Bethan Rose Young carries listeners into a vivid Victorian world and the persona of 12-year-old Myrtle Hardcastle. Young's narration moves at a brisk clip, increasing the tension in this mystery and representing the quick intelligence and wit of its heroine. Myrtle is certain her neighbor, cranky Miss Woodhouse, has been murdered, and she's determined to discover the killer. Myrtle is encouraged by deep dives into scientific queries by her governess, Miss Judson. Young's portrayal of the intelligent, loving governess is matched by that of Myrtle's adoring father, a prosecutor. Red herrings abound, and Young's cameos of minor characters are on point, especially the unlikable American niece of the victim, who flirts with Myrtle's father. Young creates an enticing foundation and an intriguing heroine in the first installment of this historical mystery series.
. (Historical mystery. 10-12)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2020
Duration: 8 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781980085461
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ebner’s well-paced narration will engage listeners to the very end of this excellent audiobook.
Jeff Ebner's youthful, enthusiastic voice immediately pulls listeners into this fun-filled summer adventure. Eleven-year-old Felix and his neighbor, Marigold, find a mysterious wooden box that contains a field recorder and a coded message that subsequently sends them on a fantastically sound-filled scavenger hunt. The inclusion of actual sound effects—an ice cream truck’s jingle, a barking dog, bird song, and more—throughout the audiobook enhances the listening experience. The music, the voices, and the clues as Felix and Marigold run all over town are irresistible. The story’s conclusion features an unexpected reconnection.
Ebner’s well-paced narration will engage listeners to the very end of this excellent audiobook. (Mystery. 7-11)Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217351961
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2026
A not-too-scary horror audiobook.
Dan Bittner gives a polished performance of Stine’s middle-grade horror novel, narrating with melodramatic flair and dramatic pauses at the end of each cliffhanger chapter. When the Ferber family moves into a creepy old house on Nightmare Street, Joe’s parents are oblivious to the scary things happening in the house. In a parallel story, the Hannigan family moves into the same house, where Shawn has different creepy experiences. Both Joe and Shawn have nightmares in which they encounter horror tropes—headstones, a creepy rag doll, a looping camera, a ventriloquist’s dummy, and masked teachers—in their house and at school. Bittner’s pacing works well, and fans of the Goosebumps series will enjoy the familiar shivers and tongue-in-cheek humor.
A not-too-scary horror audiobook.Pub Date: April 18, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798228588288
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
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