Narrator Xe Sands combines an easy-listening voice and a wide range of character differentiation in this suspenseful story. Orla and Snow Bennett and their two children are ready to escape their harried lives in the city. They go to the Adirondack Mountains, where they expect a peaceful existence, but things are not what they seem. The isolation proves frightening as something formless and frightening begins to come for the family. Sands varies her tone and pacing to portray the keen awareness and intelligence of Orla, who must do everything she can to save her loved ones. Capturing the story's blend of calm and creepiness, Sands takes listeners on an eerie adventure.
Pub Date: July 14, 2020
Duration: 10 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781549181658
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The narration deepens the dread of three brothers escaping war only to question their sanity.
Narrator Eric Fox sharpens a historical horror tale into a breathless listening experience. Three brothers desert the Confederate Army during the Civil War and begin the journey home. Fox's steady, rugged tone grounds the brothers' march and keeps the men distinct. His narration helps the listener track shifting loyalties and deepen the sense of threat without bogging down the action. Fracassi's horror turns on atmosphere as much as plot, and the narration leans into that with measured pacing and controlled tension. At times, the restraint can feel a shade too even, but the recording heightens the isolation and makes the woods feel claustrophobic.
The narration deepens the dread of three brothers escaping war only to question their sanity.Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 51 mins
DD ISBN: 9798890931061
Publisher: Vibrance Press
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2026
Kowal’s performance enhances this gothic horror audiobook.
Mary Robinette Kowal narrates this historical horror audiobook about a woman tasked with illustrating parasitic insects. Sonia, a scientific illustrator in 1899 North Carolina, has taken the job of assisting entomologist Dr. Halder in completing his book. Several mysteries surround her new assignment—the local woods are rumored to be full of “blood thieves,” and the animals around Halder’s estate act strangely. Plus, Halder’s previous illustrator was also his wife, whose current whereabouts are unknown. Kowal’s mature voice and precise pacing maintain a creepy atmosphere as Sonia slowly unravels the doctor’s secrets and how they connect to the insects he’s studying. She skillfully uses an American Southern accent and adjusts her cadence to enliven portrayals of the estate’s other workers.
Kowal’s performance enhances this gothic horror audiobook.Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 14 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250436153
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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