New Reviews by Title: P-T

Barrie Kreinik masterfully meets the challenge of voicing men, women and children from the British Isles, Europe, Australia, and America to bring to life the emotional rollercoaster of enduring WWII. Kreinik's nuanced performance shines as Madeline Grant evolves from a timid student at the Sorbonne, to a wife and mother, and finally to a courageous British spy. Kreinik's... Read More

Popular historian Tom Holland will be familiar to many listeners through the books RUBICON and PERSIAN FIRE, and his podcast THE REST IS HISTORY. He is an effective narrator, but his thick British accent and higher pitch require some time to acclimate to. Holland's strength is his lively, richly detailed material, so immersive that a listener is soon swept up in the action and... 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

Laura Brydon narrates this novel, which has been longlisted for the Booker Prize 2023. It is the story of Marianne and the long-lasting repercussions of the disappearance of her mother when she was eight years old. Now a mother herself, she has spent her life dealing with her grief, guilt, and desperation for answers. Brydon paints a remarkable, believable picture of a child... Read More

Daniel Henning narrates this unconventional novel with light humor and a hefty dose of bemusement that is fitting for the main character, Eli, who wakes up one day in his wife Elizabeth's body. Elizabeth, who is now inhabiting his body, has vanished without a trace. As he adjusts to life in his new body with both curiosity and unease, Eli sets off across Europe to find her--and... Read More

Holly Adams portrays Peta in this fantasy tale of survival among elementals and familiars. Peta, a feline, purrs her house cat lines and roars when she's in leopard form, all the while protecting her thirteenth charge, Larkspur, aka Dirt Girl, from death and other dangers. Larkspur's strong personality and bold courage flow through Yasmin Tuazon's strong voice, especially when... Read More

Bill Homewood, a Shakespearean actor and narrator of many literary classics, turns his vast performing experience to Gaston Leroux's well-known horror story, originally published in 1910. While listeners may recognize the story from its Broadway musical adaptation or from films, Homewood's deep, melodious voice and flawless French accent offer a fresh perspective on the tale... Read More

Listening to PHOEBE'S DIARY, narrated by the author and artist, is like opening a time capsule from the mid-2000s. Amid pop-culture references like mix CDs and Myspace, drawn from her own diaries, Wahl delivers a charming and authentic look at her teen years. From first crushes to first kisses, from body image struggles to friendships and family dynamics, Wahl opens up as if... Read More

Author-illustrator and narrator Mo Willems chews the scenery when his obstreperous pigeon decides to ride a roller coaster. The bird, listeners learn, is "aquiver with anticipation," a state of excitement that carries character and listeners along a familiar emotional path. The pigeon has a ticket, plans to wait with "exemplary patience," and imagines a ride so thrilling it... Read More

A full cast accompanied by a score and sound effects brings this Hellboy adventure to life. Hellboy and his team journey to Brazil to assist on an archaeological dig. One of the men goes missing and is found dead with wasps pouring out of his body, which has been transformed into a horrific nest. Scott McCormick captures Hellboy's wry sarcasm in a booming voice and gravelly... Read More

Jorjeanne Marie narrates the contemporary first-person story of 16-year-old Ivy, flavoring her narration with a mild Texas accent. Stronger than the accent are the emotions Marie projects as a teen who's become pregnant in a town of megachurches. Ivy's shame and distress at unjust accusations are balanced by the wry humor peppered throughout the story. Marie presents Lorenzo,... Read More

Narrator David Stifel brings a rich, expressive voice to the task of narrating this entertaining audiobook about plants, their importance, and their roles in specific events and periods in history. Topics range from the popularity of liberty trees in France to--with a stop at banana peels--a clue to the kidnapping of aviator Charles Lindbergh's baby. Stifel performs with... Read More

Vince Gambuto's storytelling and branding skills are part of what makes this audio so much fun to hear. He knows how to weave together compelling stories from his personal experiences, urbane observations, and broadly informed insights. He's also a good narrator, clear and consistent from start to finish and reasonably earnest in sharing the lessons he's learned from having... Read More

This legal thriller features a fed-up public defender in rural Virginia. David Aaron Baker shines as the weary and beleaguered attorney Andy Hughes, who is defending the crooked and sinister Damian Bullins. Bullins is on trial for murdering the wife of a wealthy businessman. Baker's performance enables listeners to empathize with Hughes's disillusioned view of the legal system.... Read More

Mela Lee offers a fun, steamy performance of this robust story. Romance author Sophie is outed when she's videoed drunkenly confessing that she's never been in love. The video goes viral. To rehabilitate her image, she vows on TikTok to get in touch with all her exes to learn where things went wrong. Meanwhile, her relationship with ex-TV star Dash, who is her landlord, takes a... Read More

