April 1, 2016 - May 2, 2016
Debbie from Camillus, NY
Rochelle from Arlington, TN
Vikki Cabral
It Was Me All Along by Andie Mitchell
Narrator Name: Andie Mitchell
Rating the Audio Performance
Only the author could tell this story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I'm going to start looking up healthy recipes and start cooking.
Ricki
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Narrator Name: Tim Gerard Reynolds
Rating the Audio Performance
Aside from sounding just a tad too old for the protagonist, Reynolds did a great job conveying the various differences in the classes. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Even though almost every element seems to be borrowed from another book (or video game), this is still a fascinating novel with fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat action.
Diane
Lord Jim by Joesph Conrad
Narrator Name: Joss Ackland
Rating the Audio Performance
Perfect voice, intense and interesting. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Interesting but difficult to follow, old fashioned style of syntax.
Nora
Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich
Narrator Name: Lorelei King
Rating the Audio Performance
I think she does a good job -- I forget it is only one person talking! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I think she may be coming to the end of her stories about Stephanie Plum. However, I still laugh at the ridiculous messes she and Lulu get themselves into.
Tessa BC
The Right Attitude to Rain by Alexander McCall Smith
Narrator Name: Hilary Neville
Rating the Audio Performance
Hilary Neville does a fine job performing the audiobook. She has good pacing and I love the way she voices Isabel. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is the third installment in the series featuring philosopher Isabel Dalhousie. What I really like about this series are Isabel’s philosophical musings, and this one is no exception. The central ethical dilemma seems to be when to keep one’s mouth shut vs. when to tell all one knows.
Linda
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
Narrator Name: David McCullough
Rating the Audio Performance
Well done. Especially enjoyed because he was the author and narrator. I reserve audiobooks for my time spent walking and normally lean towards historical nonfiction. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I learned so much about this time period and thoroughly enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at the Wright brothers. I became quite emotional at the end of the book.
Pat
A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold
Narrator Name: Sue Klebold
Rating the Audio Performance
The author's reading is poignant, believable, and heartfelt! Sue's narration is unforgettable! I would love to contact her to let her know what a profound effect her narrating her difficult story had on me! I will never forget her emotions as she read her own tragic story! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Sue not only convince me that she was unaware of her son's plans, but she is able to identify incidents that she should have recognized that may have averted her son's participation in the tragedy and possibly averting the tragedy all together. Dealing with that guilt is horrendous for her, but she dedicates her life to studying underlying causes of such actions and communicating these findings to others with a special focus on parents of teens with depression issues. The best audiobook I have listened to EVER!
Peggy
Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
Narrator Name: Mark Deakins
Rating the Audio Performance
Very well done. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I did not think that this was one of Grisham's best efforts. I did enjoy the title character.
Alison
The Godfather Multivoice Presentation by Mario Puzo
Narrator Name: Dan Price, Lorna Johnson, Don Stroup, Terry Bozeman, Richard Lavin, Amy Sunshine, Larry Brandenburg, Rose Nadolsky, and others
Rating the Audio Performance
At first, the main narrator's style bothered me as he seemed a little robotic and unfeeling, but as the book went on I realized this is a great approach to the subject matter of THE GODFATHER. The Corleone's keep themselves aloof from personal nuances in their business dealings and this is represented in the narrator's voice. I really liked the multivoice narration, especially the voice of Tom Hagen -- he epitomizes the "voice of reason". Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Obviously, the Corleone's are mafia and live outside conventional rules and are pretty barbaric. Yet, the beauty in this book is that Mario Puzo made me like them because they are loyal to their family, no matter what. They have some horrible qualities but just enough redeeming ones that you sympathize with them. I was very glad to spend some time "observing" the world of the Corleone's for a time.
Kristen
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
Narrator Name: Jenny Lawson
Rating the Audio Performance
I love Jenny Lawson's books, but I love her reading them even better! She gives a wonderful and very authentic performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I think the subject of mental illness is rarely handled as brutally as this, but it should be more often. And it should always be this funny and heartbreaking.
Beverlee
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
Narrator Name: Robert Glenister
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator held my attention through every minute of this production! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Best of the series!!! We get to hear more background about our favorite characters, and the new story doesn't disappoint!
Laura
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
Narrator Name: Will Damron and Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
Narrators were good. I recognized Julia Whelan as the female narrator of GONE GIRL. I enjoyed the narrators more than the book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Ugh. Hard to like the characters. Hard to like the book. I will admit that the Furies part had some interesting twists. It just seemed like the writer tried to cram in all the fancy words, metaphors and poetry she could in one book. I really did NOT like the play within the story. Painful. Thankful for fast forward.
Mike Gist
Buried Secrets by Joseph Finder
Narrator Name: Holter Graham
Rating the Audio Performance
Very good. The narrator can make or break a great book. And Holter Graham does any book justice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Nick Heller is back and he is trying to locate an old family friend's daughter who has been kidnapped and been buried alive. The story has many twists and was a very captivating book.
Karen
The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki
Narrator Name: Madeleine Maby
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator captured the emotions and frustrations of the characters. It was also very helpful to know the pronunciations of the Austrian and Hungarian royalty. The accents can throw you off. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
THE ACCIDENTAL EMPRESS is an excellent example of young person being put into a position she is not ready for. It also stresses knowing the rules before you play the game. Sisi (SEE see) is too young to handle the complicated royal role she has to play. She also is devastated by court behavior that seems acceptable to everyone else. She eventually learns and influences others for the greater good, but suffered for many years.
Linda
Any Human Heart by William Boyd
Narrator Name: Simon Vance
Rating the Audio Performance
Simon Vance is the perfect narrator for this book. His voice even 'ages' as the character does. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This could be called the life of Logan Gonzago Mountstuart. It is the story of his life from his birth in February, 1906 until his death in October, 1991. Through highs and lows, marriages, affairs, war and death Boyd makes him real. I didn't always like the Mountstuart conducted himself, but I was never willing to give up on him.
