George Pelecanos knows detective fiction, and he knows Washington, D.C. Both genre and setting play an integral part in his latest novel, which introduces the character Spero Lucas. The modern-day maverick investigator endears himself to his family, friends, and hometown. Dion Graham shines in his narration. As Lucas—a former Marine who served in Iraq—probes the mystery of several missing packages, Graham’s voices and delivery of street slang are distinct and creative. Spero’s erudite and streetwise brother; a young, innocent student; and assorted friends and colleagues all come alive in the listener’s ear. Graham is exceptional in his portrayal of the psychopathic ringleader of a criminal enterprise. Here’s hoping Pelecanos brings Lucas back—with Graham as narrator.
Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2011
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781609417925
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Bailey Carr's perfect deadpan tone is fitting for Anya St. Clair, a fashion magazine contributor who expresses more worry over blood-soaked shoes than she does over its source. What begins as friendly competition for a promotion between Anya and her co-worker and obsession, Sarah Taft, turns fiercely fatal as Anya justifies what she's willing to do to achieve her goal. Delivering dark humor at its finest, Carr's narration is most notable for its crystal-clear quality, mostly void of emotion except for moments of rage delivered through gritted teeth. Anya's smooth voice belies her inner turmoil and disdain for the majority of humanity. Her editor, however, is a sharp and commanding presence spitting out orders that only compound the situations Anya finds herself in.
Pub Date: Sept. 11, 2018
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781978630123
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
You’ve got to give author David Levien credit for setting this murder thriller in Indianapolis and knowing enough to call it “Nap Town.” It's a city so steeped in dirty politics that it seems like Chicago's little cousin. Levien uses that intrigue, and the incompetence that surrounds it, to craft a plot about the cover-up of an assassination attempt on a wealthy businessman who is named a U.S. senator. Even without a Chicago accent, narrator Paul Boehmer keeps listeners engaged with his straight portrayal of private security guard Frank Behr, who sets out to solve the mystery of the assassination attempt and why it gets surprisingly little attention from the police. Boehmer brings that skill to the audbiobook with an impressive skill.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2011
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781611201437
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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