatious rom-com. Ellie's reputation on small Fernley Island is damaged after her cheating ex-fiancé, Jason, sways public opinion in his favor. Ellie uses the island's odd jobs app to hire the local mechanic to assist in her plan to take Jason down for his many misdeeds. When the mechanic sends his nephew, Hugh,... Read More

Author Cheryl Strayed traces her emotions in both the text and narration of her short memoir, which revolves around the death of her mother-in-law, Joan. From the start, irony is emblematic of their relationship. Their first meeting is in a bar, where Strayed, a 27-year-old waitress, guesses--wrongly--which one of a trio of women is the mother of her boyfriend. She covers a lot... Read More

Erin Bennett draws the listener into the relationship between Rachel Lindquist and parapsychologist Bryan Hennessy. After years of being estranged from her mother, Rachel returns home to find her mother suffering from Alzheimer's. Bryan is living in her home as he searches for a ghost. Bennett aptly portrays Addie's frustration with her memory loss and her hostility toward... Read More

Edoardo Ballerini returns to narrate another art-heist adventure involving New York artist Luke Perrone and his girlfriend, Alexis Verde, daughter of a famous art thief. Luke and Alexis discover what may be the missing final self-portrait of Van Gogh hidden under another painting. But when it's stolen from them, they embark upon a harrowing trip to the Netherlands, followed by... Read More

Donna Postel and Bahni Turpin effectively complement each other in this mystery, especially as the tension mounts. In a Southern town, a local radio station has been hosting an annual hunt for their Golden Egg, with a big reward for the finder. Mysterious deaths have occurred ever since the launch of the hunt, with a growing group of citizens demanding that the hunt be stopped.... Read More

Jennice Ontiveros's leisurely pacing allows room for this audiobook's expertly crafted ambiance to draw listeners into a Taos Pueblo murder mystery. The story draws from the real-world tragedies of opioid addiction and the decades-long disappearances of Native American women. The first audiobook of this hauntingly narrated new series features Native American Sheriff's Deputy... Read More

Diop's love story/epic adventure, written with compassion and skill, is dramatized by a talented team of narrators. Mark Bramhall portrays Michel Adanson, a French Enlightenment-era botanist; Adenrele Ojo and Caroline Hewitt portray different members of his family and some friends. Adanson is on a mission to Africa to study plants for a comprehensive book. The Senegalese... Read More

Sneha Mathan is the perfect narrator for this exciting police procedural set in Mumbai. She uses her strong characterization skills to bring a wide cast to life. Listeners join Senior Inspector Arnav Singh Rajput as he is called to investigate an apparent ritual killing at a temple. The story is told from multiple viewpoints, which Mathan handles with ease, especially the... Read More

Samantha Hydeson depicts Bluebeard's castle, its inhabitants, and its visitors in this unsuccessful attempt to lend a feminist slant to the original folktale. Listeners meet unhappy gothic novelist Judith Moore, who feels she'll never find the man of her dreams. Her life changes, however, after she meets a psychopath named Gavin, who is expertly portrayed. He has leading-man... Read More

Amy Bentley leisurely narrates this magical audiobook full of intriguing world-building and a slow-burn romance. Lark ran away from her abusive father years ago. Still desperate to find a home, she hopes for sanctuary in Cagmar, the city of trolls. There, she reluctantly reveals her power to thrust fear into others, and the trolls are intrigued. Lark's voice is higher pitched,... Read More

Alexander Cendese and Lynn Wright bring listeners back to Cape May, New Jersey, for a holiday romance. Jameson Franklin is asked to run his cousin's restaurant while he is away over the holiday season, and he ends up changing the popular casual place to a more upscale one, much to the dismay of florist Devon Pratt. Devon is fostering a mastiff and blackmails Jameson into... Read More

Merriment turns to misgiving when a corpse transforms Christmas cheer into a season of speculation. Kate Rawson deftly narrates this atmospheric addition to the Shell House Detectives series. The spotlight is on all the residents of Mousehole when JP Sharpe, an unpopular chef, is found dead in a dingy. Rawson blends congeniality and solemnity in her portrayal of the town's... Read More

Pidgeon Pagonis's skillfully narrated memoir takes listeners on their coming-of-age journey as they struggled to fit in with other girls. Pidgeon's voice is calm and has a slight Latin accent. Along with typical disruptive changes during childhood, such as moving, parents separating, and new schools, there's also bladder surgery because of previous cancer when Pidgeon was too... Read More

