New Reviews by Title: A-D

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

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

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

Howarth's detailed account of the first decades of the British East India Company makes for a daunting listen. The text, while deeply learned, is often hard to follow as it jumps around in history and, while snappily written, is show-offy, laden with obscure allusions, and more interested in cleverness than clarity. Michael Page's throaty voice takes getting used to, but his... Read More

Baron Munchausen is probably best known to Americans as the hero of the 1988 Terry Gilliam film--but he has been amusing Europeans since 1785. This audiobook limits itself to the original text--to which other authors have been adding almost from the beginning--but fully conveys the absurdity that has made the baron an icon. Peter Wickham voices the baron with just the right mix... Read More

Fans of James Patterson will no doubt appreciate the latest installment in the Alex Cross series. A cast of thousands (OK, 7) take on roles that range from good cops to killers, spouses, and family members in what sounds like a made-for-TV drama. Wayne Carr does an excellent job portraying the gravitas, intellect, and humanity of Cross. Kiff VandenHeuvel serves double duty as a... Read More

In a 12-episode podcast memoir, Jeff Daniels tells biographical stories, does sketches, sings folksy songs, and adds sound effects. He might remind listeners of Garrison Keillor, if momentarily. Daniels comes from a small town in Michigan, but his recollections mostly spotlight his acting career, with occasional un-Lake-Wobegon mentions of marijuana use, for example. Daniels... Read More

Gripping from the start, true-crime TV star Joe Kenda's debut novel is an entertaining and quick-paced fictionalized version of a case Kenda handled as a rookie detective in the 1970s. Narrated skillfully by Bradford Hastings, Tim Campbell, and Kenda himself, the audiobook benefits from their ability to produce a variety of voices for the fascinating cast of characters. At its... Read More

Productivity expert Jon Acuff narrates his latest audiobook with spontaneity and energy that are absolutely infectious. Part of what makes him connect so strongly with his audience is his frequent use of off-script asides and personal stories--what he calls "bonus content." These impromptu comments, delivered enthusiastically, never fail to energize and entertain. Along with... Read More

A cast of stellar narrators bring this adaptation of Wells's sci-fi thriller to new heights. The apathetic security robot self-dubbed "Murderbot" is tasked with protecting a team of human scientists on a remote planetary mission. Unbeknownst to the scientists, Murderbot has hacked its own system, gaining control of the modules that govern its behaviors. And it's a good thing it... Read More

A duet of narrators delivers the protagonists' alternating chapters and the time periods that influence them. Nile Bullock portrays Gibran, a Black senior at a predominately white suburban high school. Bullock expresses Gibran's fiery response when his request to attend the 1995 Million Man March is denied by his school. When he attempts to organize a protest, the school... Read More

The unnamed narrator of Madievsky's latest novel has always been drawn to big sister Debbie's exciting, chaotic lifestyle. The night of the narrator's high school graduation, she accompanies Debbie to Salvation, an L.A. bar filled with energy healers, hopeful actors, and misfits. Thus begins her journey into addiction. Moniqua Plante gives the protagonist a strong but detached... 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

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

Oliver Wyman affects a sly, off-kilter tone to deliver O'Brien's funny/sad take on Trumpland as COVID-19 infects America. Wyman's portrayal of Boyd Halverson, a former journalist and retail worker, is characterized by a sense of forlornness as the standard crime-caper plot unfolds. Boyd walks into a bank and demands $300,000. He gets $81,000 and the teller, Angie Bing, in the... Read More

Jade Wheeler and Kimberly Woods narrate this twisty YA mystery about a teen girl who is on the run with her mother. The mother is, at times, the picture of maternal love, and, at other times, the opposite. She can't stand the physical touch of her own daughter, Harlow. Wheeler gives listeners a vivid portrayal of this fractured mother-daughter relationship full of secrets. Her... Read More

Jenna Clause and Cheri Maracle perform this heartrending horror novel by Mohawk author Alicia Elliot. On the outside, Alice appears to have it all. She lives in a beautiful house in the "nice" part of town with her successful white husband and beautiful baby girl. But when Alice begins to have visions of horrible things happening to her baby and hears the trees sharing their... Read More

