In this audio collection of seven stories, two characters act as the connecting fibers. Julian Rhind-Tutt strengthens those fibers with a stellar narration that exudes mystery and intrigue through meticulous pacing and selective emphasis. As each story takes the audience back further in time, Rhind-Tutt adjusts his dialect and tone to match the period, characters, and events. He simultaneously maintains consistency in the connecting narrative, which focuses on the return of the two souls, Merle and Eric, as well as recurring symbols like the hares, apples, and dragon flowers. The atmospheric music that signals each story shift adds suspense, but it’s the passion of Rhind-Tutt’s reading that makes this audiobook extraordinary—and one not to be missed by listeners of any age.
(Fantasy. 13 & up)Pub Date: April 22, 2014
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780553397284
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This young adult audiobook is full of secrets and lies.
When they were 4, identical twins Aria and Caliste’s mother, Grace, disappeared, and the sisters were separated. Years later, Grace’s body is discovered in a lake haunted by the Ghoul. The two young women travel to Minnesota and uncover family secrets—including each other’s existence. Narrators Rebecca Ho and Chantria Tram capture the twins’ emotions as they discover what has been kept hidden from them. Carolina Do exquisitely performs the point of view of the Ghoul. However, audible pick-ups make this production sound uneven and may distract from the listening experience.
This young adult audiobook is full of secrets and lies.Pub Date: Dec. 9, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217157983
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
Rebecca Soler makes action scenes impossible to pause as she narrates this romantic Bluebeard retelling. Mallory descends from witches, but her only magic is the ability to see ghosts. To earn a living she and her sister sell fake spells and artifacts and give tours of the mansion that once belonged to Count Bastien Saphir, who many believe murdered three wives. When Bastien's great-great-grandson, handsome Armand, offers a reward to rid his home of the murderous ghost of his ancestor, Mallory doesn't hesitate. When a new murder takes place, she investigates whether the murderer is truly the ghost of Bastien or someone who is part of the household. Soler's precise diction and intensifying pace ramp up the suspense in this story inspired by French folklore.
(Supernatural mystery. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250411433
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
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.