Trudy
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Narrator Name: George Newbern
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator did a great job! I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if I had read it. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A MAN CALLED OVE was a charmer. I really enjoyed listening to it. Lots of smiles and chuckles. Ove is a curmudgeon -- something like the character Clint Eastwood played in Gran Torino but set in Scandinavia. He is set in his ways of thinking with many routines with no room in his heart for others...until new neighbors move in who continually involve him in their lives in spite of his not wanting anything to do with them. A really great book. Different from the books I normally read, and I have already recommended it to many of my friends. A book that will stay with you.
Patricia
A Dedicated Man by Peter Robinson
Narrator Name: James Langton
Rating the Audio Performance
I enjoy this narrator. He does a good job at distinguishing between characters without going too overboard. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Boy, this book was tedious! The pace was entirely too slow for my taste. I felt that way with the first book in the series but wanted to give it another try, so I decided to read the second one. I won't be continuing the series. The book mainly consisted of Inspector Banks visiting the same 4-5 characters and asking them questions. Over and over again. There was very little actual action (when there was, those were really the only parts of the book I enjoyed). And seriously, how many times do we have to read about him fiddling with his pipe?! Not a fan.
Melanie S.
The Widow by Fiona Barton
Narrator Name: Hannah Curtis, Nicholas Guy Smith, Steve West, Jayne Entwistle and Mandy Williams
Rating the Audio Performance
Each of the five narrators in the cast did a superb job. Not a weak performance in the bunch. Flawless deliveries. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3.5 stars. The book did hold my interest. However, I found the timeline/chronology very disjointed and confusing. Not a true thriller; it was much more of a character study...and there were some real "characters". The ending was very abrupt with little surprise or reveal, which was very disappointing.
Richard N B
Carrie by Stephen King
Narrator Name: Sissy Spacek
Rating the Audio Performance
Sissy Spacek does a marvelous job performing the audio version. She is such a talented performer. She made the story flow despite the style King used in this novel. Of course, Spacek performed the movie role and is forever linked to this novel, so that added to the listening experience for me, even though not all of the novel is told in Carrie’s voice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I first read this back when it was a new book in 1974. I was fascinated and horrified. I had forgotten King’s use of “quotes” from fictitious articles, news reports, etc. interspersed throughout the work. It was not a problem as I was listening to the audio, but when I picked up the paperback to finish the last 70 or so pages, that style seemed jarring to me. I have to admit that re-reading it now, I can’t help but picture images from the film.
Ann Vitale
The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson
Narrator Name: Nathan Osgood
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator is very clear and does not have the habit, as many narrators do, of dropping his voice so I have to keep adjusting volume or backtracking. Nathan Osgood is so good at reading and capturing the subtle humor (sometimes not so subtle) of Bryson that I forget it isn't Bryson himself narrating. I have listened to other Bryson books that he himself narrated. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It is typical Bryson with great information and really good sarcastic humor at times. I gave it four stars because of the overuse of some superlatives, and in places he becomes an overweening Anglophile, putting down other cultures, particularly the United States. At times when he does this he is misinformed about certain U.S. customs since he left his natal country.
Mary
Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly
Narrator Name: Bill O'Reilly
Rating the Audio Performance
Bill O'Reilly is such a good speaker. He has the perfect cadence for reading his book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Many of us remember when John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. Bill O'Reilly's book makes you feel you are a part of that history. Actually, this is the second time I have listened to it...it's that excellent. The research for this book gives you tidbits of information that make it all so real and interesting.
Deb
The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
Narrator Name: Ann Marie Lee, Tara Sands, Julia Whelan, Cassandra Campbell, and others
Rating the Audio Performance
Narrated by a cast of outstanding performers. The story is mostly told in the voice of a 12-year-old girl (Ann Marie Lee) with many laugh-out-loud moments countered by poignant ones. I am a fan also of performers Julia Whelan, Cassandra Campbell, and Kirby Heybourne. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Told by 12-year-old Willa who learns long-held family secrets about her beloved aunt Jottie and the love of her life, her father, whom she thinks is a bootlegger, a 'writer' sent (indirectly) by her Senator father to document the town's history, and some colorful characters in the town West Virginia town of Macedonia. Found myself sitting in my car until the end of an audio track! Just had to know that chapter would end. Which then made me want to hurry to pick up the next track as soon as I could! Loved it.
Meg
The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
Narrator Name: Claire Corbett and Penny Rawlins
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrators were really good. However, when the book switched from past to present it took a while to become comfortable with the change of accents. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The book and plot were great. It is a perfect book for a book club.
Karen
No Shred of Evidence by Charles Todd
Narrator Name: Simon Prebble
Rating the Audio Performance
Simon Prebble's performance enhances the readers enjoyment of the book. His voice is a good fit for the story. He draws the reader into the story so that it feels like the reader is a spectator watching the action. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Four young women take out the family dinghy for a short ride on the river. They see a man in a sinking dinghy calling for help. The dinghy sinks, and they try to pull him in to their boat, finally succeeding with the help of a neighbor. Amazingly, the neighbor then accuses the young women of trying to kill the man. Scotland Yard is called in, and Ian Rutledge is sent to help with the investigation. It is a much more complicated case than it seemed. The man dies, more murders and personal attacks occur, and Ian investigates each lead trying to clear the young ladies and bring the crafty killer to justice. It is quite a complicated story.
Lori
Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck
Narrator Name: Gary Sinise
Rating the Audio Performance
I hadn't noticed until now that it was Gary Sinise reading the book, but he did a wonderful job. I felt like he sounded like what I imagine Steinbeck would have sounded like, and his pronunciation and accent were great. I felt he captured the author's emotions as he read. I have nothing but positive criticism of the reading. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Although the book was written over 50 years ago, most of the book did not feel dated to me. My husband listened to part of it with me and he enjoyed it as much as I did. Some of it reminded us of Mark Twain. I enjoyed hearing about his experiences on the road as well as about the dog, Charley. I hated reading the parts about his travels in the South with all the racist people he encountered, but, sadly, it was true for the time.
