ABOVE THE FIRE by Michael O'Donnell
Robert Fass captures the natural interplay between a father and son during an emotional struggle for survival. On a mountain excursion in New Hampshire, eight-year-old Tim and his father, Doug, are forced to seek refuge during an unidentified national catastrophe. Fass adds a subtle touch to the dialogue between Tim and Doug and demonstrates skill in his voicing of quiet moments of tenderness as well as the suspense of mounting threats.
DEVIL MAKES THREE by Ben Fountain
Ron Butler’s deft performance fully encompasses this expansive story of political and economic crisis in Haiti 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. Soon, Matt becomes embroiled in mounting conflict. Butler skillfully captures the complex, intelligent characters and their local and global accents. Listeners hungry for multilayered political drama will find Butler’s performance immensely satisfying.
ORANGES by John McPhee
AudioFile Golden Voice narrator Grover Gardner comfortably inhabits McPhee’s curious mind and captures the eloquence of his prose in this splendid rendition of his short classic. McPhee’s exploration of oranges ranges widely and digs deeply; he introduces the listener to magnates, researchers, growers, and pickers. Gardner’s singular voice and intelligent style were made to deliver McPhee.
INVITATION TO A BANQUET: The Story of Chinese Food by Fuchsia Dunlop
UK-born-and-bred author Fuchsia Dunlop adds zest to her ardent narration of her epicurean adventures around China and the history of Chinese food. She imparts wisdom and reverence for Chinese culture and China’s diverse cuisine, especially its infinite permutations. Her authentic Mandarin accent and satiny voice add to the lyrical descriptions and intricate history of mouthwatering dishes like steamed reeves shad and places like Dragon Well Village. Grab your chopsticks and get ready for a delectable performance.
DAY by Michael Cunningham
Julianne Moore performs this pandemic family saga told in three sections, each set on April 5 of a different year. Each section reveals more about the family members, weaving together the threads of their lives. Moore’s narration is engrossing and moves easily among the different characters’ points of view, giving each family member emotional depth and development. This moving family story will stay with listeners long after Moore has delivered the last word.
DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Risa Mei gives an energetic performance of this young adult romance. Kiki spends her days gaming online, where 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 her voice to fit each of the story’s characters. Her candor and spiritedness perfectly complement the rebellious Kiki. This is a great listen for Asian TV drama fans and young adult romance fanatics.
![DAUGHTER OF ASHES: Teresa Battaglia, Book 3 by Ilaria Tuti, Ekin Oklap [Trans.]](https://booktrib.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/242824.jpg "DAUGHTER OF ASHES: Teresa Battaglia, Book 3 by Ilaria Tuti, Ekin Oklap [Trans.]")
DAUGHTER OF ASHES: Teresa Battaglia, Book 3 by Ilaria Tuti, Ekin Oklap [Trans.]
Christina Moore gives an expert performance of this third captivating episode featuring Italian police superintendent Teresa Bataglia, who is secretly dealing with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and fears her policing days are over. But she’s drawn out of semi-retirement to interview an imprisoned serial killer. Moore enhances Teresa’s complex personality, subtly providing layers of insight. Her Italian pronunciations are spot-on while her range of voices offers easily identifiable characters. A wonderfully well-written whodunit with a stellar performance by Moore.
FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston
Listeners will be convinced there’s a full cast delivering this fast-paced thriller, but it’s just one narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, masterfully voicing all the characters. Evie Porter has many names and personas she has adopted for her work for the mysterious Mr. Smith. The narrative goes back and forth in time, revealing the successful and disastrous assignments that have landed her in a small town in Louisiana, where she’s building a loving relationship with her next target. The twists and turns will keep listeners glued to their earbuds all the way to the satisfying conclusion.
FRONTIER by Grace Curtis
Aven Shore does it again, this time offering a deft, versatile, immersive performance of a genre-bending queer sci-fi Western. The Stranger’s ship crashes on a cold and broken Earth; thus begins her long journey to reunite with her love. Each chapter puts another obstacle in her path—a train car murder mystery, a quest to deliver a drug-toting tortoise, a run-in with a seasoned con woman. Despite the Stranger’s mysterious background, Shore’s powerful narration makes listeners feel like they know—have always known—the depths of this nameless traveler.
WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS: Secrets of the Nile, Book 1 by Isabel Ibañez
Ana Osorio’s narration has hints of a Spanish accent, which reflect the Argentinian-Bolivian background of 19-year-old Inez Olivera. Osorio stresses Inez’s emotions and her longing for adventure. Her parents’ deaths propel her journey to Egypt, where Osorio gently describes the lavishness of its nineteenth-century hotels and antiquities. She infuses her narration with Inez’s feelings as she discovers her attraction to Whit, who works for her uncle. Periodically, Ahmed Hamad delivers Whit’s chapters, adding clarity to his viewpoints.
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