January LaVoy gives Canadian author Julianne MacLean's compelling historical novel an expert performance. Scarlett Fontaine was a Hollywood legend before her untimely death. Gwen Hollingsworth, a distant relative, is curator of a museum dedicated to Scarlett memorabilia. Photojournalist Peter Miller arrives at Gwen's museum with the goal of verifying that Scarlett was in... Read More

Once again, Lady Hardcastle and her loyal lady's maid, Flo, are delightfully voiced by Elizabeth Knowelden. The tenth installment in the series is set in the English village of Littleton Cotterell in 1912. This time, the pair juggle a case of art theft, a murder, and the financial downturn of dear friends. Knowelden's array of British accents is skilled, allowing the listener... Read More

Nina Yndis narrates a bewitching short story about a girl named Judith, who longs for adventure and romance in her quiet life. Judith dreams of the world beyond her small village and resents having to work for her beautiful but cruel older sister. Listeners hear the thrill in Judith's voice when a handsome stranger comes to her village--and her devastation when he marries her... Read More

This audiobook has all the ingredients of an addictive fantasy: mysterious backstories, families torn apart by war, and true friendships that have stood the test of time. Elizabeth Knowelden's narration immerses listeners in a world of shadowy enemies, gods, and gifted chefs who use magical ingredients in food and wine to influence people. When Ada goes on the run from... Read More

Narrators Jane Oppenheimer, Jennifer Aquino, Lauren Ezzo, and Emily Lawrence portray four women whose lives are thrown into turmoil. It all begins with the announcement of a genetic lottery to find the parents of a child who is at the center of a twenty-year-old murder. Cleo, Jemma, and Alex thought they had left their deepest secrets behind in the town of Rosemary Hills, Iowa.... Read More

Indira Varma is the perfect match for this short mystery set in a prestigious apartment building in the center of London. When DS Gish and DI Milton are called in to investigate the murder of a young concierge, they soon find that the residents of the building are their only suspects. Varma creates believable and likable characters in the two detectives. She injects just the... Read More

Narrator Kitty Bang draws the listener into the story of Ivy Jensen, who is returning home to New York after her tech company failed because she trusted someone she shouldn't have. Hoping to rebound, Ivy teams up with Heath Marino, who wants to turn his grandmother's success as a matchmaker into a new computer app. Bang brings a hint of Italy to Heath's Italian grandmother.... Read More

Will Damron's passionate narration of this first novel adds additional layers of emotional depth as two men who were once married and had children discover they're gay. As Thomas and Matt's marriage creates a blended family, the two fathers have strained relationships with their complicated children. A plumbing disaster in their large apartment forces them all into a tiny... Read More

Helen Laser narrates with a thoughtful style, a smart cadence, and an empathetic tone. Author/environmentalist Elizabeth Rush weaves three strands together: an ocean adventure; her life with 57 others on the NATHANIEL B. PALMER, a research vessel traveling to Antarctica; and her personal struggle over whether or not to have a child.The title has a dual meaning, implying both... Read More

Narrator Robert Petkoff combines a natural ease and a classical timbre to deliver this spare, poetic novella. It's about a man cursed with immortality who is exiled to a distant planet with only robots and agricultural equipment as his companions. He waits and waits. Finally, after 200 years, a spaceship crashes on the barren world with one survivor, who the man hopes might... Read More

Jacqueline O'Mahony takes listeners back to mid-nineteenth-century Ireland and the American West in this heartrending novel. Aoife McMahon's multifaceted narration brings this story of grief, resilience, and the burning desire to survive to life. Her melodious Irish accent tells the story of Honora, whose whole life has been a fight for survival that was foretold by a... Read More

When Anna and Peter leave London to start a new life in a gated community on the Scottish coast, their belief that they have found the perfect place is soon shattered. Imogen Church's stylish narration builds the tension in this unusual thriller as it soon becomes apparent that no one is who they appear to be. Her strong characterizations of both male and female characters... Read More

Chris Brinkley and Elyse Dinh pair up for a delightful performance in this fresh nerdy romance. Maggie is 48 and a new empty nester who channels her emotions through an online role-playing game. She becomes close with her guild leader, a friendly healer named Aiden, but is shocked when they meet in person. Aiden isn’t the college-aged player Maggie thought—he’s a 50-year-old... Read More

Author Amelia Possanza's conversational tone welcomes listeners to a topic that ranges from ancient Greece to modern times. She delves into archival records in search of lesbian history while also reflecting on her own. The connections Possanza develops with the complex women she researches are audible, by turns thoughtful, awed, and eager. These women include... Read More

