It's been 38 years since we first met Rusty Sabich in PRESUMED INNOCENT. Narrator Grover Gardner, one of the best in the business, affects a smooth and evocative tone as he reminds us how Rusty was found innocent of murdering his mistress. Now he's entering the third act of his life with his engagement to the loving and insightful Bea. Gardner's tone and rhythm increase the tension as authorities accuse Bea's young adult African American son, Aaron, of killing his girlfriend. Rusty must return to court to save Aaron's life--and his last chance for love. Gardner adds a tone of mistrust as Rusty questions whether Aaron can receive a fair trial. He delightfully delivers Gen Z slang as heartbreaking revelations come to light.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 20 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668645000
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
C.J. Box writes about life in wild Wyoming, short stories of people living a rugged life by choice or by circumstance. David Chandler narrates in a rough-edged whiskey voice that suggests summer heat, bitter winters, and windswept prairies, guiding the listener through 10 adventures of men like Fish and Game Officer Joe Pickett. Chandler brings the listener into this strange world where, more often than not, men have to create their own justice. His performance of the economical stories, some rarely seen, is perfect. The tale of the frozen body of a Native American basketball player turned speed freak, her arm reaching through the ice of a lake in a final jump shot, is one of the most fascinating in the collection.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781470392796
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Michael Beck brings his best Southern drawl to his portrayal of a wealthy, eccentric widow, Eleanor, and her small-town debt-ridden lawyer, Simon, who is eager to handle her fortune. When Eleanor dies under suspicious circumstances, evidence strongly points to Simon, who must find the true killer before he loses everything. Beck infuses his characters with drawls befitting their personalities: elderly Eleanor with her high-pitched drawl; Simon with his good-old-boy drawl; criminal stepsons with their rough, guttural drawls; and old-fashioned Southern judges with their lazy drawls. Listeners will hold their breath as Beck builds the suspense in this slow-burn Southern tale of greed.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 14 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593607510
Publisher: Random House 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.
