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WESTSIDE

Bailey Carr narrates this audiobook--part fantasy, part mystery-- admirably. Gilda Carr is an investigator who specializes in solving "tiny mysteries." But this time she finds herself involved in a far bigger situation as her search for a missing glove leads to clues about a murder and the dark nature of the Westside. Set in 1921, Akers's story has a gritty quality. Carr delivers the dialogue well, although her male voices are not always convincingly male. But thanks to a riveting plot and clever dialogue, the audiobook succeeds overall. Listeners will appreciate Carr's style, which is most convincing as the story reaches its conclusion.

Pub Date: May 7, 2019

Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins

DD ISBN: 9780062931504

Publisher: Harper Audio

Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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    RIVER OF BONES AND OTHER STORIES

    Two standout narrators bring Roanhorse’s iconic speculative fiction to new heights.

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    Kamali Minter and Shaun Taylor-Corbett lead listeners into richly developed worlds in this collection of imaginative, genre-bending stories. Each story uses SF and fantasy elements to explore queer Indigenous history and culture, bridging the gap between lived experience and otherworldly happenings. In “A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy,” Taylor-Corbett voices a man who uses technology to manifest a haunting digital version of his dead girlfriend. “Eye and Tooth,” narrated by Minter, blurs the line between monster and monster hunter. The culminating title story, “River of Bones,” returns to the Sixth World series, where Kai tackles past trauma head-on. Minter and Taylor-Corbett capture listeners from the jump, conveying a range of Indigenous identities and experiences and spotlighting mixed-race and queer characters as they navigate an oppressive world.

    Two standout narrators bring Roanhorse’s iconic speculative fiction to new heights.

    Pub Date: March 3, 2026

    Duration: 7 hrs, 38 mins

    DD ISBN: 9781668107355

    Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

    Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026

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      THE ASTRAL LIBRARY

      A NOVEL

      Listeners who long to disappear into a secret book world will enjoy the escape in this love letter to public libraries.

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      Narrator Saskia Maarleveld takes the listener on a wild journey of magical realism with a woman who escapes her depressing life by losing herself within her favorite books. For the downtrodden Alix Watson, the Boston Public Library is a refuge from her troubles—until the day she discovers a secret portal into the fantastical Astral Library. Maarleveld creates a sympathetic impression of Alix while capturing her increasing desperation in a fevered pitch. She vividly portrays the Astral Library’s librarian with grave, smokey indifference. Maarleveld also gives voice to various characters from different time periods and works, ranging from Jane Austen’s Regency England to Sherlock Holmes to The Great Gatsby with skill and humor.

      Listeners who long to disappear into a secret book world will enjoy the escape in this love letter to public libraries.

      Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026

      Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins

      DD ISBN: 9780063244825

      Publisher: Harper Audio

      Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026

      Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026

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