Intrigue abounds, and nothing is what it appears.
Sepetys spins a tale inspired by true events, and Saskia Maarleveld’s exceptional range of voices makes listening enjoyable. Well-researched history and clearly defined characters add richness to 1920s Detroit, where society’s elite rub shoulders with gangsters. Marjorie Lennox, youngest daughter of a wealthy family that puts the “dys” in dysfunction, secretly attends an art colony for women. She’s a talented fashion designer and delights in meeting other artistic women. But mysterious disappearances and strange noises confirm that something about the colony is off. Maarleveld’s ability to slip various personalities on and off is impressive. She’s marvelous delivering sinister machinations, and in an era when women were powerless and easily disposed of, Maarleveld brings their plight into sharp focus.
Intrigue abounds, and nothing is what it appears.Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217342600
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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