From suspense based on true history to an unorthodox detective inspector to a quartet of retired assassins, this month’s audiobooks offer something for fans of every flavor of mystery listening. Plus, the latest from favorite authors Stephen Graham Jones and Nicci French. Single voices, duos, and ensemble narrators bring these audiobooks to vivid and engrossing life.
THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER
by Stephen Graham Jones | Read by Shane Ghostkeeper, Marin Ireland, Owen Teale
AudioFile Earphones Award
[Simon & Schuster Audio | 15 hrs.]
Listeners don’t just experience a fascinating historical drama—they also become steeped in a bloody gothic Western. Stellar performances are the center of this compelling listening experience. Narrator Marin Ireland fully embodies the beleaguered humanities professor who, while deep diving into the campus archive, discovers the story of her ancestors. In a deft transition back to 1912, a Lutheran pastor slowly unwinds the secrets of his relationship with Good Stab, a Blackfeet Indian who mysteriously appears in his congregation. Complete with creative production touches, the result is a dark, satisfying listen.
THE GHOSTS OF ROME: Rome Escape Line, Book 2
by Joseph O’Connor | Read by Stephen Hogan, Barnaby Edwards, Aoife Duffin, David John, Gertrude Toma, Laurence Bouvard
AudioFile Earphones Award
[Dreamscape | 11.75 hrs.]
The second novel in Joseph O’Connor’s proposed trilogy bristles with life. Superb performances from a talented cast reveal the thoughts and emotions of a group of righteous men and women who saved hundreds from Nazi brutality. In return for the Pope’s agreeing to remain neutral, Vatican City is forbidden to the German occupiers. In this audiobook inspired by the true story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, an escape line called “The Choir” operates within Vatican walls. Through individual statements and recorded transcripts, the narrators portray ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
HANG ON ST. CHRISTOPHER: Sean Duffy, Book 8
by Adrian McKinty| Read by Gerard Doyle
[Blackstone Audio | 10 hrs.]
Golden Voice narrator Gerard Doyle once again brings the quirkiness and erudition of D.I. Sean Duffy to life as he takes on a case that his boss, who is away on vacation, can’t handle. It’s 1992 in Belfast, and the murder of an IRA assassin means that Duffy must clock more time hunting for the killer despite his efforts to cut back as he nears retirement. Doyle’s slyly humorous tone makes the story feel like a caper at times as he revels in Duffy’s unorthodox approach.
KILLS WELL WITH OTHERS
by Deanna Raybourn| Read by Jane Oppenheimer, Christina Delaine
AudioFile Earphones Award
[Penguin Audio | 10.25 hrs.]
Jane Oppenheimer and Christina Delaine offer outstanding performances as four 50-something retired assassins find themselves back in the game, sponsored by a mysterious entity called “The Museum.” After the death of one of their own, the Museum believes there’s a security leak. Bored with their retirement lives, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie relish the opportunity to get back to the work they love: killing bad people. Terrific narrations, twisty plotting, and laugh-out-loud moments make this second book in Raybourn’s delightful series a must-listen.
THE LAST DAYS OF KIRA MULLAN
by Nicci French| Read by Sophie Roberts
[Harper Audio | 11.5 hrs.]
When Nancy’s life implodes after a psychotic break, trouble seems to follow her: A neighbor in her new apartment building commits suicide. Sophie Roberts’s gripping narration brings every layer of this psychological thriller to life. As Nancy begins to hear strange voices in her new flat, Roberts keeps listeners questioning what’s going on. She captures Nancy’s initial fragile hope, growing paranoia, and, then, her unraveling reality.
