Each portion of this slow-burn thriller is tackled by a different narrator who adds their own unique twist to Swanson's layered characters. Saskia Maarleveld delivers librarian Martha Ratliff's chapters, highlighting Martha's curiosity and distress. Kathleen Early narrates Lily Kitner's point of view. Early's performance sounds stiff in contrast to Maarleveld's. Newlywed Martha seeks help from her college classmate, Lily, when she suspects her husband, Alan, of violence. Digging into Alan's travels, they stumble upon an old friend, Ethan Saltz. As Lily discovers the truth about Ethan, with the help of Henry Kimball, it might be too late.
Pub Date: June 11, 2024
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063205062
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Atmospheric and deliberate, Suzanne Elise Freeman's narration will grab listeners from the very beginning of this mystery. Marlowe Fisher lives on her family's sprawling farm in historic Gray House. An illustrator in her 30s, Marlowe has been shaped by the disappearance of her best friend, Nora, 20 years earlier. Now, a murder in the fields disturbs decades of secrets, and the recent death is tied to Nora's unsolved case. Freeman voices a wide range of characters as the story alternates between the present day and the year before Nora went missing. As Freeman's intentional delivery matches the buildup of the mystery, listeners will find themselves questioning everything.
Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798992377026
Publisher: Zibby Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Eric Altheide excels at projecting the tension in this compelling novel about a young fiction writer whose actions thrust him into dramas beyond any he ever imagined. Altheide portrays the ambitious writer David Trent, who is determined to publish and thrilled when an award lands him in the limelight. In order to retain his status, he becomes immersed in lies, cheating, and murder. Key to this story arc is Altheide's excellent portrayal of antihero Silas Hale, a lauded writer whose sadistic bullying is unknown to his adoring fans. Altheide successfully manages the novel's twisting plot, memorable characterizations, and satirical tone. This audiobook reveals the danger, darkness, and infighting that may lurk beneath the surface of literary fame.
Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063445307
Publisher: Harper 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.
