Grimaldi, Virginie. A Good Life. Europa. May 2024. tr. from French by Hildegarde Serle. 7:02 hrs. ISBN 9798889660545. $29.95. F

Best-selling French writer Grimaldi’s U.S. debut is luminously performed by Liz Fodor, who offers an affecting narration of sisters Emma and Agathe as children and middle-aged adults. The sisters, once close but now estranged, return to their grandmother’s home in Spain after her death. The story alternates between the past (1985 through 2017) and the present day to illustrate how the family and the sisters fell apart. This is a story of the power of family and love, along with shared childhood trauma, mental illness, and grief. Grimaldi provides a sensitive depiction of mental illness, including the impact on caregivers, while still maintaining a hopeful tone. Fodor expertly narrates the sisters as children, creating an empathetic portrait that deepens as they come of age. She seamlessly incorporates the French words and phrases that are sprinkled throughout. Listeners will be swept up in the theme of what makes a good life, alongside the revelations of how the sisters’ difficult childhood experiences impacted their present-day lives. VERDICT Recommended for listeners who enjoy literary family stories and translated works. An excellent choice for book clubs.—Taylor Skorski

Lowkis, Carmella. Spitting Gold. S. & S. Audio. May 2024. 9:13 hrs. ISBN 9781797176949. $25.99. F

Baroness Sylvie Devereux disowned her sister when she married, hoping to distance herself from her family’s shady past as spirit mediums. Then, in 1866 Paris, Sylvie is contacted by her estranged sister, Charlotte Mothe. Overwhelmed by bills and contending with her father’s illness, Charlotte persuades Sylvie to help out with one last lucrative con. They set their sights on the de Jacquinots, a dysfunctional yet wealthy family who believes they are haunted by their aunt, who was murdered during the French Revolution. As the scheme continues, the sisters realize that supernatural forces may actually be at work. What will the horrors bring to light? Lowkis’s gothic fiction debut is a captivating tale of betrayal, secrets, and the enduring bonds of family. Katherine Press narrates the sisters’ complicated feelings for each other, perfectly capturing each woman’s personality and inner thoughts. The first half of the book is told from Sylvie’s perspective, and the second from Charlotte’s, giving listeners a well-rounded view of both characters. Though the pacing in the second half drags a bit, this creepy gothic story still provides plenty of thrills. VERDICT Séances, sisters, and secrets make for a deliciously twisty listen.—Elyssa Everling

Ward, Amanda Eyre. Lovers and Liars. Books on Tape. May 2024. 7:14 hrs. ISBN 9780593822913. $76. F

Ward’s (The Lifeguards) latest contemporary novel follows three sisters and their mother over a whirlwind wedding weekend. Sylvie, a school librarian who was widowed 10 years earlier, is now marrying wealthy, seemingly perfect Englishman Simon at his family estate. Though Sylvie and her sisters, Emma and Cleo, haven’t stayed in touch, their childhood bond over living with their toxic, narcissistic mother reawakens old habits—namely, lying and keeping secrets in order to protect one another. As it turns out, there are plenty of secrets all around. Even as she looks into Simon’s credentials, Cleo is questioning her own troubled relationship. Meanwhile, Emma is hiding the secret of overwhelming debt. Narrator Sarah Beth Goer’s dynamic performance of the three very different sisters captures their myriad emotions and will have listeners hoping they all find truth and forgiveness. Nora Roux Meckel narrates the book’s epilogue, giving voice to Simon’s daughter Penelope. VERDICT Fans of fast-paced family dramas driven by secrets, lies, and hope will find much to love here. Suggest to fans of Jenny Jackson’s Pineapple Street or Jonathan Vatner’s Carnegie Hill.—Taylor Skorski