Tag Archives: Picks of the Week

Picks of the Week-October 4

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Tis’ the season for pumpkins, beautiful fall leaves, sweaters, and of course, cuddling up with a great audiobook…

We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a few of their top picks for you.

Punishment Without Trial

An impassioned, urgent argument about the future of criminal justice reform, Punishment Without Trial will change the way you view the criminal justice system.

Note: A significant examination of the use of plea bargaining and how it impedes true criminal justice reform. A must-read for anyone concerned in the U.S.’s criminal justice system and mass incarceration. – Kara Stebbins

Publishing Date: 10/12/2021

Written by: Carissa Byrne Hessick

Read by: Christina Delaine

‘Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy

Leslie Langtry presents Book 1 in the Greatest Hits Mysteries.

Note: The first book in Leslie’s hilariously enthralling Greatest Hits Mysteries series is finally here! Gin’s family business isn’t like anyone else’s, and when she is given a new target it just might ruin everything they’ve worked for. If you’re looking for a dark comedy that keeps you on the edge of your seat, look no further! – Kelly Srubas

Publishing Date: 10/12/21

Written by: Leslie Langtry

Read by: Emily Durante

White Pines

The new cosmic-folk-Celtic-cult-fantasy-horror novel from Gemma Amor, the Bram Stoker Award–nominated author of Dear Laura and Cruel Works of Nature. Contains mature themes.

Note: Amor is a terrific storyteller. In White Pines, a mysterious tale, set in England and Scotland, is created that will pull you in as it becomes more chilling and sinister as it builds to the conclusion. For anyone who waits all year for October to break out the horror stories (but there’s never a wrong time!).  – Lindsey Wood

Publishing Date: 10/12/21

Written by: Gemma Amor

Read by: Helen Langford

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Black Widows: A Novel 

For fans of The Wife Between Us and The Dry comes a chilling murder mystery that takes a domestic thriller’s classic question—”Did his wife kill him?”—and twists it into an completely new type of suspense.

Note: Which wife is responsible for Blake Nelson’s murder? Who can they trust? The police? Each other? Find out in this chilling suspenseful murder mystery that will leave you on the edge of your seat!- Kristen Hummel

Publishing Date: 10/12/2021

Written by: Cate Quinn

Read by: Katherine Fenton, Stephanie Cannon, and Jennifer Woodward

Picks of the Week-September 27

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Tis’ the season for pumpkins, beautiful fall leaves, sweaters, and of course, cuddling up with a great audiobook…

We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a few of their top picks for you.

Klondikers:  Dawson City’s Stanley Cup Challenge and How a Nation Fell in Love with Hockey

Join a ragtag group of misfits from Dawson City as they scrap to become the 1905 Stanley Cup champions and cement hockey as Canada’s national pastime.

Note:  Get ready for the upcoming hockey season with a look back at when hockey first truly became Canada’s national pastime.  Follow along as a group of misfits from The Yukon Territory travel (for almost 25 days!) to Ottawa to take on the favored Ottawa Silver Sevens.  All against a backdrop of Canada embracing modernization as it enters the 20th century.  Sure to appeal to any fan of hockey, characters, or Canada!- Dan Totten

Publishing Date:  10/5/2021

Written by:  Tim Falconer

Read by:  Matthew Josdal

Sankofa

Girl, Woman, Other meets An American Marriage in this gripping story of a mixed-race woman who goes in search of the African father she never knew, by a prize-winning writer who “brilliantly captures the essence of a people and a place” (Nicole Dennis-Benn).

Note: When Anna’s mother dies, and with her marriage ending and her only child constantly on the move, Anna comes to meet someone through the pages of a diary long hidden – her father. Sankofa is an example of the perfect audiobook with writing and narration that complement each other beautifully. A must listen! – Jenn Eschrich

Publishing Date: 10/5/21

Written by: Chibundu Onuzo

Read by: Sara Powell

The Original Glitch

A must-listen sci-fi novel from Melanie Moyer.

