Almost from the moment Jack boards the ferry to take him to his summer job as a companion to two children, he gets a feeling of foreboding, and it's not just because he's moving to a privately owned island with no Internet or cell phone service. Kirby Heyborne narrates Jack's detailed letters home, perfectly expressing the gradual change in the teen's personality from a subtle feeling of unease to the outright fear of seeing ghosts and amping up the terror as Jack descends into paranoia and anger. In this updated version of Henry James's TURN OF THE SCREW, Heyborne's voice is sometimes too mature for a high schooler, and listeners may be put off by his underlying tone of earnestness. Amy Rubinate is believable as Jack's girlfriend, and Grover Gardner turns in a fine performance as Jack's father.
(Fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 25, 2012
Duration: 5 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062201782
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A brilliant, empathetic narration worthy of its complex characters.
Will Watt’s narration shines in this queer Frankenstein retelling. Brilliant scientist Victor is certain that he can find the answer to human reanimation. Desperate to prove himself, he kidnaps innocent Elias, destroys his body, stitches it back together, and revives him using a mix of alchemy and electricity—with horrifying results. Victor then journeys across Europe to reverse his mistake with vengeful Elias on his trail. Watt depicts the alchemists Victor seeks advice from in a variety of languages and accents. He embodies suffering, betrayal, regret, and even budding love with an emotional intensity that will leave listeners in tears. Clarifying footnotes with historical context are interwoven with the prose.
A brilliant, empathetic narration worthy of its complex characters. (Horror. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 14 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063449053
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2026
Watson’s conversational style will delight listeners of all ages.
Marli Watson narrates this first installment of a YA mystery series. Ellen is a prep-school scholarship student who knows how to follow the rules. But her life takes a turn when she moves into her aunt’s Edgar Allan Poe-themed B&B and starts having nightmares about a family who died—including Gus, a new student at school. When Ellen finds a journal that she believes was written by Poe, she meets the ghost of her long-dead relative, who calls himself Eddie. Watson makes the characters believable from the start. She portrays Ellen as feisty, and Gus as a vulnerable charmer. Aunt Marie is sweet, but not too sweet.
Watson’s conversational style will delight listeners of all ages. (Paranormal mystery. 12-18)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 19 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668654774
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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