Lori
The Lake House by Kate Morton
Narrator Name: Caroline Lee
Rating the Audio Performance
Caroline Lee has a pleasant, crisp voice that easily changes with the characters who are speaking. She makes the British accents so easy to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
THE LAKE HOUSE is a story of a modern-day detective who is on leave from an emotionally difficult case. She visits her grandfather and stumbles upon a deserted house that compels her to learn about the family that used to live there. The plot jumps from past to present, easily engaging the listener. Interesting parallels occur between the past inhabitants of the house and the heroine.
Alice
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Narrator Name: Zach Appelman
Rating the Audio Performance
It was an incredible listening experience, listening to the German and French names and places. Loved it!! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Great historical account in a fictional story of the characters.
Olga
The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman
Narrator Name: Gloria Reuben, Tina Benko, and Santini Fontana
Rating the Audio Performance
Not sure whether having several readers added to or distracted from the story in this case. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I happen to love Camille Pissaro, both for his art and for his amazing resilience in view of tremendous tragedies in his life. And am a fan of Alice Hoffman. And of St. Thomas island - going to be there again in 2 weeks! So I had to read, er, listen to this book. Enjoyed it a lot, albeit I am losing patience with Hoffman's brand of magical realism. A bit childish by now. But to each their own. I really enjoyed the intertwining family stories of several generations and several families, Jews, blacks, former and current slaves, French expats, mysteries of birth and destiny, even though many of the stories were fiction or fictionalized accounts.
Evelyn
The Widow by Fiona Barton
Narrator Name: Hannah Curtis, Nicholas Guy Smith, Steve West, Jayne Entwistle and Mandy Williams
Rating the Audio Performance
Great cast! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Book kept you guessing all the way through.
Toni
Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon
Narrator Name: Davina Porter
Rating the Audio Performance
Davina's performance added an extra layer that made it more like watching a movie. She brought the characters to life more than I have previously experienced by just reading this series. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I loved how I got sucked right back into the life of the Frasers and their friends and family. It is also fun to see how seamlessly Diana blends different eras together.
Deborah
The Lake House by Kate Morton
Narrator Name: Caroline Lee
Rating the Audio Performance
Narrator was excellent. Dramatic and engaging. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Interesting shifting from the 1930s to 2003. Great character development and mystery!
Deborah
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
Narrator Name: Caroline Lee
Rating the Audio Performance
As always, Caroline Lee is brilliant. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Good story with many secrets. The plot had twists and turns.
Deborah
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
Narrator Name: Jenna Lamia
Rating the Audio Performance
Wonderful performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Fascinating historical biography of a misunderstood woman, Zelda, the wife of novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Elizabeth
The Travelers by Chris Pavone
Narrator Name: Paul Michael
Rating the Audio Performance
The audio performance is well done and the voice is good. The story is more of the problem. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
While the premise here was interesting, sadly, I felt like it turned into a cookie-cutter-type story. It was easy to figure out what was coming. The story moves from one character to the next, and each chapter seems to end in a manufactured cliff hanger. Will, the main character, actually irritated me a bit, for some reason. However, I noted that other reviewers seemed to really enjoy the story, so perhaps I just am not part of the intended audience. This book was given to me free from Sounding Off and I was asked to give an impartial review, so this is it.
Debbis
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson
Narrator Name: Scott Brick
Rating the Audio Performance
The performance was very good. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Too many technical details. I tried reading it but didn't enjoy it. Decided to listen to it instead. I think my husband with a background in engineering would love all the details and research Erik Larson used in writing the book.
Ruth Ann
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
Narrator Name: Caroline Lee
Rating the Audio Performance
I should have done some research on the book before I started it. I was surprised to hear the Australian accent. It was understandable when I learned the author was Australian. After the initial surprise, the occasional differences in Australian English and American English were delightful. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was my first Liane Moriarty novel, but it won't be my last. The plot twists kept me wishing I had more time to listen.
Diane
Don't Know Much About the American Presidents by Kenneth C. Davis
Narrator Name: Arthur Morey, Kirby Heybourne, and Mark Bramhall
Rating the Audio Performance
Good, crisp delivery. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Lots of facts, but presented in a way that keeps one listening.
Linda
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
Narrator Name: Juliet Stevenson
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator kept my interest and attention, even during passages that could possibly have been edited out - it is a long book on audio but I find myself willing to listen to a story where I might have skimmed it if reading the book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A must read for all lovers of learning. This book has it all, history, botany, spiritualism, intellectual pursuits of all types woven into the history of our country in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century.
Vikki Cabral
Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell, Tom Taylorson and Jorjeana Marie
Rating the Audio Performance
Good performance; added to the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Didn't hate it, but didn't love it either. Predictable.
Donna
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
Narrator Name: Rebecca Lowman, Abigail Revasch, Kathe Mazur, and Mark Deakins
Rating the Audio Performance
I love with audiobooks have more than one narrator. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Liked the book. Typical Jodi Picoult ending always throws you for a loop.
Debbie
The Accidental Empress by Alison Pataki
Narrator Name: Madeleine Maby
Rating the Audio Performance
The narration is wonderful. Ms. Maby's voice is pitch-perfect with each of the characters. The story of Sisi comes alive through her telling. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is a wonderful story of the beloved Sisi, empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. The research that went into this novel is first-rate, and Ms. Pataki's ability to tell a story is wonderful. The novel moves along at an easy pace, and you become caught up in the troubles that are besetting not only Sisi but the Austrian empire as well.
