by Alexandra Adornetto ; Read by Emily Foster ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2014
After the death of her mother, Chloe, who has always had the power to see ghosts, is sent to spend the holidays at her grandmother's British country estate. There she encounters a handsome ghost named Alex and a vengeful ghost named Isobel. Narrator Emily Foster's sarcastic tone is particularly well suited to Chloe's snark and tongue-in-cheek one-liners. Her pacing is slow and measured as she builds to the scary moments. However, Foster has no grasp of the subtleties of a British accent. Her clumsy attempts make all the British characters sound similar and reduce them to caricatures. She would have served the story and listeners better by not attempting an accent.
(Paranormal romance. 12-16)Pub Date: 2014
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781491530368
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Ginny Myers Sain ; Read by Amanda Stribling ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2025
Amanda Stribling's Southern accent evokes the Ozarks background of 17-year-old Dove Warner. Stribling also captures the horror Dove faces when she--like others affected by her family's curse--hears the bones of murdered people calling out for her to discover their burial places. Stribling's tone becomes calmer when Dove spends time with her best friend, Lo, until he expresses his own feelings of being haunted by those who have been killed. Dove manages to disregard the lurid tales of townsfolk until the killing increases. Stribling adds tension as Dove and Lo become more determined to learn who--or what--is responsible. Stribling's narration maximizes the atmospheric setting, lyrical writing, and many twists and turns of this audiobook.
(Paranormal thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217017010
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Elle Tesch ; Read by Ell Potter ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2025
Ell Potter narrates this YA novel, inspired by the legend of the Zikmund bell in Prague. The Strauss family has been tasked for generations with caring for their sentient city's bell towers in order to contain a great evil that lies sleeping within. When teenager Mina's bell rings 13 times on her patrol, it's up to her to prevent the ensuing destruction. Potter's sophisticated British accent gives a sense of importance to Mina and her legacy. However, more often than not, Potter's tone leans toward the melodramatic and woeful, sometimes even taking on a warble. This over-the-top delivery lends a sense of urgency to the narrative, and, while somewhat tiresome, matches the gothic fantasy atmosphere of the story.
(Fantasy. 13-17)Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250411891
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.