In King’s new novel, THE STAND meets “The X-Files” when a solid but invisible dome descends over a small Maine town. Those inside are trapped in a new civilization of their own making. Raul Esparza attempts to do justice to King’s epic, but hearing King read his author’s note at the end of the book demonstrates how miserably Esparza falls short of an authentic Maine accent. Narrative passages, delivered without an accent and with impeccable timing, keep the long story moving. However, the dialogue of the primary antagonist, described as a lifelong Mainer, does not sound realistic. Esparza’s children and women also fare poorly as they are voiced inconsistently and bear little resemblance to the author’s details on their origins and character.
Pub Date: Nov. 10, 2009
Duration: 35 hrs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Part of the joy of Tom Clancy novels is one's belief that the stories could come true. His latest entry stretches that some as we find international terrorists building a nuclear bomb which is used to set Americans and Russians against one another. Jay Robertson reads with a newscaster's voice, crisp and clear with a light touch of drama. However, he does little to help listeners identify Clancy's huge cast of characters, and dialects seem difficult for him as he occasionally slips in and out of character. Nonetheless, patient listeners are rewarded as the plot unfolds. This will be a welcome addition to any library justifying the price of the multi-cassettte volumes.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 16 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
John Sanford is back with another psychological thriller in his Prey series. Surgeon, psychopath and serial killer Bekker is on the loose again after the easiest jailbreak in recent memory. Ken Howard's reading moves along with all the brooding energy a reader could want from a suspense book. His narration is deep, clear and well-suited to the gravelly voices of retired detective Lucas Davenport and the other cops. While Howard manages good dialects and shifts in character, his female voices leave a lot to be desired. For the most part, the abridgment gleefully throws logic and characterization overboard in favor of thrills, but the basic flavor of many characters is still fairly well maintained.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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