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PREMIUM
Sanctuary
Fans of Isabel Cañas’s The Hacienda and Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House will savor this solidly scary yarn.
Martin’s memoir about living through and emerging from devastation, together with her reflections on history and climate change make for a rich and timely listen.
An alluring exploration of relationships through a fantastical lens that may appeal to those who enjoyed Cassandra Khaw’s The Salt Grows Heavy or Kelly Barnhill’s The Crane Husband.
Bosker’s foray into contemporary art will have listeners visiting local art museums or even pondering their own art purchases.
PREMIUM
The Busy Body
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an amusing contemporary murder mystery that channels classic detective-sidekick stories. Recommended for fans of Betty Hechtman, Richard Osman, and Nita Prose.
A gracefully told portrait of resilience, enhanced with recipes that are both mouthwatering and evocative.
PREMIUM
Treacle Walker
Garner’s latest evokes Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy with the joining of philosophy and childhood perspectives.
PREMIUM
Radiant Heat
Collins’s claustrophobic debut is recommended for those seeking a layered psychological mystery that touches on topics such as sexual abuse, stalking, and the power of nature’s fury.
PREMIUM
The Glutton
Blakemore’s highly recommended sophomore novel, illuminating the complexities behind an infamous historical figure, is devastating and compassionate in equal turns.
PREMIUM
Salt & Broom
Fans of magical retellings will delight in Jane’s newfound powers in this blend of witchy gothic romance and supernatural cozy mystery. Share with listeners who enjoyed the similar setting and mystery in B.R. Myers’s A Dreadful Splendor.
A chorus of voices brings to life the writings, reflections, and history of a groundbreaking magazine. Pair with Stuff Mom Never Told You by Anney Reese and Samantha McVey.
PREMIUM
Last Acts
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking compelling contemporary fiction about family businesses and father/son relationships. Recommended for fans of classic satire authors like Joseph Heller and contemporaries like Frank Bill.
PREMIUM
Root Fractures: Poems
At turns heartbreaking and breathtaking, this collection of poems and images stuns. Listeners will be eager for more from this talented poet.
PREMIUM
This Wretched Valley
A fast-paced, dread-filled survival tale, perfect for fans of Scott Smith’s The Ruins.
Compelling storytelling, animated narration, and well-researched information combine to create a superb listening experience for anyone interested in early American history.
PREMIUM
The Molossus of Old Man Moyer
A perfect ghost story for fans of The Amityville Horror or listeners who prefer not-so-subtle scares. The short runtime makes this a quick supernatural thriller that ends with a decidedly loud bang.
SPONSORED
The number of audiobooks borrowed through libraries around the world has more than doubled since 2019—a telling statistic that speaks to the exploding popularity of books in audio format.
This spring, audiobooks delight those who read with their ears through works that enchant, disrupt, and inspire. Let skilled voice artists pull you into worlds that span history and continents, with spotlights in this edition on Indigenous writers and poetry.
The March 2024 Audio in Depth issue features several standout listens, from fiction titles across genres to multiple memoirs, poetry, and more.
Memoirist and poet Michelle Porter offers a groundbreaking debut novel that's an unforgettable, enchanting listen, while an anthology of Indigenous horror stories offers something for every listener, from quietly unsettling tales to gruesome body horror.
A brief, quietly gorgeous audiobook of Yalie Saweda Kamara's poetry reveals new meaning with every listen, and a groundbreaking and deeply passionate poetry collection from Mikeas Sánchez celebrates language and feminine power.
In the excellent follow-up to Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Emily’s new research project/adventure is more dangerous and action-packed than her last.
An incredibly written and performed historical horror novel and a spellbinding debut that follows the crew of a paranormal investigations TV show are must-listens.
An absurdist history of English monarchs that entertains as it informs. Pair with Stephen Bates’s The Shortest History of the Crown.
PREMIUM
Dirty Thirty
Evanovich’s many fans will love reconnecting with her likable and comic characters as the group tracks down a murderer and unravels a jewelry theft.
PREMIUM
The Wild Between Us
A gripping suspense, recommended for listeners of Lisa Unger, Ruth Ware, or Gillian Flynn.
This excellent series installment will leave listeners desperate to find out what Emily’s up to next.
PREMIUM
The Burnout
Though this novel has moments of genuine hilarity, Kinsella (The Party Crasher) has done better.
PREMIUM
Clover Hendry’s Day Off
A fun and empowering listen that touches on truths about middle age, motherhood, and claiming space for oneself.
PREMIUM
Ladies’ Lunch: And Other Stories
An unforgettable short story collection, with witty and poignant insights and a deeply relatable depiction of women approaching older age with wit and forthrightness.
PREMIUM
Kill Show: A True Crime Novel
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a suspenseful, fast-paced mockumentary that preys on society’s obsession with true crime. Recommended for fans of Michael Robotham, Karin Slaughter, and Lisa Jewell.
The contrast between the narrators’ voices, in timbre, cadence, and personality, brings Eddie and Rowan to life in Brown’s (Recipe for a Perfect Wife) not-to-be-missed audiobook.
