When Nina Revskaya, the once-great star of the Bolshoi Ballet, decides to auction her remarkable jewelry collection, her act begins the unraveling of a mystery involving events that changed her life a half-century ago. Kathleen Gati does a terrific job helping listeners follow Kalotay’s complex plot, which transitions between the past and the present and involves many characters, both Russian and American. Listeners will enjoy the vocal versatility that allows Gati to create authentic-sounding Russian voices and a diversity of believable characters, from the very young to the elderly. Gati’s narration of this captivating story will keep listeners engrossed as long-held secrets of family and friendship, love and betrayal are revealed. J.C.G.

RUSSIAN WINTER
Daphne Kalotay
Read by Kathleen Gati
HarperAudio - 2010

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010,
Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2010]

 

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HOPE FOR ANIMALS AND THEIR WORLD :
How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink
Jane Goodall, Thane Maynard, Gail Hudson
Read by Jane Goodall
Hachette Audio - 2009

Rather than just remind us once again that wildlife on the planet faces extinction, Jane Goodall shares some inspirational stories of endangered animals that have been restored to a bright future in the wild. Each account of a species being rescued bolsters hope for more public support and cooperation. Goodall is known for her 45 years of research with chimpanzees in Tanzania, and this audiobook demonstrates her diversity of knowledge about all animals. Although her voice shows its 75 years, her youthful personality and fresh outlook on learning shine through. Within a few minutes, listeners will be hooked on her ability to narrate stories written from her own experiences with wildlife restorationists. Her ideas and language depict a rich scientific education, but her message never becomes too complicated for any age group. J.A.H.

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009,
Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2009]

THE BIBLE SALESMAN
Clyde Edgerton
Read by T. Ryder Smith
Recorded Books - 2008

Mix one young and gullible Bible salesman with a career criminal, set them on the back roads of 1930s North Carolina, and you'll hear one enjoyable yarn. Narrator T. Ryder Smith wraps his soft-spoken delivery around the comic antics and sudden violence with an ease and assuredness that transcend the written word. A chance meeting between Bible salesman Henry Dampier and "undercover" G-man Preston Clearwater sets one on the path of enlightenment and the other on the path of justice. Characters remark about the absurdity of a life in poverty with insouciance, and Smith shines brightest when portraying the lovable country folk as they eke out lives of quiet desperation with guidance from their Bibles. R.O.

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009,
Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2009
]

Amelia Gray is a Southern gal who repairs gravestones and restores cemeteries to their former glory. And Gray can see ghosts--not harmless spirits but spiritual vampires who attach themselves to people and suck out their life energy. Narrator Khristine Hvam draws the listener in with a Charleston twang and a variety of Southern dialects, including Gullah, each slightly and delightfully different. She speaks with a vulnerability that creates an affection for the characters, especially Amelia. When people begin showing up murdered in a cemetery, it's up to Amelia to help the roguishly handsome detective solve the crimes--without falling victim to the spirits she's trying to lay to rest.

THE RESTORER: Graveyard Queen Book 1
Amanda Stevens
Read by Khristine Hvam
Audible 2012

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2013 Audies Finalist.,
Audiofile 2013 Portland, Maine [Published: April 2013]

 

Few authors have a finger on the pulse of contemporary African-American teens as well as Sharon Draper. This final installment of the Jericho Trilogy perfectly captures high school kids’ difficult lives at home and school and as they look to the future. Narrator JD Jackson more than meets the challenge of portraying a wide array of kids and adults. Main characters Arielle and Kofi, along with their friends, demonstrate their strengths, weaknesses, hopes, dreams, and setbacks. Also outstanding are Mrs. Witherspoon (the dream teacher); Eddie, just back from juvenile detention; and wheel chair–bound Eric. Draper and Jackson’s descriptions and characters are so realistic that listeners are right inside Douglass High School with them. S.G.B.

JUST ANOTHER HERO
Sharon M. Draper
Read by JD Jackson
Recorded Books - 2010

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011,
Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2011]

 

Derek Strange knows something's wrong when a woman hires him to track down a worthless ring, but his private detective business is slow, and the woman is hauntingly attractive. In Washington, D.C., in 1972, the air is rife with change, if not outright revolution, when Strange gets caught up in something big and dangerous. Author George Pelecanos writes with the same streetwise authenticity he brought to the HBO show “The Wire,” with memorable characters cut from the same cloth. Narrator JD Jackson’s characterizations are so spot-on that listeners will practically see the hookers, pimps, junkies, killers, and a particularly talented cop named Frank "Hound Dog" Vaughn. It's strong stuff, pure adrenaline.