Scott's genial romance--mixing elements of comedy, adventure, melodrama, and mystery--presents difficulties that David Rintoul's skilled, heartfelt performance more than overcomes. To defects of its period (published 1816) such as slowness and verbosity, the book adds frequent Latin quotations--glossed-in asides--and conversations in the Scots dialect--sometimes impenetrable,... Read More

Jorjeana Marie's youthful voice is the first plus in this audiobook for beginning novel readers. The second is her portrayal of quirky 9-year-old Ella, the liveliest resident of a small San Francisco apartment house. Marie captures Ella's blend of annoying know-it-all qualities and friendly willingness to help her neighbors. While Ella takes center stage in the story, Marie... Read More

The author of this expansive audiobook is the founder of a personal growth platform that integrates a broad array of wisdom about developing one's potential. After celebrity psychiatrist Phil Stutz delivers a believable endorsement of the audiobook, the author performs with energy that infuses his ideas with passion from start to finish. He organizes his growth protocol around... Read More

This audiobook brings to life eighteenth-century Kingsbridge, England, where class warfare engulfs workers who are seeking security amid owners who value progress over people. Narrated skillfully by Golden Voice John Lee, the latest Follett novel offers superb dialogue, fascinating relationships, and characters from varying religions, classes, and political perspectives. The... Read More

January LaVoy offers a lively performance of this romantic suspense. Alex thinks she's done with love when she stumbles upon Philip, a mysterious man who collects her from the airport for a wedding. They immediately become attracted to each other, but Philip keeps Alex at arm's length because he's just settling into civilian life after retiring from his career as a spy. Then... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld's precise narration captures Nazi-controlled Amsterdam in 1943. There, this audiobook's heroine must move with caution and pretend confidence when she's rescuing Jewish babies and selling art forgeries to the Germans. Maarleveld's pacing is exact whether she is imbuing a suspenseful scene with tense emotions, increasing speed when rapid action demands it, or... Read More

Jane Hirshfield is a wonderful poet (and essayist, although not in this collection) with a wonderfully broad range of interests. Among the poems here is an ode to buttons. She is also a fine reader of her own work. Her voice has a consistently soft texture from which she manages to wring a considerable range of emotion, always sounding as though she is speaking directly and... Read More

In this audiobook, Evie Sage is navigating financial challenges and takes on the role of assistant to a notorious villain, diligently managing office tasks and supporting his exploits. As her attraction to her mysterious boss deepens, the twisty plot unfolds, weaving a tapestry of intrigue and suspense. The emergence of a mysterious saboteur threatens the villain's empire,... Read More

Ron Butler narrates a romance novella set in Orlando, the first in the Voluptuous Woman duology. After a well-publicized breakup just weeks before her wedding, Dominique has been hesitant to date again; however, the handsome man she sees on her morning runs has her reconsidering. A failed marriage has Jordan vowing never to date another lawyer--until he learns that the... Read More

Helen Keeley enlivens this cozy mystery, set in a quaint English village. Listeners meet charming but naïve 24-year-old Sophie, whose boyfriend, Ben, leaves her when she loses her job. But Sophie is rejuvenated when she inherits her aunt's house, though she must care for her aunt's dog, Poppy, to comply with the bequest. Soon, Sophie meets feisty tea shop owner Hannah and... Read More

Mike Ortego gets Talese. Ortego artfully performs Talese's polished sentences and captures the flavor of his urbane worldview with a writerly tone. For this is an audiobook of enhanced remembrances. Talese returns to the sights and sounds of his most famous and influential piece of creative nonfiction, the New Journalism classic "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold," and entertains the... Read More

The irreverence of this over-the-top audiobook is not for the faint of heart, and Josh Innerst offers a narration to match the writing. The author's dark comedy focuses on four "baseball dads"--suburban fathers linked by their sons' baseball team. Through a variety of circumstances, one of the pals takes over the team. The quartet engages in debauchery at every turn--drugs and... Read More

Grace Capeless narrates Miller's picture book about the many ways a person can be strong. The young protagonist, a child of color with black, textured curls in Jen Hill's illustrations, doesn't have the physical strength to get to the top of the gym climbing wall. But family members point out that being strong can also mean "showing up" (for friends in need), "speaking up" (for... Read More