Note: When a sentient AI creation escapes the deceased Dr. Kent’s lab to terrorize the world, grad student Adler must save humanity with the help of his friend Laura before it’s too late. Fans of Annalee Newitz and Becky Chambers will enjoy this heartfelt sci-fi adventure.- Sonia Brand-Fisher

Publishing Date: 10/5/21

Written by: Melanie Moyer

Read by: Emily Ellet

Picks of the Week- September 13

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School is back in session and fall is just around the corner! We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a few of their top picks for you.

Black Sunshine

A contemporary dark romance with a vampire twist, from the New York Times bestselling author of A Nordic King and Sins & Needles. Contains mature themes.

Note: Black Sunshine is the perfect book if you want a little bit of everything, a little contemporary, a little suspense with a little fantasy and of course vampires. As Lenore approaches her 21st birthday she doesn’t know that she’s a vampire, however, others do. Absolon, a criminal of sorts, kidnaps Lenore to help her learn the ways of being a vampire or to possibly kill her, he’s not exactly sure which. Soon she find her parents are not her real parents but actually a pair of vampire slayers who took her when she was a baby. As more and more secrets unravel for Lenore, and with her life on the line, she needs to decide who to trust. You don’t want to miss Black Sunshine by Karina Halle! – Jordan Spellman

Publishing Date: 9/21/21

Written by: Karina Halle

Read by: Sofia Willingham

Castaway Mountain: Love and Loss Among the Wastepickers of Mumbai

In a narrative instilled with superstition and magical realism, Saumya Roy crafts a modern parable exploring the consequences of urban overconsumption. A moving testament to the impact of fickle desires, Castaway Mountain reveals that when you own nothing, you know where true value lies: in family, community, and love.

Note: A tale of love, despair, poverty, and hope set in the Deonar garbage mountains of Mumbai, Castaway Mountain is a thrilling snapshot of India through the eyes of the garbage pickers who rely on these mountains for survival. The perfect book for readers of Behind the Beautiful Forevers. – Kim Budnick

Publishing Date: 09/28/2021

Written by: Saumya Roy

Read by: Jeed Saddy

The Backpacker’s Field Manual, Revised and Updated: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Backcountry Skills

Every traveler knows that space in a backpack is limited, so on your next trip, carry the only guide you’ll ever need—this one—and take to the great outdoors with confidence.

Note: Experienced and novice hikers alike will love Rick Curtis’s updated classic! Equipped with detailed advice on camping safety, ultralight packing, and time-tested trail strategies, travelers can adventure into the outdoors with confidence after listening to this guide. – Maddy Collins

Publishing Date: 9/28/21

Written by: Rick Curtis

Read by: Matthew Josdal

Age of Stone

Jez Cajiao presents Book 1 in the Rise of Mankind series.

Note: From the author of Brightblade comes an exciting new novel in the best Game Lit tradition, Age of Stone. – Greg Souza

Publishing Date: 9/28/2021

Written by: Jez Cajiao

Read by: Neil Hellegers

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Dangerous Magic

Monica Fairview presents Book 1 in the Mr. Darcy’s Magic series.

Note: A magical variation of Jane Austen’s beloved book Pride and Prejudice, we follow the intricate relationship between Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy filled with magic and romance. – Kristen Hummel

Publishing Date: 9/28/2021

Written by: Monica Fairview

Read by: Jennifer M. Dixon   

Picks of the Week-September 6

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School is back in session and fall is just around the corner! We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a few of their top picks for you.

With You Forever

Chloe Liese presents Book 4 in the Bergman Brothers series.

Note:  You won’t want to miss this fourth installment in Chloe Liese’s Bergman Brothers series! A marriage of convenience between two people who have secretly been crushing on each other……who usually avoid each other. How quick will this marriage of convenience turn into the real deal? This is a wonderful #OwnVoices story for its portrayal of autism by an autistic author. – Jannah McCowan

Publishing Date: 9/14/2021

Written by: Chloe Liese

Read by: Nelson Hobbs and C. J. Bloom

Phoenix Burning

Isabella Maldonado presents Book 2 in the Veranda Cruz series. Contains mature themes.

