Each month, AudioFile Magazine reviewers and editors handpick the best new audiobooks for BookTrib readers. Enjoy this month’s top-rated audiobooks!
IN THE FAMILY WAY by Laney Katz Becker
Read by Laney Katz Becker, Gilli Messer, Laura Horowitz, Laci Morgan | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Harper Audio | 8.5 hrs.]
This talented cast enlivens Becker’s engrossing historical novel, bringing 1965 pre-Roe v. Wade America to life, a time when women had little independence, voice, or financial power. Gilli Messer projects Lily’s frustration as she yearns for more than a predictable suburban life. Laura Horowitz captures Rose’s pride in her teaching career and her growing confidence. Laci Morgan shines as confused, clueless pregnant teenager Betsy.
THE WOMAN IN SUITE 11 by Ruth Ware
Read by Imogen Church
[Simon & Schuster Audio | 15.25 hrs.]
Imogen Church demonstrates her talent for superb characterization and spot-on timing as she delivers this twisty mystery. When reporter Lo Blacklock travels to Switzerland to attend the opening of a luxury hotel, her trip turns out to be the beginning of sinister events that build on mysteries in her past. Church depicts Lo as an everywoman who is caught in extraordinary circumstances, and she swiftly moves between accents, drawing the listener into the dialogue among the larger-than-life characters.
DAIKON by Samuel Hawley
Read by Brian Nishii | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Simon & Schuster Audio | 11.5 hrs.]
Brian Nishii is the perfect narrator for this outstanding alternate history. A U.S. bomber carrying an atomic bomb heads for Japan in early August 1945, but the B-29 crashes and the undetonated bomb falls into the hands of the Japanese. Nishii’s performance is riveting as he delivers the events that follow. The Japanese don’t know what the bomb resembling a “big, black daikon radish” is, but they soon discover it contains uranium. Irresistible storytelling and Nishii’s exceptional performance offer superb listening.
BAKING ACROSS AMERICA: A Vintage Recipe Road Trip by B. Dylan Hollis
Read by B. Dylan Hollis | AudioFile Earphones Award
[DK | 3.5 hrs.]
Social media personality B. Dylan Hollis narrates his audiobook on American desserts with charm and charisma—making his storytelling almost sweeter than the treats. Hollis takes listeners on a culinary trip around the country, discussing nostalgic and iconic desserts from all over. Listeners will hear the joy in Hollis’s voice as he shares his humorous observations, along with his appreciation for the diverse culinary traditions of the U.S.
ODYSSEY: The Greek Myths Reimagined; Mythos, Book 4 by Stephen Fry
Read by Stephen Fry | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Chronicle Books | 10.5 hrs.]
Author and narrator Stephen Fry’s fourth and final installment of his Greek Myths series showcases, yet again, his virtuoso storytelling skills. His literary retelling of Homer’s tale of Odysseus’s arduous journey home from the Trojan War stays true to themes of heroism, home, and the human condition while infusing the narrative with a modern wit and accessibility. There’s vivid detail and emotional depth in Fry’s dramatic use of varied voices to portray the gods, monsters, and mortals.
AVENGING ANGELS: TENDERFOOT: Avenging Angels, Book 3 by Kristen Ashley
Read by Stella Bloom | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Audible, Inc. | 10.25 hrs.]
Stella Bloom makes this Avenging Angels installment a must-listen. As Harlow and her group of stylish crime fighters investigate an unscrupulous online dater, her romance with investigator Javier Montoya heats up. Bloom shifts from romance to familial abuse with equal sensitivity, ensuring that Ashley’s lighthearted adventure series stays grounded in realistic contemporary issues.
RETURN TO SENDER: Walt Longmire, Book 21 by Craig Johnson
Read by George Guidall | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Recorded Books | 9 hrs.]
Golden Voice George Guidall masterfully draws listeners into Sheriff Walt Longmire’s search for a missing woman in the dramatic landscape of Wyoming’s Red Desert. Guidall’s ability to modulate his voice to seamlessly differentiate male and female characters enhances the twists and turns of the story. Craig Johnson’s vivid descriptions are matched by Guidall’s pitch-perfect pacing and tone, both of which transport listeners to remarkable corners of America they may never visit.
THE FRENCH WINEMAKER'S DAUGHTER by Loretta Ellsworth
Read by Caroline Hewitt | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Harper Audio | 8.25 hrs.]
Caroline Hewitt’s superb narration takes listeners on a powerfully emotional journey in this dual-timeline audiobook. In 1942, as German officers arrive at their French countryside home, 7-year-old Martine is hidden in a cabinet by her Jewish father along with a valuable bottle of wine. In 1990, 33-year-old Charlotte, an American pilot living in Paris, is given a bottle of wine that turns out to have a false label, leading her on a search for the owner.
A MURDER FOR MISS HORTENSE by Mel Pennant
Read by Debra Michaels | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Random House Audio | 11.75 hrs.]
Debra Michaels’s lively performance takes full advantage of the descriptive scenes and energetic dialogue in this novel. Miss Hortense, who immigrated to the UK from Jamaica in 1960, was the backbone of her suburban Birmingham neighborhood. But tragedy struck, with the community deeply affected by several murders. Now, thirty years later, another murder has occurred, and Miss Hortense must use her skills to save the day. Michaels’s facility with Caribbean accents—along with her cadence, humor, and ability to capture the wide-ranging personalities—enhance this thoughtful cozy.
SOUTH OF NOWHERE: Colter Shaw, Book 5 by Jeffery Deaver
Read by Kaleo Griffith | AudioFile Earphones Award
[Penguin Audio | 11.75 hrs.]
In this gripping audiobook, Colter Shaw—tracker and survivalist—is hired to locate a missing family trapped after a levee collapses during a catastrophic storm. As he searches, Shaw uncovers a sinister plot that suggests the disaster may not have been entirely natural. Narrator Kaleo Griffith delivers a masterful performance, giving each character a distinct and memorable voice. He especially shines in portraying Shaw—cocky, insightful, and sharp—with subtle vocal nuances that convey both intellect and emotion.