Colin Mace portrays the two seniors in this novel. Wittold Walccyzkiecz, a Polish pianist specializing in Chopin, falls in love with the woman who organized his concert in Barcelona. With skill and empathy, Mace uses pauses, changes in pitch, and emphasis as he navigates the complicated plot. Wittold's pursuit of Beatriz is deliberate and sensuous. Mace enhances the story's... 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

TV host and political commentator Rachel Maddow shines at framing the backstory of current American politics in her latest audiobook, narrated in her signature forthright style. Building on her award-winning podcast, "Ultra," Maddow lays out the historical seditionist plot to, not only keep the U.S. out of WWII, but also to convince Americans that the Nazi attacks against Jews... Read More

Libby McKnight elegantly narrates a fictionalized history of the courtship and marriage of widow Edith Bolling Galt and the 28th U.S. president, widower Woodrow Wilson. McKnight delivers the deeply personal exchanges between the couple with a perfect understanding of the exquisitely romantic Wilson and the uncertain Galt. This period piece culls from official documents and... Read More

Fifteen years after her City of Ember quartet was published, author Jeanne DuPrau offers a new postapocalyptic parable for middle-grade listeners. Jeremy Carlisle Parker gives an enthusiastic performance as 13-year-old Keith and his young cousin, Lulu. They live comfortably in a far-future version of our world, rebuilt after a global disaster. Keith's thirst for adventure leads... Read More

Actor Allan Corduner dazzles listeners with his spellbinding narration of this lovely fable. The first tale in a series called the Norendy Tales features a set of anthropomorphized puppets: a king, a wolf, a girl, and a boy. They belonged to a sea captain, and after his death they end up in the hands of two sisters. As the story unfolds, the puppets bicker with each other... Read More

"Growing older is more expansive than the world would have us believe," says Houston attorney, author, and Trinidad native Karen Walrond in this refreshing audiobook about reclaiming your life. In a clear timbre and lower register, she delivers inspiring stories about aging with the timing and resonance of an assured voice pro. Much of the narrative is about stereotypes of old... Read More

Journey deep into the Mexican jungle with narrator Frankie Corzo as she brings to life two rival archaeologists. Dr. Socorro "Corrie" Mejía thinks she has landed the archeology dig of a lifetime when she is invited to search for the long-lost remains of an ancient warrior of the Aztec empire--who may just be her ancestor. However, in order to be successful she must team up with... Read More

Guy Lockard immediately convinces listeners of the passion of Black middle-schooler Lamar Phillips, whose biggest goal in life is to become a filmmaker. But how can that ever happen in his small Louisiana town, he asks in a dynamic dialogue with his best friend. Soon after, Lockard introduces Lamar's Gramps, whose convictions and activism shine as he takes Lamar to a city... Read More

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

Joniece Abbott-Pratt masterfully re-creates a 1950s Florida reformatory in this story based on a relative of author Tananarive Due and other actual people and events. Listeners meet 12-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., and Gloria, his 16-year-old sister, after Robbie is arrested for defending her from a white boy. While in the segregated reform school, Robbie experiences and... Read More

Three extraordinary narrators guide listeners through two timelines, three lives, and multiple locations involving the immigrant experience. Marguerite, intelligently portrayed by Suehyla El-Attar Young, is musically gifted and composes brilliant sonatas even as civil war rages in Beirut in 1922. Ali Andre Ali is terrific while recounting a story set 50 years later involving... Read More

Jacqueline Woodson renders her story's rhythms skillfully, emphasizing refrains that allow listeners to luxuriate in her words and linger in powerful details. Sage's father, a firefighter, died in a fire back in the "once was," but she thinks of him often. At the same time, her neighborhood has been experiencing so many mysterious fires that it's been renamed "The Matchbox."... Read More

Over his stellar 75-year career, genre-bending dark fantasy novelist/playwright Ray Bradbury corresponded with just about everyone from science fiction grandmasters to U.S. presidents to Hollywood directors. Capturing Bradbury's easy sincerity, abundant enthusiasm, and mid-century Midwestern drawl, Byron Wagner leads a fine group of voice talents in narrating Bradbury's letters... Read More

Peter Giles masterfully portrays the Lincoln Lawyer, Mickey Haller, a defense attorney whose office is his car. Giles is joined by Titus Welliver, as LAPD Detective Harry Bosch, and Christine Lakin, as Renée Ballard. Haller, having just experienced the exhilaration of overturning an innocent man's conviction, has launched his own innocence project. With Bosch's help, Haller is... Read More

