Audio

Fiction

Concurrent with the 75th anniversary of author/activist Baldwin's birth is this first-ever audio release of his 1962 novel depicting life in New York and France and exploring the era's racial, gender, and sexual taboos. Audie Award winner Dion Graham (River Rising) smoothly conveys the power and rhythm of Baldwin's prose. Highly recommended for readers/listeners of American and African American classics. [Audio clip available through www.bbcaudiobooksamerica.com; Baldwin's 1963 essay collection, The Fire Next Time, is also available from Sound Library, with Jesse L. Martin reading.—Ed.]—Gwendolyn Osborne, Evanston, IL

British author Geras's (Made in Heaven) family saga involves a struggling single mother who inherits the copyright to her grandfather's out-of-print novels, which are set in a Japanese POW camp and are full of suffering, survival, and some startling secrets. Narrator Maggie Mash (Blood Red Horse) does a great job voicing the motley cast of characters, but the production is overlong, with too much information about some of the family members. Of marginal interest to listeners owing to its length and of marginal interest to libraries owing to its price.—Barbara Valle, El Paso P.L., TX

New York Times best-selling author Green's (www.timgreenbooks.com) latest thriller reintroduces Dallas attorney Casey Jordan, who last appeared in The Letter of the Law (2000). When an illegal Mexican worker is "accidentally" killed by an unscrupulous, ruthless, and extremely powerful senator, Casey and her PI boyfriend go after the senator only to discover he is untouchable and truly above the law. Audie Award nominee Bernadette Dunne (see Behind the Mike, LJ 5/15/09) keeps the suspense alive, brilliantly realizing each character's accent and tone. For fans of legal thrillers. [Embeddable audio clip available through library.booksontape.com.—Ed.]—Ilka Gordon, Siegal Coll. of Judaic Studies Lib., Cleveland

Celebrated British crime novelist Hewson (www.davidhewson.com) is today perhaps best known for his Nic Costa books, set in modern Rome. But before that series, Hewson wrote several stand-alone novels, Epiphany (1996) among them. Moving between 1975 California and 1995 Seattle, it revolves around an incident in which one child is found dead and another goes permanently missing. Canadian voice actor Peter Marinker's reading is fine, but the narrative's jumping between time periods without any verbal differentiation and (apparently) any written cues might confuse some listeners. Otherwise, a well-executed story in both its writing and its reading; recommended.—Kristen L. Smith, Loras Coll. Lib., Dubuque, IA

Former U.S. Navy officer Jones structures his dynamic Civil War novel around the experiences of two real-life brothers—William Prentiss, a Confederate soldier, and Clifton, a Union officer—adding a smartly conceived dramatic narrative hook by imagining how poet Walt Whitman's well-documented wartime experiences might have figured into their lives. Jones's solid research and fictional flourishes illuminate the tumult and the tragedy of the war, while actress Kirsten Beyer's passionate inflection befits these 19th-century characters and brings the war to an even more intimate level for listeners. While this title will appeal to Civil War reenactors and fans of the novels of Michael Shaara and his son, Jeff Shaara, it should also interest those less informed about the war and perhaps inspire them to seek out nonfiction accounts.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX

A cottage on the Cornish coast is home to secrets that pull together three generations of women, despite the decades and oceans that separate them. Morton follows up her New York Times best-selling debut novel, The House at Riverton (2008)—also available from Bolinda Audio, as The Shifting Fog—with this perfect mix of scandal, drama, mystery, and just a hint of fairy-tale wonder. Actress/narrator Caroline Lee (The Ghost's Child) is a natural to portray this largely Australian cast of characters, though her other accents might leave listeners guessing. Likely to appeal to those who enjoyed Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale. [Audio clip available through www.bolinda.com; the Atria: S.& S. hc was "strongly recommended for readers who enjoy intergenerational family sagas," LJ Xpress review 3/20/09.—Ed.]—Lisa Anderson, Metropolitan Community Coll. Lib., Omaha

