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Chilling listens for every taste, from crime fiction laced with folkloric and cosmic terrors to epic postapocalyptic gore.
Exhilarating listens, from classic high fantasy to thrilling tales of intrigue in extraterrestrial settings.
Audio horror, fantasy, mystery, social sciences, and more. This winter’s audiobook stars offer auditory delights across a wide range of subjects and genres.
Winter wanders in with a new resonance, ushering before it shorter days, celebrations, and moments of reflection. This issue of Audio in Depth, both in print and online, matches those moods with listens full of comfort and joy.
PREMIUM
Business Casual
Though there’s some unevenness between the narrators, fans of the series’ previous audiobooks should enjoy this satisfying series finale.
PREMIUM
What a Fool Believes: A Memoir
An underdog tale that is a must-listen for all jazz-rock and soul fans.
PREMIUM
Swift River
Chambers’s poignant debut captivates. Listeners will be invested in Diamond’s situation, cheering her on as she becomes herself.
An urgent, funny, and relatable collection, interweaving keen observations of modern crises with personal reflections on family, mental health, and grace. Recommended for fans of R. Eric Thomas’s Congratulations, the Best Is Over!
PREMIUM
Grown Women
A resonant and reflective story, highly recommended for fans of literary fiction in the vein of Diane Marie Brown’s Black Candle Women.
PREMIUM
A Talent for Murder
Thrilling action and suspense combined with complex, well-developed characters make for a book that listeners won’t want to put down. Swanson’s fans will be shocked, horrified, and utterly captivated.
Fans of Golden Age mysteries should really enjoy this modern, metafictional take on the locked-room mystery.
PREMIUM
Wordhunter
This fast-paced novel is recommended for anyone wanting an engaging plot full of excitement and its fair share of drama.
PREMIUM
The Knockout Artist
This is Crews at his finest. An excellent recommendation for literary fiction readers and those who enjoy grim humor, thought-provoking characters, and compelling plots. Suggest to those who enjoyed Michael Farris Smith’s The Fighter.
Examining three generations of Vega family lore, this audiobook cleverly juxtaposes four narrative voices through moments of Mexican political turmoil, COVID days in Los Angeles, and post-2020 upheaval to weave an unforgettable must-listen. Fans of Luis Alberto Urrea’s The House of Broken Angels won’t want to miss this.
A complex, atmospheric mystery that will keep listeners engaged, searching for clues, and thinking about the plight of others. This is an essential purchase for most libraries.
PREMIUM
The Gilded Crown
With strong voice acting, this dark fantasy debut is sure to be well-received by fans of books like Adalyn Grace’s “Belladonna” trilogy. Listeners will be eager for more from this talented writer.
PREMIUM
Chaos Terminal
An unpredictable and uproarious tale, sure to please both mystery and sci-fi fans.
Despite the somewhat uneven presentation, this audio resonates with conviction. Recommended for those who enjoyed Jessi Hempel’s The Family Outing.
PREMIUM
Knife River
A slow-paced, fully realized novel with complex familial relationships at its core. Recommended for fans of Tana French and Jane Harper.
An audiobook to recommend to all thriller listeners and those who enjoy twisty podcast-style audios such as L.J. Dorn’s The Anatomy of Desire.
PREMIUM
The Codger and the Sparrow
An appealing story of friendship, family, age, loss, and redemption.
PREMIUM
The Fiancé Dilemma
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a slow-burn small-town rom-com with a Runaway Bride vibe. Recommended for fans of Olivia Dade, Lynn Painter, and Simone Soltani.
Listeners touched by Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures but wanting more mystery will be enchanted.
For fans of New England family dramas like those by Ann Patchett and Ethan Joella, and listeners looking for a mystery with a summer setting and plot depth.
PREMIUM
The Night the River Wept
This sardonic Southern mystery about an amateur cold-case investigation is an optional purchase for most libraries. May appeal to fans of Delia Owens and William Kent Krueger.