A quintet of talented narrators performs the epic beginning to a sci-fi series simmering with political intrigue. Although General Keith Brennan prefers fighting to talking, he's called to investigate the assassination of the solar system's president. The system is on the brink of all-out war, and Brennan might be the only one keeping it from kicking off. Dion Graham... Read More

Writer Elizabeth Benedict narrates her account of her cancer journey with candid honesty and wit. The candor and strength she shares in her writing are also depicted in her voice as she recalls her thoughts and emotions through her diagnosis and treatment. Benedict addresses the pitfalls of the American healthcare system. She has an engaging yet eloquent tone that is present... Read More

Jesse Nobess establishes a determined voice for high school sophomore Tre Brun. After losing his older brother, a basketball star, he finds his own passion for the game. Nobess captures Tre's emotions as he pushes himself to reach his maximum potential on the court, first at tryouts and eventually at the Minnesota State Championship. Tre feels pressure to succeed not only for... Read More

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

CJ Wilson brings compelling, troubled characters to life while narrating this stand-alone murder mystery set in mid-century Minnesota. His voice embodies a folksiness that belies the audiobook's dark undertone. Sheriff Brody Dern is assigned to investigate the death of Jimmy Quinn, a wealthy figure loathed by many. The community demands swift justice for the suspected... Read More

Angela Juarez's delivery is fully engaging, and by the end of this important and timely audiobook--devastating. Seamlessly switching between Spanish and English, she captures the lives of people caught in a broken immigration system. For many Americans, the U.S.-Mexico border remains an abstract concept, a mere "issue" that is easy to frame for political purposes. But Oliva's... Read More

Five talented narrators join forces to deliver nuanced performances of Jhumpa Lahiri's new collection of short stories. Written in Italian, the author's third language, and translated by her into English, the contemplative and elegant stories revolve around outsiders who are drawn to the City of Light. The mix of voices--Indian subcontinent, mid-American, British-African,... Read More

Classical history, that most venerable of subjects, is most effectively narrated by British voices, the more cultivated the better. Mark Elstob fills that requirement with grace and precision, and with a composure that keeps the bloodier elements of ancient geopolitics at a comfortable distance. In historian and novelist Goldsworthy's history of the ancient West's most powerful... Read More

Narrator Emma Spurgin Hussey performs the first in the Italian Escape series in which 50-year-old somewhat insecure Beth finds herself in Rome after her daughter leaves for uni and her husband takes a temporary job in Paris. During her six-week stay in a Rome apartment, the owner, British expat Ronnie, and feisty Irish-born tenant Marina challenge her to renew her life. Hussey... Read More

In a dreamy and mesmerizing delivery, Sophie Amoss describes how Belle detests her Egyptian complexion, inherited from her father. All her life she's been in the shadow of her French mother's flawless beauty and obsessive hunt for youth. When Belle's mother mysteriously dies, Belle flies to California to make arrangements. There she discovers a terrifying spa, La Maison de... Read More

Series narrator Robert Glenister is spot-on delivering Book 7 in this popular series. PI Cormoran Strike is thinner and almost alcohol-free, while his work partner, Robin, is romantically involved with a hunky cop. They're hired to search for a man being held against his will within the Universal Humanitarian Church, a religious cult whose members keep disappearing. Robin goes... Read More

David Levithan gives listeners another queer YA romance that's full of joy and the promise of a better world for LGBTQ youth. Ryan and Avery meet at a queer prom; they're a perfect match with their respective blue and pink hair. Narrator Jamie K. Brown's measured tone gives weight to the budding emotions between the boys. Listeners are invited along on their first 10 dates,... Read More

Nora Hunter gives voice to the thoughts and signs of Mary, a young, deaf teacher. Hunter's prim and proper tone matches the period language and enhances the early postcolonial setting of this audiobook. Mary's island community is unique because deafness is commonplace, and all residents use sign language. Mary yearns to travel to study at the famous deaf school in Paris, but... Read More

Listeners can explore the only mutiny ever to take place aboard a U.S. Navy ship that occurred in 1842. Three crew members were hanged aboard the training vessel, and the captain faced a court-martial when the brig returned to port. The mutiny and the subsequent trial are recounted in this work. Jacques Roy's narration carries the audiobook along with an even tone. He adds no... Read More

Author and chef Eric Adjepong brings his personal experience to his narration of his picture book. As a first-generation Ghanaian American, Kofi is embarrassed to bring a familial dish to his class's annual cultural potluck. What he eats at home is so different from his classmates' dishes. With guidance from his nanabarima (grandfather) Kofi learns the stories behind his own... Read More

