With his easy wit and comfortable Irish lilt, Gerard Doyle is once again the go-to narrator for Mick Herron's bestselling Slough House series. It's business as usual in this ninth story, in which the "slow horses"--demoted and/or disgraced British intelligence officers--are once again left to stand down and watch their careers crumble. Instead, they take on the case in question and attempt to save the day. Doyle is especially adept at navigating the witty and insightful dialogue, which ranges from the boss's grumpy malapropisms to the underlings' eye-rolling asides. Doyle's voice has become such a part of the series that he sounds like an extra member of this fascinating and extremely dysfunctional family of spies who are caught between betrayal and redemption.
Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2025
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798897564293
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Fontana’s strong performance is the perfect vehicle for this tale of modern-day spycraft.
Disgraced former CIA operative Ari Falk’s self-imposed exile in the Republic of Georgia ends abruptly, and he finds himself at the heart of a mission to save the world from the leader of an extremist group intent on changing the balance of political power in Europe. Narrator Santino Fontana demonstrates a wide variety of accents, bringing to life characters from across the globe. His careful characterizations ensure the polished flow of the plot, and his skills are highlighted during dialogue-heavy scenes, where he seamlessly moves between characters and accents. Fontana’s timing and spot-on pacing keep the tension building as the twisting plot unfolds.
Fontana’s strong performance is the perfect vehicle for this tale of modern-day spycraft.Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668123232
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 25, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
Lakin makes this globe-trotting thriller feel breathlessly personal.
Christine Lakin's narration transforms an espionage thriller into a taut psychological journey. Lakin captures Anna Vaughn's evolution from a B-list actress to a reluctant spy with remarkable vocal precision. When Anna goes undercover to rescue her missing friend, Lakin doesn't rely on dramatic vocal flourishes; instead, she conveys tension through subtle shifts in pacing and breath control that mirror Anna's mounting fear. Her portrayal of FBI handler Kevin Matthews balances authority with ambiguity, keeping listeners guessing about his true loyalties. Lakin maintains clarity during the fraught action sequences without sacrificing urgency, making combat choreography comprehensible. Her vocal distinctions among supporting characters, from menacing oligarchs to Anna's troubled sister, feel organic.
Lakin makes this globe-trotting thriller feel breathlessly personal.Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063393073
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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