Scott Fortney narrates an action-packed fantasy in which a young man is called to service by an erratic god. Krell is a paladin serving the tempestuous god ReckNor, but the god rarely calls upon those who serve him. However, Krell has captured ReckNor's attention--he even hears his god's voice inside his head. Fortney creates a unique voice for each character, and the clever... Read More

Lee Osorio brings his deep voice and its many variations to this long romantic suspense set in New Orleans and its environs. There are many characters in this audiobook, including J.P. "Kaj" Cardozo; his son, precocious 10-year-old Elijah; private investigator Val Sorensen; and a criminally engaged family. When two members of the family try to kidnap Elijah, Cardozo hires... Read More

Aaliya Warbus and Jordan Waunch team up to deliver this twisty story about identity, family, and long-held secrets. In Maine, the summer begins like any other. Seasonal workers, including Indigenous families from Canada, are harvesting fruit in the fields. When four-year-old Ruthie disappears, the consequences are lasting, especially for her siblings. Warbus and Waunch trade... Read More

To cite a few of the many fine narrators of these essays and blogs about food, Nikki Massoud gives an inspired performance with perfect pitch of "Border Lines," Anya von Bremzen's nuanced debunking of national dishes. Johnny Rae Diaz, with clear Italian enunciation, does a fine turn on John Last's clever "There is No Such Thing as Italian Food." Dylan Moore brings empathy and... Read More

The interpretations of the five narrators who perform this collection of Mansfield's short stories, while varied, share a common understanding of her ironic approach to storytelling. They provide a helpful throughline to the twentieth-century New Zealand-born author's wonderful writing. Beginning with a not-to-be-missed introduction written and read by writer and audiobook... Read More

Aubrey Parsons credibly conveys both 1970 and contemporary Yorkshire, England, in this grim procedural. Listeners meet Detective Inspector Harry Grim as he confronts a gruesome farm accident--or a clever murder? The victim was hated by everyone. Parsons artfully renders the many characters, particularly Grim's dedicated team. The 1970 victim, a bullied autistic schoolgirl, was... Read More

Charlotte North and Stephen Dexter immerse listeners in Katerina Wilmot and Christopher Petruchio's tense romance in this reimagining of Shakespeare's TAMING OF THE SHREW. Katerina and Christopher were friendly childhood neighbors, but as adults they absolutely can't stand each other--until one night they share a long awaited, explosive kiss. Katerina realizes that Christopher... Read More

Suehyla El-Attar Young is the perfect energetic narrator for this novel about Muslim sisters who are about to enter "the real world" after graduating from high school. Young contrasts the youth, enthusiasm, and idealism of twins Amira and Lina with the attitudes of their troubled older brother. The girls get a big shot of adulthood all at once when members of the Arab community... Read More

Kelli Tager narrates this tragic story of mental illness with the perfect sense of conviction and heart. Beverly is a very emotional person who is not quite sure how to process her emotions. Henry is a lovely man who meets Beverly at her place of business and is instantly enamored. They marry, and Beverly becomes pregnant, but the romance is short-lived. Beverly still has not... Read More

Diop's love story/epic adventure, written with compassion and skill, is dramatized by a talented team of narrators. Dion Graham portrays Michel Adanson, a French Enlightenment-era botanist; Mark Bramhall, 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... Read More

With a calm, even feel, actor/director and German native Sam Peter Jackson presents this detailed and intense insider's history of a newly minted post-WWII country that was often caught between Russian political purges and American Cold War pressures. This account is told from a fresh non-Western point of view, and Jackson's tone reflects the defiant pride in the author's... Read More

Sean Runnette is comfortable with the athletes' names, the jargon, and the general tone of this audiobook. He's a good fit for MacCambridge's conversational style. The 1970s were a decade of fundamental change in American society, and nowhere was this more apparent than in the world of professional sports. At just under 18 hours, THE BIG TIME is sprawling--some long sections... Read More

If you are a fly fisherman or have a fly fisherman in your life, this early Hemingway short story is a must-listen. Kyle Soller transports the listener to an out-of-the-way river in Michigan where one can practically hear the water flowing, the insects buzzing, and the wind whispering through the trees. Soller never tries to do too much with his narration of this brief story of... Read More