After Elton John's songwriting collaborator delivers an introductory note with appealing sincerity, John Lee narrates Bernie Taupin's story with boyish charm and beguiling enthusiasm. His sensitivity to Taupin's perspectives and the rhythms of his literary writing is palpable and quite beautiful to hear. Taupin is an uncommon pop music guy--self-aware and humble. His literary... Read More

Karen Novack provides the glue that holds together the third futuristic adventure of Fergus Ferguson, international repo man. He and his tenacious sister, Isla, and various friends race across the earth collecting the scattered pieces of an ancient alien artifact before other powerful people accidentally open the multidimensional door to the ravenous, world-destroying alien... Read More

Aden Hakimi and Feodor Chin narrate this heartfelt second-chance romance about two 40-something men in small-town Florida. Hakimi portrays Eli, a trans man who returns to his much-disliked hometown for Christmas after a career implosion. While his pacing is sometimes a bit forced, he captures Eli's biting humor, resigned anger, and cautious bubbling hope. Chin shines as Nick,... Read More

Gerard Doyle performs this stand-alone dispatch from Mick Herron's cynical "spook street" world with such dry resignation that it is often laugh-out-loud funny, or would be if it weren't so believable. In his Slough House novels (and their TV adaptations, the riveting "Slow Horses") Herron is doing for MI-5 what Dickens did for Chancery and the Circumlocution Office. This novel... Read More

This useful and often moving audiobook is the latest manifestation of the author's lifelong interest in promoting curiosity in people--about themselves, others, and the world around them. His performance is a wonderful vehicle for his altruistic message and charming personal stories. His youthful narration is occasionally overly precise, but the combination of innocent devotion... Read More

Kimberly Farr narrates this creepy, mesmerizing story of Margaret and Hal, who purchase their dream home, a beautiful, haunted Victorian. Every September the walls drip blood, and the wailing specters wreak havoc, including admonitions about something in the basement. When Hal abruptly disappears, the couple's daughter, Katherine--oblivious to the house's mysteries--spearheads... Read More

Amanda Leigh Cobb has plenty of opportunity to show a range of emotions in this audiobook. Oraya, as a child, was adopted by a vampire king and was taught to fear everyone except her father. She enters a legendary tournament, which is designed to have one survivor. Forced to form an alliance; she chooses her fiercest competitor, Raihn, a ruthless vampire who is a threat to her... Read More

Tamika Katon-Donegal narrates a contemporary YA audiobook with a twist. Sisters Casey and Sutton have a contentious relationship that is fraught with arguments and mutual ill will. After Sutton disappears for weeks, Casey notices that when she returns, her mean-girl personality has changed. Casey soon realizes it isn't an act. Trying to figure out what happened to her sister,... Read More

Délé Ogundiran's immersive performance of this Niger-set fantasy captures both the nostalgia of coming of age and the awe of otherworldly exploration. Ejii Ugabe is equally horrified and enthralled when the Red Queen Jaa beheads the village chief--who is Ejii's father--in front of her. Freed from the patriarchal confines of her father's dictatorship, Ejii embarks on a quest to... Read More

Hillary Huber gives a top-shelf performance of this audiobook featuring some really twisted serial killers. Her narrative voice is pleasant and captures the scene and atmosphere of the moment. It also keeps the complicated plot moving. FBI Special Agent Caitlin Hendrix of the Behavioral Analysis Unit is charged with finding out how serial killer Efrem Judah Goode, now... Read More

Narrators Karissa Vacker, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, and Soneela Nankani breathe life into Habeck's novel, creating a unique and deeply emotional listening experience. The story follows newlyweds Lewis and Wren as they grapple with love amid an extraordinary circumstance: Lewis undergoes a rare transformation, becoming a great white shark while retaining his human consciousness.... Read More

Mark Sanderlin captures the locales and accents of Texas, Kansas, and California. Listeners meet Deaf 13-year-old Scott Schroeder as he is shifted, yet again, to another "home" when his dad jets away to work in Japan. Motherless Scott feels imprisoned by his grandmother, who criticizes him often. Sanderlin is most touching when Scott befriends an abandoned dog he names Runt.... Read More

The unofficial yet undisputed voice of all things Tolkien, Andy Serkis, revels in bringing the early history of High Elves, Dark Lords, and powerful jewels to life. J.R.R. Tolkien was first and foremost an academic, and his detailed and expansive fantasy universe was hugely influenced by larger-than-life Norse sagas, classic myths, and Old English chronicles. Serkis is... Read More

Ntozake Shange's posthumous unpublished collection of plays, poems, and essays is brought to life by a stellar ensemble of narrators. It begins with Tarana Burke's personal foreword on meeting Shange and leads into Imani Perry's soft-spoken narration. Her even tone encourages reflection by anyone who connects with Shange's work, which has impacted Black women for decades. Each... Read More

