This psychological thriller has all the right chilling elements: ghosts, animal sacrifices, and a haunting Pacific Northwest island setting that entraps its characters. Narrator Brittany Pressley keeps listeners on edge while also developing a compelling queer romance. After the disappearance of her best friend, Caitlyn goes off the grid as a nanny to disgraced influencer Bella Greene's twins. Greene, meanwhile, is hiding out following a controversy that led to a fan's death. Caitlyn quickly bonds with the twins and the house chef, Hannah, but is exposed to bloody pentagrams, an apparition that won't go away, and the dark side of social-media influencing. Is everyone holding a secret? Pressley navigates the twists with ease, creating an atmospheric allure that pleases as much as it thrills.
Pub Date: Nov. 18, 2025
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798228003620
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Atmospheric and deliberate, Suzanne Elise Freeman's narration will grab listeners from the very beginning of this mystery. Marlowe Fisher lives on her family's sprawling farm in historic Gray House. An illustrator in her 30s, Marlowe has been shaped by the disappearance of her best friend, Nora, 20 years earlier. Now, a murder in the fields disturbs decades of secrets, and the recent death is tied to Nora's unsolved case. Freeman voices a wide range of characters as the story alternates between the present day and the year before Nora went missing. As Freeman's intentional delivery matches the buildup of the mystery, listeners will find themselves questioning everything.
Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798992377026
Publisher: Zibby Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Eric Altheide excels at projecting the tension in this compelling novel about a young fiction writer whose actions thrust him into dramas beyond any he ever imagined. Altheide portrays the ambitious writer David Trent, who is determined to publish and thrilled when an award lands him in the limelight. In order to retain his status, he becomes immersed in lies, cheating, and murder. Key to this story arc is Altheide's excellent portrayal of antihero Silas Hale, a lauded writer whose sadistic bullying is unknown to his adoring fans. Altheide successfully manages the novel's twisting plot, memorable characterizations, and satirical tone. This audiobook reveals the danger, darkness, and infighting that may lurk beneath the surface of literary fame.
Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063445307
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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