By Ellen Quint
As audiobooks continue to be the fastest-growing format in digital publishing, they are no longer just an afterthought for authors and fans. All subgenres of thriller, mystery, and suspense are capturing attention and building strong fanbases through audio, as demonstrated by several outstanding recent releases.
Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan
Narrated by Alison McGirr
Dervla McTiernan’s latest police procedural, set in Melbourne, Australia, is masterfully performed by Alison McGirr. The complex plot introduces listeners to Detective Sergeant Judith Lee, who carries her own dark baggage into a sexual harassment investigation that echoes an unresolved case from years past. Through subtle shifts in accent, tone, and pacing, McGirr skillfully differentiates the characters. The sharp twists and layered personalities make this a non-stop listen.
As Far As She Knew by Diana Awad
Introduction by Mindy Kaling | Narrated by Lameece Issaq
Listeners get a peek into an Arab-American community in this domestic suspense novel by Diana Awad, expertly performed by Lameece Issaq. Upon the sudden death of her beloved husband of over two decades, Amira Abadi discovers an inexplicable financial arrangement that forces her to question everything she knew about her life. Attempting to protect her two college-aged children, Abadi commits to uncovering the truth—taking listeners along on a jarring, emotional rollercoaster.
No One Knows You’re Here by Rachel Howzell Hall
Narrated by Tamika Katon-Donegal and Adam Lazarre-White
Narrator Tamika Katon-Donegal delivers the voice of intrepid journalist Syeeda McKay as she relentlessly pursues the story of a serial killer targeting Black sex workers along Los Angeles’s Western Avenue. The story shines a glaring light on systemic racism and the societal neglect that allowed these crimes to go ignored for years. For pure chills, Adam Lazarre-White’s sinister performance in the chapters told from the killer’s perspective makes for a haunting contrast.
Revenge Prey by John Sandford
Narrated by Robert Petkoff | Prey Series, Book 36
How does an author keep a long-running series feeling fresh? John Sandford proves it is achievable by allowing his characters to age and mature while constantly reinventing his plot twists. Narrator Robert Petkoff masterfully matches Sandford’s high-octane pacing as U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport works to protect a defecting Russian family. The ten-and-a-half-hour runtime flies by.
Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line by Elle Cosimano
Narrated by Angela Dawe
In this installment of the popular series, narrator Angela Dawe once again brings Elle Cosimano’s laugh-out-loud world to life. Once again listeners get to ride along with amateur sleuth Finlay Donovan and her partner-in-crime-solving babysitter, Vero. Dawe captures distinct, perfectly matched voices for every character—young and old, heroic and villainous alike. The result is a delightfully entertaining, fast-moving listening experience.
About The Author
Ellen Quint is an audiobook reviewer, mystery writer, and Audies judge. Having listened to thousands of audiobooks, she has a keen sense of what makes for a compelling listen. She brings this experience to her writing for Kirkus Audiobook Reviews (formerly Audiofile Magazine), where she reviews audiobooks, and has written feature articles on mystery/suspense audiobooks, in addition to interviews with authors including S.A. Cosby and David Baldacci. Her own crime short stories appear in the anthologies: New York State of Crime; Justice for All-Murder New York Style; Family Matters; and Where Crime Never Sleeps.