Ana Osoria lends her wispy, elegant narration to this romantic adventure. Rosalinda is a young witch who was exiled to Sinner's Isle. Now of age, she plans to escape before the Offering, an annual tradition that casts the resident women into the hands of nefarious male visitors. She meets a charming pirate, Mariano, and they work together to escape before the Offering ends.... Read More

This collection brings together the stories of the godlet hunter Sir Hereward and the papier-mâché sorcerer puppet Mister Fitz, plus one new story. Narrator David Linski's deft performance draws out the dry humor and undeniable bond between the pair during their skirmishes with bloodthirsty godlets and their disciples, a cannibalistic captain and her pirate crew, and a... Read More

Journalist Loren Grush's compelling history of the first women selected for NASA's astronaut corps is perfectly paired with Inés del Castillo's conversational and sensitively attuned narration. While these women's lives became inextricably bound through their historic service, this engaging audio production explores their individual experiences, both personal and professional.... Read More

Jonathan Swift's story of Gulliver, who visits lands of people much smaller and larger than he, pops up in Smil's arguments as the author explains possible scientific realities of size. Stephen Perring narrates in an academic tone laced with humor much like listeners would expect from THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY as Smil takes on topics like the Golden Ratio, a... Read More

Claire Keegan narrates her story about a Friday in the life of a Dublin office worker. Her deep voice, a trifle raspy, conveys its darkness of mood. An Irishman named Cathal ventures home to his flat, where no one welcomes him, not even his cat. This story depicts the endemic misogyny that can thwart relationships. Ingrained in Cathal is a stinginess of spirit. He was once... Read More

Terrance Hayes is a fine poet and a fine reader of his poetry--and this audiobook offers a lovely experience of both. Some of the poems here, particularly the "American sonnets," a formal variation of Hayes's invention, need a little more help than he can give in terms of identifying the structure of lines and stanzas, so those studying the works may want to have the printed... Read More

Almarie Guerra gently reinforces the line breaks of this novel in verse, but her emphasis is placed more strongly on its characters' emotions. Eleven-year-old Laura is sorting out a range of feelings as she copes with having been removed from her family. Guerra reflects Laura's discomfort and anger at being placed in the home of an aunt who never seemed to care about her... 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

This is a truly powerful narration by the versatile Daniel Henning. When Pete dies from suicide, his Gen X friends uncover his note. Then the former speech team members discover that Pete was cyberbullied by their old coach, Mr. Gold. As the team confronts him, the members recall hurtful memories and bond in their search for justice. Henning's voice offers the perfect blend of... Read More

Raphael Corkhill takes on this ghoulish version of Victorian London in which violet-eyed mediums commune with ghosts under the jurisdiction of the all-powerful male-led Royal Speaker Society. Silas Bell, who is transgender, would rather perform a hysterectomy on himself than be married off as a violet-eyed breeder. And he has studied enough of modern medicine to know how.... Read More

Imogen Wilde's impeccable narration will keep listeners glued to this lengthy audiobook. In 1730, seven-year-old Red and her father use the mysterious Square of Sevens to tell fortunes through playing cards. Before his death, Red's father entrusts her care to an upstanding gentleman, also passing along the coveted secret to the Square of Sevens. Wilde wraps listeners in Red's... Read More

With a captivating ensemble of narrators, this audiobook delivers an electrifying experience. Liv Anderson embodies the witty and determined Princess Kali, infusing her performance with delightful touches. Mysterious and heroic, Samara Naeymi lends depth and charisma to the mercenary Ian, ensuring every moment is enthralling. Mia Barron skillfully navigates the growth and... Read More

Natalie Naudus takes listeners for a ride in this socially minded sci-fi thriller. Cass, a teen pickpocket, becomes embroiled in the political machinations of the Imperial Court when the emperor is assassinated. When Cass is framed for his murder, she joins forces with another outsider, Amaris, who belongs to a group of revolutionary outlaws. Naudus's careful characterizations... Read More

Wil Wheaton narrates a hilarious send-up of villainy in contemporary culture. After he unexpectedly inherits his Uncle Jake's super-secret supervillain business, Charlie Fitzer's life changes in surprising ways. Wheaton captures the dread Charlie experiences as a Millennial who is divorced, underemployed, in an unstable housing situation, and rapidly approaching 40. Wheaton... Read More

Narrator Rachel Schwab delivers a cool performance as graduate student Laura, who is positive she doesn't want children. Schwab provides a calm, steady voice that is perfect for the intellectual, curious young woman. Her friend, Alina, confesses she wants a child. After seeking infertility treatments, Alina becomes pregnant with a baby that develops a devastating neurological... Read More

