Stephanie Németh-Parker's warm, conversational voice is spot-on for American actress Tess Bright, who is transported--along with her taciturn, disapproving costar, Hugh Balfour--to Jane Austen's England while filming a NORTHANGER ABBEY adaptation. Németh-Parker's narration is a liquid presence that conveys Tess's grief over her mother's death and her precarious career prospects. Tess's relatable frankness is another element of Németh-Parker's successful characterization. Her voice for Hugh is equally appealing; deeper tones depict his brooding attractiveness and social awkwardness. Her other British accents, including the wispy, higher voice used for nineteenth-century Tess, are less immersive. The noticeable difference between Tess's dialogue and her thoughts is distracting. Bell's high-spirited time-travel story and Németh-Parker's authentic American accents carry the audio despite uneven British accents.
Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250415851
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Crick’s dynamic performance will keep listeners entertained.
Narrator Beverley A. Crick transports listeners to England after Napolean’s exile from France. The Earl of Heathbrook was held captive in France during Napolean's reign. When he returns to England, he has to fight to gain guardianship of his younger brothers. In order to make himself seem more responsible, the Earl persuades Giselle Bernard, a Frenchwoman he knows, to pretend to be his fiancée. Crick skillfully flows between Giselle’s French accent and Heathbrook’s English one. When Heathbrook is visited by a friend from Scotland, Crick is equally adept at voicing his accent. Giselle has a no-nonsense quality, which Crick expresses well, along with the youthfulness of Heathbrook’s younger brothers.
Crick’s dynamic performance will keep listeners entertained.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 40 mins
DD ISBN: 9798899742712
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: May 12, 2026
Listeners will long for Tess and Dominic to find the treasure—and love—together.
Narrator Karen Cass leads listeners on an adventurous treasure hunt for an elusive Viking hoard in Victorian Norfolk, England. Dominic Prince comes from a famous line of treasure hunters, and he’s determined to make a name for himself when an American tycoon funds his latest expedition. Tess Hawthorne isn’t thrilled when a handsome scoundrel shows up in her hometown looking for the very treasure she’s been searching for her whole life. Cass gives an expressive and nuanced performance; her light, feminine tone gives Tess the perfect touch of grace and determination, while her warmer, soothing voice for Dominic makes him sound reassuring and appealing. Cass transitions flawlessly among secondary characters, giving each a distinct voice.
Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 12 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063347397
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: today
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