This splendid romantic adventure, loosely based on the Persephone myth, receives a sterling performance by Ariel Blake. In the fifteenth century, Odòdó is a member of the women's blacksmith's guild in Timbuktu, where conditions are terrible for her and other women. When Timbuktu falls, Odòdó is abducted and spirited away to the Royal City, where her life changes forever. The... Read More

Questlove is an established musician, musicologist, DJ, and narrator of his latest audiobook. Here, he recounts the fifty-year history of hip-hop with exuberant joy. The result is a fascinating journey from the coastal cities in the early 1970s, where historians believe hip-hop started, to the current state of the art. From the nature of sampling, lyrics, and how music made the... Read More

Catherine Coldstream didn't start out as a devout person, but after her father's death, she sought to make a major change in her life. So she converted to Catholicism and entered a traditional Carmelite monastery as a nun. Coldstream narrates this memoir detailing her transition from a secular life to the religious order. Her British-accented narration has tonal variation but... Read More

Helen McAlpine narrates a simple yet powerful story of a lady knight who is seeking to reclaim her honor. To restore her title, Maddileh must retrieve the fireborne blade from a legendary dragon called the White Lady. She also navigates other challenges such as sexism, because she's a female knight, and confusion over whom she can trust. McAlpine's wispy narration is a great... Read More

This audiobook about a terrifying event in American history is expertly narrated by Paul Michael. In October 1962, Nikita Khrushchev attempted to install nuclear missiles in secret in Cuba by camouflaging them on ordinary supply ships. Michael re-creates the conversations between President John F. Kennedy and his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, as they work to... Read More

Narrator André Santana skillfully performs a thrilling Hollywood horror novel. Screenwriter Misha Byrne has just received an ultimatum from the studio executives--their algorithm says to kill off his beloved queer TV characters, or else. Misha refuses, and Santana captures his initial anger, then his terror as he suddenly finds himself facing deadly characters from his horror... Read More

The entrepreneur and founder of the global platform Build Like A Woman, Kathleen Griffith provides women at all stages of entrepreneurship with a blueprint to build a business and a life they love. As she narrates her own work in the voice of a down-to-earth best friend, Griffith openly reveals her personal experiences, including her breakdowns and breakthroughs. Section 1 is... Read More

Tony Award-winning actor Cynthia Erivo brings her considerable talent to the long-anticipated final installment of Tomi Adeyemi's groundbreaking fantasy, Legacy of Orisha. With a rich tonal range and depth of feeling, Erivo conveys Zélie's anguish beautifully, projecting the complex emotions of her capture by King Baldyr. Erivo's narration is powerful and nuanced as she voices... Read More

This stirring audiobook makes a strong argument for narrator consistency. Once again Henry Leyva narrates the adventures of Doiron's Mike Bowditch. So it's little wonder that Leyva sounds so comfortable when voicing Mike and his close circle of friends and relatives. This outing is especially trying for the veteran Maine game warden as he attempts to track down a ruthless but... Read More

Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger, director of the interdisciplinary Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University, opens and closes this audio production. Her gentle voice is filled with playful curiosity as she sets the stage for Cassandra Campbell's engaging performance. Campbell guides listeners through explorations of the possibility of life on other planets, based on Earth's geological... Read More

Fans of Studio Ghibli's animated films will enjoy the way Caitlin Davies performs this enchanting story. For the past decade, academic librarian Kiela has hidden herself away in the Empire with only a sentient spider plant for company. When the fires of the Revolution burn down the Great Library of Alyssium, she escapes to her secluded childhood home with a few crates of... Read More

Travel to the Summer Olympic Games with Shaniqua Okwok, who narrates this contemporary sports romance. Hardworking Olivia Nkomo is determined to get her dream job at the Summer Games, where she hopes to meet some of her favorite athletes. Zeke Moyo, the star of Team Great Britain, is seeking the title of "fastest man alive." When Olivia and Zeke bump into each other on the... Read More

Helen Laser brings a crisp no-nonsense timbre to the lush, narcissistic world of celebrities that ghostwriter Mari Hawthorn must navigate to survive in Palm Springs. Mari gets her big break when she's hired to write notorious model Anke Berben's memoir. Laser makes her excitement and trepidation palpable with a well-chosen combination of hushed tones and even diction. Anke is... Read More

Judith Butler's voice adds gravity to their examination of the rising anti-gender-expression rhetoric. A renowned philosopher and pioneering queer theorist, Butler narrates her work for the first time here. The subject comes at a polarizing time, and Butler's patient yet sober tone seems to acknowledge this. They speak candidly on the rhetoric of the trans-exclusionary radical... Read More

Emma Galvin and Max Meyers voice the perspectives of sommelier-in-training Theo Flowerday and French pastry chef Kit Fairfield. The two bisexual exes have met up by chance on a three-week food tour of France, Spain, and Italy. This tour de force of accents and vocal work is a testament to Galvin and Meyers's skills. Any scene can require a half dozen international accents... Read More

Acclaimed narrator Dion Graham performs this dynamic, artfully crafted novel about a biracial author/academic who becomes the owner of a plantation on the Delmarva Peninsula after the death of his son. This work of literary fiction morphs back and forth from reality to fantasy, from tragedy to dark humor, from past trauma to present emotional upheavals. Graham's voice is well... Read More

Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens narrate a haunting reimagining of the fairy tale "The Goose Girl." Cordelia lives with her mother, an enchantress, in a house with no doors. When her mother decides to marry the local squire, Cordelia and his sister, Hester, form an unlikely alliance. Pickens's portrayal of Cordelia's developing independence is breathtaking. A victim of both... Read More

With her portfolio of British accents, narrator Janine Birkett brings Vera Stanhope to life, along with her team and the other characters in the eleventh book in this series. Birkett's voice for Vera perfectly conveys her rough-edged persona, now somewhat mellowed by the recent death of her former team member, Holly. With Cleeves's masterful descriptions and Birkett's ability... Read More

Helen Laser gives a nuanced performance of this audiobook about an unlikely friendship between two women. On the cusp of 40, Phoebe is divorced, infertile, stalled in her academic career, and her beloved cat has died. She goes to an exclusive Newport, Rhode Island, resort, where she is the only guest who is not there for a wedding. In the elevator, she meets Lila, the bride,... Read More

You think you know the Beatles story? When you hear this audiobook and the performances of Adam Stevens, Anthony Howell, Emma Gregory, and others, you'll be singing, "I thought I knew you, what did I know?" Based on interviews with the Beatles and their intimate associates in 1980 and 1981, the audiobook is nearly 10 hours of history, often shocking. The Beatles talk about... Read More

Christopher Costa calmly and articulately narrates the daily struggles in the coming-of-age stories of three Puerto Rican boys--Ryan, Giancarlos, and Emmanuel--who live in Kensington, Philadelphia, a poverty-stricken neighborhood dominated by the drug trade. Each boy has different challenges that create barriers to his goal of earning a high school diploma. The author details... Read More

In this audiobook, former detective Marlitt Kaplan finds herself investigating the apparent suicide of a college student. She faces two challenges: She has no official authority, and she has to fight rumors about whether the student had an affair with a popular professor who teaches German. Saskia Maarleveld handles the narration well, shaping the introspective tone of... Read More

Brooklyn, the titular protagonist of this novel, is hard to like. Similarly, Keyonni James provides a less-than-stellar narration of the life of this young woman born into a stiflingly conservative family. The telling of this fascinating mixture of drama and thriller is sadly marred by James as she attempts a heavy New York accent that is so overplayed that most native speakers... Read More

From the start, Emily Joyce gives captivating portrayals of the many characters in this mystery. Initially, her pace is pretty slow and engaging as she allows listeners to get to know the main characters. She eventually picks up the pace that is necessary to deliver the rather involved and slow-moving plot with grace and aplomb. Her depictions of interloping friends who show... Read More

Narrator Kristine Hvam uses a lively yet laid-back tone for this Covid-era story. Listeners meet 13-year-old Coyote, who is furious that her dad hid her mother's ashes for six years. After finally settling down in one place, the feisty and determined Coyote still longs for her mom. She is further angered to learn that the poetry book containing her mother's notes about her... Read More

Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell narrate a dark fantasy novella about a trio seeking an audience with the legendary witch Baba Jaga. Dymitr offers to cure Ala--a zmora suffering from a fatal curse--in exchange for help entreating Baba Jaja, who famously doesn't take kindly to humans. Laser, Fouhey, and Campbell breathe life into the three who are hoping to talk to... Read More

Jessica Clarke narrates this story told by three foster sisters. When a dead body is discovered under their childhood home, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia must confront their past. Each explores her memories of their makeshift family, which was led by the demanding Miss Fairchild. Clarke delivers this winding story as a masterful blend of suspense, drama, and emotional depth. Her... Read More

Anyone with a passing interest in the events taking place in the Middle East likely knows that the history of the region is--to put it mildly--complicated. Friedman is an award-winning journalist who has covered the region for decades. In this 1989 book with an updated introduction, he details the tortured events there from 1979 to the late '80s. With a fine delivery, Friedman... Read More

Peter Ganim narrates this whodunit set in a picturesque coastal town in Maine. When a teenager is found dead at a historic reenactment village, the town's inexperienced detective struggles to investigate calmly--especially because his own daughter was friends with the victim. Ganim's clean articulation and brisk pace keep the listener engaged even through the grisly... Read More

Paul Dateh, Helen Laser, and John Pirhalla guide listeners through the multiple subplots and settings of this mystery. The story begins in Leavenworth, Kansas, with high school basketball star Ryan Richardson and his girlfriend, Alison. While parked on Lover's Lane they're attacked, and Alison and her car disappear. Listeners rejoin Ryan five years later while he's on a law... Read More

David Aaron Baker's compelling performance is precise and full of verve in Preston's latest thriller, which is reminiscent of Michael Crichton's JURASSIC PARK. Baker portrays Agent Cash's cool composure as she investigates a grisly double murder at the Erebus Resort. Baker then morphs into the clipped Australian accent of Erebus's head of security, who explains that the resort... Read More

Carvell Wallace narrates his beautiful memoir with poignant urgency-- and a whole lot of love. Though he recounts trauma he experienced growing up Black and queer in America, he doesn't focus on it. Instead, this audiobook is about healing, connection, and beauty. In short, poetic chapters, he writes about music, making art, cooking, parenting, partnership, sex, and intimacy of... Read More

Thanks to Golden Voice narrator Grover Gardner, listeners will once more get to accompany irascible attorney Andy Carpenter, who reluctantly agrees to defend a mass murderer as a favor to his formidable colleague Marcus Clark. Gardner brings Andy and the supporting cast to life, including his wife, Laura; digital genius, Sam and his quirky crew; and gruff Marcus. Fans will be... Read More

Marisa Blake's vocal agility does justice to the emotional roller-coaster ride of Tatum Vega. When a woman accuses the famous Latinx writer M. Dominguez of sexual harassment, a NEW YORK TIMES reporter contacts Tatum. Now living in Chile, Tatum reexamines her long and complicated relationship with the much older Dominguez. Blake has an impressive emotional command of her... Read More

Alaska Jackson tenderly narrates the author's initial message-- "Please read this story with care"--after she recites a number of content warnings. She powers up her narration as she describes high school graduate Blake's strong feelings for her love, Ella. Jackson's volume and pitch go up when Blake, aided by alcohol, becomes "Big Bad Bee." Her portraits of Blake continue to... Read More

January LaVoy's narration highlights all the drama in this corporate thriller with finesse. Her dynamic performance brings Caitlin Levy, newest associate at the tech start-up Aurora, to life. When a colleague goes missing during the firm's fancy retreat, Caitlin must weigh her impressive salary against the company's hidden politics. LaVoy's skillful pacing and intonation... Read More

Director Susan Seidelman's memoir is enhanced by narrator Jaime Lamchick's lively cadence and bright intonation. Seidelman grew up in suburban Philadelphia, but she desperately wanted to escape to seek adventure and excitement. After completing her film studies at NYU, she lived in the East Village and took part in the punk scene. Her first movie, SMITHEREENS, was screened at... Read More

Megan Tusing brings home this timely story about American intolerance in a time of war. She perfectly portrays reporter Anne Lemire, who is assigned to dispel unfounded rumors in Boston in the weeks before the U.S. enters WWII. Many of the events in the story resonate with current events, in particular, people objecting to involving America in a European war. Lemire is aided in... Read More

With its compelling story and powerful narration, this audiobook keeps listeners invested until the very end. In 1985, Cuban artist Anita de Monte is found dead in New York City. Her death is briefly the talk of the town, but then she's essentially forgotten. In 1998, Raquel Toro, a Puerto Rican first-generation art student, is seeking a topic for her thesis. The story... Read More

Narrator Lauren Fortgang channels the currents of magic and intrigue running throughout Bardugo's layered historical fantasy. Scullery maid Luzia Cotado hopes to remain unnoticed, but when she uses a spell to restore burned bread and fix a torn dress, her ability to cast "little miracles" comes to light. Forced to compete in a dangerous magic competition, she is tutored by the... Read More

Alejandro Antonio Ruiz embodies all of the roiling emotions in this compelling queer teen love story. Rafie's intensity comes through clearly in Ruiz's passionate narration. Rafie learned his love of mariachi from his abuelo. He's devastated when his abuelo dies yet is determined to bring home another first-place trophy from the Mariachi Extravaganza. When his family moves to... Read More

Kathleen McInerney superbly narrates this perfect summer listen. Set at the iconic St. Cecelia resort on a secluded Georgia island, the story follows Traci, the widow of the owner's grandson, a former local charged with reviving the hotel's former glory. To do so, Traci builds an on-site dormitory and fills it with a team of impeccable workers, including her niece. Tragedies... Read More

Elizabeth Evans masterfully voices successful crime novelist Eleanor Dash, listeners' new best friend, who gossips about all of the people and craziness around her. Dash's behind-the-scenes insights on writing and publishing, along with her plot notes for her next book, add depth and humor to this story. She even challenges listeners to identify the murderer before the big... Read More

Zura Johnson's smooth voice and careful, meticulous pacing build suspense as a small space crew investigates an abandoned planet while struggling to hold on to their sanity. Isolation in space has brutal, sometimes murderous, consequences, and psychologist Dr. Ophelia Bray will do anything to help her crew. But they reject her help, suspicious about her presence due to her... Read More

Brian Nishii narrates this science fiction collection, which contains compelling short stories, articles, and interviews by and with the author. Nishii draws listeners into the various fictional stories with his emotional range. In one story, he delivers the evil laugh of a drug lord who is smuggling drugs with the assistance of a whale; in another, he embodies a child who... Read More

The strength of Eunice Wong's narration is her ability to capitalize on the humor underlying this novel about Young Wang's coming of age in the 1990s. As Young tries to find his own way in the world, Wong breathes life into the diverse cast of characters with an energetic precision that gives this audiobook the feeling of a lively radio drama. Her dexterity helps the listener... Read More

With a sincere, somber, and unhurried delivery, theologian Brian McLaren focuses on the climate crisis facing the world, warning that "complacency is a poor survival strategy." Each chapter begins with reflections from a variety of people: scientists, poets, philosophers, religious leaders, and literary figures. Speaking directly to listeners, McLaren ends each chapter with... Read More

Narrator Helen Laser portrays Billie West, a lonely teen who is growing up poor with a mentally ill mother and a worthless stepfather who eyes Billie like an enticing pastry. Karissa Vacker portrays Cassie, a former rich girl who has high ambitions and the guts to make them happen. The pair meet in childhood and promise each other they'll always be friends. In alternating... Read More

January LaVoy provides a multilayered portrayal of Leah Fox and the tragedy that shapes her life. Leah and her younger brother are on vacation at their grandmother's home in Appalachia when her parents are murdered. Gifted with second sight, Thea "witnesses" the crime and is able to put the killer in jail. LaVoy reveals the devastation felt by the family. Years pass, and Leah... Read More

It makes sense that Christine Blasey Ford would want to narrate the audio version of her memoir about doing her civic duty to testify at the confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh's nomination as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018. She wants to "set the record straight," and the catharsis wouldn't be as complete if she hadn't been the narrator. She has a distinctive... Read More