PREMIUM
Toxic Prey
Contagion, ecoterrorism, and a relentlessly ticking clock make this latest installment in Sandford’s series well worth a listen.
PREMIUM
The Life Impossible
Some fans of Haig’s The Midnight Library may be perplexed at the fantastical turns in his new novel, but others will find this gracefully narrated audio a balm. Expect many holds and consider purchasing multiple copies.
PREMIUM
Lady Macbeth
This woman-centered portrait of Shakespeare’s complicated Lady Macbeth should appeal to listeners who love to hear the other side of the story.
PREMIUM
The Silence Factory
Queer love unfulfilled doesn’t preclude an optimistic ending in this resonant Victorian gothic.
PREMIUM
Strange Folk
Dyer’s multigenerational tale is ideal for Appalachian fiction fans and readers of magical realism seeking atmospheric new settings.
PREMIUM
That Night in the Library
Bodies Bodies Bodies dressed up like The Secret History, but lacking the punch or social critique of either.
PREMIUM
Murder Most Owl
This entertaining cozy has many appeal points, including animals, small-town life, and a bit of magic. Listeners will be enchanted and excited for the next installation in Fox’s promising series.
A surprisingly interesting take on a subject matter that has been examined many times before. The audio’s ability to add so much more experience of the subject matter makes listening to the book a much better experience than reading it. This excellent addition is a fun lecture that changes the way listeners will look at (and hear) animals.
PREMIUM
Maria
An excellent exploration of one of the world’s most beloved stepmothers, highly recommended for historical fiction collections everywhere.
PREMIUM
Eruption
A captivating collaboration between two thriller greats, this cinematic action-adventure novel does not disappoint.
PREMIUM
A World of Hurt
Mejia’s (To Catch a Storm) latest suspense will be a hit with those who enjoy stories of crime-solving.
PREMIUM
The Scarlet Throne
Listeners who enjoy immersing themselves in richly described fantastical worlds will devour this. Share with fans of Ann Leckie’s The Raven Tower or Erika Johansen’s The Queen of the Tearling.
PREMIUM
The Truth According to Ember
A much-needed and welcome addition to contemporary romance library collections, which have had a decided lack of Indigenous-authored stories until now.
PREMIUM
Hard To Kill
Patterson and Lupica’s tense series second delivers, with plenty of fast-paced action, well-rounded characters, and a twisty murder case. Series fans will be pleased.
Though this is the first in a series, its characters are so unlikable that listeners might not clamor for more. A supplementary purchase for libraries looking for a new mystery series with a bit of a twist.
PREMIUM
Better by Far
A deeply emotional and satisfyingly layered story about different types of loss and the power to heal.
Fans of authors such as Mazey Eddings will enjoy this solid rom-com starring a complex and layered main character.
PREMIUM
Welcome to Glorious Tuga
Though this is an affecting story with charming characters and a vibrant setting, the mismatched accents make the audio a secondary purchase.
PREMIUM
The Murders in Great Diddling
An absorbing audiobook perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz’s Susan Ryeland mysteries. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Echoes of Memory
While Quinn’s tale is an excellent thriller-mystery on an unusual subject with only minor writing issues, the narration lacks the feel of the characters and their experiences and falls flat.
PREMIUM
A Daughter of Fair Verona
An effervescent alternate ending to Romeo and Juliet. Dodd’s (Point Last Seen) amusing Shakespearean mystery will have fans of any genre chuckling.
PREMIUM
The Worst Duke in London
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a fun, fast-paced Victorian take on 10 Things I Hate About You (and thereby The Taming of the Shrew). Recommended for fans of Julia Quinn, Evie Dunmore, and Elizabeth Everett.
PREMIUM
A Kid from Marlboro Road
Will appeal to listeners seeking a bittersweet coming-of-age literary novel about love and loss on 1970s Long Island. Recommended for fans of Edward Delaney, Alice McDermott, and Russell Banks.
