Starred Audiobook Reviews for the latest in Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series, plus, AUDITION by Katie Kitamura, Naomi Novik’s novella, and more! (Oct 2025)

Read by Fiona Shaw

“Fiona Shaw’s inviting narration captures the humor and intrigue of this delightful new Thursday Murder Club mystery. . . Shaw gives the characters distinct and recognizable voices, highlighting their wit, warmth, and former professional brilliance as they both charm and outmaneuver the police to untangle codes, deaths, and buried treasure. Shaw’s performance balances comedy and compassion, revealing both the mayhem and heart that make this series an irresistible listen for mystery lovers.”—AudioFile Earphones Award

Read by Ella Lynch 

“Narrator Ella Lynch demonstrates her expansive gifts throughout this novel, giving unique and distinct voices to all its characters. Her scintillating delivery reflects Celia and her magical world. . .  This short but powerful story is a testament to the adage that good things come in small packages.”—AudioFile Earphones Award

Read by Traci Kato-Kiriyama

“Award-winning Kato-Kiriyama narrates the audiobook with a deliberate, mesmerizing cadence that will keep listeners engaged and invested. As the characters’ lives unfold, the narrative becomes multi-layered and complex—a kind of play—as if they are cast in their own identities to perform. Although less than five hours long, this exceptional audiobook offers ample material for reflection. Listeners may find themselves wanting to relisten after finishing, to fully grasp and appreciate all of Kitamura’s skillfully crafted subtleties and the book’s unexpected, perplexing conclusion. VERDICT This stunning audiobook is a captivating must-listen, well deserving of a standing ovation.”—Library Journal starred review

Read by Read by Bahni Turpin and Ashley J. Hobbs

“Multi-award-winning narrators Turpin and Hobbs skillfully bring Nikki’s and Queen Luella’s perspectives to life. Their performances powerfully amplify the characters’ narratives, weaving them into an epic, heartfelt tale. VERDICT Listeners will be riveted by this inspiring family saga, which reveals a community’s tenacity and the hardships they endured to create a self-supporting haven.”—Library Journal starred review

Read by a Full Cast

“Each of the eight narrators, including author Ryan, offers glimpses into the characters’ personalities and motivations, revealing different perspectives on the powerful forces governing their lives. . . With both Irish and English accents, the narrators give the many characters shape and distinction, fleshing them out as the story unfolds. . . VERDICT Contemplative, lyrical, and intimate, this portrait of a community makes an impact.”—Library Journal starred review

Read by Rukhmani K. Desai

“Narrator Desai’s performance brims with empathy, allowing listeners to easily connect with Sanjana, her family, her ex, and the women around her who desperately want to take advantage of her independence. Her depiction of a dizzyingly pregnancy-obsessed society hits the mark, with shifts in tone and emotion that bring the story to life. . .  VERDICT Studded with both laugh-out-loud and decidedly creepy moments, Sathian’s latest is a triumph. Share with listeners who appreciate social commentary about motherhood and women’s roles in society.”—Library Journal starred review

Read by Brian Nishii

“Brian Nishii reprises his narration of HIROSHIMA, the first of a two-volume series that recounts the atomic bombings of Japan in August 1945. Author Sheftall draws on extensive interviews with those who survived, providing detail on the day-to-day lives of the Japanese and a history of Japanese relations with the West. . . Nishii’s pacing, inflection, and pronunciation of Japanese are flawless. All of this adds up to a top-notch narration.”—AudioFile Earphones Award

Read by Marisa Calin

“Elmhirst’s account of the Bailey’s survival story is getting significant acclaim, and equal praise should be heaped on narrator Calin. The Baileys made some confounding decisions, and Calin uses tone to portray them—in her English accent—as the kind of rare birds one would be eager to talk to at a cocktail party then gossip about with friends later. While she captures and shares that eccentricity with listeners, Calin is also able to portray Maurice and Maralyn as individuals with strong motivations and intentions in line with their own internal logic. The Baileys’ 117 days at sea were neither the dream life they envisioned nor the horror story it could have been. Instead, Calin ensures that listeners hear it as a fascinating study of a marriage tested by adversity and brought through it by previously untapped strength.”—Booklist starred review