Narrators Dion Graham and Mychal-Bella Bowman's grand and lively performances will have young listeners eager to hear every story in this vibrant collection of African- and African-American-inspired tales. Graham creates imaginative and outsized voices for the stories he leads. He excels at portraying heroic and mischievous animals like a greedy baboon and a trickster spider.... Read More

Three young alchemists comprise the heart--and polyamorous trio--of this YA fantasy: hot-tempered Ash, serious academic Ramsay, and disciplined soldier Callum. In a multifaceted and captivating performance, Wes Haas creates unique vocal personas for each. After Ramsay catches Ash doing unlicensed magic, the two agree to join forces to find the legendary Book of Source that... Read More

Jessica Threet narrates a cozy fantasy with romantic elements. Reyna has finally left her position in the Queen's Guard and joined her girlfriend, Kianthe, in the far-away town of Tawney to open the tea and bookshop of their dreams. But the sleepy town of Tawney is not as sleepy as it seems. Threet provides Reyna and Kianthe with accents that differentiate their geographic and... Read More

Brian Troxell navigates this gritty story of Nelson "Nails" McKenna, a backwoods enforcer for McFalls County's crime boss. All is well for Nails until one night in a grimy roadhouse he stands up to some villains who are abusing Dallas, a fun-loving young woman--and he goes too far. With empathy and style, Troxell allows a sense of desperation into his delivery when there's a... Read More

Cindy Kay narrates Dr. Fei-Fei Li's memoir of her life at the vanguard of artificial intelligence (AI) with an emotionally attuned ear. As a teenager, Li's family emigrated from China to the United States, a move that led to both opportunities and challenges. Kay sensitively conveys the author's confidence and vulnerability; her expansive delivery allows listeners to experience... Read More

Narrator Sasha Simon gives voice to 20-something Hera as she figures out who she is in this new audiobook. After exhausting her options at art school, Hera enters the workforce as a content moderator for a news website. Every day she monitors the bad behavior of others, but when she finds herself in an affair with a married colleague, she has to justify her own bad behavior.... Read More

Maya Saroya gives an expressive performance in this thrilling historical fantasy filled with vampires, action, romance, and tea. Saroya portrays Arthie Casimir in a smooth, deadly tone that highlights her fierce determination. Arthie's an outsider in Ettenia, but she's created a safe haven in her tearoom, Spindrift, where her crew serves the best tea to high society by day and... Read More

Emily Raboteau reads with purpose, a clear voice, and a conversational tone that works well for the personal essays in this satisfying audiobook. Her delivery style adjusts to the varied subjects: a sense of wonder at identifying birds, exasperation at dealing with New York City real estate, and empathy for a water-starved Palestinian family. She has a gift for languages; in... Read More

Narrator Rebekah Hinds imbues Hazell's compelling debut with a palpable sense of dread. A London cookbook editor known as Piglet prepares for her wedding, complete with a croquembouche wedding cake she's planning to make herself. Then, just 13 days before the big day, her fiancé, Kit, shares a secret that derails everything. Hinds's portrait of Piglet is a triumph, capturing... Read More

January LaVoy and Will Damron give sterling performances in this audiobook about a woman who is suspected of committing a murder five years earlier and the popular true-crime podcaster who exposes her. LaVoy is simply outstanding as the often funny Lucy Chase; she adopts a sardonic, fatalistic tone that matches Lucy's character. LaVoy also is great in supporting roles,... Read More

Emma Galvin's chilling narration will draw listeners into a small town where four people have mysteriously vanished. Teenaged Nora is shocked to discover that her best friend, Becca, is among the missing and has left behind clues for Nora to follow. Galvin is a seasoned narrator with an array of authentically youthful voices that are put to great use as Nora leans on classmates... Read More

Jeremy Carlisle Parker's lively performance and emotional connection bring a teen fan fiction writer and her favorite fictional character to life. Ivy wakes up to find Weston, the gorgeous magical boy from her favorite show, in her bedroom. With the help of her ex-best friend and crush, along with a new friend, she investigates what brought Weston to life and how he's able to... Read More

In Q&A format, actor Brendan O'Hea asks intriguing questions of world-famous actor/director Judi Dench. The result is absolutely delicious. O'Hea recorded four years of interviews with Dench, but due to her failing eyesight, the audiobook is co-narrated by Barbara Flynn. In a remarkable performance, Flynn laughs, jokes, and calls O'Hea to task when he's wrong--all sounding very... Read More

Isabella Star LaBlanc maintains a steady, direct approach in her narration of this audiobook, which blends mystery, suspense, and family drama. She takes listeners to Backravel, Arizona, a mysterious place that once held sway over Beck's late mother. Now Beck and her sister, Riley, go there seeking answers about their mom. LaBlanc's measured approach is not as effective as it... Read More

When an Amish man is brutally murdered, his shadow life is exposed, and secrets are revealed. Narrator Kathleen McInerney channels Police Chief Kate Burkholder with precision as she investigates the crime. When she discovers the extent to which the victim, Aden Karn, was himself a perpetrator, she is filled with controlled rage. Upon hearing of his toll on others in the... Read More

Tony Award-winning actor Jodie Comer performs this adaptation of Miller's one-woman play with empathy and a thoughtfully calculated pace. Barrister Tessa Ensler is a top criminal defense attorney. Comer's delivery of Tessa's earnest belief in the judicial system lulls the listener into a false sense of security as she clocks win after win through her razor-sharp questioning.... Read More

Happily, another of John McPhee’s classics has been brought to life with this finely narrated audiobook. Golden Voice narrator Edoardo Ballerini performs the work with care for the author’s eloquent descriptions of Deerfield, Massachusetts, as it evolves over the twentieth century—as does its legendary headmaster, Frank L. Boyden, who took over the school in 1902 and stayed in... Read More

Buckle up for another thrilling adventure with Finlay Donavan and her eclectic crew. Angela Dawe returns to narrate Finlay's escapades as a single mom, romance writer, and accidental criminal. Dawe seamlessly captures the essence of each character, from Finlay and her partner-in-crime, Vero, to the diverse supporting cast. Particularly noteworthy is Dawe's skill in portraying... Read More

Torian Brackett ably portrays the members of a colorful spaceship crew in this debut adventure tale, the first of a planned series. Jal, a wary, emotionally wounded ranger, ends up aboard the Ambit, a rattletrap spaceship, with Saint, a quick-tempered XO; Nash, a sarcastic engineer/medic; and Eoan, a holographic ship-AI who loves humans. Responding to a distress call from a... Read More

This new production of the Chinese sci-fi epic may be Rosalind Chao's first turn as an audiobook narrator, but you'd never know it. The veteran actor navigates long stretches of speculative physics and descriptions of shocking violence as ably as she voices colloquies among the characters. Listeners who come to the work from the Netflix adaptation will find Chao's warm,... Read More

Tyla Collier and Raymond Lee offer a spicy yet sweet performance in this fun romance. Liyah and Daniel bump into each other as adults, and it seems that Liyah hasn't forgiven Daniel for a mysterious mistake during their childhood. But she needs Daniel's help so she can secure her dream job as a museum curator, and a bumpy romance blossoms. Both characters are Jewish people of... Read More

Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez powerfully narrates her memoir of her experiences in the broken immigration system of the United States and her fight for a better future. Gutierrez's family was split up when her parents' visas expired and they were sent back to Mexico. A high school freshman, she was left alone to raise herself and her younger brother in Arizona. Gutierrez's... Read More

Sheila Heti's latest meditative work comes alive with Kate Berlant's expressive narration. This compilation has an unusual conceit: Heti chose sentences from 10 years of her journal-keeping and then organized them according to the first letter of the first word of each sentence. Consistent themes emerge, including romantic entanglements, financial struggles, writing joys and... Read More

Jeremy Carlisle Parker shows emotional breadth in her portrayal of 17-year-old Rosy Holt, who zealously guards her own and her grandmother's shape-shifting adventures in a remote forest. Parker heightens the initial tension during a dramatic scene in which Rosy saves the life of a princess. The taut plot continues as Rosy hides her secrets while attending magic school in the... Read More

Narrating her memoir, Sloane Crosley delivers ironic humor that balances the horror of back-to-back traumas. Admitting the unlikelihood and disorientation of what happened, Crosley links the vulnerability she felt at a burgled apartment and, a month later, at the suicide of her boss and friend, Russell. Their shared history in the shifting publishing industry serves as a... Read More