WHAT IT WAS
George Pelecanos
Read by JD Jackson
Hachette/Audio Go- 2012

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012,
Portland, Maine [Published: June 2012]

Fourteen-year-old Madeleine and 15-year-old Elliot live in two different worlds--from which they communicate to each other by letter. Madeleine is being homeschooled in Cambridge, England. Elliott is a farm boy from the Kingdom of Cello whose father was killed by a purple storm (or he ran off with the physics teacher). The two find a crack between these two worlds in a parking meter. Fiona Hardingham makes Madeleine's pluck, obsession with Isaac Newton, and amused disbelief in the existence of Cello both believable and lovable. Andrew Eiden's Elliott is a smooth heartbreaker but one full of good cheer, common sense, and bravery. Also in the mix is a giggly newspaper column by a royal princess, voiced by Kate Reinders, with corrections and footnotes delivered with appropriate authority by Peter McGowan. It all adds up to a terrific fantasy voiced by equally terrific narrators. A.B.

A Corner of White : The Colors of Madeleine, Book 1
Jaclyn Moriarty
Read by Fiona Hardingham, Andrew Eiden, Kate Reinders, Peter McGowan
Scholastic 2013

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award
Audiofile 2013 Portland, Maine [Published: April 2013]

 

This audiobook, with the undeniable help of Bronson Pinchot's pitch-perfect narration, demonstrates perfectly why Mark Twain continues to be popular. Twain's stories of his life range from the sardonic (“Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”) to the touching (remembrances of his daughter Susy, who died of meningitis at the age of 24). Listeners will find themselves sometimes smiling through their tears, occasionally laughing out loud, and at all times fascinated by Twain's minutiae of family life, criticisms of his many acquaintances, and discussions of the details behind his many literary works, from journalism to his Great American Novels. Throughout, Pinchot is spectacular, bringing this quintessential American author to life and doing him justice with every syllable. A perfect listening experience. K.O.

CHAPTERS OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Mark Twain
Read by Bronson Pinchot
Audio Go- 2010

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011,
Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2011]

 

 

Cassandra Campbell continues her portrayal of Valentine Roncalli in the second book in Trigiani’s trilogy, which began with VERY VALENTINE. Campbell moves seamlessly from Italian-accented English to smooth Italian dialogue in the interactions between Valentine’s extended and boisterous family, which has expanded to include her grandmother’s new husband and Valentine’s love interest, Gianluca. As Valentine, Campbell gives an expressive and energetic performance, pulling the emotion from every exchange with friends and family while presenting the narrative passages about Italy, interior design, and shoemaking in the unfolding drama. Best of all, the deeper, husky voicing of the sexy Gianluca will have listeners waiting impatiently for the next installment. E.N.

BRAVA, VALENTINE
Adriana Trigiani
Read by Cassandra Campbell
HarperAudio - 2010

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010,
Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2010]

 


THE COLOR OF LIGHTNING
Paulette Jiles
Read by Jack Garrett
Harper Audio - 2009


Is anyone not fascinated by cases of captives who lived among Indians and escaped to tell about it? This novel opens with a Kiowa raid on settlers in northern Texas in the 1870s. So convincingly does Jiles imagine her characters—Indian, white, and black—and compellingly tell their stories that it comes as a surprise that much here is based on real people and events. Jack Garrett's performance is stellar. Three different races—men, women, and children—come vividly to life, their personalities distinct even though their stories are separated from ours by more than a century. It's a sweeping tale, never dry or fact-bound, and Garrett's sympathetic attention and unflagging skill are a perfect match for Jiles's marvelous invention. B.G.

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009,
Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2009]


LONG LOST
Harlan Coben
Read by Steven Weber
Brilliance Audio - 2009


Hold on to your headphones! Harlan Coben's ninth Myron Bolitar adventure is a genuine edge-of-your-seat thriller. Myron answers a call for help from his ex-ladylove, Terese, and becomes entangled with terrorists, Interpol, Mossad, and Homeland Security. Myron knows he can depend on his good pal Win but can't be sure which group wants him dead. The plot zigzags from a fertility clinic to a black-ops prison to an ultraconservative anti-choice home for unwed mothers, and the bodies pile up. Steven Weber keeps things intense, from knock-down, drag-out encounters with killers to the hot-and-heavy rekindling of Terese and Myron's romance. When Myron is kidnapped and tortured, Weber's convincing pain will leave listeners gasping for breath. Myron's latest encounter with evil and Weber's terrific performance make this required listening. S.J.H.