PREMIUM
Broiler
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a gritty domestic fiction with an intricate, atmospheric plot. Recommended for fans of William Kent Krueger, Jennifer Herrera, and Kelly J. Ford.
PREMIUM
The Sequel
This novel, filled with characters that are easy to hate, will keep listeners hooked awaiting the next pivot in its twisty plot.
PREMIUM
Trust Her
An excellent addition to any mystery or thriller section. Recommended for fans of other Irish writers such as Tana French, Claire McGowan, and Dervla McTiernan.
Amusing and irreverent, this survey of obituaries, death rituals, and the funeral industry is a perfect recommendation for podcast fans or those who enjoyed Mary Roach’s Stiff or Sarah Murray’s Making an Exit.
A window into the lives of people who take great joy from trees. Recommended for listeners who love nature and science or those seeking a deeper connection to the environment.
PREMIUM
Shelterwood
Loosely based on actual events, this story sheds light on unsavory and intriguing aspects of American history. An excellent addition to any historical fiction collection.
PREMIUM
Haunted Ever After
DeLuca’s first entry in the “Boneyard Key” series should please listeners seeking laugh-aloud moments, not-too-scary chills, and a cozy paranormal romance.
PREMIUM
Grounds for Murder
A secondary purchase for collections where audio editions of cozy mysteries are popular.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a blend of marine biology and business nonfiction and makes a convincing case that the fate of eels is reflective of and entangled with the fate of humankind. Recommend to fans of John Long’s The Secret History of Sharks.
PREMIUM
Summer Fridays
A sweeping big-city romance that crosses over to women’s fiction; perfect for fans of Nora Ephron films and NYC.
PREMIUM
Just Some Stupid Love Story
While pacing issues occasionally detract from the back-and-forth rhythm of Seth and Molly’s interactions, romance fans should be pleased by the characters’ well-deserved HEA.
This gripping historical novel, told from the perspective of a young girl seeking connection to her family, has something for everyone.
PREMIUM
Burn
The fact that nothing is really ever explained and the novel ends before the men escape Maine adds to the helpless feeling conveyed by this dystopian novel that strikes a chord.
PREMIUM
The Mother of All Things
One to recommend to fans of literary fiction and feminist stories about the mental exhaustion of motherhood.
PREMIUM
One Year Ago in Spain
Highly recommended for fans of authors such as Rebecca Serle and contemporary-romance stories with a magical-realism twist.
PREMIUM
The Villain Edit
Fans of reality dating television shows will want to check out YA author Devore’s (A Better Bad Idea) adult debut. Perfect for those who enjoyed Christina Lauren’s The True Love Experiment.
PREMIUM
Bear
For those who enjoy reflecting on peculiar existential sagas, this is not to be missed.
PREMIUM
Mania
A worthwhile listen that satirizes political correctness taken to the extreme but closely follows the social pressures and conceits of real life.
PREMIUM
In Our Stars
The initial “Doomed Earth” novel is predictable but stands as a fun time-travel concept with incredible narration. Recommended for fans of Campbell’s “The Lost Fleet” series and Glynn Stewart’s Ambassador for Mars.
PREMIUM
The Cliffs
An outstanding addition to any women’s fiction or historical fiction collection. Fans of Elin Hildebrand and Lisa Wingate will want to check this out.
PREMIUM
Look in the Mirror
Listeners will not be able to stop this perfect summer thriller until the very end.
PREMIUM
Same As It Ever Was
The audio is long, but many listeners will find resonance in this layered consideration of motherhood, marriage, and human frailty.
PREMIUM
A Wedding in Lake Como
This series installment works as a stand-alone and is a perfect beach listen for fans of women’s fiction authors such as Emily Giffin.
PREMIUM
Anna Bright Is Hiding Something
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a fast-paced relationship fiction about ambition, deceit, and scandal. Recommended for fans of Freida McFadden and Erica Katz or the television series The Dropout.