This 12th entry in O'Shaughnessy's (www.perrio.com) Nina Reilly series—following Case of Lies (2005), also available from Recorded Books—is really the first, a prequel taking readers back to Nina's law school days and her very first case. The book gives a good family background and clearly sets the course of Nina's life and career, but it suffers from some obviousness and teeters between a murder mystery and a romance. Narrator Johanna Parker (After the Leaves Fall) brings the characters to life, especially Nina's four-year-old son, Bob. For fans of the series. [An alternate abridged recording is available from S. & S. Audio, with Dagmar Dominczyk reading.—Ed.]—Joyce Kessel, Villa Maria Coll., Buffalo

Agatha Award-winning author Penny's (www.louisepenny.com) fourth "Three Pines" mystery—following The Cruelest Month (2008), also available from Blackstone Audio—will captivate those listeners new to the series as well as devoted series followers. A murder intrudes on an anniversary celebration at a remote luxury inn in Quebec, and, in classic drawing-room style, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache can look only to the family and hotel staff for suspects. Listeners to Ralph Cosham's (The Master) exquisite reading will not be surprised to learn he's won three Listen Up Awards from Publishers Weekly. Highly recommended. [Audio clip available through www.blackstoneaudio.com; the Minotaur: St. Martin's hc, a New York Times best seller, received a starred review, LJ 12/08.—Ed.]—Beth Farrell, Portage Cty. Dist. Lib., Garrettsville, OH

Phillips follows the Audie Award-winning Natural Born Charmer, an LJ Best Audiobook of 2007, with this novel about Georgie York, a once-adored teenage sitcom star known as Scooter Brown, and her unlikely romance with former costar Bram Shepard. Phillips has a gift for comedy, and here she makes the most of the Hollywood lifestyle and movie star clichés. Actress/narrator Julia Gibson (Belong to Me) takes on each character with enthusiasm, deftly moving between miserable Georgie—"What would Scooter do?"—and her confident alter ego. Gibson's portrayal of grumpy housekeeper Chaz is especially on the mark; as Gibson punches out her words, you can feel Chaz's impatience and annoyance with the world. A charming production recommended for all. [Audio clip available through www.harperaudio.com; the Morrow hc was described as a "quintessentially Phillips book" that "all public libraries should want," LJ 2/15/09.—Ed.]—Juleigh Muirhead Clark, Colonial Williamsburg Fdn. Lib., VA

Following a seven-year absence, Edgar, Shamus, Nero, and Anthony Award winner Rozan (Winter and Night) returns to the Lydia Chin/Bill Smith mystery series with this ninth entry involving Jewish Holocaust refugees in Shanghai, corrupt officials, current Chinatown jewelers, mysterious heirs, and the legendary Shanghai Moon, a necklace that curses its owner—if, in fact, it exists. Actress Samantha Quan deftly juggles a number of accents and ages, delivering an impressive performance. A compelling listen; recommended. [Sound Library has the complete backlist in this series and is contracted for one other forthcoming title; the Minotaur: St. Martin's hc received a starred review, LJ 1/09.—Ed.]—Joyce Kessel, Villa Maria Coll., Buffalo

Anelli, webmistress of the wildly popular Harry Potter fan site The-Leaky-Cauldron.org, here tells the complete story of the Potter phenomenon, investigating such aspects of the Potter world as the musical movement Wizard Rock, the "cracking" of the New York Times best sellers list, and the support fans gave one another in the aftermath of 9/11. Read with feeling by Renée Raudman (A Weekend To Change Your Life), who moves the story flawlessly along with her distinct characterization, and with a foreword by J.K. Rowling. For Potter fans of all ages. [Audio clip available through www.tantor.com; the Pocket pb was recommended as "a worthwhile purchase" for "all libraries serving Potter fans," LJ 1/09.—Ed.]—Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix P.L.

