Narrator Liam Aiken skillfully brings this series finale to a satisfying conclusion. Finally, Lemony believes he has answers to his many questions--but does he really? The story's train setting is unique and adds a thrilling sense of place as Stain'd-by-the-Sea is left far behind. Aiken presents the story's clever wordplay and vocabulary in a lively manner that will appeal to young listeners. Lemony must ascertain who murdered one of his heroes, librarian Dashiell Qwerty. Because he loves libraries, librarians, and books, Lemony's sadness is audibly apparent in Aiken's tone. As Lemony and his associates sift through clues, they share tidbits about their favorite authors and books. It's a challenging listen as the suspects continually shift. Aiken's best creation is Hangfire, whose sarcasm and creepy voice will keep listeners on edge.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2015
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781478959656
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A not-too-scary horror audiobook.
Dan Bittner gives a polished performance of Stine’s middle-grade horror novel, narrating with melodramatic flair and dramatic pauses at the end of each cliffhanger chapter. When the Ferber family moves into a creepy old house on Nightmare Street, Joe’s parents are oblivious to the scary things happening in the house. In a parallel story, the Hannigan family moves into the same house, where Shawn has different creepy experiences. Both Joe and Shawn have nightmares in which they encounter horror tropes—headstones, a creepy rag doll, a looping camera, a ventriloquist’s dummy, and masked teachers—in their house and at school. Bittner’s pacing works well, and fans of the Goosebumps series will enjoy the familiar shivers and tongue-in-cheek humor.
A not-too-scary horror audiobook.Pub Date: April 18, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798228588288
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
This story of a man and his dog working together and forming a bond is full of heart.
Joe Jameson narrates as both human and beast in this middle-grade novel about a service dog and his new owner. Goldendoodle Edmund and his adopted owner, Willy, explore the Grand Canyon to solve a mysterious decades-old disappearance. Edmund can talk to other dogs, and he can also see and talk to ghosts. Jameson is a one-man show. His Edmund is perfectly upper-class British, his Chihuahua is all Southern drawl, and his boxer is not the brightest bulb. Aside from delivering flawless accents, Jameson also peppers his narration with haughty scoffs, joyful barks, and the grumbles of monsters.
This story of a man and his dog working together and forming a bond is full of heart. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: March 17, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 54 mins
DD ISBN: 9798318566141
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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