Virginia
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
Narrator Name: Edward Herrmann
Rating the Audio Performance
A magnificent book, very well-read. Herrmann's reading is clear and poignant. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A fantastic book about the Washington crew team that won gold in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. The storyline focuses particularly on the struggles of one team member, Joe Rantz. Rantz triumphs over many personal adversities, and the team triumphs as well. An inspiring and heartwarming story! I have even listened to it a second time!
Patricia
A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
Narrator Name: Ralph Cosham
Rating the Audio Performance
I really like Ralph Cosham for the Inspector Gamache series. He really has become Gamache for me and it just wouldn't be the same listening to the series with someone else reading it. In fact, when I read one of the books instead of listening to it, I now find that I hear his voice in my head as I'm reading! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Another great book in the series! Louise Penny is so good at giving you so many suspects that it seems impossible to figure out who the killer is before the big reveal! With every book I feel determined that I'm going to figure it out, but so far haven't been able to. I think that's a testament to good writing! Will definitely be continuing on with the series.
Esther
Out Came The Sun by Mariel Hemingway
Narrator Name: Mariel Hemingway
Rating the Audio Performance
Mariel's narration was significant to this book. Even though it has been years since I have seen any of her movies, hearing her voice again helped me connect. It made the span of years since watching her movies, seem not so distant. This was her personal story...she knew the parts in which to accentuate narration.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I rate personal stories high, especially because of the courage it takes to "put it all out there". Especially when overcoming adversity. I related to her, first, because I am a fan of her grandfather's, so that already drew me to her. Second, because I understand what it is like to have mental illness in the family. Her story was intriguing, with details ranging from acting, to weaving through family and personal issues, relationships, and parenthood. Mixed in were famous author quotes of personal meaning, including her grandfather's.
Mel
All Dressed in White by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke
Narrator Name: Jan Maxwell
Rating the Audio Performance
Narrator was awesome. It was very easy to tell the characters apart, and I did not want to stop listening until it was done. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is Book # 2 in a new series called Under Suspicion. Lots of twists and turns, the suspense builds up until the dramatic conclusion.
Heather
Room by Emma Donoghue
Narrator Name: Michal Friedman, Ellen Archer, Robert Petkoff and Suzanne Toren
Rating the Audio Performance
There are four narrators for the story. The main narrator is heard for most of the story as he reading as Jack, the main character who is five years old. At first, I was concerned that the child's voice was going to get on my nerves, but after a while it was no longer an issue. I thought that all of the narrators did a wonderful job. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
What I liked most about the story was that it was told from the child's point of view, which was refreshing. What really stood out for me was the contrast between how the child felt about the room compared with how his mother felt about the room. Overall, I thought the story was very interesting and compelling.
Michael
Six Years by Harlan Coben
Narrator Name: Scott Brick
Rating the Audio Performance
I thought the book was very well read. The characters were distinct and the pacing was perfect. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I really enjoyed this book. The mystery was intriguing (no spoilers) and I wanted to know what happened! My only thought was, "If it turns out that THIS is how it happened, I will be mad" but I was way off. Thank God! My first Harlan Coben book - I am ready for another one!
Francisca E B
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
Narrator Name: Davina Porter
Rating the Audio Performance
Davina Porter is spectacular narrating the audio version of this series. Her facility with voices makes me believe she IS Murtagh, Raymond, Claire, Fergus, the Duke of Sandringham, Jenny, Jamie, et al. Her pacing is perfect, adding to the tension in dangerous scenes, slowing to a thoughtful pace when Claire or Jamie are thinking through their plans. Brava. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
2.5 stars. Book Two in the Outlander series continues the story of Jamie and Claire. I was bored by much of this. The plotting seemed very uneven to me. Several interesting characters were introduced in the Paris setting, but they simply disappeared in the second half of the book. The political “intrigue” wasn’t intriguing to me.
Judi
After You by Jojo Moyes
Narrator Name: Anna Acton
Rating the Audio Performance
Ms. Acton has a pleasing, engaging voice that makes listening to this recording very easy. She adds just the right amount of inflection to make the telling real. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This book is a wonderful followup to ME BEFORE YOU. After such an engaging story, the sequel can sometimes be a let down, but not so in this case.
Rochelle
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Narrator Name: Polly Stone
Rating the Audio Performance
I thought she read it very well, even with the French and German accents! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I absolutely loved this book! I don't normally read books set in this time period, but I actually really enjoyed it! It was very interesting and the story was very moving. It brought me to tears.
Ann
The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
Narrator Name: Mia Barron
Rating the Audio Performance
I thought it was hard to keep track of characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I loved the premise and was excited to hear the book. Somehow the idea of the book was better than the actual story.
Betsy
The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro
Narrator Name: Xe Sands
Rating the Audio Performance
I first discovered Xe Sands wonderful narration in MY ACCIDENTAL JIHAD, and was so happy to find her narrating this fascinating book, a recent selection of my book club. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The plot begins with the early 2000s art heist from the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum in Boston. It centers on a fictional Degas piece from the heist that is copied. The novel changes time periods between Belle SG's last 1890s collecting in Europe and relationship with Degas, the main character's experience painting a winning canvas for a man who claimed it as his own, and then her copying what might be a stolen canvas (she decides it is really a forgery), and involvement with her lover who got her involved, museum officials, the police, FBI and others as the mystery of a copy, a forgery, and a real Degas gets unraveled.
Penelope
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Narrator Name: Orlagh Cassidy and Bahni Turpin
Rating the Audio Performance
Ms. Cassidy and Ms. Turpin narrated the two main characters in the first person, each doing a chapter at a time. Their performance was so engaging that I felt I was listening to the characters speak to me in person. These two characters had accents - Ms. Cassidy's character was from Ireland and had come to America as a child. Ms. Turpin's character was a slave. Their accents were believable and appropriate. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This book was the story of two females, one white and one black, who were both owned by the master of a large house and property in Virginia during the 1800s. The character development in the book is my favorite feature. I felt invested in every character and knew them well. The story is about the interaction of the slaves and the free; the different classes of the slaves (house workers vs. field workers), the social morays of the period, and the love, tragedies, and injustices of the cast of characters.
