The result is an absolutely delicious listen: witty, suspenseful, and endearingly grumpy.
Narrator Susie Riddell is the ideal conduit for this audiobook, which satirizes both rom-com and mystery/thriller tropes at the same time as it masterfully executes them. As protagonist Hazel Witt, a bestselling but just slightly past her prime romance author, Riddell delivers a sardonic, world-weary misanthrope who prefers the company of her dog and The Great British Bake Off to that of the human variety. As Margo Martin, an obsessive fan who spent years sending Hazel letters about her life before abruptly disappearing, Riddell presents what at first appears to be a sweet, naïve girl before gradually revealing a more sinister—and utterly delusional—figure. Minor characters, like Hazel’s agent and assistant, are rendered with equal aplomb.
The result is an absolutely delicious listen: witty, suspenseful, and endearingly grumpy.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 43 mins
DD ISBN: 9781038043009
Publisher: Bolinda
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
C.J. Box writes about life in wild Wyoming, short stories of people living a rugged life by choice or by circumstance. David Chandler narrates in a rough-edged whiskey voice that suggests summer heat, bitter winters, and windswept prairies, guiding the listener through 10 adventures of men like Fish and Game Officer Joe Pickett. Chandler brings the listener into this strange world where, more often than not, men have to create their own justice. His performance of the economical stories, some rarely seen, is perfect. The tale of the frozen body of a Native American basketball player turned speed freak, her arm reaching through the ice of a lake in a final jump shot, is one of the most fascinating in the collection.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781470392796
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dirk Pitt, intrepid adventurer and master explorer, searches the Sahara for the deadly toxin that is killing marine life world wide. This audio, abridged by Harold Schmidt, lacks most of the adventure, as well as the humor, of Cussler's novels. Narrator Tom Wopat brings an unconventional vocal slant to the ever-cocky Pitt. Using lots of vocal characterization, Wopat brings across the smug brashness of Pitt and handles dialogue briskly. Enhanced by sound effects and small pieces of music, this is an interesting and perplexing mystery.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