Narrator Scott Brick dons a trench coat and breathes life into a former black-ops government assassin code named Orphan X. When Evan Smoak left the Program, he reinvented himself into a righter of wrongs for victims needing a savior. Brick employs perfect timing and emphasis to portray Evan and plays him with heart. Initially asked to find a little girl's dog, he soon finds... Read More

Music and sound effects are beautifully paired with January LaVoy's inviting narration of this adaptation of Coretta Scott King's autobiography for adults. Hymns and soft lyrical strains play in the background as LaVoy describes King's church-based, family-strong youth. Her narration becomes agitated when Coretta asks about the prejudice surrounding her. The music and narration... Read More

Listeners familiar with Abdaal's YouTube channel will instantly connect with his familiar voice, accent, and dynamic delivery. Listeners who are being introduced to Abdaal will quickly respond to his speaking style. He offers a new way of thinking that listeners can apply to transform their lives. Drawing from scientific research, diverse case studies, and personal anecdotes,... Read More

Fran Burgoyne depicts a swoony romantasy between a seamstress and a prince. Niamh O Conchobhair has come to Avaland to improve her future, not to fall in love with the one man she cannot have. Kit Carmine, younger son of the king, is engaged to a woman he does not love. Burgoyne demonstrates Niamh's fierce pride in her heritage by giving her a strong accent she refuses to... Read More

Susan Ericksen's energetic performance is unparalleled in this latest in the futuristic In Death series. Jenna, a teen who is enjoying a live performance of her favorite band, is jabbed at the show by a killer with a needle filled with a deadly combination of pure heroin and other drugs. To top it off, the needle itself is covered in infectious bacteria. Lt. Eve Dallas fears... Read More

Joshua Wichard is phenomenal at narrating this endearing novel, which captures a poignant time in a teenager's life. Thirteen-year-old Houston lives with his single mom and younger brother, Robbie, who has cystic fibrosis. The boys share a dream of traveling to the moon one day, just like their estranged grandpa. Hard work pays off, and Houston is accepted to the Junior... Read More

Author and narrator Yangsze Choo gently narrates this fantasy audiobook about foxes that can transform into dazzlingly beautiful humans. Bao has the ability to tell truths from lies and has been tasked with solving a murder mystery that might involve foxes. Meanwhile, Snow has taken human form and gets a job as a servant, all to aid her in avenging the death of her child. Choo... Read More

Narrator Maria Liatis is superb at portraying both the characters in this novel and the rural environment they inhabit. It's 1990, not far from Interstate 80. Marly and her mother arrive in the Pennsylvania town and soon encounter two brothers, one of which Marly will marry at a young age. But she remains close to both. The discovery of a skeleton in the church attic threatens... Read More

Megan Tusing and Samantha Desz provide a captivating dual performance with confidence, especially when the narration is deliberately unreliable. Kat Bird awakes from a coma, coming face-to-face with her twin sister, Jude. Her memory a blank, Kat must piece together the story of their lives, with Jude's guidance. Secrets come to the surface as Kat puts the pieces of their shared... Read More

Those who listen to this audiobook will learn that Tolstoy was wrong when he said happy families are all alike. There are many kinds of happy families, and they appear in all sorts of configurations here. The novel's focus is on adoption and how it is a positive, uplifting choice for those concerned. The liquid, uplifting voice of Patti Murin tells the story of actress India... Read More

Karissa Vacker performs this complex thriller featuring three sisters and the haunting mystery of who brutally murdered their parents in the family home 14 years earlier. When Emma is forced to return to the home where her parents were killed, she hopes to keep her presence as quiet and temporary as possible. With everything seemingly working against her, Emma has to solve her... Read More

College sophomore Margot mysteriously loses two best friends in the span of two years in this psychological thriller, which should be categorized as a YA audiobook. Narrator Karissa Vacker does her best with the material, which features voluminous scenes of postadolescent self-reflection that are hard to enjoy listening to if you are well past your twenties. Vacker is gifted at... Read More

Narrator Avi Roque conveys all the creeping horror of this sequel to WHAT MOVES THE DEAD. Alex Easton, a retired soldier, travels to their family's hunting lodge in their damp and unwelcoming home country, Gallacia. Alex discovers the lodge cold and empty and learns that the caretaker has died under mysterious circumstances. The villagers are wary of Alex, and the lodge and... Read More

Narrator Cassandra Morris creates a youthful and energetic voice for Chance, a dog who lives in a shelter called Dogtown that houses both living dogs and robotic dogs. Chance befriends one of the robot dogs, named Metal Head. As they both hope to find better lives, Morris captures Chance's upbeat attitude, even as she reveals the tragic events that brought her to Dogtown in the... Read More

Emily Spowage performs this sizzling contemporary romance with a light touch. Gruff former professional football star Alfie is urged by his agent to write his memoir. Curvy, cheerful Mabel applies to be his ghostwriter. When the two are seen together, they're mistaken for a couple. To hide the real nature of their relationship, they pretend to be dating. Spowage brings out the... Read More

The sure touch of Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan transforms Kristen Hannah's absorbing novel about Vietnam War combat nurses into an addictive listen. An intimate portrait and a sprawling account of a searing time, the story focuses on 20-year-old Frances McGrath, who, in 1965, impetuously chooses the Army Nurse Corps over cotillions and marriage. Whelan brings believable... Read More

What happens after the fairy tale is not always a happy ending. Esther Wane narrates this bewitching extension to the tale of Hansel and Gretel, set in seventeenth-century Germany. Wane's range of character accents brings a magical essence to the story. Fifteen years after they escaped the witch in the gingerbread house, Hans and Greta are having a hard time surviving.... Read More

What starts out sounding like chick-lit fluff, soon takes on the gravitas of a tangled, engrossing mystery. Narrator Stephanie Cannon delivers the bright enthusiasm of Rosie, a senior at Yale and a member of the elite equestrian team. When new girl Annelise, a superb rider and a gifted tarot card reader, joins the team, jealousy, bitterness, and classism overtake the genial... Read More

The latest book by a professor of organizational behavior and a colleague is served well by the upbeat performance of veteran narrator Sean Patrick Hopkins. Much like the principal author's speaking style--a bonus interview with Sutton and his coauthor concludes the production--Hopkins's vocal enthusiasm is prominent but never detracts from the intellectual soundness of these... Read More

Ayse Babahan thoughtfully narrates this coming-of-age story. Ada feels forever suspended between two states of being. She is one person during the school year in California and another during summers spent with her mother and grandmother in a holiday villa along the Turkish coast. In her nineteenth year, when a chance encounter occurs and an old romance rekindles, all the... Read More

Using an ethereal voice and delicate intonation, Zura Johnson elevates this mystery loosely based on ancient Greco-Roman mythology into a captivating listening experience. Tirne, the herald for the god of Autumn, escorts him yearly from the godly to the human world. This time, the magical mirror used for the trip shatters. Tirne loses her exalted herald status, and the human... Read More

This illuminating audiobook provides clarity and a degree of legitimacy to friendships that are central to a person's life but not romantic or sexual. These relationships can take many forms--from friendships that are unusually close and time consuming to committed relationships that involve cohabiting or even raising children. When people in these close relationships are... Read More

Vikas Adam brings a noirish vibe to his first-class narration of this 1952 mystery set in San Francisco. Andy Mills is trying to find his way after being bounced off of the police force because he is gay. An old lover appears, needing help, and Andy is soon working blackmail and murder cases. Adam gives Mills a deep, tough voice for the most part, though it softens for more... Read More

Listeners will have a grand time with Lorelei King's versatile narration of this fictionalized account of the life of famed opera singer Maria Callas. Listeners will feel as though they are globe-trotting alongside Callas as she performs in the classic opera houses of Europe and the U.S. King gives Callas a slightly detached, poised tone as she rehearses and performs, and... Read More

Ana Osorio's narration has hints of Spanish accents, which reflect the Argentinian-Bolivian background of 19-year-old Inez Olivera. Osorio stresses Inez's emotions--her longing for adventure and for her parents, who spend six months a year in Cairo. Their deaths propel headstrong Inez's journey to Egypt, where Osorio gently describes the lavishness of its nineteenth-century... Read More