Janet
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Narrator Name: George Newbern
Rating the Audio Performance
George Newbern's narration of the audiobook A MAN CALLED OVE was like a fine-tuned
violin played by a virtuoso. Many times with audiobooks, I wonder if I would prefer to have read this rather than heard it. Not so, with A MAN CALLED OVE. I think that I may have read a chapter and closed the book. (Not something I regularly do.) Newbern made every character and situation come alive. My husband and I loved it. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A MAN CALLED OVER makes you laugh and cry and grimace, sometimes separately, other
times in the same sentence or paragraph. The loss of Ove's wife prompts Ove to end his own. Sonia, his wife, was his reason to live, through the joy she met every day, every challenge, and every heartbreak with. The story begins in present day and goes back and forth unfolding the events of the protagonists of the story. It shows what can happen when we open up to others, in Ove's case, unwillingly, but the amazing results when we do. Loved it. A book, in my mind, meant to be heard and shared.
Eve Phipps
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
Narrator Name: Fiona Hardingham
Rating the Audio Performance
Wonderfully narrated, beautiful characterization -- I am always amazed when narrator's get the voices so right. Some of the best narration I have heard. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Story had a Downton Abbey/Upstairs Downstairs feel with a touch of Jane Austin. An interesting WWI era theme that had a lot of relevance for our times.
Karen
The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel
Narrator Name: Mark Bramhall
Rating the Audio Performance
Mark Bramhall makes this an enjoyable book to listen to. His delivery enhances the listener's ability to follow the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This story is about three generations of a family from the high mountains of Portugal. They live in Portugal in a very poor area, emigrate to Canada for a better life and then return to their original village. The listener learns about the early days in Portugal, life in Canada and life after they return as well as the actual nature of the "high mountains." The story is both entertaining and informative.
Lori
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom
Narrator Name: Roger McGuinn, Ingrid Michaelson, John Pizzarelli, Paul Stanley, George Guidall, Mike Hodge, Robin Miles, Christian Baskous, Ton
Rating the Audio Performance
This was the best audiobook I've listened to! I loved listening to the different narrators. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was my favorite book so far this year. I read it for a book club selection, and everyone agreed that it was by far one of the best we've read within the past two years!
Susan
Infinite Home by Kathleen Alcott
Narrator Name: Christa Lewis
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator failed differ voices adequately for the characters. Fortunately, the text identified the speaker so it did not cause confusion. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Wonderful character development and lyrical writing. It is not primarily plot-driven, although it does move toward a resolution for these tenants and their landlady who is suffering from dementia. This is not a happy book but ends with the authentic best option from a list of worsts.
Eve
China Dolls by Lisa See
Narrator Name: Jodi Long
Rating the Audio Performance
This book was written from the perspective of three different narrators, and I feel the narrator did them all justice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I love Lisa See and have enjoyed the previous books I have read by this author such as SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN and SHANGHAI GIRLS, but I do think this book had a bit of predictability that I did not get with the others. So, while enjoyable, not a 4 or 5 star book. Worthwhile, though, yes.
Deborah
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
Narrator Name: Caroline Lee
Rating the Audio Performance
The British accent was perfect and set the tone for this book. I could picture each character in the book as I was listening to the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is a story about family, secrets, friendship, love, war and, most importantly, second chances. All of us have secrets in our past that we hope will never be revealed, and when they are the consequences are often not what we expect. Kate Morton does a great job at weaving the many storylines together and moving back and forth between the present and the years just before WWII up to 1941 and the terrible effects that the blitz had on the lives of people who lived in and near London. There was a twist at the end, which I was not expecting, but that made so much sense, and the ending of the story was perfect.
Janice
Hell is Empty by Craig Johnson
Narrator Name: George Guidall
Rating the Audio Performance
George Guidall has just the right voice for the Walt Longmire series. He has the rough edged old tough cowboy sound that lends such credibility to these stories. I love the combination of the writing of Craig Johnson and Guidall's narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Another great addition to the Walt Longmire series, this one is probably my favorite to date. Walt is attempting to track an escaped federal prisoner, a psychopathic and sadistic killer. Through blinding snow and blizzard winds, in the highest altitudes of a wilderness in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, Walt narrowly escapes death time after time. He is assisted, and rescued, several times not by his usual sidekick Henry Standing Bear, but Virgil White Buffalo, a 7-and-a-half foot Crow Indian. Virgil is there, then he's not, then back again, then seems to have died himself, only to reappear when Walt needs him most. Walt is as always a crusty and wise character.
Gail
We Are Afghan Women: Voices of Hope by George W. Bush Institute and Laura Bush
Narrator Name: Pam Ward
Rating the Audio Performance
I found that the narrator enunciated almost too clearly and seemed to inappropriately place emphasis. Perhaps there should have been several readers who could alternate so the tone of voice would occasionally change. Perhaps an American reader is simply not as in tune to the emotional connotations of the testimonies as a native Afghan would have been. I think it would have been better if Afghan women, with the appropriate accent, had narrated the book. The stories would have felt more authentic, more realistic, and the stress on certain words to emphasize feelings and events would have been more in tune with the individual's testimony. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Innovative women in Afghanistan are working, starting businesses, attempting to bring change to Afghanistan, but they face hardship, danger, and family opposition. They need support from at home and abroad. Family often had a great influence on their decisions. Those that did not live in backward ways, the more progressive Muslims, allowed and encouraged their family to grow and thrive, but many still do lack the ability to move on into the modern world. Overall, I found the presentations enlightening, poignant and sad. The suffering and hardship, the abuse of women, the lack of law and order, the demolition of homes seemed so daunting, it is a wonder anyone would return. It will be a difficult march forward, but they project hope.