Jeremy Carlisle Parker narrates this dark, twisty novel about mysterious Vesper Wright, who, six years ago, escaped her strict religious community and her mother's iron fist. Vesper is desperately trying to outrun her past and to forge a meaningful relationship. An unsigned invitation to her cousin's wedding convinces her to return home, where questions remain and fate awaits.... 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

Alaska Jackson differentiates the many characters, past and present, in this audiobook, especially the heroines who take center stage. Jackson clearly defines the courage of Blossom, the progenitor of a Black acting dynasty. In the Golden Age of Hollywood, Blossom is a trailblazing role model for female actors of color and generations later for her great-granddaughters, Hollis... Read More

Hillary Huber, longtime narrator of the Sheriff Joanna Brady series, is wisely tapped to voice this exciting new Brady and Walker mystery. Huber energetically embodies both familiar and new characters, transporting listeners to the story's Southwestern locale. She's especially fun to listen to when youthfully voicing Joanna's daughter, Jenny, a criminology student who grabs the... Read More

Carlotta Brentan infuses this audio with all the emotional intensity it deserves. It recounts the childhood experiences of the author's grandmother, Rieke, in Holocaust-era Romania. Brentan's narration does full justice to the heroine's reactions to the complex personal and political upheavals she encountered. Brentan anchors us firmly in Rieke's feelings toward her family--her... 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

Robin Miles narrates the latest tale in Lord's Cygnus Beta series. In the not too distant future, alien civilizations are observing Earth as it is being destroyed by climate change. Owen, an alien mega-pop-star living on Earth who has the superpower of persuasion, must join forces with alien students from the World Council Global Government Project to save Earth. Miles... 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

Robert Mac Minshew gives a fun, upbeat performance of this queer cozy mystery set in Salt Lake City. Ben has left his job in academia to help run his dad's board game shop back home in Utah. When a local game collector is found dead outside the shop, Ben becomes an immediate suspect. Desperate to clear his name, he teams up with the cute florist next door to solve the mystery.... Read More

This extensive anthology captures the histories of Persian and Afghan women who have fought and defended their country over centuries. The ensemble cast of narrators, including the author, come together to represent these varied profiles in all their vividness. With the production's mixture of male and female voices, fans of history and international fiction will find much to... Read More

Christian Banas narrates this romantic comedy. Transgender Noah is navigating a new school and a legal name change. Hoping to present as masculine, Noah joins the secret Borrow a Boyfriend Club, through which students can rent a boy as a date. In cold, curt tones, snooty Asher vets potential members, who cannot have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Although Noah scoffs at Asher's... Read More

Timothy Andrés Pabon speaks softly as he narrates Morillo's first-person account of his childhood. Morillo, who immigrated to New York from Ecuador with his mother, is now a systems engineer for Blue Origin. Previously, he worked on the Mars 2020 team. Pabon puts determination into Morillo's words as the space engineer recalls his drive to learn. At one point, Pabon delivers a... Read More

Katalin Karikó is an incredibly determined scientist from Hungary who won the Nobel Prize, along with Drew Weissman, for discoveries in mRNA that led to the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Eva Magyar, a Hungarian actress with a clear timbre and a Hungarian accent, performs this audiobook with perceptive insight and energy. While it may take a few minutes to get used to the... Read More

This fast-paced story of Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter is delivered with palpable relish by Will Collyer. Recounting the saga from the points of view of several ex-employees, the author attempts to put Musk into context; ex- (and perhaps current employees) talk about a man who is brilliant, engaging, funny, and always contrarian. He is also alone, lonely, and, after a year of... Read More

Kale Williams conveys vibrant Manhattan and the incomparable relationship between Cold Crimes detective Everett Larkin and NYPD forensic artist Ira Doyle. Listeners join the pair as they tackle the heartbreaking 1980s murder of a young woman found mummified. Clues from present and previous cases both clarify and obscure the trail. Most memorable is Candy, whose 1940s persona is... Read More