Celebrated chef Erin French shares glimpses of her Maine past and the familial roots of her favorite recipes, as well as ideas and temptations from her renowned restaurant, The Lost Kitchen. Her recitations of her recipes are both engaging and perfectly paced. One could cook while listening, though the recipes are handily indexed at the end. Interspersed are unscripted chats... Read More

In a practiced-sounding tone, Kristin Atherton narrates this dual- timeline historical fiction revolving around Nazi-era porcelain figurines created at the Allach Porcelain Factory in a sub-camp of Dachau concentration camp. There Clara Vogel searches for her father's identity. Atherton adopts a Midwestern accent for the opening scenes, set in 1993 Cincinnati. The balance of... Read More

Tamaryn Payne and Bert Seymour seamlessly present this mystery, cowritten by Iceland's prime minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir. Listeners learn of 15-year-old Lara's 1956 murder and the 1986 reopening of the case. Payne and Seymour aptly convey Iceland's 200th Anniversary celebration, the Gorbachev-Reagan Summit, and the country's expanding media. Colorful descriptions of the... Read More

Olivier Award-winning actor Alex Jennings performs this story of murder on a remote Greek island. Famed actress Lana Farrar invites her family and close friend to her private island for Easter break. But what starts out as an idyllic vacation ends in murder. The novel is told from the perspective of Elliot Chase, a playwright who is Lana's closest friend. With his ear for... Read More

Jasmin Savoy Brown's pleasant, dynamic voice captures the climate-razed Earth and the few people selected for survival as part of the Inside Project. Women's rights advocate Jacqueline Mellinder directs its Manhattan location, allowing only women inside in order to eradicate masculinity. Ava is one of those women; her voice is growing steadily dreamier as she lets go of her... Read More

Harrison Knights gives a quietly charming performance of this queer YA retelling of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. He portrays Oliver Bennet, a trans boy who just wants to live openly as himself, with a soft voice that sometimes edges into despair but just as often warms with humor. When Oliver meets Darcy on one of the rare nights he's out in London as himself, they form an instant... Read More

An ensemble of narrators enhances this thriller's absorbing quality. Ruby has been shrouded in mystery since she was abducted at the age of four and returned to her family eight months later. In a series of letters, Ruby discusses the abduction, her wealth, and four deceased husbands. In alternating points of view, listeners learn why Ruby's son, Cam, is reluctant to claim his... Read More

Jesse Vilinsky brings expert narration to another installment of the Wayward Children series. In this ninth book, Antsy, the latest addition to the School for Wayward Children, has the ability to discover portals, which leads her and her friends to a world where dinosaurs roam. Vilinsky creates fun, expressive banter between Antsy and the group as they journey back home,... Read More

Petrea Burchard channels the exhilaration and terror of eighteenth-century pirate life. In Boston in 1726, 17-year-old Hannah Masury finds herself in dire straits when she witnesses the death of a young sailor at the hands of ruthless privateers. Knowing that she must flee Boston, she disguises herself as a cabin boy aboard a pirate vessel captained by the infamous Ned Lowe. In... Read More

Henry Winkler is clearly delighted to tell his own story. He learned to live with dyslexia; understand his odd, strict parents; and succeed at doing what no one thought he could do--become an actor. Perhaps he made it so quickly because he was never told how impossible it would be for a young man with almost no professional acting experience to make it in Hollywood. Trusting in... Read More

André Santana's impressive narration deals with one family's contemporary problems. Cecily, a college instructor, is currently under investigation for sexual misconduct with a student. Her manic mother, Dorothy, is trying to get her life on track with the assistance of a self-help guru by opening a spiritual retreat in Woodstock, New York. And her Uncle Tom is so obsessed with... Read More

Avi Roque is the perfect narrator for this queer YA fantasy. Gem is a nonbinary teen just trying to survive high school in Gracie, Georgia. Their life is upended when a new girl explains that the nightmares they've been having are memories and that they're the reincarnation of an ancient god--one of many who fled their home world long ago. Chaos and adventure ensue. The novel... Read More

Eilidh Beaton's performance is stellar. With panache she takes on the roles of strong-willed aristocratic ladies; stuffy, self-important lords; and capable staff. Self-proclaimed spinster and freethinker Lady Petra becomes concerned when she learns her highborn women friends are disappearing into asylums--or dying. The men are unperturbed. Beaton's spellbinding narration is... Read More

Ron Butler's deft performance fully encompasses this expansive story of political and economic crisis in Haiti, based on true events in 1991. Matt is an American college dropout working at a scuba-diving business when President Aristide is overthrown, pushing the country close to turmoil. After business dries up, Matt partners with a crew to seek deep-sea treasure. As the... Read More

With this audiobook, listeners are immersed in the exotic environment of the Florida Everglades and the bizarre underworld of alligator poaching. John Pirhalla offers a first-rate narration. His facility with accents gives atmosphere to this true-crime work. He varies his tone, pitch, and cadence to good effect, and effectively handles both its hard-boiled police procedural... Read More

Gisela Chípe's sensitive performance combined with Katherine Vaz's artful prose offers a recipe for hours of enchanting listening. With passion and drama, Vaz draws from the true story of John Alves, a Portuguese immigrant. The novel dips into the harsh realities of his life from 1840 through the 1860s, softening it with scenes of magical realism. Chípe brings the magic to... Read More

Chelsea Stephens fully embraces the complexities that result from dragging emotional baggage into a new relationship in this queer rom-com. Olive Murphy's life confirms Murphy's Law: What CAN go wrong WILL go wrong. But when she meets a captivating pilot named Stella after saving a man's life on her first-ever flight, Olive gets a new lease on her once fearful life. To win... Read More

Author and narrator Naomi Klein shares the complicated autobiographical story of how her online presence became entwined with that of another Naomi. A liberal Canadian activist and writer, Klein discovered that her name was being frequently confused with that of an American writer who was sharing false information about COVID-19 at the height of the pandemic. What started as a... Read More

John Stamos begins his performance with everyday language, including a few expletives to emphasize the brash teenager he used to be. He was a wild heartthrob who, despite all his antics, seemed to get what he wanted, which was to be famous and well paid, from the sheer force of his exuberance and personality. As his story progresses, he interjects asides about the famous people... Read More

If the audiobook version of a page-turner is being glued to your speakers, then Brittany Pressley's narration of this slow-burn suspense will have listeners sitting in their cars long after they've parked in their driveways. Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish's life undergoes a complete revamp when she breaks off her engagement with her cheating fiancé. At the same time, she's... Read More

Narrator Natalia Payne delivers a somber yet hopeful performance of this picture-book audio detailing a Ukrainian girl's experiences during the 1932-33 Ukrainian famine/genocide. On her birthday, Zlata, whose name means "golden," receives a blouse embroidered with red threads for love and black for sadness. These emotions are woven into the fabric of her life as her family... Read More

Feodor Chin recounts this illuminating story of a Chinese American youth sent to an institution for those with leprosy, more benignly called Hansen's disease. Taking place in the 1950s, it is a coming-of-age novel that includes phobias, prejudice, teen romances, family obligations, and a considerable amount of medical information. Chin, an experienced actor, displays his skills... Read More

Zim Avaltrades narrates from the perspective of 26-year-old soccer veteran Grace Henderson, and Dana Varden portrays 22-year-old rookie Phoebe Matthews. Henderson and Matthews find themselves playing for the same team, in more ways than one. While jokester Phoebe is hoping to score on and off the field with her childhood icon, secretive Grace is busy hiding her hip injury and... Read More

With precision and clarity, the author delivers seven definitions of the word "note," her voice rich in tone and meaning. Then she immerses listeners in each of the 248 lyrical notes she's written about poignant works she's read, powerful pictures she's seen, and meaningful experiences she's had. These notes, brief in expression, merit relistening, for their strong insights and... Read More

Rachel Kenney and Jesse Vilinsky each deliver spellbinding interpretations of Alice McDermott's superb new novel. Set primarily in 1960s Vietnam, the audiobook explores the lives of wives-- "helpmeets"--who accompanied their American husbands to a country on the brink of war. Through a series of letters written years later, we hear first from Patricia, a naïve New Yorker swept... Read More