Note: Recipient of a starred Publisher’s Weekly review and named one of Book Riot’s Best 25 Suspense Books of 2018, Phoenix Burning brings us back into the exciting world of Detective Veranda Cruz. This series is perfect for anyone who is a fan of female sleuths. Book 3, Death Blow, releases in audio September 28! – Jenn Eschrich

Publishing Date: 9/14/21

Written by: Isabella Maldonado

Read by: Raquel Beattie

The Horde: How the Mongols Changed the World

An epic history of the Mongols as we have never seen them—not just conquerors but also city builders, diplomats, and supple economic thinkers who constructed one of the most influential empires in history.

Note: A new groundbreaking look at one of the great and misunderstood empires in civilized history.  Marie Favreau digs deep into how the Mongols not only amassed the largest conquest of land in history, but also how they brought an innovated way of governing to control this vast empire, rewarding skillful administrators and diplomats to fostered an economic order that was mobile, organized, and innovative.  This book is a great reassessment of one of the great civilizations of the middle ages. – Scott Smith

Publishing Date: 9/14/2021

Written by: Marie Favereau

Read by: Anne Flosnik

White Nights

Melissa de la Cruz presents Book 2 in the New Blue Bloods Coven series.

Note: “An unrelenting continuation of the beloved Vampires of Manhattan series by acclaimed author Melissa de la Cruz. Follow in Oliver’s pursuit of Finn Chase and Ara’s investigation into a mysterious surge and sudden disappearance of the Nephilim that leads to the remotest parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula.” – Ashley Fortier

Publishing Date: 9/21/21

Written by: Melissa de la Cruz

Read by: Chris Chambers

Picks of the Week-Aug 30

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School is back in session and fall is just around the corner! We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a few of their top picks for you.

Growing Out of It: Machinations Before Madness

Growing Out Of It is a story of growing up in a certain time and place when anything felt possible, even a bunch of north London lads forming a ska revival band—and becoming one of Britain’s best-loved groups.

Note: Get a head start on your excitement for Madness’s 2022 US tour with the memoir of the band’s iconic saxophonist, Lee Thompson. Before he was gliding through the air in Baggy Trousers and making us want to jump on the Night Boat to Cairo, Thompson was just a “nutty boy” from North London getting into trouble with the group of friends who would eventually form the beloved ska revival band. You will be sure to enjoy Thompson’s journey to fame, his wacky antics, and his fun-loving spirit throughout Growing Out of It: Machinations Before Madness.- Sonia Brand-Fisher

Publishing Date: 9/2/2021        

Written by: Lee Thompson and Ian Snowball, foreword by Martin Freeman

Read by: Matthew Lloyd Davies

Storytellers

Bjørn Larssen’s award-winning, Amazon #1 best selling novel is an otherworldly, emotive Icelandic saga—a story of love and loneliness, relief and suffering, hatred . . . and hope.

Note: A story within a story. Different timelines, complex characters, notes of history and culture and secrets to puzzle through- does it get any better? In his debut novel Bjørn Larssen pays tribute to the love of storytelling, a favorite pastime during long Icelandic winters, and Storytellers will keep you asking questions as Larssen brings 20th century Iceland to life. – Lindsey Wood

Publishing Date: 9/7/21

Written by: Bjørn Larssen

Read by: Graham Halstead

Reflections of a Nonpolitical Man

A classic, controversial book exploring German culture and identity by the author of Death in Venice and The Magic Mountain.

Note: A classic book from one of the twentieth century’s most well-known and influential authors. This special New York Review of Books edition contains a new introduction and two additional essays by Mann: Thoughts in Wartime (1914), and On the German Republic (1922).- Aaron Piccirillo

Publishing Date: 9/7/21

Written by: Thomas Mann

Read by: Graham Rowat

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Rizzio

From the multi-award-winning master of crime, Denise Mina delivers a radical new take on one of the darkest episodes in Scottish history—the bloody assassination of David Rizzo private secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots, in the queen’s chambers in Holyrood Palace.