Laura C. Harris takes on the overall narration of this audiobook, along with the role of alpha shape-shifter Silver Wolf Sterlyn, aka Dove. Strong, determined, and somewhat snobbish, Sterlyn escapes the ruthless enemies who slaughtered her pack and attempted to force her to mate. Fortunately, she's rescued and befriended by Killian, portrayed by Robb Moreira, the level-headed... Read More

Narrator Nigel Patterson brings elegance, precision, and a fine sense of pacing to a narrative that spans 11 centuries, and is so packed with events and memorable figures that the Hundred Years War and the life of Joan of Arc comprise only one episode. What a richly detailed, thoroughly engrossing narrative this is, spacious enough to include a half-hour description of a... Read More

Sean Patrick Hopkins narrates this deep dive into Chicago history with an engaged tone as the listener hears how Mrs. Leary got a bad rap for the notorious fire that ravaged the city in 1871. The audiobook details the fire itself before launching into a comprehensive look at the aftermath and several of the key players involved--publisher/politician Joseph Medill and politician... Read More

Bessie Carter's crisp, energetic performance enlivens bestselling author Sophie Kinsella's newest rom-com. Kinsella takes on the serious topic of corporate burnout as Sasha, fed up with overwork and understaffing, runs away from her job--straight into a brick wall. She heads to the Devon seaside, site of happy childhood memories, seeking off-season solitude. Instead, she is... Read More

Hey there, demons! After seven spooky seasons of their beloved web series, cohosts Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara add Marc Vietor to the cast for their debut audiobook. Explore 101 creepy locations and the supernatural, otherworldly, and paranormal histories behind them. Vietor, the deliberately monotone narrator, introduces each case with a brief overview but is constantly... Read More

James Meunier gives an absorbing performance of this twisty historical adventure. Will Hughes is a young actor who is making a paltry living on the stage in 1590s London. He's also living under an assumed identity; his real name is Elias Wilde, and his family rose up when Queen Elizabeth's soldiers stole their land. When Elias's friend, Christopher Marlowe, playwright and spy... Read More

Christine Rendel brings her delightful British voice to this biography of the artist Camille Pissarro (1830-1903). Known as "the father of Impressionism," Pissarro was born into a Jewish family on St. Thomas but settled in Paris for his career. While associating closely with the innovative painters of the time, including Monet, Degas, Cassatt, and Cézanne, Pissarro remained an... Read More

This sensual and romantic audiobook transports listeners to the vineyards and verdant hills of Tuscany. The exuberant voice of narrator Maria Marquis tells us the story of a young New York career woman who finds herself heir to a vineyard, Casalvento, in Tuscany. While the plot is predictable, the characters, though charming and expertly presented, are rather clichéd. But the... Read More

More than 10 years have passed since listeners first adventured with Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Narrator Jesse Bernstein doesn't disappoint as he returns in this sixth installment. Percy is just trying to get through his senior year without incident, but if he wants to attend college, he must complete three quests to obtain the required reference letters from Mount... Read More

Scott Eyman, literary critic for the PALM BEACH POST, offers a biography of Hollywood icon Charlie Chaplin. The British actor bridged the transition from silent to talking films and started his own studio. Deep-voiced Phil Thron provides a workmanlike narration. While the audiobook is a biography overall, it focuses on the politics and personal circumstances that caused... Read More

Kristen DiMercurio's dynamic performance takes listeners to Baltimore, where Billy Perkins owns Charm City Rocks, an independent record store. Margot Hammer, Billy's long-time celebrity crush, was the drummer of a now defunct rock band. Their first encounter, orchestrated by Billy's son, Caleb, is a total disaster but eventually leads to an endearing romance. The story is told... Read More

Robert Ian Mackenzie returns to portray Bruno Courrèges, chief of police in a small town in Dordogne, France. After a high-ranking official in the French Secret Service is injured during a historical reenactment, Bruno and his team set out to discover whether it was an accident or something more sinister. Mackenzie's fondness for the characters shines as he creates highly... Read More

Karissa Vacker shines brightly as she immerses listeners in the world of professional chess. Mallory Greenleaf once loved chess but put it aside to help support her mother and sisters. Agreeing to play in one last tournament, she unknowingly defeats the current world chess champion, the infamous "Kingkiller," Nolan Sawyer. Nolan is intrigued and wants to cross pawns with... Read More