Kate Rawson's warm, flexible tones are perfect for introducing a new cozy mystery series featuring an unlikely pair of bighearted investigators. In a small village near Cornwall, Lewis, who was recently released from prison, jumps or is pushed off a cliff. Then local resident Helena goes missing. Ally, the widow of the town's beloved police sergeant, finds herself investigating... Read More

Listening to Imogen Church narrate this story is an opportunity to spend a week on a guided bus tour up the coast of Scotland to Edinburgh. Listeners will also learn some history and connect with a dozen or so relatable characters. Thirty-something Emma and Mel find themselves on a road trip with Emma's grandmother and a dozen or so other senior citizens. Church adeptly... Read More

Narrator Tim Campbell returns to the role of Casteel Da'Neer in the fifth book in the Blood and Ash series. As Casteel's great love, Poppy, slips into a period of stasis to finalize her transformation into a Primal, Casteel guards her bedside. This time, Casteel tells his own version of how he met Poppy, complete with accounts of the internal and external battles he fought as... Read More

Journalist Paul Burston narrates his memoir about growing up gay in South Wales, his transformation into an AIDS activist and author in London, and the establishment of Polari salon in 2007 and the first Polari Prize in 2011. Taking its title from a David Bowie song, the audiobook shows Burston's struggle to find acceptance of who he was and wanted to be. He doesn't apologize... Read More

The range exhibited in narrator Kristen Ariza's performance of this thriller is unparalleled. She shines at voicing Coco Weber's conflicting emotions as she escapes L.A. and returns home to remote Catalina Island. Her plan to start a new job at the local paper is interrupted by a string of suspicious deaths of the island's elderly land owners, deaths she believes may be... Read More

Natalie Naudus shines as she transports listeners to Maplewood, California, where we meet career-driven high school senior Charlotte Woo. Charlotte wants to create the perfect prom, but her plans go awry when she falls off a ladder right into the arms of her hunky archnemesis, J.T. Renner. Charlotte then wakes up at age 30 and finds herself in bed next to J.T. They soon learn... Read More

Yetide Badaki anchors this fresh production of Okorafor's sprawling postapocalyptic fantasy with her heartfelt portrayal of a fierce, young heroine. Onyesonwu knows she's different; a mixed-race child born of rape, she's considered an outcast among her people. As her magical powers begin to reveal themselves, Onye discovers that she is destined to rewrite the story of violence... Read More

It's fun listening to narrator Helen Laser depict 20-year-old Marilyn's adventures while visiting her Great-Aunt Ada in 1960s Philadelphia. She's been sent there after being caught kissing the rabbi's son. Marilyn is no shrinking violet and can give as good as she gets--as can Ada, the queen of Philadelphia's Jewish matchmakers. She employs Marilyn to vet young Jewish men for... Read More

Almarie Guerra and Feodor Chin bring this fast-paced thriller to life. Guerra tells the story from the point of view of Dani Vega, an FBI agent whose undercover assignment to infiltrate a band of assassins goes terribly awry. She finds herself fighting for her life against the assassins and "Nemesis," a faceless and possibly deranged opponent while her team implements a rescue... Read More

Chris Abernathy delivers tones of weary brokenness and mounting horror as he voices this mystery. Harlan is a failed medical student with a volatile temperament who returns to his hometown in Appalachia. His past is marked by a violent murder. Life in the community is rapidly deteriorating; vandals are destroying property, and community support is almost nonexistent. Soon... Read More

Tom Parks's somewhat slow enunciation works well to make this personal growth audiobook accessible to listeners who are new to this now popular advice about improving emotional self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. His clear and friendly voice sends listeners the palpable message that these important skills are worth taking the time to... Read More

Narrator Katherine Littrell perfectly delivers a mix of emotions in this hopeful love story. It's spring of 1986, and Rachel has found happiness in her Oxford hometown after a tumultuous adolescence. She's engaged to Jonny, will soon be a stepmother, and loves her job at an art gallery. Then she meets Gabe, a visiting American artist, and the chemistry is undeniable. Rachel... Read More

Lucy Rivers and Teddy Hamilton narrate the complicated friends-to-lovers story of Bree and Sam. The two friends live in New York City following difficult childhoods in Ohio. Bree is an urban planner, while Sam writes comedy skits for a TV show. Hamilton's performance is the stronger one. He differentiates Bree and plays Sam's biting wit against his sweet affection for her,... Read More

