When a beloved book series must change narrators, it can sometimes be disconcerting, but Eric Pollins admirably takes the reigns from the late Del Roy, who narrated the first four books in this series. In Book 5, the members of the Mysterious Benedict Society are older; Reynie, Kate, and Sticky are on the verge of adulthood when they and Constance reunite for a new adventure. A 5-year-old telepath named Tai, voiced with raspy, wide-eyed innocence, joins them to round up Ledroptha Curtain's 10 dangerous henchmen who have escaped from prison. Pollins imbues Mr. Benedict with gruff warmth, and Curtain's voice drips with arrogance. This cozy mystery full of puzzles and wordplay begs for the whole family to settle in and listen together.
(Fiction. 11-13)Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2019
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781549124037
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ebner’s well-paced narration will engage listeners to the very end of this excellent audiobook.
Jeff Ebner's youthful, enthusiastic voice immediately pulls listeners into this fun-filled summer adventure. Eleven-year-old Felix and his neighbor, Marigold, find a mysterious wooden box that contains a field recorder and a coded message that subsequently sends them on a fantastically sound-filled scavenger hunt. The inclusion of actual sound effects—an ice cream truck’s jingle, a barking dog, bird song, and more—throughout the audiobook enhances the listening experience. The music, the voices, and the clues as Felix and Marigold run all over town are irresistible. The story’s conclusion features an unexpected reconnection.
Ebner’s well-paced narration will engage listeners to the very end of this excellent audiobook. (Mystery. 7-11)Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217351961
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2026
A not-too-scary horror audiobook.
Dan Bittner gives a polished performance of Stine’s middle-grade horror novel, narrating with melodramatic flair and dramatic pauses at the end of each cliffhanger chapter. When the Ferber family moves into a creepy old house on Nightmare Street, Joe’s parents are oblivious to the scary things happening in the house. In a parallel story, the Hannigan family moves into the same house, where Shawn has different creepy experiences. Both Joe and Shawn have nightmares in which they encounter horror tropes—headstones, a creepy rag doll, a looping camera, a ventriloquist’s dummy, and masked teachers—in their house and at school. Bittner’s pacing works well, and fans of the Goosebumps series will enjoy the familiar shivers and tongue-in-cheek humor.
A not-too-scary horror audiobook.Pub Date: April 18, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798228588288
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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