When President Lincoln's son Willie died in 1862, the reported cause of death was typhoid fever. This captivating audiobook, narrated eloquently by Holter Graham, imagines that Willie was actually murdered, a victim of an opponent of his father's controversial policies. Graham particularly excels when he provides the characters with distinct personas. His portrayal of John Hay, who is charged with investigating and solving the crime, is especially memorable. As Hay investigates, he discovers many suspects within the dark underbelly of the White House. As the intensity of the search increases, so do Graham's tone, inflection, and display of emotions. While the ending requires listeners to have a scorecard, Graham's presentation never falters, making this a satisfying audiobook from beginning to end.
Pub Date: Feb. 21, 2017
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781427288363
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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