PREMIUM
Devil Is Fine
For listeners who enjoy unorthodox tales of personal growth and for fans of Jason Mott’s Hell of a Book.
PREMIUM
This Great Hemisphere
Though his debut was on point, this sophomore novel is a miss for an author who holds so much promise.
PREMIUM
The Briar Club
While well-versed historical mystery fans may find this novel fascinating, others may find themselves lost and longing for a way out.
PREMIUM
Enlightenment
This richly atmospheric novel exploring celestial mysteries, fate, and human frailty is not to be missed.
PREMIUM
Ladykiller
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a fast-paced psychological suspense full of scandal and sex. Recommended for fans of Mary Kubica, Lisa Jewell, and Alice Feeney.
PREMIUM
The House of Broken Bricks
Patrons will enjoy this story of family love and loss that captures the struggle to regroup after a family tragedy.
PREMIUM
Middle of the Night
Layered with mysteries, flawed characters, and a wonderful sense of dread, this thriller is Sager at his best.
PREMIUM
We Solve Murders
Quirky characters and fast-paced action make this rollicking mystery a sure bet for Osman’s fans and those who enjoyed Deanna Raybourn’s Killers of a Certain Age.
PREMIUM
The Glassmaker
Chevalier’s many fans should enjoy this evocative tale set on the Venetian island of Murano, the traditional home of Italian glassmaking. The intricate details of glassmaking lend depth to this time-hopping novel that may also appeal to those seeking a touch of magic in their historical fiction.
PREMIUM
Assassins Anonymous
Hart’s (enjoyably twisty thriller entertains. Recommended for fans of Byeong-mo Gu’s The Old Woman with the Knife.
PREMIUM
The Hollywood Assistant
A starstruck suspense novel that fans of interpersonal drama and passion (à la Gone Girl) will love.
PREMIUM
The Queen City Detective Agency
Listeners who enjoy detective mysteries will find this story compelling.
PREMIUM
Red River Road
Although the audiobook is somewhat lengthy, its storyline is captivating, with plot twists to keep listeners wondering if Phoebe will ever be found.
While listeners will revel in the characters, humor, and plot, they will be disappointed that the all-important mac-and-cheese recipe is not included. Still, this is a primary purchase for most libraries that offer wide-ranging women’s fiction audiobook collections.
PREMIUM
A Northern Light in Provence
A beautiful ode to dreams and real life and recognizing the beauty and wonder of the world right outside one’s own front door.
Fans of Freeman’s “Countess of Harleigh” mysteries will be happy to read the latest installment in this lively series, following A Newlywed’s Guide to Fortune and Murder. Listeners who enjoy gentle, entertaining mysteries set in Victorian times will be equally invested.
PREMIUM
The Divide
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an intricate mistaken-identity mystery about the hierarchy of the Hollywood entertainment industry. Recommended for fans of Alice Feeney, Jaclyn Goldis, and Katherine Wood.
This disaster novel is a lot more fun than one might think and will have listeners laughing along as they cheer on the survivors.
PREMIUM
The Book of Elsewhere
Even with confusing opening chapters, staying with the story pays off in a major way, and the audio helps the audience to understand what “B” is going through. Sci-fi and weird-fiction fans will love this, and many will pick it up who are BRZRKR or Reeves fans.
PREMIUM
Moonbound
Sloan’s work is sure to be well received by a wide audience of fantasy and science-fiction readers for its delicate balance of rich, original worldbuilding and intentional dalliances with genre tropes.
PREMIUM
Charlotte Illes Is Not a Teacher
In this new era of cozy mysteries, this is a good example of how to create and narrate such a novel. Fans of Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective will enjoy its sequel, which can also be appreciated on its own.
PREMIUM
I’ll Get Back to You
Fans of sapphic holiday stories such as Alison Cochrun’s Kiss Her Once for Me are the audience for Grischow’s fun novel.
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