The years leading to the American Civil War were turbulent, particularly for immigrants and African-Americans, both victims of their circumstances who had varying abilities to rise above them. Peter Troy follows the lives of two European immigrants—Ethan, from Ireland, and Marcella, from Spain—and two slaves—Mary and Micah—from the years just before the Civil War through the assassination of Lincoln. The four characters, who each tell parts of the story from their own point of view, are performed by four narrators: John Keating, Barrie Kreinik, Allyson Johnson, and Adam Lazarre White, respectively. All four narrators meld seamlessly into their characters and provide stellar performances, providing the listener an engrossing listening experience. Particularly impressive is the ability of all four narrators to mimic the accents and voices of other characters when they interact. There is never an issue with a character sounding completely different when appearing in a section told from a different character’s point of view. This continuity between sections unifies a group of strong individual performances and makes them into a wonderful and cohesive audiobook.
Pub Date: May 15, 2012
Duration: 16 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781609988678
Publisher: AudioGo
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An astonishingly unique historical novel, which begins in Trinidad in the 1940s, this is an example of the best that an audiobook can offer. The two narrators, Ron Butler and Bahni Turpin, are superb choices who move the listener smoothly between the two main characters. Farook and Marcia Garcia are star-crossed lovers who don’t have fate on their side. Turpin evokes the rhythms of English as spoken in Trinidad, lyrical, and rhythmic. Through her confident narrative style, Marica Garcia comes across as a strong, beleaguered young woman. Her trials evoke empathy in the listener. Butler establishes the contorted choices that face Farook as an Indian man who is prevented by racism from marrying his true love. This sprawling tale spans Trinidad and the United States, from the 1940s-1960s.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2015
Duration: 13 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this stand-alone novel set during the Hundred Years' War, Thomas of Hookton, hero of Cornwell's Grail Quest trilogy, returns with his band of mercenaries in pursuit of the sword of Saint Peter—a holy relic said to bestow great power. Naturally, others are also in pursuit and are determined to win the sword at any cost. Jack Hawkins delivers a stunning performance of this dramatic novel of political intrigue and military battle. Throughout, he effortlessly distinguishes characters from all over Western Europe through various accents. Hawkins's thoughtful reading reveals the emotions of the characters, enhancing their portrayals. His performance is full of energy during Cornwell's signature battle scenes, offering the listener a visceral experience of war.
Pub Date: Jan. 8, 2013
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780062209344
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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