PREMIUM
Come and Get It
Reid’s many fans will be eager for this one. Share with listeners more interested in messy, flawed characters than discernible plots.
PREMIUM
The Buried Hours
Though some listeners may be intrigued by the story’s many twists, others may be exasperated by the cartoonishly evil bad guys and a heroine who allows attraction to overrule common sense.
PREMIUM
Raiders of the Lost Heart
Recommended for readers who enjoy outsized plots, steamy romance, and thrilling escapades. Perfect for fans of Sarah Smith’s On Location or Chandra Blumberg’s Digging Up Love.
PREMIUM
The United States of English: The American Language from Colonial Times to the Twenty-First Century
Ostler’s linguistic history is enlightening and fun, and Lewis’s smooth tone is a delight to hear. Sure to be a favorite among logophiles, this is a great recommendation for those who enjoyed E.J. White’s You Talkin’ to Me?? or Henry Hitchings’s The Secret Life of Words.
PREMIUM
Red River Seven
A fun romp with echoes of Jeremy Robert Johnson’s The Loop or Nick Cutter’s The Troop. Bloody escapism at its best.
PREMIUM
Roman Stories
Despite the mixed quality of the narrator ensemble, Lahiri is an important author, and this collection will find a wide audience in most libraries.
PREMIUM
The List
For her keen insights about society on and off the internet, listeners who enjoyed Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid should also enjoy Adegoke’s novel.
Algeo’s thoroughly engaging account of a former president’s unique summer road trip is chock-full of fascinating details and interesting people. Highly recommended for those interested in Americana and social and political history.
PREMIUM
We Have Always Been Who We Are
An imaginative collection of short stories that makes an impact. Share with fans of Aimee Bender’s The Girl in the Flammable Skirt or Lorrie Moore’s Collected Stories.
PREMIUM
Death by Demo
Cozy mystery readers should enjoy Carpenter’s debut, the first installment in her “Home Renovation Mysteries” series. Recommended for fans of mysteries with a home-improvement bent, including Kate Carlisle’s “Fixer-Upper” novels, Jennie Bentley’s “Do-It-Yourself” books, and Sarah Graves’s “Home Repair Is Homicide” series.
A groundbreaking and deeply passionate poetry collection that celebrates language and feminine power. Not to be missed.
Outstanding narratorial performances take this novel to the next level. Fussner doesn’t offer easy answers but allows listeners to ponder the existence of the invisible world.
A good pick for listeners seeking stories of tragedy and triumph about a specific set of women celebrities who bore the brunt of the sexism for which society has only recently begun to atone. Recommended for fans of pop culture critique, such as Celebrity Nation by Landon Y. Jones.
PREMIUM
Unnatural Death
Cornwell’s fans will be captivated by Scarpetta’s detailed description of the retrieval and autopsies of two battered bodies. A grisly but intriguing entry in a long-running crime fiction series.
Sanderson’s research-supported arguments and persuasive, well-paced narration make for a compelling listen. Though the audio may be of special interest to those supporting racial reparations, progressive Christians, and Oregonians, this story deserves to be heard far and wide.
PREMIUM
More: A Memoir of Open Marriage
Winter’s conversational tone allows listeners to empathize with her as she stumbles through her marriage’s new dynamic and develops self-care techniques. Give to listeners who are curious about ethical non-monogamy as well as listeners who enjoy candid memoirs.
PREMIUM
All the Little Bird-Hearts
This affecting story of a mother’s resilience, loyalty, and unbounded love is highly recommended for fans of Kim Hooper’s Ways the World Could End or Amy Feltman’s All the Things We Don’t Talk About.
PREMIUM
This Is How We End Things
A deserted campus and surprise snowstorm create the perfect setting for Jacobs’s (Always the First To Die) exciting new suspense novel, with a wild and deadly chase and plenty of red herrings. Recommended for fans of Ruth Ware, Alex Michaelides, and Riley Sager.
Libraries who purchased Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts should acquire this marvelous companion piece.
The trio of narrators makes for an enjoyable listening experience, especially for fans of Oz-inspired tales.
A dream team of narrators, combined with Wendig’s masterful storytelling, makes for a listening experience as intoxicating as a Ruby Slipper apple.
Strong writing and consistently skillful performances make this a must-buy for any audio fiction collection.
PREMIUM
All You Have To Do Is Call
At a time when reproductive rights have taken center stage in political debates, this book is a timely reminder of the 1970s struggle for reproductive justice.
A heartwarming feast for the senses, for fans of Kim Fay’s Love and Saffron, Michiko Aoyama’s What You Are Looking for Is Inside the Library, and Hiro Arikawa’s The Goodbye Cat.
PREMIUM
The Curse of Pietro Houdini
Fans of historical fiction and adventure will relish every minute of this harrowing story of courage during wartime. Recommended for fans of Joseph O’Connor’s My Father’s House.
PREMIUM
The Mystery Guest
Share with listeners seeking a lively, lighthearted mystery with an always-surprising amateur sleuth.
