During “the summer of everything” in 1960, 12-year-old Rusty Harry falls in love, develops a taste for drama and story, and learns the truth about his dad's mysterious trips to Canada. David Aaron Baker's thoughtful, reflective reading accentuates Ivan Doig's ability to tell a good story replete with detail. Deliberate pauses force scenes to unfold in real time and allow characters to listen and respond to one other. The dialogue is rich with regional colloquialisms and authentic slang, and Baker is pitch-perfect in delivering them. Most notably, Rusty’s father, Tom Harry, a world-weary bartender and dedicated bachelor, has a voice to match his trademark streak of gray hair, and despite some trying circumstances, he always manages to keep his language in check for Rusty's benefit. A.S. 2013 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2012
Duration: 14 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781464045172
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An astonishingly unique historical novel, which begins in Trinidad in the 1940s, this is an example of the best that an audiobook can offer. The two narrators, Ron Butler and Bahni Turpin, are superb choices who move the listener smoothly between the two main characters. Farook and Marcia Garcia are star-crossed lovers who don’t have fate on their side. Turpin evokes the rhythms of English as spoken in Trinidad, lyrical, and rhythmic. Through her confident narrative style, Marica Garcia comes across as a strong, beleaguered young woman. Her trials evoke empathy in the listener. Butler establishes the contorted choices that face Farook as an Indian man who is prevented by racism from marrying his true love. This sprawling tale spans Trinidad and the United States, from the 1940s-1960s.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2015
Duration: 13 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this stand-alone novel set during the Hundred Years' War, Thomas of Hookton, hero of Cornwell's Grail Quest trilogy, returns with his band of mercenaries in pursuit of the sword of Saint Peter—a holy relic said to bestow great power. Naturally, others are also in pursuit and are determined to win the sword at any cost. Jack Hawkins delivers a stunning performance of this dramatic novel of political intrigue and military battle. Throughout, he effortlessly distinguishes characters from all over Western Europe through various accents. Hawkins's thoughtful reading reveals the emotions of the characters, enhancing their portrayals. His performance is full of energy during Cornwell's signature battle scenes, offering the listener a visceral experience of war.
Pub Date: Jan. 8, 2013
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780062209344
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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