Josh Dylan gives a stand-out performance in this stunning conclusion to The Last Binding trilogy. Jack Alston, Lord Hawthorn, lost his magic and his twin sister in a dramatic betrayal years ago. Now, Jack is drawn back into the world of magic by a group of unlikely allies who are battling a conspiracy of power-hungry magicians. He's surprised and intrigued when Alan Ross, a... Read More

In this first audiobook in Awakening, a new fantasy series, Calista's power of intuition and foretelling have made her a favorite of the Baron of Archwood. When Hyborn Prince Thorne visits, he and Calista are inexplicably drawn to each other despite their differing classes and impending war. Soneela Nankani narrates Calista and Thorne's story, as told from Calista's point of... Read More

This collection of 70 of Mantel's writings is divided into five parts, each with a reflective, animating quality. Lydia Leonard narrates the first part, her tone intimate and conversational whether she's describing Mantel's theft of a book in her youth, her life in Saudi Arabia, the grace of Marie Antoinette, or Princess Diana's complicated image. Jane Wymark delivers the... Read More

Vikas Adam transports listeners back to 1894 as Jim Agnihotri, an investigator, and his wife, Lady Diana Framji, travel to England by ship. When a passenger is murdered, the ship's captain calls upon Jim to identify the killer. Adam's outstanding portrayals of both Jim and Diana create highly believable characters. His depiction of Diana is particularly strong, injecting just... Read More

Olivia Forrest, with a few words from author Eoin Colfer, charmingly narrates this magical story of Santa Claus. Grieving the loss of his wife, Santa is fed up with the greed and commercialization of Christmas. Instead of delivering presents, he decides to befriend the homeless. Juniper Lane, who is grieving for her dad, seeks to persuade Santa to resume delivering Christmas... Read More

Xe Sands's eerie performance beckons listeners into this horror story. Parts of the city of San Siroco are sinking, including the basement of Dr. Tamsin Rivers. At the same time, the room's dimensions are slowly stretching, revealing a door that shouldn't exist. Then, perfect doppelgängers of herself and her cat appear. The distortions can't be explained by science, and Tamsin... Read More

Torian Brackett and Ozzie Rodriguez offer a powerful performance of this 2023 National Book Award winner in which gay men muse over queer history and life. A young, unnamed man nurses an older dying man named Juan. Before Juan can rest in peace, he wants to pass on his life's project, which is based on a 1930s book titled SEX VARIANTS: A STUDY OF HOMOSEXUAL PATTERNS. Juan... Read More

During a career that spanned from 1958 to his death in 2013, musician Lou Reed never became a pop star, but he made interesting music and was a New York City icon who knew everybody and lived a fascinating life. Music journalist Will Hermes narrates this history in a pleasing tone with consistent clarity while capturing his subject's moody cynicism. His vocal character works... Read More

Dion Graham doesn't just embody the spirit of musician Sly Stone's voice--his performance also accentuates the lyrical rhythm of Stone's prose. Sly and the Family Stone's early albums in the 1960s are landmarks of popular music, a feat Stone worked meticulously to craft. His stories place listeners firmly in the spaces he occupied then and give perspective on why he disappeared... Read More

Jay Aaseng takes an outstanding, edge-of-your-seat crime thriller and makes it even better with a pitch-perfect execution. He has a lot to work with in this unique story about distraught parents Ryan and Elsie Delaney, who take over a police crime lab and threaten to kill hostages and destroy key evidence if police fail to find their missing daughter, Tilly, in 24 hours. The... Read More

Natalie Naudus narrates the conclusion to The Radiant Emperor Duology. A fierce power struggle is underway to reign as emperor in this retelling of the Ming dynasty's rise to power and wresting of control from the Mongols. Naudus is an admirable guide through a complicated plot with multiple points of view. The characters include a collection of cruel and manipulative people,... Read More

Claire Skinner convinces listeners from the onset that she is the one and only amazing Grace Adams. With humor and sarcasm, Skinner portrays the formidable linguist, who has never wanted children. Instead she lands a dream job on a London TV show. But new motherhood role eventually costs Grace her job. Then she discovers unexpected love. Skinner reveals the joy and anguish... Read More

Cassandra Campbell's careful pacing and deliberate articulation complement this horror audiobook. Ana and Reid win an affordable housing lottery for the perfect apartment, which overlooks Central Park. Their new home is a balm after their daughter, Charlie's, complicated birth, which has left Ana paralyzed and depressed. But the building's strange residents, creepy elevator... Read More

Narrator Kathleen McInerney's range is perfect in this touching comedic drama. When a beloved patriarch dies suddenly, his wife, three children, and four grandchildren unite for his funeral in a small Georgia town. During the eulogy, Gerry's best friend shares a secret, which sets the town abuzz with gossip. Over the course of a week, each family member faces their own... Read More

Writer Anne Hull narrates her memoir of her childhood in the heat and turmoil of Central Florida in the 1960s. At a time when the orange groves were her whole world, she could still sense the self-destructive nature of her father and the ways her mother felt trapped by domestic life. This memoir recollects the racism of the time and the pressure put on young women of that era... Read More

Ariel Blake's measured narration steadies an audio account of an intense event that took place in 2017. Blake neutrally recounts the facts surrounding a popularity-seeking high school junior who copied racist, sexist social media and memes. His posts grew to dominate his liberal California high school, and the ugly situation spread to the shocked community. Blake's... Read More

Maddy Withington narrates an enemies-to-lovers romance set in Australia. While in high school young teens Brooke and Jesse became best friends; however, after an embarrassing incident, Brooke's feelings for Jesse turn to scorn. When they both end up in Melbourne for college, they're surprised to find themselves housemates. Remaining cordial for the sake of their other... Read More

After the ending of this compelling crime story, listeners hear a conversation between the author and narrator Robb Moreira. Moreira was enthusiastically selected by the audiobook producers to portray police detective Al Sullivan, who narrates this story about a prominent industrialist who is murdered in San Francisco's posh Claremont Hotel in 1944. Moreira's Sullivan is... Read More

Anita Gail Jones's narration transports listeners across centuries and continents as she details the complex history of a Southern Black family. This saga centers on 70-year-old Fletcher Dukes, whose unexpected reunion with his long-lost love, Altovise Benson, upends his life and forces him to consider the true meaning of family and forgiveness. While the events Jones describes... Read More

Marisa Calin, Michael Kramer, and Kate Reading narrate a fantasy set in the Shades of Magic world. Seven years have passed since the battle that almost destroyed everything, and a new conflict has arisen that once again spans all four Londons: Red, Grey, White, and Black. Each narrator focuses on one primary plot thread: Calin on Tess, a young woman with an unusual and... Read More

Steve West gives a lively performance of this fantasy/romance, voicing each mortal, immortal, and undead character with the requisite humor, sarcasm, and sinister whispers. Fox D'Mora, a bit of a rake, is posing as a medium, though as the godson of Death, he has an unusual advantage. When Viola Marek, vampire and real estate agent, calls on him with a poltergeist problem, Fox... Read More

Caroline Hewitt narrates this tale of the wealthy Costa family so intimately that listeners will be convinced she has insider status with this dysfunctional group. Sal Costa, family head and manager of a financial institution in serious trouble, hopes to provide for his two children, Rachel and Roberto, who are complete strangers to work and the value of money. His ex-wife,... Read More

Chanté McCormick rises to the challenge of narrating Jacobs's comprehensive biography of Althea Gibson with grace, energy, and a rich voice. Gibson charted a host of firsts. She was the first Black tennis player to win Wimbledon and the US Open--and to be ranked Number 1 in the world. She was also the first Black player in the Ladies Professional Golf Association. These... Read More

With fascinating research and examples of breaches in trust among celebrities, management professor Kim explains how trust is lost more quickly when people perceive sins of integrity than when they are disappointed by incompetence. Trust is also harder to restore with integrity issues; instances of incompetence can be a one-time event. With either type of lapse, restoring trust... Read More

In much of the best contemporary poetry, beauty of thought is at least as important as beauty of language. Carl Phillips, here reading his own Pulitzer Prize-winning collection, has an ample supply of both, but it is the thinking behind each poem that makes it possible for the language to have power. Nature--in particular, horses--shows up in many of the poems, but what moves... Read More