Ellie sees a shadowy boy in the window as she, her mother, and her brother move into Inchwood Manor. When she searches for the room where she saw the ghostly boy, she finds a magical antique nursery. Sally Millest masterfully presents contemporary and Victorian voices and vocabulary as this story moves between Victorian and contemporary England. Ellie is spooked by... Read More

Four gifted narrators bring listeners this holiday treat told through emails. A dozen members of the Fairway Players, an English amateur theater group, discuss their upcoming pantomime of "Jack and the Beanstalk." Their emails reveal the essence of each writer--their subtle power grabs, petty jealousies, and barely concealed hatreds. With so many characters, it could have been... Read More

Eileen Stevens will have listeners feeling merry and bright as they tune into this small-town Christmas romance. Sylvie West, a baker at the Christmas Café, loves her job and wants to save it when she discovers the café could be sold. Luckily, the Holiday Channel is filming nearby, so she enlists the help of Royce, a dreamy actor, to film a scene at the café. When her... Read More

One lonely Christmas night, Emma reads the diary of a fellow student she invited to her family's English manor house for the holidays 30 years before. Narrator Esther Wane uses a vague American accent for Ashley's diary and captures her wide-eyed pleasure at the gothic setting she feels she's been transported to. Ashley falls for Adam, Emma's troubled brother, who is suspected... 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

Kim Bretton and Emma Fenney team up in this "fake dating" holiday-romance-turned-sapphic love story. The narrators alternate chapters told from the points of view of Bretton's warm, sensitive Margot and Fenney's passionate, impulsive Ellie. Freshly separated from her emotionally abusive girlfriend, Margot agrees to pose as the fake girlfriend of one of her big marketing clients... Read More

In this captivating audiobook, listeners are transported to the enchanting town of Henry Adams and the Christmas wedding of Bernadine and Mal. Kim Staunton's exceptional delivery imbues each character with depth and emotion as she skillfully portrays the intricacies of their relationships. From Preston's heartbreak to Reverend Paula's entanglement with a chef and former mayor... Read More

Three talented narrators transport listeners from the 14th to the 21st century as Jones's novel reveals the struggles of women to be seen and heard throughout history. Elisabeth Lagelée, the voice of Beatrice, speaks with intelligence and determination as Beatrice struggles to achieve her artistic dreams in the face of society's limited expectations. Mia Barron brings the... Read More

Laura C. Harris takes on the role of mortal Rowan--aka Mortana, the succubus--in this full-cast performance. Twenty-one-year-old Rowan hates demons even as she makes a blood oath with the powerful, sexy Lord of Chaos, Orion. With his help, Rowan poses as the seductive Mortana in order to find and destroy her mother's killer. But she must avoid the other demons who want her... Read More

Stephanie Land, who wrote MAID, had a laser-focused goal to succeed as a writer, and this memoir proves that in spades. Her presentation of her life, which included an abusive husband, an unpredictable father to her daughter, and financial challenges, would send anyone over the edge. It all got her down, but she never gave up. Land's exacting words and notable phrasing immerse... 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

Rupert Degas showcases his talents in this Australian mystery involving cyberterrorism, kidnapping, and romance. At the same time that yoga instructor Elaina Williams's father vanishes, sadistic "dark hat" hackers set out to bring down global banking. Luckily, Elaina's heartthrob, Ric, a photojournalist, seems to do more than take pictures during his international travels. The... Read More

In a concise 10-and-a-half hours, this fascinating history of secret writing advances step-by-step from ancient hieroglyphics to the vastness of computerized encryption. Narrator Patty Nieman hasn't quite the ease and naturalness of an experienced performer. But she has an appealing voice, and she is especially effective here, where so much is information driven, with little... Read More

Borges is considered by many to be one of the most important fiction writers of the twentieth century, a very intellectual writer and thinker. Narrator Castulo Guerra, however, finds in these stories considerable depths of emotion and humanity, and delivers them to listeners. The world of Borges's fiction is varied and strange, drawing on science fiction, folklore, philosophy,... Read More

Ten distinguished writers contributed to this anthology of short stories with a theme of collections. The stories are as varied as the nine narrators who deliver them, but all have a dark tone. In two surrealist stories featuring Latine women trapped in bleak situations, Frankie Corzo narrates with an edgy tone of underlying power. Becca Q. Co helps listeners navigate a unique... Read More