Katherine Littrell's sultry voice is as lucious and irresistible as Patrick's prose in this steamy coming-of-age novel about a young woman who falls in love with the much older wife of the headmaster at the elite girls school where she works. Much of the novel takes place deep inside the unnamed protagonist's mind as she analyzes her own desires. Littrell masterfully voices her... Read More

This intriguing collection of short speculative fictions features a superb ensemble of narrators. Set in space, the works feature a janitor who is investigating murder on a spaceship, a human who is adopted by a prominent alien, a man whose thousands of clones are dispatched to Earthlike planets, and a group of sentient ships connected to humans who are using futuristic... Read More

Kineta Kunutu voices Rowan Quinn, a newly single father, and Delilah Huntington, a former socialite who is escaping her past. They both come to the coastal town of Sugarbush Bay to start new lives. Rowan is out of his depth managing his new family responsibilities but still finds it hard to resist Delilah's charms as she draws him into the supportive community. Will the ever... Read More

Listeners will find echoes of Raymond Chandler in this audiobook. In the 1950s, private investigator Eddie Church is hired to secure unpaid alimony for a divorced woman in Los Angeles. But in detective fiction a simple job is rarely easy, and Eddie soon realizes much more is at stake. Patrick Lawlor is perfect for the genre, narrating with clear diction and a tone that fits the... Read More

Leta McCollough Seletzky narrates her audiobook about the man who is kneeling beside Martin Luther King, Jr., in the iconic photo of the Civil Rights leader's assassination. He was Seletzky's father, Marrell McCollough, who worked as a spy within the Black activist group called the Invaders. Though her father remained quiet about his experiences, his daughter has unraveled... Read More

Reporter and narrator Tamara Leitner provides listeners with a unique true-crime narrative in this audiobook. In April 1999, Leitner's neighbor was sexually assaulted by serial rapist Claude Dean Hull II. Horrified by the attack, Leitner set out to connect with other survivors of his multiple assaults. This audiobook explores the way survivors of sexual violence in general are... Read More

Security guard Michael Mace dies in a catastrophic lab accident and wakes up alongside his dead co-workers in a makeshift morgue. Koontz's latest thriller is superbly narrated by Edoardo Ballerini. Mace is stunned to learn he now has a superpower: With his mind he can tap into and manipulate any electronic data system in the world. Narrating largely from Mace's point of view,... Read More

Narrator Luzma Ortiz adds a charming, lovable quality to this story about finding hope after loss. Gabby is a 29-year-old L.A. native who recently lost her mother to cancer. Emotionally and financially devastated, she accepts her biological father's proposal to flip her great-grandmother's house in New Mexico. Gabby hires the town's attractive mayor/handyman, Diego, to help her... Read More

Jane Wong's soft voice contrasts with the brutal life she faced with her abusive father, an alcoholic gambling addict who put her family in financial jeopardy. Her poetic words and phrasing soothe as she describes later boyfriends, including "the Bad One," who cruelly reinforced her negative self-image. Respite and love came from her friends, her mother, and the fantastical... Read More

Robin Miles enchants as she introduces New Orleans Mambo (Priestess) Reina Dumond, who practices Vodou, Haitian-African magic. Listeners meet kindhearted Mambo and her close friends, 20-something wrestler Tyka and talkative chef Darryl. They always have her back. A friend who is worried about her sometimes crooked husband asks Mambo to investigate his activities. This is an... Read More

Based on a real person and filled with factual details and characters, this deeply engrossing novel is performed flawlessly by Tavia Gilbert. Due to family difficulties, Deborah Samson becomes an indentured servant, but when the War of Independence breaks out, Deborah, who is tall and lanky, enlists in the Continental Army. As Robert Shurtliff, Deborah proves herself,... Read More

Nina Yndis stylishly narrates Icelandic volcanologist Anna Arnardóttir's race against time to save all that is dear to her when new activity in previously dormant volcanoes creates imminent danger to those around her. Yndis's authentic-sounding pronunciation of place and character names helps conjure the ambiance of Iceland, and her warm tone and perfect pacing keep the... Read More

Narrators Soneela Nankani and Fajer Al-Kaisi are a winning combination in this contemporary romance. Tara and Silas, both young adults who are searching for meaning, meet while part of a tour group in India. While both attempt to embrace their Indian heritage, at the same time they recognize that their U.S. citizenship brings privileges. The romance between these two is a slow... Read More