Narrator Sarah Ovens shines while breathing life into this haunting narrative. Ovens's expressive voice and impeccable pacing create a vivid atmosphere as she guides listeners through Clara's perilous journey in the Forest Grimm. Ovens's storytelling prowess is evident in how she infuses these retold fairy tales with an eerie ambiance and captures the essence of each character.... Read More

Game Warden Mike Bowditch is back, keeping Maine safe. When two boaters are killed, he suspects more than an accident, and he begins to probe the island residents and others tied to the victims. Narrator Henry Leyva avoids stereotypical accents except for one or two characters whose laconic Maine speech is strong and enjoyable to hear. He believably delivers the emotions of... Read More

This audiobook--the fourth in the Kushiel's Legacy fantasy series, but the second chronologically--offers more than a retelling of KUSHIEL'S DART. This companion piece is narrated from Joscelin's point of view. Narrator Owen Findlay is a master of distinctive voices as he reintroduces listeners to Joscelin, a warrior-priest who is sworn to celibacy and dedicated to protecting... Read More

Maeve, the titular character of this chilling audiobook, should have enjoyed a perfect life. The L.A. native, who descends from Hollywood royalty, portrays the lead princess at a famed Anaheim theme park. Narrator Sosie Bacon artfully brings to life the narcissistic young woman and her ghoulish dark side, especially her love of Halloween music and gore. As life batters Maeve... Read More

With a story as gripping as this chronicle of a female war correspondent, narrator Kate Handford wisely stays out of the way. She recounts the life of Dickey Chapelle at a steady pace, expressing emotion where appropriate and regularly pausing to let selected passages sink in. Even though this is a biography, not an autobiography, Handford almost becomes Chapelle, whose career... Read More

Journalist Meg Kissinger gives a stellar narration of her extraordinarily affecting memoir about growing up in the 1960s in a close-knit Irish-Catholic family of eight children, many of whom were afflicted with mental illness. Kissinger's father suffered from bipolar disorder, her mother was hospitalized for depression during Kissinger's childhood, and she lost a brother and... Read More

Laura Gómez skillfully narrates this touching story of perseverance. Elena loves the garden in her family's home in Puerto Rico, especially the coquí frogs who sing there. When a hurricane nearly destroys the island, the coquíes stop singing, and Elena's beloved mango tree loses all its leaves and fruit. The storm's aftermath saddens and frightens Elena. However, through the... Read More

Narrator Sophia Nomvete creates a determined voice for Daisy, who is sent to boarding school while her mom, a world-renowned journalist, chases down a story in the Amazon rainforest. When her mom then goes missing, Daisy sets out to find her and stumbles into Greenwild, a world in which botanists use green magic to grow plants. She learns that she and her mother are also... Read More

This audiobook perfectly captures the extraordinary Project C, the ten- week campaign to end segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, which was crucial to the subsequent success of the 1963 March on Washington. Jaime Lincoln-Smith's performance is exceptional. He complements the book's historical precision with his delivery of the memorable voice of Martin Luther King, Jr., while... Read More

Natalie Naudus narrates the story of Opal, who is living in the desolate town of Eden, home to the mysterious Starling Mansion. The old house appeared on the day that the writer-illustrator of the gothic fantasy children's book THE UNDERLAND, Eleanor Starling, disappeared. Opal, who is providing for her brother, works for the current heir, Arthur Starling. Strange things are... Read More

Narrator Christopher Ragland delivers the majority of what begins as a pleasant coming-of-age story of three teens that turns into a complex psychological horror story-within-a-story, within-a-story. Ragland excels at portraying Wilder, skillfully conveying his fears, vulnerabilities, and victimhood. However, Ragland's Maine accent for Nate, and his female British voice for the... Read More

Talented Barrie Kreinik narrates this complicated contemporary story about the hardships of the Connelly family. After their mother dies and their father abandons them, Geraldine, Eddie, and Tara are left to fend for themselves--far too early in their lives. The three siblings have deep loyalty to each other and attempt to protect each other from any more pain and... Read More

The bright and youthful voice of Katharine Chin brings a lighthearted manga-style energy to ZHARA, the first in a new series by S. Jae-Jones. Although magic is forbidden throughout the Morning Realms, this story focuses on Jin Zhara and her discovery of the Guardians of Dawn, a secret organization seeking to liberate magicians from hiding. Chin's vocal variations provide enough... Read More

The heroine of this psychological thriller is, improbably, an astrophysicist and psychic. Narrator Karissa Vacker captures Vivvy Bouchet's smarts and the urgency with which she goes after the mystery of Lizzy Solomon's disappearance. The story begins when Vivvy returns home to bury her mother--also a psychic--and becomes involved with a case that her old friend Mike Romano, a... Read More

Narrator Kathleen McInerney transports the listener to Greenwich Village at Christmastime. Kerry Tolliver and her brother, Murphy, have brought Christmas trees from their farm in North Carolina to sell in the New York neighborhood while staying in the run-down trailer they affectionately call "Spammy." Kerry develops a friendship with Patrick and his 6-year old son, Austin.... Read More

Mara Wilson expertly narrates a queer horror novel about an evangelical religious community in Montana and the gay conversion therapy camp at its heart. Rose Darling is 20, and while she never went to Camp Damascus, she knows people who have--though they don't talk about it. The novel takes a sharp turn into the surreal in the first chapter when Rose vomits up mayflies at the... Read More

Primarily narrated by Kim Young-Gi, this biographical audiobook celebrates the ten-year-long career of the Korean boy band BTS. Kim's tender narration details the band's immense trials and unprecedented successes. He approaches the content with a voice full of wonder and admiration throughout their joys and quiet sympathy when detailing their tribulations. The audiobook also... Read More

Author Jamie Loftus is right at home as the narrator of her first book. Loftus traveled across the U.S. in the summer of 2021 with her pets and boyfriend, sampling the various hot dogs at each location. Beyond giving a snappy description of the different flavors and dressings each dog contains, Loftus also dives into their history and relays some social commentary surrounding... Read More

Petrea Burchard is delightful in this entertaining comic crime drama. Seventy-one-year-old Loretta Plansky receives a call in the middle of the night from a "grandson" in need of urgent financial assistance, so she gives him her banking information. In the morning, she discovers her bank accounts have been wiped clean. The FBI tells her there's no way to get back her three... Read More

Jack Holden's return to narrate the third installment in this series is a treat. Cleeves's descriptive prowess transports listeners to the bleak and formidable cliffs of Greystone, Devon. When adventurer Jem Roscoe is found dead in a dinghy after a raging storm, Detective Matthew Venn and his team are called in to investigate. Holden skillfully differentiates the locals... Read More

Franz Drameh's deeply involving performance embodies these characters and their rapidly deteriorating world. As Dave, a night watchman, goes about his routine, he discovers that people around him are not waking up. He soon joins a mission to find out why while struggling to stay awake himself. He has to--in this new apocalypse sleep leads to death. Based on a popular limited... Read More

Sulin Hasso's melodic narration transports listeners to the twelfth-century Seljuk Empire (Persia) for a sumptuous retelling of ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS. When the Malik of Kerman discovers that his first wife has betrayed him, he executes her and his next three young brides. Shaherazade, the daughter of the Malik's vizier, offers to be his fifth wife in a desperate attempt... Read More

William Hope narrates this first novel in a series featuring the fascinating Ben Koenig, a former U.S. Marshall who once specialized in finding anybody--but who himself found it necessary to disappear six years ago. Now Koenig finds himself the focus of a manhunt initiated by a frantic father who wants him to find his missing daughter. Koenig has myriad special skills; chief... Read More

Two households of powerful witches, equal in their ruthlessness and guile, square off to take control of a highly stylized magical New York City. Bringing a self-assured, intelligent manner to this dark mixture of urban fantasy, romance, Russian folklore, and Shakespearean storytelling, narrator Ferdelle Capistrano has a fine time giving voice to the seven beautiful but cunning... Read More

With earnestness that matches the author's poignant story, narrator Petrea Burchard introduces listeners to the Circus of the Fantasticals. In the 1920s they are a magical band of friends, lovers, and misfits, including a soaring trapeze artist, the Calliope Man, and a woman who can burst into flames. They are led by a time-traveling ringmaster named Rin. As Rin discovers that... Read More

