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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.
Audio horror, fantasy, mystery, social sciences, and more. This winter’s audiobook stars offer auditory delights across a wide range of subjects and genres.
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.
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.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an intricate psychological thriller with a fast pace and multiple perspectives. Recommended for fans of Megan Miranda, Amy Tintera, and Paula Hawkins.
Hughes’s enthusiastic, joyful presentation of wondrous historical sites is not to be missed. An excellent pairing with Raven Todd DaSilva’s The Other Ancient Civilisations.
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.
Listeners touched by Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures but wanting more mystery will be enchanted.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an immersive, impassioned nonfiction work about the miscarriages of justice and one man’s mission to help. Recommended for fans of Framed by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a witty yet moving LGBTQIA+ arts and entertainment autobiography. Recommended for fans of Adam Rippon’s Beautiful on the Outside or Jonathan van Ness’s Over the Top.
A rigorously researched and exceptionally narrated biography revealing the complexity of a storied U.S. icon.
Though it’s a fascinating look at U.S. history, Olsson’s book will (unfortunately) mostly be of interest to those who love the Red Dead games. Still, it will make a great way to promote a library’s history section to an audience who might otherwise ignore it.
PREMIUM
Hip-Hop Is History
Rolling through Questlove’s narration of the collaboration of music and poetry, dances, storytelling, breakbeats, and skills of turntablists will fascinate listeners and, according to Questlove, allow them to find the United States’ heartbeat pumping to the rhythm of the boogie beat for the next 50-plus years.
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
Journey’s End
Despite some difficulty in following the quickly spoken dialogue, this is a powerful production that captures the raw intensity of war.
PREMIUM
Middle of the Night
Layered with mysteries, flawed characters, and a wonderful sense of dread, this thriller is Sager at his best.
Though this format is an optional purchase for many libraries, the audio may appeal to listeners seeking an engaging, in-depth narrative about how railroad engineering affected U.S. elections, infrastructure, and entertainment.
A worthwhile listen for readers fascinated by true crime and the impact that politics and policies have on justice and truth.
This stellar collection provides practical wisdom and advice for all and is sure to delight both novice and experienced gardeners alike.
PREMIUM
The Queen City Detective Agency
Listeners who enjoy detective mysteries will find this story compelling.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a scholarly sports nonfiction work that investigates how women have come together and found joy and power in the water. Recommended for fans of inspiring sports stories, such as Maggie Mertens’s Better Faster Farther.
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
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
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
The Silence Factory
Queer love unfulfilled doesn’t preclude an optimistic ending in this resonant Victorian gothic.
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
We’ll Prescribe You a Cat
Ishida has written a gem that glows with empathy and goodwill. For animal lovers and those seeking uplifting stories about stepping outside one’s comfort zone and discovering inner strength.
PREMIUM
Maria
An excellent exploration of one of the world’s most beloved stepmothers, highly recommended for historical fiction collections everywhere.
This winning audio will appeal to sports fans and listeners curious about the mental health journeys of athletes.
PREMIUM
The Hungry Dark
A recommended listen. With its mix of mystery, paranormal thriller, and family drama, Williams’s latest should have broad appeal.
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.
PREMIUM
Better by Far
A deeply emotional and satisfyingly layered story about different types of loss and the power to heal.
PREMIUM
You Will Never Be Me
Compelling performances will elicit a strong response in listeners right up to the shocking conclusion.
PREMIUM
Can’t Help Falling in Love
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a feel-good fake-relationship rom-com. Recommended for fans of Christina Lauren, Emily Henry, and Libby Hubscher.
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 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
The Electric State
Fans of postapocalyptic sci-fi will eat up this excellent novel. Note that the audiobook’s PDF of illustrations (or a print version of the book) supports a more immersive experience; Stålenhag’s imagery is a key component of the story.
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
Toxic Prey
Contagion, ecoterrorism, and a relentlessly ticking clock make this latest installment in Sandford’s series well worth a listen.
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.
Bauer accessibly, if bleakly, conveys the scope of today’s global food crisis and recommends the systemic change necessary to solve hunger. Recommended for larger collections, both public and academic.
Listeners will appreciate Asante’s continuing contribution to the canon of Black American literature in this tale’s honesty and vulnerability.
Fans of authors such as Mazey Eddings will enjoy this solid rom-com starring a complex and layered main character.
Buckshaw and Bishop’s Lacey will entice longtime series followers as well as new audiences who like amateur-sleuth historical mysteries.
PREMIUM
Given Our History
A cute friends-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story that falls short of rom-com greatness.
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 Murders in Great Diddling
An absorbing audiobook perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz’s Susan Ryeland mysteries. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
We the Poisoned: Exposing the Flint Water Crisis Cover-Up and the Poisoning of 100,000 Americans
Listeners will find this a disturbing, eye-opening, cautionary tale, and it is a worthwhile purchase for libraries.
PREMIUM
The Spellshop
This sweet and cozy romantasy brims with lush imagery and a cast of quirky characters. Perfect for fans of whimsical fantasy, such as Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes and TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea.
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
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.
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
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.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking thorough, thought-provoking science writing about eclectic Victorian-era paleontologists. Recommended for fans of richly detailed natural-history nonfiction, such as Roy Plotnick’s Explorers of Deep Time.
While some stories resonate more than others, this collection of visceral literary horror haunts and provokes. Recommended for fans of Ananda Lima.
PREMIUM
Best, First, and Last
Recommend to anyone who enjoys a feel-good family novel like Camille Pagán’s Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around or Rebecca Serle’s One Italian Summer.
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.
PREMIUM
The Deading
Though it falters somewhat in its execution, this blend of science fiction, body horror, and eco-horror may appeal to listeners seeking an intriguing premise with echoes of Stephen King’s Under the Dome.
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
Under a Rock: A Memoir
A must-listen for fans of Blondie, music history enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the vibrant cultural landscape of the late 20th century.
For larger public libraries where patrons have an interest in books about race in the United States or product biographies.
This detail-oriented narrative explores the numerous and unbelievable ways women have changed anicent and contemporary society. Recommended for people interested in herstory and the marginalized people that shaped today’s world.
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.
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.
PREMIUM
Toward Eternity
A strong debut with a compelling premise that will do well in libraries where speculative science fiction is popular, though it may not make any converts to the genre.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a tense true crime about the Idaho student killings and several related cases. Recommended for fans of Shawn Cohen’s College Girl, Missing and other contemporary crime nonfiction.
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.
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
A Home for the Holidays
Recommended for those seeking a layered holiday listen that is heartbreaking and hopeful in equal measure.
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
Eruption
A captivating collaboration between two thriller greats, this cinematic action-adventure novel does not disappoint.
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
Hearts on Thin Ice
Kennedy’s focus on the nuances of mental health and grief makes for a layered and thoughtful romance. Share with fans of sports romances or those who enjoyed Peyton Corinne’s Unsteady.
PREMIUM
Children of Darkness and Light: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell and the Story of a Murderous Faith
An intense, heartbreaking listen.
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.
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.
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