Each month, AudioFile Magazine reviewers and editors handpick the best new audiobooks for BookTrib readers. Find your next fall favorite among this month’s spooky good listens!
Awake: A Memoir by Jen Hatmaker
Read by Jen Hatmaker | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Simon & Schuster Audio | 7.5 hrs.]
Anyone who has watched Hatmaker’s videos or listened to her podcasts will immediately recognize her distinctive speaking style in this memoir recounting her journey from the trauma of divorce and evangelicalism to the healing and rebuilding of her life. Her cadence is energetic, and listeners will be captivated by her combination of gravity and humor overlaid with forthright sincerity. It all adds up to a candid, earnest and engaging portrayal of her life.
The Winds from Further West by Alexander McCall Smith
Read by James Rottger | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Recorded Books | 7.75 hrs.]
James Rottger presents this timely story with verve, his Scots accents reflecting its varied locales. When thoughtful Dr. Neil Anderson is misunderstood by a student, a serious complaint results. After he discovers his girlfriend’s unfaithfulness, he retreats to the Isle of Mull. Life in Mull strongly contrasts with Edinburgh. Rottger sparkles at showcasing the voices of the island’s locals. Because the characters are natural storytellers, audio is a must.
A Silence in Belgrave Square: Below Stairs, Book 8 by Jennifer Ashley
Read by Anne-Marie Piazza | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Dreamscape | 9 hrs.]
Anne-Marie Piazza gives a spirited performance in this historical mystery. She embodies the spunkiness of Kat Holloway, a cook and mother who turns amateur sleuth to save her beau, a police informant for Scotland Yard. When he goes undercover, working for a viscount in Belgrave Square, Holloway uses her cunning to keep him safe. Piazza has a delightful British accent, and her skillful range of voices for secondary characters adds humor and tension to this fast-paced story, making for a listening experience that is both charming and intriguing.
Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman
Read by Patti Murin |AudioFile Earphones Award
[Penguin Audio | 12 hrs.]
When book conservator Tory Van Dyne comes face-to-face with the ghost of Agatha Christie, hilarity and hijinks make this audiobook a must-listen. Because the afterlife is too dull for the Queen of Crime, Christie is given special dispensation to return to Earth to solve a murder. Narrator Patti Murin is especially strong at portraying Christie. Lots of references to Christie novels are scattered throughout. A quick and delightful listen, thanks to Chapman’s witty plot and Murin’s outstanding performance.
Parallel Lines by Edward St. Aubyn
Read by Benedict Cumberbatch | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Random House Audio | 7.5 hrs.]
Renowned British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who won an Earphones Award for his narration of St. Aubyn’s novel Double Blind, delivers a terrific performance of the author’s latest tale. Rather like an updated Shakespeare comedy on steroids, the tale of love, loss, family and survival involves separated fraternal twins, mental illness, troubled therapists and environmental catastrophe. It’s heartfelt, occasionally head-spinning and intensely witty. Hang on and enjoy.
Zomromcom by Olivia Dade
Read by Joy Nash | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Penguin Audio | 12.25 hrs.]
Trust narrator Joy Nash to make the zombie apocalypse a barrel of laughs. Edie Brandstrup is constantly on the lookout for zombies. Sure enough, some escape from a nearby prison. Rushing to save her neighbors, Edie first heads for Gaston “Max” Boucher, a brainless surfer dude who turns out to be a French vampire with hidden depths. Nash delivers a must-listen romantic adventure with heart and humor.
Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer by Dylan Mulvaney
Read by Dylan Mulvaney | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Recorded Books | 6.25 hrs.]
This spirited memoir is narrated by its author, the talented, lovely actress Dylan Mulvaney. Her robust and delightful performance fully conjures the colorful life she’s lived — from her first budding aspirations for the stage to the inspiring woman she is today. Of course, the audiobook heavily focuses on her gender transition later in life and the negative feedback she’s received at times. But Mulvaney’s positive outlook and the small words of encouragement she received from fans will have listeners beaming in appreciation, too.
The Build-A-Boyfriend Project by Mason Deaver
Read by Logan Rozos | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Harper Audio | 10 hrs.]
Logan Rozos expertly narrates a heartfelt queer romance. Eli, an editorial assistant who wants to be a writer, has sworn off romance. Finally, his friends set him up on a date with handsome but awkward Peter — which turns out to be a bust. Now Eli’s boss wants him to continue seeing Peter and to write a series of articles about it. Rozos gives Eli a skeptical tone and balances that with Peter’s seemingly aloof personality, creating a good contrast for listeners.
The Gossip Columnist's Daughter by Peter Orner
Read by Robert Fass | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Hachette Audio | 8 hrs.]
Robert Fass’s performance gives this utterly believable novel the life it deserves. Fictional writer Jed Rosenthal is playing detective — he’s curious about why his grandparents and their closest friends suddenly ended a lifelong friendship some years ago. Tracing the two families’ histories unveils a series of real events. Fass delivers the novel’s realistic dialogue with conviction. His impressive voicings make conversations sound just the way people talk.
Amity by Nathan Harris
Read by André Santana, Angel Pean | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Hachette Audio | 12.25 hrs.]
Narrators André Santana and Angel Pean add emotional depth to this moving story. In the aftermath of the Civil War, emancipated siblings Coleman and June cannot escape the Harper family of Baton Rouge. Mr. Harper, seeking his fortune in a Mexican silver mine, forces June to accompany him. Crossing the harsh Mexican desert and longing to reconnect, the siblings face the best and worst of humanity. Santana and Pean excel in distinguishing each character and fully immersing listeners in this gripping story. Their performances elevate the novel to unforgettable heights.