High school sweethearts have a second chance at love in this audio novella, narrated by Andrew Eiden and Luci Christian Bell. After they unexpectedly break up in high school, Hannah feels nothing but disdain for Ethan. But 15 years later, she calls him with a request: Return the sweater she was wearing the day he broke her heart. Through humorous mishaps and many phone calls,... Read More

Neil Hellegers and Rebecca Stern bring this comic send-up of a caper story cleverly to life. The humor works. They deliver their lines with restraint, keep the protagonists' wildest ideas plausible through tone and tempo, and propel the comic proceedings, set in Tel Aviv, with the right cadence. They straightforwardly deliver the hijinks, crisp dialogue, and wild thinking. Both... Read More

Listeners enter a battle of good vs evil as Wardens and Angels confront demons of every stripe. The characters are performed by a full cast. The heroine is the highly trained, self-assured, but often bratty 18-year-old Trinity, who is portrayed in a bright, sharp voice by narrator Tanja Milojevic. Trinity lives among and is protected by the Wardens, shape-shifting, winged... Read More

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

Samantha Tan masterfully narrates a complex story set in Malaya during the British and Japanese occupations. The novel centers around Cecily and her children, Abel, Jujube, and Jasmin, as they navigate life under colonial rule and later, under harsh Japanese control. Initially a spy against British rule, Cecily dreams of an "Asia for Asians." However, the grim reality of life... Read More

In the 1970s and early 1980s, journeyman reporter Terry Pratchett, not yet knighted, was slowly and slyly discovering his renowned satirical style, fantastic fantasy worlds, and love of wordplay under the pseudonym Patrick Kearns. In this collection of 20 humorous newspaper columns, celebrated voice talents, friends, and collaborators bring Pratchett's early work to life.... Read More

Sarah Bernstein performs her critically acclaimed novel in which an unnamed narrator moves to an unnamed northern country to become her brother's housekeeper after his wife leaves him. While her brother is figuring out his affairs, the woman attempts to make friends with the townspeople. But after a series of strange events--a dog's phantom pregnancy, diseased potatoes, the... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld's brisk narration sweeps listeners into an atmospheric setting that blends fantasy and reality. Maarleveld portrays the dissatisfaction and resentment of literature-loving Effy Sayre, whose gender is holding her back at architecture school. Maarleveld shows Effy's pride and passion when she's selected to design a manor home honoring her favorite writer, who... Read More

Carlotta Brentan's skill is remarkable. She conveys compassion, fear, and mounting dread simultaneously. A young couple set off on a boating expedition with only themselves as crew. During an unexpected storm they find themselves marooned on an abandoned island. Soon they are forced to carry out acts of banal violence, including the hunting of penguins to survive. Large cruise... Read More

Moira Quirk does an excellent job portraying a variety of senior citizens who are burdened with ailments in this mystery. Agnes Sharp opens Sunset Hall in rural England so she and other geriatrics can age together. When there's a murder next door, the Sunset Hall residents, who are hiding a body in a shed, sense an opportunity: They'll blame that death on the unknown killer.... Read More

Sharmila Devar and Pranshu Mishra tap into the emotional turmoil of a marriage on the rocks in a Hindu-inspired eco-fictional world in which humans fight for their lives amid devastating storms. As an archaeologist, Ahilya knows the importance of studying the remaining vestiges of human civilization. As a senior architect with the ability to control plants, her husband, Iravan,... Read More

The Sweet Spot is the name of this novel, a pub, and the feeling one gets when everything goes just right. Eight narrators bring multiple dimensions to this story about relationships, adultery, aging, parenting, and finding oneself in New York City. At the heart of the book is Lauren, an overworked mom who is trying to juggle her work as an artist while also being a good... Read More

Veteran NPR broadcaster Scott Simon explores the role of music in wartime propaganda in this entertaining, well-produced, and innovative audio program. Simon's grandfatherly voice guides listeners through a bizarre episode in WWII history, adding context with his own reflections about working in war zones and his tenuous connection to Tokyo Rose. More akin to a documentary or... Read More

What happens when Murderbot has a mental breakdown and can no longer reliably perform its duties? Kevin R. Free narrates the latest installment in the Murderbot Diaries. In a story taking place immediately after NETWORK EFFECT, Murderbot, ART, and their associated humans continue to assist colonists on a planet marked for corporate salvage. Free's depiction of Murderbot's... Read More