In this hilarious memoir, actress/author Fisher (www.carriefisher.com) relates the stressful events of her roller-coaster life. Describing herself as a product of "Hollywood in-breeding" (her parents are actors Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds), she goes on to discuss her childhood, her shot to stardom at 19 through her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars, her rocky romantic relationships, and her struggle with drug addiction and mental illness. Fisher's conversational, laugh-out-loud delivery combined with her no-holds-barred honesty strongly recommend this title for all. [The S. & S. hc, published in December 2008, was a New York Times best seller; the S. & S. pb will go on sale in October 2009.—Ed.]—Phillip Oliver, Univ. of North Alabama Lib., Florence

Since British explorer Percy Harrison Fawcett and his party were lost in the Amazon in their 1925 quest to find an ancient civilization known as El Dorado, many have attempted to retrace his route, including Grann, a staff writer at The New Yorker. Here, Grann chronicles Fawcett's life and career, some of the explorers and would-be explorers who followed in his wake, and Grann's own rabid interest and inevitable pursuit. Despite actor/narrator Mark Deakin's (Beautiful Children) somewhat torpid performance, this captivating and gripping title warrants purchase. With the story already optioned by Brad Pitt's production company, expect demand. [Embeddable audio clip available through library.booksontape.com; the Doubleday hc, a New York Times best seller, was described as "a compelling and entertaining read," LJ 11/1/08.—Ed.]—Risa Getman, Hendrick Hudson Free Lib., Montrose, NY

Rolling Stone contributing editor Knopper weaves an incredibly detailed history of the music industry in the late 20th and early 21st centuries to explain how greed, corruption, and resistance to change culminated in the loss of power and success for many music labels in the last ten years. He arranges the material into a coherent narrative and clarifies where his information or sources come up short. But musician/narrator Dan John Miller's (Generation Text) performance, though successful overall, occasionally lacks nuance. And given the subject matter, auditory enhancements like music samples or interview clips would have strengthened this production. However, most will walk away from this audiobook impressed by Knopper's work. [Audio clip available through brillianceaudio.com.—Ed.]—Lance Eaton, Peabody, MA

Originally published in 1985 and newly available on audio, this biography unearths the demons that both plagued Marvin Gaye and inspired his music. Author Ritz, who has previously chronicled the lives of musicians including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and B.B. King, knows the music industry well and had access to Gaye and many in his inner circle. In Audie Award winner Dion Graham's (River Rising) solid performance, he often seems to be channeling the singer's vocal range and speech patterns. Although the production would have benefitted from music at the CD breaks, this concise abridgment tells Gaye's story while providing insight into Motown and the music industry during his lifetime. Highly recommended. [Audio clip available through www.blackstoneaudio.com; this year marks the 70th anniversary of Gaye's birth, the 25th anniversary of his death, and the 50th anniversary of Motown.—Ed.]—Gwendolyn Osborne, Evanston, IL

Carroll (genetics, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison) tracks the journeys of exploration undertaken by Charles Darwin, Alfred Wallace, and Henry Walter Bates, whose discoveries led to the formulation of the theory of evolution, also summarizing key discoveries in paleontology and geology that have further informed our understanding of ancient life. The breadth of material provides adequate background and history for anyone new to this topic and a good summary overview for those already familiar with the subject. Jim Bond's (Going Lean) capable narration is unobtrusive and appropriate to the subject matter, and the audiobook's focus on first-person narratives heightens its overall appeal. Recommended. [Audio clip available through brillianceaudio.com.—Ed.]—Gloria Maxwell, Metropolitan Community Coll.-Penn Valley Lib., Kansas City, MO

Author, poet, and historian Whitfield (Landmarks in Western Science) celebrates the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth with this marvelous "nutshell" summary of the English naturalist's life and his important contributions to science, reminding listeners of Darwin's continued impact. The author himself narrates, his distinctly British reading conveying Darwin's own British culture and his well-paced delivery helping to sustain interest. This title, one of many future "nutshell" works from this publisher to cover various other fields of study in a similarly cogent, succinct manner, serves as a useful introduction to Darwin's life and work and nicely bookends the more comprehensive approach to audio learning offered by The Teaching Company and Recorded Books' "Modern Scholar" series. Highly recommended. [Audio clip available through www.naxosaudiobooks.com.—Ed.]—Dale Farris, Groves, TX