Stacey
The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan
Narrator Name: Kimberly Farr
Rating the Audio Performance
I loved the narration on this one, which can make or break an audiobook. Great job on the accents of the various characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Loved the way the book flipped between the different years and told the story of so many different characters. The characters were intriguing.
Phyllis
Mrs. Roosevelt's Confidante by Susan Elia MacNeal
Narrator Name: Susan Duerden
Rating the Audio Performance
Absolutely wonderful narration!! Susan Duerden uses different vocal inflections to read all the parts including the male characters. She does a fabulous job! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I did not realize that this is part of the "Maggie Hope Series." I enjoyed it not only for the mystery but for the description of the times during December, 1941 when Winston Churchill visited America and stayed at the White House. Eleanor's role in civil rights and American politics at that time were as much a part of the novel as the mystery. Excellent historical fiction with actual speeches given by FDR and Churchill during his visit. Highly recommended if you want a different take on WWII from the U.S.A. Perspective.
Gail
The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma
Narrator Name: Chukwudie Iwuji
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator, because he was a native Nigerian, spoke with the appropriate accent and stress, making the story so much more realistic and authentic. Whether he described the locust season or the violent scenes, it was real. He understood the culture and the moment, and so he read it perfectly to impart the appropriate meaning and message. The reader was a participant rather than an observer because of his skill. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Benjamin, the youngest brother in the family, narrates the story. He gives his family members nicknames describing their personalities. His mother was a falconer, and in order of the brothers' ages: Ikenna was a sparrow, Boja was a fungus and Obembe was a moth. The book is filled with symbolism, legends and superstitions to illustrate the rhythm of their lives, lives governed by the politics of the day. The brothers react to fear, misperceptions and childish notions about the need for retribution when sins are committed. Ben recalls a story about eagles and eaglets, which is referred to as the Cain and Abel syndrome, a syndrome that plays an important role in the book.
Patricia
Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Narrator Name: David Colacci
Rating the Audio Performance
This narration was pretty good. Most of the characters were pretty good (except for the one man who had a Scottish accent - that was dreadful.) Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I enjoyed this book. I had seen the movie years ago, not realizing it was based upon a book. I'd like to read the next book in the series, so I decided to read this one first. It was enjoyable. The changes they made for the movie actually made the story better - I was surprised they weren't in the original story. But I'll definitely be reading the next book in the Pendergast series.
Vicki
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
Narrator Name: Katharine McEwan
Rating the Audio Performance
The narration of this book was a perfect addition to the story. With McEwan's smooth and melodic tone as she spoke the unfamiliar African names and words, the story was brought to life in glowing color. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A very involving fictionalized account of a little known but memorable women.
Peggy
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
Narrator Name: Katharine McEwan
Rating the Audio Performance
Enjoyed listening to the audio performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very disappointing. Was expecting to learn more about her life; instead got a very thin section.
Kai
Breach by K. I. Lynn
Narrator Name: Rachel Orlin
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator, Rachel Orlin, does an excellent job in narrating the story. I love the voice that she gave to Lilah and the dirty sex talk voice to Nathan. I do hope Rachel Orlin comes back as the narrator to finish Lilah and Nathan's story. It is going to be a long wait since I'd really love to hear the narrator, Rachel Orlin, again. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
BREACH starts with Delilah "Lilah" Palmer starting her work day and flipping off a man who was watching her from his car in the parking lot. It was a shock to her to discover that this man was going to be her co-worker in her small office. Even when her boss introduced him as Nathan Thorne, his name doesn't mean anything to her, even though rumors have indicated him as a federal prosecutor and his reputation as a lady's man. Unfortunately, Lilah and Nathan are able to see the person beneath their facades while everybody does not. This makes their attraction to each other undeniable. They have to keep their relationship secret from their firm and co-workers.
Tessa B C
Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
Narrator Name: Kathleen Whilhoite
Rating the Audio Performance
Kathleen Whilhoite does a fantastic job performing the audio. She is dead-pan, enthusiastic, calm and serene, and totally hysterical. She’s not very good at accents – both her Indian Mandula and Aussie Nick failed to come off with any authenticity – but on the whole she did a great job. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I’m not a huge fan of satire and it took me a while to get into the spirit of this book. But once I surrendered to the craziness I found myself enjoying the ride. The book is structured as a series of journal entries, emails, letters, etc., jumping from one character’s point of view to another. It’s great fun to read some of these missives, but at times the interruption in the story arc is just distracting and even boring.
Barbara
Ladies' Night by Mary Kay Andrews
Narrator Name: Kathleen McInerney
Rating the Audio Performance
Great narration. From children to old men, to airheads, to lawyers, I heard them all through the narrator. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Lots of fun. Fluff book. I listened to this on a long trip to and from Ichigan. It all turned out the way I wanted it to. The bad guys got theirs.
Jan
What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan
Narrator Name: Penelope Rawlins and Dugald Bruce-Lockhart
Rating the Audio Performance
Okay, neither awful nor outstanding. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I love psychological thrillers and dysfunctional family dramas, but this one was simply too slow to keep my interest. The story alternates between the mother's POV, the "emotional part" (ad nauseam) vs. the police investigation/media/blog POV. The problem lies in that it was all plodding and tiresome. Varying POVs can be an interesting plot device, but in this case there was no tension or suspense and it seemed to go on forever with nothing interesting happening.
Melanie S.
The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
Narrator Name: Barrie Kreinik and Therese Plummer
Rating the Audio Performance
Both of the performers on this audio were excellent and gave flawless performances of their respective characters. Wonderful audiobook! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I enjoyed this heartfelt story of two 30-somethings in an assisted living facility, both diagnosed with types of early-onset dementia. As the two youngest residents among the elderly they form a special bond, but there are many obstacles and issues that arise affecting their relationship. I felt that some of the issues these residents faced could have been handled differently in the story, so that annoyed me somewhat, but overall it is a good women's fiction choice, and as stated above, the audio performances were excellent.