Ell Potter introduces Fi McKinnery and her drag queen pals, who perform at Dublin's Trash Club. Descriptions of facial, hair, and costume preparations, along with lip-synching, are impressive, and most entertaining is meeting the splendidly rendered drag king, Stan the Man. At first, the mystery involves the disappearance of performer Sparkle McCavity. Then, Fi's best buddy,... Read More

Robyn Holdaway's delightful performance shines throughout the second installment of this queer Regency-era romance series. Lovelorn Peggy Delancey is enlisted by her former lover and friend, Arabella Tarleton, to draw the attention of the charming Italian opera singer Orfeo. But Peggy quickly becomes enamored herself. Holdaway's thoughtful portrayals enliven a range of... Read More

LGBTQ+ activist Brandon J. Wolf narrates his heartbreaking yet hopeful memoir with graceful clarity and much tenderness. He recounts his childhood in rural Oregon, where he was the only Black person in his family, and his eventual move to Orlando, Florida, where he found a life-saving queer community. He goes into detail about the night of the Pulse club shooting, the... Read More

Narrator Cassandra Campbell does a fabulous job bringing the author's words to life. Campbell has an attractive, youthful-sounding voice that fits well with the characters in this romance story. Everlynne is 18 years old when she meets her soulmate, Joe, on a trip to Spain before starting her freshman year in college in San Francisco. But a family tragedy changes her plans,... Read More

Eilidh Beaton performs this charming, slow-moving, somewhat dark ghost story set during the blackouts in England in 1940. Soft-spoken literature student Ruth Gladstone and her grandmother, Edith, evacuate Cambridge University for rural Martynsborough, where her Aunt Vera lives. After hearing about the ghost of a local man who died around 1910, Ruth joins forces with her... Read More

With the printed novel having been nominated for both Hugo and Nebula Awards, Deepa Samuel has a high bar to reach as narrator of this audiobook, and she fills it. Samuel's youthful timbre and clear pronunciation help to bring this complex space opera to life. In a world in which humans are denigrated and "alloys," or artificially created people, are running the universe,... Read More

The foreboding tone of this audiobook's narrators suggests the brutality of the Nazi occupation of Vienna. Performed in a low-key yet effective style by Angela Lin, Jesse Vilinsky and Feodor Chin, the novel focuses on Grace Fengshan, wife of a Chinese diplomat who is posted to Austria during a period of pogroms and other actions against the Jews. Grace forms a friendship with... Read More

This is an example of a great story with narrators who understand their characters and who portray them beautifully. The unique aspect of the story--and an added challenge for the narrators--is that multiple first-person perspectives are used. A woman is missing, and suspicion is cast on her husband. The family is split over his innocence. The emotions that come with this... Read More

Thoman's debut novel, presented by an ensemble of narrators, is a time-traveling, mind-bending second-chance story well suited for young adults. Justin Warren's life is going nowhere until fate sends him traveling from 2023 back to 1985. There he teams up with optimistic Rose Yin, and together they have one week to stop the mysterious deaths of Justin's grandparents. The first... Read More

A trio of narrators makes this lighthearted historical fantasy with touches of mystery and romance a delight. The setting is an island off the coast of Rhode Island in the mid-1800s. Merritt inherits Whimbrel House, which is said to be haunted, but in truth the house is enchanted. Graham Halstead portrays Merritt, a young writer who is somewhat naïve and endearing. Amanda Leigh... Read More

Amanda Prowse, a bestselling author, narrates her own look at the unlikely trajectory of her life and career. Prowse's posh British accent and arch confidential tone will appeal to many listeners. She holds nothing back in exploring her struggles with food and self-esteem. Prowse is a natural narrator. Confident even while she is confiding, she is sure to draw in new fans in... Read More

Mapuana Makia lends fluidity to this memoir's descriptions of Hawaii--its lush settings, legends and lore, and musical language. In contrasting tones, Makia delivers the painful history of colonialism and stereotyping of Hawaii as merely a tourist destination. Similarly, Makia gives listeners a felt sense of the intersectional issues faced by Machado through the juxtaposition... Read More

Meg Sylvan and Hunter Millbrook combine their narration talents in this story of love and betrayal--filled with references to Broadway. Erika Greene was a Broadway diva until she was injured in a tragic stage accident. Now she's running her grandmother's failing opera house in Paris, Nevada. Christof Daae had a great band in Germany until he and the band's keyboard player broke... Read More