PREMIUM
First Lie Wins
Perfect for fans of thrillers with unexpected twists and ambiguous endings. Pair with Ren DeStefano’s How I’ll Kill You.
PREMIUM
All the Hidden Paths
Recommended for listeners seeking a lush LGBTQIA+ fantasy and those who enjoy excellent worldbuilding with sumptuous descriptions of fashion and food. Political thriller enthusiasts may also enjoy the tricky byzantine plotting.
PREMIUM
The Good Part
Will appeal to listeners seeking a witty, whimsical time-slip tale that’s a heartwarming blend of relationship fiction and romantic comedy. Recommended for fans of Holly James, Amy Lea, and Josie Silver.
This emotional deep dive into the Klan’s roots and how Grant tried to suppress their impact reinforces the notion that while the Civil War may have legally ended enslavement, Reconstruction did nothing to eliminate prejudice and discrimination.
PREMIUM
The Christmas Café
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an upbeat friends-to-lovers rom-com full of jubilant holiday joy. Recommended for fans of Sarah Adams, Kerry Winfrey, and Katie Bachand.
Adventure, magic, and history come together in a thrilling novel that’s perfect for fantasy and steampunk fans.
PREMIUM
Iron Flame
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an intense, exhilarating epic fantasy. Not suitable as a stand-alone; the series is slated to be a quintet, so resolution will be deferred. Recommended for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Terry Brooks.
A stimulating, deeply researched history that is simultaneously entertaining and heartbreaking. Harriot’s self-narrated work is an essential purchase for all audio history collections.
PREMIUM
Search History
Will appeal to listeners seeking contemporary literary fiction about the dark, destructive side of social media and the secrets under its surface. Recommended for fans of Zoe Whittall, Nicola Moriarty, and Lisa Unger.
PREMIUM
Guy’s Girl
An honest and engaging story about romantic love, self-love, and coming into one’s own.
PREMIUM
Edge of the Grave
A chilling, blood-soaked gangster noir, set on the historic streets of Glasgow. Fans of the Netflix series Peaky Blinders will want to take note.
Recommended for all thriller audio collections. Listeners who enjoy whodunits and closed-circle mysteries will want to pick this one up.
PREMIUM
The Breakup Tour
Despite Riley’s penchant for writing songs about heartbreak, listeners will be hoping that this time she and Max will finally get their fairy-tale happy ending. A second-chance romance for fans of Taylor Swift or of authors Rachel Lynn Solomon and Emma Lord.
Taking a cue from classic horror stories such as Poe’s works and Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, Winterson has crafted an unsettling and thoughtful collection sure to appeal to those seeking an atmospheric, chilling listen.
PREMIUM
Silence in Her Eyes
Will appeal to listeners seeking a fast-paced, frightening psychological novel, full of tension and twists. Recommended for fans of Rachel Hawkins, Ruth Ware, and Alice Feeney.
Clarren lays bare the many wrongs inflicted on Indigenous peoples and suggests possible means of making reparations. An eye-opening book exploring the author’s family history against a troubling historical backdrop.
This deeply touching memoir sheds light on the seemingly insurmountable challenges encountered by impoverished people seeking better lives for themselves and their families. Fans of Maid and the Netflix series inspired by the book will want to listen to this.
PREMIUM
Karma: My Autobiography
The lackluster narration and sparse insights make this audio a necessary purchase only for dedicated fans.
A fantastical novel blurring the boundary between the real and the imagined. Listeners will be swept up into the world of Victorian Norwich as Edith breaks free from her bindings and comes into her own.
PREMIUM
Reasonable Adults
This fun, fast-paced audio will appeal to those seeking a relationship-fiction-meets-workplace-romance about fresh starts and self-discovery. Recommended for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Kate Spencer, and Anastasia Ryan.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a candid autobiographical analysis of the ease with which one becomes addicted to both substances and behaviors. Recommended for fans of Sarah Levy and Holly Whitaker.
PREMIUM
Resurrection Walk
Haller and Bosch fans will not be able to stop listening to this expertly narrated, suspenseful courtroom drama.
PREMIUM
The Future
Alderman’s The Power, which was recently made into a popular television series, continues to attract attention; libraries should expect high demand for this twisty and emotionally resonant vision of the future.
PREMIUM
Thornhedge
With a running time of fewer than four hours, this is perfect for short road trips. Recommend to faerie and folk tale fans who enjoyed Seanan McGuire’s “Wayward Children” series or Kell Woods’s After the Forest.
PREMIUM
The Christmas Swap
A lively lesbian rom-com that navigates tough issues while still delivering an uplifting ending.
PREMIUM
The Queen of the Valley
While Hughes occasionally references Puri’s past experiences, from her 2021 novel The Spanish Daughter, this loose sequel can easily be listened to as a stand-alone. Multicast narration lends emotional dimension and a strong sense of place.
This brief, quietly gorgeous audiobook reveals new meaning with every listen. A radiant addition to any poetry collection.
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