Amy McFadden returns listeners to Coyote Canyon, Montana. Ellen Truesdale and her father, Stewart, are estranged; their well-drilling companies are rivals. Despite her initial hostility, Ellen develops a relationship with Hendrix Durrant, the nephew of Stewart's second wife, as well as his business partner. When it comes to her father, Ellen tries to be tough--though McFadden... Read More

This audiobook takes a dramatic approach to the often unsung role of baseball's backup catchers, who may play only a few innings a week--or not at all. Narrator Justin Price gives them the emotion and drama they deserve, in part by slightly altering his voice for quotes. His delivery is a great example of how a narrator can use technique to capture the writing. Brown and... Read More

Aaron Neville's fans will look past the author's flat performance and be moved by the poignancy of the R&B singer's story. He's fully present as a narrator, and listeners will hear the joys of his musical achievements and the sorrows of his on-and-off struggles with street drugs. Between his 1966 chart-busting single, "Tell it Like It Is," and his 2014 Grammy Hall of Fame... Read More

Despite its somewhat overly dramatic title, this audiobook offers insights and fascinating tidbits about a variety of birds and their roles in human history. From ravens--first mentioned in the Book of Genesis--to Darwin's finches and their role in theories of evolution to emperor penguins and their future in the face of climate change, birds are a key indicator of our planet's... Read More

Narrator Sura Siu creates a youthful, determined voice for almost-seventh-grader Tessa--who is heading to Japan for the summer to visit her paternal grandparents after getting in trouble at her summer camp in San Francisco. Before leaving, Tessa was visited by a mysterious figure who gave her multiple warnings of imminent danger. With great zeal, Siu establishes unique voices... Read More

Almarie Guerra does a particularly good job of capturing the characters' feelings in this emotional story. She depicts Wendy's passion for science, as well as her reactions to her family's fear of friends disappearing because of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Guerra projects the nasty tones of cruel teasing and racially based bullying at Wendy's school for gifted... 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

From UNCLE TOM'S CABIN to the "Gettysburg Address," this concise and thought-provoking oral history of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery is told through the powerful words of those who were there. Each narrator delivers unique voices for the characters they portray. Moira Quirk accentuates Harriet Beecher Stowe's compassionate prose. Matthew Wolf finds the moral... Read More

Ariel Blake narrates this suspenseful thriller with a portrayal that illuminates its main character. Alina, a scholarship student at Edgewater Academy, has had her early entrance acceptance to Yale rescinded because of losing her temper. She's got just one opportunity to regain her place, and that's to compete in "The Finish," an invitation-only competition in which 12 girls... 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

Acclaimed author Jason Reynolds nimbly narrates his celebration of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes. Based on a picture of a real party in Hughes's honor at the Schomburg Center, this loving tribute is alive with rhythm. As Reynolds describes how Hughes excelled at making words dance to his tune, he makes his own words dance. He creates an irresistible feedback loop... Read More

Chris Ciulla performs a hilarious fantasy-adventure about a group of legendary warriors who reunite after a disastrous split. The Starbreakers are called back to duty after a prison break releases very bad criminals into the world. Ciulla delivers multiple accents and monstrous voices with gleeful skill, complementing the hilarity of the story. The larger-than-life characters... Read More

With enunciation so sharp it could carve a glass slipper, Zura Johnson deftly navigates the twists and turns of this fractured fairy tale based loosely upon "Cinderella." The story is told from the point of view of Ash, whom Johnson embodies with a posh British accent and an unassuming tone that shifts smoothly to biting wit. Johnson delivers an impressive array of male and... Read More

Listeners will feel all the action and angst of this young adult novel, narrated spectacularly by Jade Wheeler. Seventeen-year-old Ross Quest comes from a long line of internationally famous thieves. She is planning to leave "the life" when danger befalls her mother. Now she must join an international game of heists to save her. Complicating the game is the presence of her... Read More

Rebecca Lee portrays characters of various social classes as she narrates this Sapphic fantasy. When the queen dies, religious prophecy declares that 13-year-old Brianne is the new queen--although her bossy older sister, Elodie, believes Brianne is unfit to rule. In a Cockney-like accent, commoner Sabine wrestles with her "darkness," a depression-like affliction that speaks to... Read More

A full cast of talented narrators offers a rollicking rendition of Felicia Day's audio-only fantasy. Laurel always knew she was the Chosen One, fated to destroy the evil lord Tybus and save the magical realm. However, her plan to vanquish him was an epic failure, and now she is a pariah blamed for Tybus's victory and tyrannical rule. Everything changes when Kate, a Normie,... Read More

Four talented narrators voice a compelling story of teenagers who find community over a tumultuous week in their Canadian town. Jessie is excited to start a new job at Pink Mountain Pizza; narrator Aaliya Warbus's husky voice captures her seemingly flippant but truly thoughtful nature. Shaun Taylor-Corbett voices her co-worker Cam's dialogue with lighthearted humor but also... Read More

