Pete Cross's dramatic performance of this fantasy/noir audiobook enlivens a fascinating story about a missing teenager and her connection to a popular video game and a doomsday cult. Cross's emotional commitment to the protagonist, Sid Catchpenny, showcases the messy, washed-up thief with debilitating depression and the ability to travel through mirrors. He can sense mojo, the magical essence tied to sentimental objects, which is used as currency by both criminals and elites in the story. His unique abilities and looming debts compel him to accept a case to find the missing Circe. In places where the prose meanders too long with Sid's thoughts, Cross is an immense pleasure, engrossing listeners within every passing contemplation.
Pub Date: April 9, 2024
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593821831
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Poetic writing belies this story’s horror.
Saskia Maarleveld splendidly presents this novel set in Victorian London with a supernatural twist. After debt collectors claim her mansion, Caroline heads to London hoping to find her brother, Charlie, only to find that he has disappeared. Maarleveld makes Caroline sympathetic as she begins working as a maid at Charlie’s last known address. There, she’s told to stay in her room and ignore anything she hears on full moon nights. Maarleveld ably portrays strange lodgers and the compassionate landlady. As Caroline continues to search for Charlie, she believes she’s on the trail of Jack the Ripper, putting herself in grave danger. Maarleveld’s occasional whispered narration increases the sense of dread, while the epilogue humanizes the victims and helps listeners empathize with their tragic plights.
Poetic writing belies this story’s horror.Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 17 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217338467
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
Lavery’s narration grounds listeners, who will be guessing until the very end.
EJ Lavery’s Spanish accent and emotionally resonant performance enrich this dual-perspective horror audiobook set in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Twenty years ago, Fortuna barely escaped the infamous serial killer, the Reaper. Now, she’s just won the lottery and can finally afford a better home for her family—and a better school district. But then a body shows up in her yard, murdered in a way that’s suspiciously similar to the Reaper’s methods. As Fortuna dissociates, Lavery’s depiction is particularly chilling. When Lavery voices sections from Detective Palacio’s perspective, the audiobook unfolds like a thrilling mystery.
Lavery’s narration grounds listeners, who will be guessing until the very end.Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668657126
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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