Narrator Dan John Miller is perfect as the voice of widower Baxter Shaw. Miller has a deep voice, and the Southern accent he affects is ideal for the rising country star turned contractor. Baxter is raising his young daughter, Mia, alone while still coming to terms with the death of his wife, who was born in Spain but was adopted in the U.S. Through a twist of fate he finds her... Read More

Each narrator presents one of the five novellas in this collection. The short thrillers place ordinary people in unusual situations. Edoardo Ballerini takes listeners to Philly in 2004 for Lisa Scottoline's memorable "Pigeon Tony's Last Stand." Reba Buhr convincingly narrates phone conversations between a female crisis counselor and a male caller in Lisa Unger's dark "Unknown... Read More

Natalie Naudus narrates with the emotion required for a Koontz thriller in which danger lurks around every corner. Katie, an artist who is recoiling from a past loss, lives on an island. She soon learns that a neighboring island houses a government research operation, but what goes on there is a mystery. When she discovers agents snooping around her own island, she teams up... Read More

Soneela Nankani narrates a dual-timeline story of two women who are both seeking the truth about themselves. After her father's unexpected death, Sophie Shah travels to France to find out what happened to her mother. Nankani invests both Sophie and her mother, Nita, with dignity and authenticity, creating sympathetic characters despite numerous clichés. Sophie has lived a... Read More

Narrators Lynn Wright and Alastair Haynesbridge combine their talents to breathe life into the romance between Tessa Harper and Ford Maddox. Ford and Tessa have always been at odds with each other. But when he needs her help to capture the attention of the woman of his dreams, they end up spending considerable time together. Wright and Haynesbridge seamlessly alternate... Read More

Harlan Coben could not ask for a better person than narrator Steven Weber to portray a man wrongly accused of killing his own son. Weber, known for his movies, television shows (like the long-running "Wings"), and top-notch audiobook performances, including several other works by Coben, has a natural ease and an ability to transport the listener into a world of panic,... Read More

Emily Pennington's voice isn't booming, but her awe at seeing Alaska's Mt. Blackburn comes through strongly as she tells listeners about her attempt to visit every U.S. national park in one year. A romantic breakup is included in her story. Early on, her adventures head in expected directions, with frustrations palpable. For example, she recalls parking her van on the opposite... Read More

The evocative, melodic voice of Channie Waites brings to life the character of Jeannette, who struggles to find her identity and reclaim her birthright. Listeners empathize as Jeannette, the daughter of an enslaved woman, suffers when her beloved father, a white plantation owner, dies and she is sold into slavery in 1850s Mississippi by his wife. Listeners meet many... Read More

Soneela Nankani's performance adds endearing charm to a chaotic teen romance. Roles are reversed in this fun audiobook: Math nerd Samaya is a gamer girl who needs to regain respect after a very public breakup with the "it" boy at her school. Daniel is a hockey jock who loves baking but desperately needs a math tutor. Together, the two whip up a sweet plan to make everyone... Read More

Peter Kenny narrates an entrancing historical fantasy that propels an impulsive mage into the midst of political conflict. The 1950s finds Great Britain once again in peril as the Virtuis Party rises to power and threatens to expose a rage form of magic. Paul has managed to curry favor with the royal family and is the only mage capable of stopping Britain from descending into... Read More

Shaun Taylor-Corbett's reverent performance creates an intimate and engaging listening environment. Eastman's original work, first published in the 1800s, remains as valuable as ever. The son of a Sioux, Eastman was the first Native American to be certified in Western medicine. His unique lived experience informs his work here. This short audiobook provides listeners with... Read More

This taut collection of psychological thrillers offers a wide variety of vacation settings. The short, sharp stories transport listeners to a consciousness-raising cruise on which honesty isn't necessarily the best policy, a family beach house haunted by generations of secrets, and a tropical paradise where a serial killer stalks the unwary. Each narrator in the ensemble is... Read More

CJ Bloom and Aaron Shedlock work together wonderfully to enhance this fun contemporary romance. After social media influencer "Chick Nic" has a very public romantic breakup, she moves away to start anew, bringing her beloved chickens with her. Her new neighbor, Will, is the local veterinarian. She soon learns that he hates the chicken movement or any fad involving animals.... Read More

Frank Ryder can throw a baseball well over 105 mph. But behind every pitch is an emotional weight that comes from a tragic event that happened years earlier. Ryder takes Major League Baseball by storm, but his past haunts him, and much of the league's ownership turns on him. Shea Taylor is outstanding with every voice. He excels at differentiating men's and women's voices and... Read More