Gail
Fortune Smiles by Adam Johnson
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campell, W. Morgan Shepherd, Jonathan McClain, Will Damron, Dominic Hoffman, Greg Chun
Rating the Audio Performance
FORTUNE SMILES presents six short stories, each is narrated by a different voice which lends authenticity to the whole. Each of the narrators on the audio does an admirable job regarding accent, tone and emphasis appropriate for their particular story. Because there are six different voices, the characters take on a shape and personality that the listener can identify with and understand. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
All of the stories contain an element of humor, but that humor is sometimes dark and very subtle. In each story, someone is suffering or has caused suffering. In each story, someone is trying to come to terms with issues that confront them. Some are more successful than others. Johnson shows us how each of us views life through a different lens. Each of us makes a choice that leads us in one direction or another. Johnson has gotten into the minds of his characters expertly, even as a male in the mind of a female breast cancer sufferer. His insight is detailed and perceptive. Will fortune smile on any of the characters in these well-crafted stories? It is up to the reader to decide.
Peggy
Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner
Narrator Name: Alana Kerr Collins
Rating the Audio Performance
Alana was very easy to listen to. Always wait to see if I like the narration. It can make or break a book. They got this right. Thank you. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Loved everything about this book. I love historical fiction and this was an absolutely wonderful book. Loved the storyline and the narration. I enjoyed STARS OVER SUNSET BOULEVARD and can't wait to read A FALL OF MARIGOLDS.
Beverly
The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Narrator Name: Barrie Kreinik
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator was so good relating how two Jewish families lived in one house. Her expressions
made it seem so real. Really enjoyed it. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The story covered several years. One big surprise. It kept me listening with everything the book offered.
Jean
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
Narrator Name: Shonda Rhimes
Rating the Audio Performance
I loved Shonda's story. Inspirational, funny, and warm! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Definitely a 5-star story. I highly recommend this audiobook.
Patricia
The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais
Narrator Name: Patrick G. Lawlor
Rating the Audio Performance
The worst part about this audio was the sound quality itself. It was slightly muffled, which made it very hard to understand at times - no matter how much I turned up the volume. (I looked online and saw this same complaint from other reviewers, so it wasn't just my copy.) My second complaint is with the narrator himself. He just has a slightly nasal and high-pitched voice. Not at all what I would imagine for the character. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was my first time reading Robert Crais and I really enjoyed it! The storyline was entertaining throughout. The characters are well written and likeable. I'll definitely be reading the next in the series.
Nadine
The Kiss Dare by Dana Burkey
Narrator Name: Amy Hilburn
Rating the Audio Performance
I received an audio version from the member giveaway on LibraryThing for review and I'm glad I did. Narrator Amy Hilburn does an excellent job for the 1 hour 14 minute length that can easily be listened to in one sitting or in many sittings as there are natural plot breaks when it would be easy to stop and pick up the storyline. The pacing and expression of the narration is very appropriate for young teens who may not have listened to lots of audiobooks before. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I received an audio version from the member giveaway on Librarything for review and I'm glad I did. This is a realistic, relatable and romantically cute story appropriate for sixth through eighth graders. It's a clean read so one does not have to worry about exposure to violence, drugs, or coarse language.
Cherry
Two If by Sea by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Narrator Name: George Newbern
Rating the Audio Performance
My first book read by George Newbern kept me in the moment throughout the saga. He is an narrator I will definitely listen to again as he was totally in control and never overbearing. The elements of the story were deftly read without being overly emotional. I was able to immerse myself into the characters without thought as to who or what was being said. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Expatriate Frank Mercy's life is transform one Christmas Eve with the loss of his wife and her family in a horrendous Australian tsunami. Tumultuous days follow with him rescuing survivors, ending with the rescue of a small child who latches onto him. As he begins to restructure his life, the child clings to him and Frank keeps the boy as his own. Thus begins a story crossing continents filled with twist and turns that keep the reader guessing. Who is the boy? Why do strange things keep happening? I'll let you learn the rest of the story. It's well worth the read.
Diane
Sex Changes by Christine Benvenuto
Narrator Name: Renee Raudman
Rating the Audio Performance
Compelling! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Fascinating and sad.
Lynn
The Last Time I Saw Her by Karen Robards
Narrator Name: Ann Marie Lee
Rating the Audio Performance
I thought the audio was very well done with the narrator changing easily from men to women's voices. I loved the gravely voice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I liked it but not my favorite in this series about Dr. Charlotte Stone.
Julie Bockstiegel
The Verdict by Nick Stone
Narrator Name: David Thorpe
Rating the Audio Performance
I thought the narrator did a great job of voicing all of the characters (male and female) in this book, and clearly differentiated the various characters. I listen to a lot of audiobooks which feature British accents, and I enjoyed the "working class" accent in this story. I think I enjoyed listening to the story more than I would have enjoyed the hardcover version. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It was a good page-turner, although I thought a few things were ignored or glossed over. Still, it was very enjoyable.
Sally
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith
Narrator Name: Lisette Lecat
Rating the Audio Performance
Her South African sound and pronunciation is wonderful to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is the 16th book in the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. The storyline is simple and enjoyable.
Linda
Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda Hirshman
Narrator Name: Andrea Gallo
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent job. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I love history and back stories and this book does not disappoint. The backgrounds of each of these respected judges had a lot to do with the decisions they made (make).
Phyllis
Little Scarlet by Walter Mosley
Narrator Name: Michael Boatman
Rating the Audio Performance
I really enjoyed Mr. Boatman's narration who very ably told the story and enacted all the parts with his vocal inflection of all the characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I had always wanted to read a Walter Mosley book and found this at my library used book sale. I was very happy to learn his writing style and appreciated his storyline through Ezekiel Rawlins. Highly recommended.
