Birdwatching demands patience, and so does listening to this audiobook.
Narrator Sean Barrett’s deep, resonant voice introduces the many characters in the first book of Cleeves’ George and Molly Palmer-Jones series. Only recently available in the U.S., this early mystery predates Cleeves’ later Shetland and Vera series, both of which have been adapted into popular streaming shows. This story centers on the murder of a “twitcher,” or birdwatcher, within the intense and competitive birdwatching community along England’s Norfolk Coast. Barrett’s steady, authoritative performance cannot fully compensate for a sprawling cast of characters and a plot that reluctantly creeps forward. Still, listeners may appreciate hearing the foundations of a career that would later successfully deliver sharper pacing, richer characterization, and far greater narrative drive.
Birdwatching demands patience, and so does listening to this audiobook.Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250413123
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2026
In this fascinating coming-of-age portrait, Thomas Black Bull's journey from the child, Bear's Brother, to the fearsome rodeo rider, Killer Tom Black, is painted with compassion and insight. Forced to learn the White Man's ways, Tom reaches adulthood consumed by rage. Read with great vigor by Norman Dietz, the recording bursts with the energy of rodeo circuit and transports the listener to the southwest. The accurate portrayal of Tom's Ute ancestry and way of life, the sorrow and frustration of losing his heritage, and his angry retaliation at the world make this an excellent listening choice for adults and teenagers. It would also be a wonderful addition to high school units on the Native American experience.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
George S. Irving adopts Patrick McManus's characters with gusto. Sit back and listen to yarn after yarn. Irving relishes each story, whether it's fishing stories, such as "Claw of the Sea-Puss" or "To Filet or Not to Filet," or the escapades with McManus's wary but vulnerable neighbors. Irving has the jocular chuckle down pat, and the low comedy satire comes off without a hitch. Listeners can imagine Irving tipping back a chair at the country store swapping lies with cronies and entertaining any comers with these hilarious tales. His repertoire of more than eight collections of McManus stories encourages this kind of ownership!
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: DH Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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