Ell Potter portrays the queens who work at the drag club Trash. Among them are feisty and faithful Fiona "Fi" McKinnery and unpredictable, spoiled Mae B, who have been friends since childhood. Learning about the preferred terms for the queens, as well as the extraordinary effort they put into their body shaping and costumes, is interesting. Particularly well rendered by Potter... Read More

Narrator Chanté McCormick hits a home run in this police procedural. Harriet Foster, an African American seventeen-year veteran of the Chicago Police returns from bereavement leave after the death of her partner and jumps right into a murder case. A girl with red hair and red lipstick traced around her hands and ankles has been found stabbed to death. Then two more bodies are... Read More

Tamika Katon-Donegal captivatingly narrates the second book in the Nena Knight series. Nena is a female assassin whose missions are intended to protect her high-ranking political family. Katon-Donegal narrates with precision and care. This plays well, given the nature of the main character. She is a protector who is extremely disciplined yet conveys warmth to loved ones.... Read More

Michael Crouch delivers a heartwarming—and heartbreaking—performance in this exploration of generational differences and death. When Lewis Madigan loses his job and his boyfriend on the same day, he begrudgingly agrees to be an end-of-life caregiver to his combative and homophobic neighbor, Chester Wheeler. To fulfill Chester’s dying wish, Lewis takes him on a cross-country... Read More

Youssif Kamal lends his flexible baritone to this ambitious novel about the universal feeling of wanting to belong. He becomes the ever shifting Dawoud, also known as David, Adal, and Dawit, depending on where he is living and trying to fit in. Kamal's narration is smooth and well paced, almost to the point of a silkiness that reflects the more sensual moments of the plot.... Read More

Cauley's satirical comedy about survivalists, gun dealing, and finding happiness is masterfully narrated by Bahni Turpin. Aretha, an up-and-coming attorney, falls for Aaron, a coffee dealer. When Aretha moves in with Aaron, Turpin captures her love-blind naïveté and acceptance of his survivalist friends, Brittany and James. Turpin then delivers Aretha's shock during her first... Read More

Elizabeth Knowelden zestfully presents Bristol, England, in 1911. Listeners meet eccentric and down-to-earth Lady Hardcastle and her feisty, dedicated companion/confidante, Flo Armstrong. When the ladies and several friends attend a play, no one expects that the corpse on the stage is real. Lady Hardcastle, Flo, and her twin sister, Gwen, swing into action, even before the... Read More

Narrator Sneha Mathan's strong performance transports listeners to the streets of Mumbai as police Inspector Arnav Singh Rajput is called to investigate a dismembered body, which he soon realizes is the work of a serial killer. As he races to track down the murderer, using any methods available, his past and present converge, bringing new challenges. Mathan's narration is... Read More

An ensemble of voices delivers this candid collection of interviews with gender-nonconforming teens who struggle to be accepted. The diverse compilation of narratives presents two trans feminine, two trans masculine, and two nonbinary young people. Tanya Eby voices author Susan Kuklin, narrating in a neutral yet respectful tone that allows the more emotional content conveyed by... Read More

Laura Jennings narrates this Nordic noir with style. Stockholm police officer Hanna Ahlander takes refuge at her sister's lodge in the Swedish ski resort of Are to recover from professional and private disasters. When a girl goes missing there, Hanna can't help getting involved as the local police race against the clock to discover what happened to her. Jennings's use of... Read More

Fabio Tassone deftly introduces young listeners to David Aguilar, who was born missing a hand, for which he faced discrimination from taunting classmates and rude strangers. Listeners will feel connected to David and his supportive family, who live in the tiny European country of Andorra. Touching descriptions of family members, particularly his beloved abuela and his kind,... Read More

When controversial podcaster Josh Shoe disappears, his mother hires private investigator Elvis Cole, who uncovers a far more complicated story than he anticipated. Although Cole and his partner, Joe Pike, are at the center of the audiobook, they quickly discover that Shoe's disappearance involves multiple people who range from corrupt politicians to a porn star, and even Cole's... Read More

Narrator Kimberly Woods is the solemn voice of Dylan, a senior who is laser focused on her violin audition for Juilliard. With only a few weeks of preparation to go, her ex-best friend, Langston, crashes into her family, trying to recover from his high-publicity antics. Woods's dazzling characterization of Langston radiates the swagger and vulnerability of the boy who suddenly... Read More

