Identity theft takes on a new meaning in this mesmerizing biography/social study narrated by the adept January LaVoy. LaVoy, with her modulated, attentive tone, and author Levin, with his thorough research and clear writing style, both try to find the humanity in a woman who may have murdered three people, kidnapped and sold children, and defrauded public assistance programs. Strangely, she served time only for the latter charge—ripping off welfare programs for $7,000. But the "welfare queen" myth that she inspired helped elect Ronald Reagan (who wasn't afraid to embellish the charges against her) and propelled the post-Reagan anti-public assistance movement. Part history and part true crime, this is a sad but true story of lost identity.
Pub Date: May 21, 2019
Duration: 12 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781478995135
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners will appreciate Swift’s talent and perseverance.
In this compelling audiobook, journalist Swift relates the pleasures and pains of completing a 14-state trek of the 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail, and describes the people he meets along the way. His original excursion coincided with the 1990 murder of two hikers whom he’d met on the trail. More than three decades later, Swift recreates his hike, seeking answers about the murders and noting the ways that global warming is threatening the A.T. Swift’s voice has some gravel in it, befitting a man in his mid-60s. He relates his experiences in well-wrought descriptions: a near miss from a falling tree; an encounter with a rattlesnake; injuries to his back, hand, and ankle; and the often daunting terrain.
Listeners will appreciate Swift’s talent and perseverance.Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 49 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063265462
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
A clear, enraging audiobook about a dangerous abuser, narrated skillfully and with care.
One of Gabra Zackman's strengths is her ability to narrate nonfiction so eloquently. This deeply researched audiobook unwinds a tragic and enraging story about a master manipulator. Paul Skalnik spent decades getting close to people, deceiving them with lies about his accomplishments, taking advantage of them, and disappearing. He never truly paid for his crimes, which included falsely implicating others and abusing multiple women and girls. He was aided by a legal system all too willing to give him lenient sentences and no real accountability. Zackman conveys this work with a humanity that connects with the heart of the injustices committed and the people who were affected.
A clear, enraging audiobook about a dangerous abuser, narrated skillfully and with care.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 58 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217159673
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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