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009,
Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2009]

ALWAYS SAY GOODBYE
Stuart M. Kaminsky
Read by Michael McConnohie
BBC Audiobooks America - 2007

Ever since his wife was killed four years ago, Lew Fonesca has defined himself by grief and depression. In the first four books in this series, Fonesca worked as a process server in Sarasota, Florida. But in this fifth adventure, he finally returns to Chicago to track down his wife's killer. Michael McConnohie delivers the narrative in a nondescript documentary style. But he positively shines in the way he breathes life into Kaminsky's characters: Fonesca's tow-truck driver brother-in-law, the Holocaust survivor authoress, the agoraphobic Greek hit man, the short but tough black detective. All these characters help transform this story of tragedy and redemption into a work that is profound and entertaining but never maudlin. Kaminsky's characters are multidimensional and textured, and McConnohie seamlessly gives them color and movement. S.E.S.

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2007,
Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07

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In Robert Ellis's powerful sequel to CITY OF FIRE, LAPD detective Lena Gamble is assigned to investigate the brutal murder of a prostitute, a case that sends her into the dark underbelly of L.A. politics and its powerbrokers. At first, Gamble ’s investigation seems to lead nowhere, but eventually, with the help of a mysterious witness—and despite obstacles created by her chief and others—she begins to put the pieces together. The result is a taut and thoroughly exciting novel, which is bolstered by Deanna Hurst’s excellent narration. She captures each of the key players' personalities and transitions smoothly between the action scenes and the riveting dialogue. The result is a natural tension that paces the novel beautifully. D.J.S.

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010,
Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2010]


THE LOST WITNESS
Robert Ellis
Read by Deanna Hurst
Brilliance Audio - 2009

Author-narrator Libba Bray starts with this premise: What would happen if a plane carrying Teen Dream Beauty Queens were to crash on an (almost) deserted island, leaving a handful of girls with no chaperones? She ends with an expertly crafted tale of girl power, a social commentary, and a hilarious spoof on popular TV shows and classic books. As narrator, Bray puts her theatrical background to good use, changing accents, register, and pitch so smoothly and consistently that listeners will forget there's but a single narrator. From the Texas drawl of Taylor Rene Krystal Hawkins (gun-carrying homecoming queen) to the Yankee accent of Adina Greenberg (feminist journalist from New Hampshire), Bray gives each character a distinct, recognizable voice. The addition of thoughtful sound effects makes this “un-turn-off-able.” C.B.L.

BEAUTY QUEENS
Libba Bray
Read by Libba Bray
Scholastic Audio- 2011

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011,
Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2011]

Slaughter’s fans will be thrilled with the newest developments in the lives of Dr. Sara Linton and GBI Agent Will Trent. And in classic Slaughter style, the unpredictable plot with plenty of surprises will keep listeners guessing. The thriller focuses on Will’s partner, Detective Faith Mitchell—and the disappearance of her mother—after she comes home to a bloody crime scene. Old and new fans will be engaged by Shannon Cochran’s narration. Cochran’s natural low vocal register and clear, articulate delivery fully present each character. Her animated tone brings out the engaging details of the many female characters. Cochran's occasional Southern drawl punctuates this Georgia-based series. The listener is pulled into this heart-pounding drama complete with gritty action and forensic details. A.R.H.

FALLEN
Karin Slaughter
Read by Shannon Cochran
Audio Go- 2011

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011,
Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2011]

Amelia Gray is a Southern gal who repairs gravestones and restores cemeteries to their former glory. And Gray can see ghosts--not harmless spirits but spiritual vampires who attach themselves to people and suck out their life energy. Narrator Khristine Hvam draws the listener in with a Charleston twang and a variety of Southern dialects, including Gullah, each slightly and delightfully different. She speaks with a vulnerability that creates an affection for the characters, especially Amelia. When people begin showing up murdered in a cemetery, it's up to Amelia to help the roguishly handsome detective solve the crimes--without falling victim to the spirits she's trying to lay to rest.

MALCOM X : By Any Means Necessary
Walter Dean Myers
Read by JD Jackson
AudioGo 2012

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2013 Audies Finalist.,
Audiofile 2013 Portland, Maine [Published: January 2013]