Elise Roth makes the transitions smoothly as this novel moves between Sally Brady's life in Depression-era America and the lives of a group of Italians before and during WWII. Sally's voice grows more confident as the abandoned 11-year-old in L.A. she portrays matures to become an independent gossip columnist who navigates war-torn Italy to find stories. Roth also delivers the... Read More

With his enthusiasm for spoken-word poetry, improv, and nonbinary politics, up-and-coming voice talent André Santana brings a personable feel to this satirical sci-fi romp. It's the third annual Saturation Day, the day when strange cosmic rays pelt the earth and for one unspeakable night many of the planet's "straight" or "overwhelmed" population turn into raging... Read More

Yung-I Chang narrates a complex sci-fi story involving giant Japanese robots (mecha). Ever since he was mysteriously cast out from the wreckage of Khun Mo 17 years ago, Sunai has tried to forget his past in a variety of dangerous and inappropriate ways. But now his past has caught up with him. As he journeys toward knowledge, both literally and metaphorically, Chang subtly... Read More

Narrator Jennifer Pickens breathes life into Brammer's debut novel. The story is told by Clover, a death doula who is more comfortable with the dying than the living--who finally learns to live. Pickens gives Clover a voice that is distant and uncomfortable with everyday interactions but compassionate and empathetic with her dying clients. Her past is revealed slowly as the... Read More

Siblings Bowman and Summer, who learn survival skills and a keen knowledge of animals while being raised on a remote Colorado ranch, are at the crux of this story. The audiobook bounces between the past and present as their nemesis tries to steal their multimillion-dollar inheritance. MacLeod Andrews is especially deft with the voices of the women involved, varying them... Read More

Kurt Kanazawa presents this absorbing story of the initial success and later downward spiral of Tony Hsieh, tech founder and former CEO of Zappos. Kanazawa's youthful tone and vocal energy connect with Hsieh's wealth and celebrity status without glossing over his descent into drugs, alcohol, and mental health problems. The authors have a gift for colorful scene descriptions,... Read More

Lindsey Dorcus smoothly narrates this adventurous audiobook perfect for fans of fantasy role-playing games. Aelis, a recently graduated wizard and the only female necromancer, is assigned to guard the remote village of Lone Pine as their new warden. Because Aelis is used to people's disdain for her choices in magic and their sexist skepticism of her abilities, Dorcus's voice is... Read More

A dual narration defines the alternating viewpoints and brings out the contrasts, humor, and high jinks in this YA queer medieval rom-com. Sarah Ovens’s crisp delivery depicts the temperament of the rule-bound Gwendoline, princess of England. There are moments, however, when Ovens’s more emotional tones reflect Gwen’s heartstrong feelings; her disdain for the irresponsible Lord... Read More

Jennifer Blom narrates an adaptation of Sleeping Beauty that asks what if the fairy godmother desperately needs to keep the princess asleep to protect all others? Listeners hear the weariness in the fairy Toadling's voice as she stands guard at the tower, in both her unobtrusive human form and her toad form, watching the world change around her over the centuries. When Halim, a... Read More

Author Shannon Hale narrates as a full cast enacts the drama of her sixth-grade year in this adaptation of the middle volume of her graphic memoir trilogy. Portraying young Shannon, Mia Jenness evokes excitement, uncertainty, and hurt--painfully and exquisitely--as she picks her way through a friendship minefield. Her circle of friends is not so fully individuated, with the... Read More

Skilled vocal performances from more than a dozen narrators immerse listeners in a schoolyard murder mystery involving race, wealth, and power. When the dictatorial principal of the all-boys Promise Preparatory School is shot, three students are pegged for the murder. But J.B., Trey, and Ramón are innocent--and determined to prove it. With the help of J.B.'s girlfriend, a... Read More

Eunice Wong smoothly differentiates a diverse cast in this edgy military thriller. Soldier Adriene Valero feels numbed by life but gets an unexpected second chance to feel alive. Make that a 97th chance--because she's been rebooted 96 times. Wong captures Adriene's transformation when she's given cutting-edge virtual intelligence and transferred to a Special Forces unit. Wong... Read More

Morgan Albright, portrayed by January LaVoy, has finally made a life for herself in Baltimore with her roommate, Nina. But her world is shattered when Nina is murdered by Luke, aka Gavin, after Morgan invited him to their home. LaVoy brings out all the drama. Gavin has also stolen Morgan's identity, leaving her no choice but to return to Vermont to her mother and grandmother.... Read More

Sarah Naughton takes listeners on a whimsical yet obstacle-filled journey through the lush heath of Ireland. Carla Black has traveled worldwide in her vintage Jeep Wrangler. Now she's arrived in Ireland for her best friend's wedding. Eamon Sullivan, the best man, has been tasked with picking Carla up from the airport and making the trek across Ireland in time for the wedding.... Read More

Narrator Grover Gardner returns to the role of reluctant attorney Andy Carpenter in this 27th audiobook in the series. Andy's latest case involves defending a high school fling, now a famous actress, against accusations of having murdered her costar, a former boyfriend. The audiobook delivers all the elements fans expect: endearing canines, Andy's razor-sharp sarcasm, and a... Read More

Author/narrator Travis Baldree returns with a prequel to LEGENDS & LATTES, set 20 years earlier. Viv, a mercenary orc, has been injured in a campaign against a necromancer and needs to heal. Looking for distraction, Viv hangs out in a run-down bookstore owned by a foulmouthed rattkin and discovers a love of reading, some good friends, and a little romance. Baldree introduces... Read More

Alix Dunmore's lilting voice and English accent capture the musicality of this audiobook. The cadence of her narration works well, and her tones mimic the interior conflicts of Elsa, a virtuoso pianist whose career is at a standstill. In response, she dyes her hair blue and sets about inventing a new persona. The pandemic is taking place as the plot moves from Greece to Paris,... Read More

Vikas Adam's performance--tender and tinged with optimism--lends a welcome lightness to this coming-of-age novel about a young man who is trying to find his place in 1990s India. When his father threatens to send him to conversion therapy, Shagun leaves school to join a traveling performance troupe. There he finds friendship, an artistic calling, and first love with an alluring... Read More

Kate Mara gives a quiet powerhouse of a performance of this taut and original thriller. Catherine Sterling and her mother, Ruth, are unusually close. Keyword "unusually." Note also the title's nod to the iconic twisty thriller GONE GIRL. This book earns the association; the plot takes turn after turn you won't see coming, and its revelations are persuasive and earned. Why do... Read More

Academic Héctor Tobar explores Western European-descended North Americans' evolving creation of "brownness" as a governable and repressible classification. The youthful timbre of André Santana's voice pairs well with Tobar's view of Latino people as young in both generational and political senses. Santana weaves Tobar's data and other research, stories of his life and his... Read More

This novel's story is told by Pippa, who speaks of "now" and "then," and by Amanda, who refers to "before" and "after." Two competent narrators, Barrie Kreinik and Jessica Douglas-Henry, guide the listener through this story, which involves the two characters and four time frames and which doles out information in short segments that continually change voice and perspective.... Read More

Several teen residents of a group home commit an act that someone tries to kill them for 25 years later. The pals come together to try to find out who is behind the scheme. The story bounces between their time at the home and the present day. The audiobook is a classic example of a well-paced, intriguing thriller that is truly enhanced by excellent narration. Each character,... Read More

A Costa Rican family's generational trauma impacts their descendants in ways they don't fully understand because of secrets that have never been shared. Adriana Sananes adopts both Spanish and English accents throughout the complex dynamics of five generations who were affected by the exploitation of the Great American Fruit Company. The corruption of the U.S. banana company... Read More

This quaint performance by a five-narrator ensemble will tug at the heartstrings. It explores the budding relationship between Coley and Sonya, who are both learning to accept the beauty to be found in being vulnerable. Coley moves to Oregon after her mother dies and meets Sonya, who is uncertain about how a same-sex relationship will change her. Both girls stumble through... Read More

Taking place over a weekend in London, this audiobook is funny at times, but more often its dysfunctional characters make the listener cringe. Ray Hanrahan is a semi-famous painter who is married to his former student Lucia, a sculptor. As his comeback exhibition approaches, he demands that his three adult children return home to witness it. Juliet Stevenson captures the... Read More