This audiobook, which switches its time period and point of view for nearly every one of its 105 chapters, might have presented challenges for the listener were it not for the excellent performances of the four narrators. Will Damron, Hillary Huber, Elizabeth Garrett, and Steve West deftly take on the characters, clearly differentiating them by carefully conveying the outward personality of each one--that is, the personality that the author wants the listener to believe. Fear; frustration; anger; sexiness; and cold, calculating revenge are all part of the mix. The twisty plot moves the listener through a maze at a quick pace with surprising revelations around each bend. Listeners should just know to keep their ears open and not make any assumptions about what the characters are sharing. From start to finish, this is a compelling listen.
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593592014
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Pabon sustains a steady emotional register that underscores the enduring impact of unresolved trauma.
Timothy Andrés Pabon gives a reflective performance of this semiautobiographical novel, which is based on a double death in the author’s rural Spanish hometown during his adolescence. Pabon presents the events of Christmas Eve 1995 with measured clarity, outlining the story of a young man who kills his sister and commits suicide, then guiding the listener into a reopened inquiry years later. Pabon adopts a deliberate, contemplative pace that mirrors the narrator’s methodical reconstruction of the past. His delivery carries the weight of grief, guilt, and persistence as the narrator revisits formative experiences shaped by religion, illness, and isolation.
Pabon sustains a steady emotional register that underscores the enduring impact of unresolved trauma.Pub Date: April 14, 2026
Duration: N/A
DD ISBN: 9781962556156
Publisher: Pushkin Industries
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2026
Jones' narration is grounding and clear, and listeners have a front-row seat for the developing tensions.
Ami Okumura Jones deftly dramatizes how what starts as a friendship between Eriko and Shoko tips over into obsession. Jones uses small shifts in pacing, tone, and narration style to convey the growing friction between the two women as a distinguishable, audible experience. She communicates the differences between Eriko’s meticulous intensity and Shoko’s more casual, self-deprecating humor. Eriko is attempting to reintroduce Nile perch into the Japanese fish market. Jones’ delivery reflects Eriko’s rigid, professional exterior, which masks a deep sense of isolation. Jones sounds more approachable as Shoko, a popular lifestyle blogger.
Jones' narration is grounding and clear, and listeners have a front-row seat for the developing tensions.Pub Date: March 17, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs, 35 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063442443
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2026
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