Leading a cast of well-established, award-winning African American voice talents, Tamika Katon-Donegal gives a voice full of bright sensitivity, intelligence, and hope to Rachel, a young early-twentieth-century Black woman who is coming of age and looking to the future. When Rachel runs headlong into the real-life horrors of American racism, she doubts whether she can follow... Read More

Christina Traister's talented narration is the perfect match for these four interconnected stories, each one packed with plenty of Deaveresque surprises. Listeners follow a developing cat-and-mouse game between Paul Offenbach, a twisted sociopath, and Special Agent Constant Marlowe, who is set on avenging the brutal murder of her friend by Offenbach. Traister creates highly... Read More

Narrator Moira Quirk takes listeners through the multiple twists in this thriller based on school-day grudges. Ruby is halfway across the world when she discovers that her best friend and several other classmates have been systematically killed in her hometown of Missbrook Bay. When she returns to profile the killer, Ruby quickly learns that she might also be a target. Quirk... Read More

This audio collection is difficult to describe--and even harder to resist. Zora Neale Hurston's range as an author is showcased by some supremely talented narrators whose voices radiate innocence, experience, and all the stops in between. Bahni Turpin's skills are at their best in "Drenched in Light" as she repeatedly transitions between grandmother and granddaughter without... Read More

Narrator Vivia Font provides a vibrant characterization of Alex, who is having a challenging year made worse by learning she has a brain tumor. Alex is petrified; her sister died of cancer, and her family was devastated. Font successfully conveys Alex's stress by increasing her tempo and pitch. Reflecting on her sister's short life, Alex decides to travel. She hikes the Grand... Read More

Narrators Deepti Gupta, Soneela Nankani, and Anita Kalathara come together to represent three generations of the Desai clan. Gupta is the taboo-breaking Bindu, the feminist grandmother and mother-in-law every South Asian woman longs for. Nankani evokes sympathy for the overworked and frustrated Aly, who is beloved by her mother-in-law because of their shared Goan roots, despite... Read More

Imogen Church's spirited narration brings the protagonists alive in this suspenseful mystery and helps make this a standout listen. Two couples, each with unpleasant character traits and backstories that influence their behavior, head into the Swiss Alps for a hike. However, of the four people, only two return. Church's strong characterizations differentiate the key... Read More

Jennifer Jill Araya brings the two sisters in Hoffman's short story to life. She projects the hurtful emotional baggage they've been carrying throughout 12 years of estrangement. When Isabel receives a mysterious letter containing the single word "HELP," she assumes it's from Sophie and heads to Brinkley's Island, Maine. Isabel's voice reflects her curiosity, defensiveness, and... Read More

Listeners who enjoy a good old-fashioned locked-room mystery will appreciate this classic police procedural, set in a picturesque Yorkshire village. The steady, gravelly voice of longtime narrator Michael Page transports listeners to a present-day film shoot at a vintage railway station. An actor, dissolute and disliked, is found shot and killed in a locked antique railway... Read More

Seven Amazon Original short stories are collected into one audiobook production, each performed by a different narrator. The unique tales take the listener to worlds full of magical realism, fantasy, and the unknown and span centuries from a seemingly medieval time to contemporary settings. All seven narrators are skilled in their craft; however, as one may expect with such a... Read More

This cute holiday rom-com invites listeners to participate in Nola and Caleb's rekindled relationship. Narrators Carly Robins and Aaron Shedlock capture the main characters' emotions and inflections. Robins articulates the female voices a bit more distinctly than Shedlock does the two primary males, but, overall, the novella is easy to follow. There is a scene in which Caleb... Read More

The touch of fantasy interjected into this compelling audiobook is a unique departure from author Kate Quinn's usual historical fiction. Gifted narrator Saskia Maarleveld portrays a member of the British Women's Royal Naval Service (WREN) who is monitoring radio transmissions from Nazi ships in 1943. Andrew Gibson portrays an American radio operator who is sending out a... Read More

A supremely talented quartet of narrators will delight listeners with their vibrant and expressive voices. This addictive story follows four cousins who are navigating life as individuals and as part of a large Mexican American family. As children, they were very close, but family dynamics pushed them apart. Now, as adults, they wonder if they can be close again. All four women... Read More

Gripping from the beginning, this audiobook features a well-crafted story delivered by Timothy Andrés Pabon using an ideal mix of fear, remorse, and personal animosity to define characters and scenes. A whodunit at its core, this is also an exceptional psychological thriller that benefits from Pabon's performance, particularly his ability with nuanced dialogue. Central to the... Read More