Narrator Donald Chang faces a particular challenge with this audiobook: how to produce the sound of testosterone. In the world of this fantasy-adventure, warriors fight to determine the fate of nations. Chang skillfully animates the pair at the heart of this stirring work, former champion Grievar Murray Pearson and his latest protégé, the talented but callow Cego. In addition,... Read More

Slow down and sink into these beautiful meditations on the natural world around us. Margaret Renkl's syrupy Southern voice and measured rhythm are perfect for her essays and praise songs on everything from foxes to tadpoles to walking in the rainy woods. As Renkl unfolds a year exploring the environment around her Nashville home week by week, season by season, she demonstrates... Read More

Entrepreneur, investor, and policy advisor Tom Kemp offers a comprehensive overview of the perils of relying on the five major companies currently dominating the world of technology: Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. Dave Clark's smooth, assured voice guides listeners through Kemp's detailed analysis of how technology creeps into our everyday lives--for better or... Read More

Isabella Star LaBlanc tells the story of three generations of Dakota women in a reverse timeline as they recount their pivotal girlhood years. Sissy, born in 1961; Lillian, born in 1925; and Cora, born in 1888, deal with hardships like generational trauma and brutal Indian boarding schools by clinging to the comfort of their dolls. LaBlanc uses bright voices for the various... Read More

Fortunately, narrator Daniel Isaac isn't charged with proclaiming motivation in this bracing caper. However, he admirably enlivens Mac, a cagey corporate investigator who discovers the existence of a cache of data that could tip the balance of power on the island nation of Patusan. Isaac also skillfully animates Mac's devious competitors, including a dim-witted everyman, a late... Read More

Presenting the prologue of this inspiring audiobook, the author, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, sounds utterly appealing and authentically grateful for the people he profiles. His performance is a hard act to follow for narrator Leon Nixon, whose pacing and vocal enthusiasm fall somewhat short of the standard set by the author. But listeners' focus will easily shift to the... Read More

Although the current controversies surrounding the Supreme Court may seem like a new phenomenon, this captivating audiobook dispels that notion and highlights how the Court has frequently been a political lightning rod. Brian Troxell sounds like your favorite history professor as he uses emotion, intensity, varied voices, and inflection to bring to life the many personalities... Read More

Gary Furlong and Shakira Shute narrate dual points of view in alternating chapters to great effect in this academic fantasy novel. Toni Frutin adds to the magic with eerily drawn-out readings of the "Song of the Drowned Gods." A college student who is studying lunar magic, Emory, portrayed by Shute, is left to figure out her new magical skills after a horrific night at the... Read More

A full cast, bolstered by a pulse-pounding score and subtle sound effects, tells the story of a Dark Messiah who finds purpose in the aftermath of the apocalypse. Michael returns to Earth after 150 years to find it in rubble. In a world filled with vampires and werewolves, Michael will stop at nothing to fulfill a promise to his lost love. Eric Messner narrates in a casual tone... Read More

Young listeners enchanted by the holiday magic of DASHER will be delighted with this audiobook sequel, narrated once again by Laural Merlington. Impatient for the arrival of the night before Christmas, reindeer Dasher secretly flies off to experience the sounds and lights of holiday celebrations. But when a snowstorm delays her return, she must rely on a child's unique gift to... Read More

Julianne Moore performs this pandemic novel told in three sections. Each section is set on April 5th of a different year. In 2019, we meet Isabel; her husband, Dan; and her brother, Robbie--who are all living together in New York City with Isabel and Dan's two children. Each section reveals more about the family members, weaving together the threads of their lives. Cunningham... Read More

Cynthia Farrell returns to skillfully voice a wide range of characters-- male and female--of all ages. In the fourth installment of the Nora Kelly series, junior FBI Agent Corrie Swanson partners with forensic archaeologist Nora Kelly to investigate the disappearance of nine graduate students during a winter backpacking trip in the New Mexico mountains. The discovery of six... Read More