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

Ulka Simone Mohanty narrates a joyous multicultural celebration of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan as two women, Maryam Aziz and Anna Gibson, are stranded in scenic Snow Falls, Canada, during a snowstorm. Mohanty projects a festive sense of humor as multiple disasters threaten the travelers. While Maryam deals with her sister's wedding postponements and Anna examines her life... 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

Narrators Chris Nelson and Justis Bolding's heartwarming and comical performance will have listeners immersed in the unlikely relationship between interns Oliver and Tilly as they trek across Europe on a business trip with Tilly's sister's start-up. Bolding's voice is quick and bright when portraying Tilly, a creative whose boundless energy is often stifled by her family... Read More

This audiobook features parallel stories of several people from different walks of life in Athens, Georgia. A local pharmacy is the connection among them, but before we get there, we hear the characters' interesting backstories. Anna Caputo and Jane Oppenheimer do a masterful job of crafting individual voices that fit the personalities of each person. Each chapter focuses on a... Read More

Robert Petkoff delivers a masterful performance of this detailed history of the NEW YORK TIMES from 1976 to 2016. His narration is smooth and nuanced; his tempo and cadence move these fascinating inside stories of the "paper of record" forward. This is a gripping media story of how the Times survived scandals (Jason Blair and Judith Miller), the turnover of top editors, and,... Read More

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tracy K. Smith's narrating tone is soft and gentle as she recounts the many questions and frustrations she faces as she pieces together her lineage, examines insidious racism, and confronts oppression. The 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States extols the tenderness of her father, who achieved success in the military through his persistence and... Read More

Beloved actor Ed Begley Jr. narrates his own deeply confessional memoir about making mistakes in Hollywood, learning to find his center, and the joy of activism. From a young age, Begley found himself in a world of complicated family dynamics, substance abuse, and a unique friend group that both pulled him into and got him out of trouble. Inspired by decades of personal... Read More

Narrator Sunny Lu returns for the indomitable Mia Tang's fifth adventure. This time the 13-year-old goes to San Francisco for a winter-break journalism camp at a big-city newspaper. She, her mom, and her friends stay in Chinatown, embedding Mia and listeners in its rich history. Her racist editors have no interest in it, but, of course, Mia finds a way to make her voice heard.... Read More

Author and narrator Laura Belgray offers an unfiltered and amusing retrospective on her life and career while delivering valuable life lessons. Belgray's quick-paced, well-modulated voice brings to life cringe-worthy and refreshingly honest episodes with a self-deprecating charm that only she could provide. She candidly shares her desires--fitting in with the "cool kids," being... Read More

Kristi Burns narrates in a confident tone as she recounts author Andrea Lankford's strong record of finding missing hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Mexico to Canada. Lankford's participation in searches dates back to her days as a national park ranger. Burns re-creates the varying moods of search parties along the PCT, the elation of making progress during... Read More

Atta Otigba and Yetide Badaki give outstanding performances of this imagistic, nonlinear novel. They are grand guides to a world of art, history, and criticism. Badaki has precise diction and a lovely artistic tone with a slight Nigerian lilt. Otigba, also Nigerian, delivers his parts in a powerful and authoritative voice. The narrative switches from one to the other... Read More

An exemplary ensemble narrates a dramatic, insightful story. Debut author Harold Rogers's powerful novel is told from the points of view of three generations of a dysfunctional Brazilian family. Lies and betrayal threaten to tear the family apart--several of the characters are not sure of their paternity, for example. On the other hand, the family members' love keeps them... Read More

As Bethan Jones's study of the eerie "X-Files" world begins, Daniela Acitelli quickly rattles off a list of the memorabilia in Jones's office. The audiobook returns to it at the end, focusing on a Scully and Mulder cardboard standup and a wry mention of the attention it receives in Jones's Zoom meetings. Acitelli keeps up a fast pace as she narrates a series history that... Read More

Tanya Eby has given voice to hundreds of romance stories--and now it's her turn to give voice to her own story. Eby's trademark husky tones are pitch-perfect in the several steamy moments of her memoir. Listeners are treated to earnest and often hilarious slices of life in bite-size, conversational chapters about dating in one's late 40s after a bitter divorce--all the while... Read More

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

George Newbern provides a clear, thoughtful listening experience. Given the depth of the information provided, listeners benefit from his approach. Tabery's audiobook addresses the ascension of health care that is focused on individuals--or so called "personalized medicine." While the appeal of person-centered care is evident, the lack of focus on larger environmental forces is... Read More