Francisca E B
The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection by Alexander McCall Smith
Narrator Name: Lisette Lecat
Rating the Audio Performance
Lisette Lecat is nothing short of spectacular performing the audio. She really brings this cast of characters alive. I feel as if I’ve been sitting on the veranda with Mma Ramotswe, enjoying some tea and drinking in the beauty that is Botswana and its people. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Book Thirteen in the series featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe, her associate Mma Grace Makutsi, and their husbands, friends and clients. I think I’ll never get tired of this gentle cozy series, where the mysteries are usually of the financial or political kind, and not typically murders. Reading one of these books is simply a balm for my soul.
Linda
Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
Narrator Name: Jim Gaffigan
Rating the Audio Performance
Jim Gaffigan's delivery seems lethargic, struggling to get through because he's so tired. That is part of his comic genius. He does a variety of voices, representing his father, mother and others when telling his stories. I don't think this material would be as hilarious without Gaffigan's inimitable delivery. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
An entire book that lampoons Gaffigan's (and American's) relationship with food. I think everyone will find something in this book that hits a little too close to home. In my opinion, this is another jewel in Gaffigan's comedic crown.
Debbie
Sisi: Empress on Her Own by Allison Pataki
Narrator Name: Elizabeth Knowelden
Rating the Audio Performance
I did not think that Ms. Knowelden's British accent was the right accent for reading this book. Ms. Maby, who was the narrator of the first book, THE ACCIDENTAL EMPRESS, was a better narrator. That being said, however, Ms. Knowelden did a good job setting the mood for the story and depicting the voices and personalities of the various characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I loved this sequel to THE ACCIDENTAL EMPRESS. SISI, EMPRESS ON HER OWN completes the story of the amazing life of Empress Elizabeth of Austria-Hungary. She was a larger-than-life figure, full of energy, married at 15 to the emperor, who was the exact opposite of her. The two of them had a troubled relationship but they never stopped loving each other in their own way. The two books together span the last half of the 19th century, and the stories bring the cities of Vienna and Budapest to life. If you have not visited those two cities, you will want to do so as soon as possible.
Linda
The Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik
Narrator Name: Andi Arndt
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent job, good pace and excellent phrasing. Easily understood. I don't recall listening to a book narrated by her before, but she could become a favorite. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
An homage to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Not much new here, but still good listening.
Phyllis
The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
Narrator Name: Paul Boehmer
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator does an excellent job pacing the reading and adding different voices for the various characters. He is very pleasing to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This describes the life of David from the Old Testament, as you have never known him before. It shows the human side of this legendary hero and King.
Patricia
The King of Lies by John Hart
Narrator Name: David Chandler
Rating the Audio Performance
I liked this narrator, but I have to give the performance a luke-warm review simply due to the editing. All throughout the book you hear too much of the narrator's swallowing and mouth noises. I find this is especially true when you listen via headphones (which I usually am). I thought maybe it was just me, but when I read through reviews on Audible, many people said the same thing. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was my first time reading John Hart and I absolutely loved it! The story really kept me engrossed all throughout the book, (and it's not short, so that's saying something.) There were times I was listening to the book and had to finally force myself to stop to go to bed, etc. The characters are well written (both the ones you like and the ones you hate.) And his writing style is really nice to read. I'll definitely be reading his other books.
Crystal
Breakdown: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman
Narrator Name: John Rubinstein
Rating the Audio Performance
John Rubinstein does a great job, as always. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Alex begins looking for information about a young boy, former patient of Alex's, after his mother is found to be homeless.
Crystal
Gambit: A Nero Wolfe Mystery by Rex Stout
Narrator Name: Michael Prichard
Rating the Audio Performance
Michael Prichard does another great job narrating. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Another great mystery featuring Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe.
Gerry Durisin
The Submission by Amy Waldman
Narrator Name: Bernadette Dunne
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent in every way! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Outstanding evocation of the complex and varied reactions when the designer of a proposed 9/11 monument is revealed to be a Muslim. Thought-provoking and always engaging.
Gerry Durisin
Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson
Narrator Name: Bernadette Dunne
Rating the Audio Performance
Very engaging reader. I've listened to two books in a row read by Ms. Dunne, and find her very expressive and clear, and easy to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This engaging biography focuses as much on the Kennedy family as on Rosemary, the "hidden" daughter, and ascribes to their experiences with Rosemary the dedication shown by several of her siblings, as well as nieces and nephews, to research and services to assist the disabled.
Gerry Durisin
The Pocket Wife by Susan Crawford
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
Good reader! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Listened to this book on Hoopla courtesy of my local library. Though it dragged at times and character development was limited, it held my interest throughout and managed to keep me guessing about "whodunit" until the guilty party was revealed.
Tessa B C
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Narrator Name: Bernadette Dunne
Rating the Audio Performance
Dunne’s performance of the audio version was probably a factor in my enjoyment of the book. She gave the author’s voice a humanity that I may not have recognized on the page. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I am not a great fan of these kinds of navel-gazing self-realization memoirs, and I wasn’t expecting much from this one. Perhaps it was the connection with her mother or the way that she obviously did grow to adulthood on the trail, but I liked this more than I expected to.
Melanie S.
Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline
Narrator Name: George Newbern
Rating the Audio Performance
George Newbern is a consummate narrator and did a great job conveying the various characters in the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3.5 stars. This was just an okay book for me, a mediocre thriller-type story. I did appreciate the twist at the end, which I did not expect, but the author's take on "anxiety" disorders didn't ring true. However, she did do a decent job weaving in the OCD component. Perhaps this just isn't my favorite genre...
Crystal
Death of a Hussy: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery by M.C. Beaton
Narrator Name: Shaun Grindell
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator is passable but sometimes hard to understand. Graeme Malcolm, who has narrated other books in the series, is much better. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
DEATH OF A HUSSY is a good cozy mystery. It's an easy and enjoyable read. 