Jill Lepore, NEW YORKER staff writer and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, is a captivating essayist and a terrific performer of her own writing. Her pace is upbeat without being too fast; her articulation is clear; and her voice, midrange with the occasional high note, blooms with enthusiasm. That enthusiasm, combined with humor and smarts-- she's a Harvard University history... Read More

This diverse collection of stories explores Lebanese American life in the community of Dearborn, Michigan. Sarab Kamoo and Qarie Marshall trade off delivering narratives that offer insights into the lives of a variety of characters of different ages and genders. From Yousef, a fun-loving boy who loves acting, to women who help each other through domestic violence, the... Read More

Full of humor and heart, Deanna Anthony animates the people in these essays. Many center on Savage's grandmother. Anthony astutely describes the author's comfort with her while growing up, her fear at her grandmother's descent into Alzheimer's, and her ongoing grief at her death. The audio takes listeners into the African-American tradition of funeral services called... Read More

Hillary Huber delivers a delightfully creepy rendition of this graphic, fast-paced horror story about pregnancy and infertility. Anna Alcott is a famous actress who's been going through IVF treatments and finally becomes pregnant. Unexplained odd things start happening: Anna's appointments get switched, her medicines go missing, and she receives strange messages. Things get... 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

After coach Dana Sinclair delivers her introduction with inviting sincerity, Eunice Wong performs the bulk of this captivating audiobook with the perfect blend of authority and spirit. The women's voices are similar in character, and Wong sounds engaged with the author's intentions. The guide is dominated by the inspiring stories of performers, athletes, and other professionals... Read More

Risa Mei gives an energetic performance of this young adult romance. Kiki doesn't have the best start at her new school. She retreats into War Front Heroes, an online game, in which she poses as a guy to avoid sexism. But when she finds out her online crush goes to the same school she does, she must choose between lying or coming clean about her online persona. Mei transforms... Read More

It's no surprise that Steve Inskeep, of National Public Radio, narrates well. He has the practiced cadence and authoritative tone of a polished broadcaster. What is most satisfying about this audiobook is how compelling a listen it is. After all, his subject is Abraham Lincoln, the most studied and written about president in American history. Inskeep examines how the great man... Read More

Lorelei King, who has become the voice of Stephanie Plum, will delight fans in this 30th addition to the series. King masterfully performs the quirky crew surrounding bounty hunter Stephanie, including familiar and new characters. The plot, filled with laugh-out-loud moments, follows Stephanie and her sidekick, Lula, as they track down a colorful collection of felons. Their... Read More

David Rintoul returns to the role of Detective Ulf Varg in another charming trip to the Department of Sensitive Crimes. This time around Alexander McCall Smith's tongue-in-cheek take on the dour Scandi noir genre sees Ulf investigating the missing cabin of a bacon magnate while negotiating potential downsizing at work. Meanwhile, Ulf's girlfriend is convinced that his deaf dog,... Read More

Michael Lomonaco narrates this high-energy audiobook with the right tempo, cadence, and tone. A famed chef, restaurateur, and TV personality, he understands the intensity and focus of a creative kitchen. He captures the gamut of emotions associated with the pursuit of the perfect dish--the underlying subject of this audiobook. The author is especially adept at profiles--of... Read More

Three narrators--Gisela Chípe, Vas Eli, and the splendid Arthur Morey--enrich these tilt-a-whirl stories. They voice simple characters whose lives become fantastically disrupted. To select three of the many outstanding performances: Chípe narrates in a mischievously straightforward way one of the best, "The Little People," about a town that is co-inhabited by two-inch-tall... Read More

Journey with narrators Saskia Maarleveld and Shane East to the Scottish Highlands in this enemies-with-benefits romance. Riley Rhodes, an expert "curse breaker," has been tasked with breaking an ancient curse at a legendary Scottish castle. Looking for redemption after a previous scandal, archaeologist Clark Edgeware is determined to prevent Riley from getting in the way of his... Read More

Karen Cass's mellow voice and brisk cadence enliven the background, travels, and experiences of the wife of a prosperous man of industry in Victorian England. Fashion historian and museum curator Kate Strasdin unfolds the captivating life of Mrs. Anne Sykes, which is told through pieces of fabric from various items of her clothing, which she kept in an annotated scrapbook.... Read More