Repellent characters can make for an enticing story, as is shown in this well-performed audiobook. Patty Watts went to prison for five years for her long-standing abuse of her daughter, Rose Gold, who was 18 when her mother was convicted. After her release, Patty, oddly enough, moves in with her daughter--who either very much forgives her mom or very much does not. Narrator Megan Dodds's portrayal of Patty is sometimes sarcastic, sometimes arrogant, oftentimes delusional, and sometimes comical. Jill Winternitz, as Rose Gold, is sometimes sympathetic, always manipulative, and frequently lying. Dodds's performance is edgier, which fits the character, as does Winternitz's more subdued characterization of Rose Gold, who is a lonely, troubled young adult. This is an outstanding story with first-rate performances.
Pub Date: March 17, 2020
Duration: 10 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593165423
Publisher: Penguin 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
Dirk Pitt, intrepid adventurer and master explorer, searches the Sahara for the deadly toxin that is killing marine life world wide. This audio, abridged by Harold Schmidt, lacks most of the adventure, as well as the humor, of Cussler's novels. Narrator Tom Wopat brings an unconventional vocal slant to the ever-cocky Pitt. Using lots of vocal characterization, Wopat brings across the smug brashness of Pitt and handles dialogue briskly. Enhanced by sound effects and small pieces of music, this is an interesting and perplexing mystery.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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