Note: Denise Mina’s historical crime novella focuses on the assassination of David Rizzio, the private secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots. A thrilling, modern exploration into the depths some will descend for love and power.- Kara Stebbins

Publishing Date: 9/7/2021

Written by: Denise Mina

Read by: Katie Leung

Picks of the Week-August 23

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Summer isn’t over just yet. That means there is still plenty of time for sitting poolside and beachside, road trips, and of course, audiobooks! We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a few of their top picks for you.

Dervishes Don’t Dance

Kim McDougall presents Book 2 in the Valkyrie Bestiary series.

Note: Kim McDougall presents the second book in the fantastical Valkyrie Bestiary series. We continue to follow title character Kyra’s journey full of magical creatures and edge-of-your seat paranormal suspense! – Kristen Hummel

Pub Date: 8/31/2021

Written by: Kim McDougall

Read by: Hollie Jackson

Wallflower

A must-listen YA romance from the author of Adorkable.

Note: End your summer with this fun and sweet YA listen. Come along for the ride as Viola transfigures her fake relationship with the star athlete into something real. – Jannah McCowan

Pub Date: 8/31/2021

Written by: Cookie O’Gorman

Read by: Stephanie Einstein

Picks of the Week-August 16

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Summer isn’t over just yet. That means there is still plenty of time for sitting pool and beachside, road trips, and of course, audiobooks! We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down some of their top picks for you.

A Brief History of Motion

From the bestselling author of A History of the World in 6 Glasses, an eye-opening road trip through 5,500 years of humans on the go, revealing how transportation inevitably shapes civilization.

Note: Not just for automotive or transportation enthusiasts! As Standage has previously done with food and communication, here he uses the seemingly specific topic of motion to expose a larger history of society including how we respond to change.  – Jenn Eschrich

Publishing Date: 8/17/21

Written by: Tom Standage

Read by: Liam Gerrard

Murder in Canaryville

Murder in Canaryville sheds light on the cold-case murder of John Hughes, the son of a Chicago Outfit member suspected of pulling the trigger, and the efforts of a determined detective to unravel a cover-up.

Note:  True crime fans have a gem on their hands this month.  Listen to Shawn Compton narrate the story of Chicago detective James Sherlock unraveling a long covered-up murder with connections to the Chicago Outfit, corrupt police, and the city government.  Full of twists and turns, this book brings a once well-known, but long forgotten investigation, back to life.- Dan Totten

Publishing Date:  8/24/2021

Written by:  Jeff Coen

Read by:  Shawn Compton

The Sweetest Surrender

Stephanie Nicole Norris presents Book 8 in the Falling For A Rose series. Contains mature themes.

Note: The swoon-worthy next installment in Stephanie Nicole Norris’s Falling for A Rose series. A perfect end of summer read for one last heat wave. – Ashley Fortier

Publishing Date: 8/24/2021

Written by: Stephanie Nicole Norris

Read by: Leon Nixon and Mari

Altered State

Tom Lowe presents Book 3 in the Elizabeth Monroe series.

Note: In the third book in his Elizabeth Monroe series, author Tom Lowe presents a mystery that is unlike other cases the forensic psychology professor Elizabeth Monroe has consulted on before. Here she must examine the subconscious mind to unearth a killer with a troublingly criminal mind. – Lindsey Wood

Publishing Date: 8/31/21

Written by: Tom Lowe

Read by: Eliza Foss

Picks of the Week- August 9

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Summer isn’t over just yet. That means there is still plenty of time for sitting pool and beachside, road trips, and of course, audiobooks! We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down some of their top picks for you.

About Tomorrow…

A must-listen second chance romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines. Contains mature themes.

Note: Abbi Glines is back with a touching contemporary romance just in time for the end of summer. About Tomorrow… is a second chance romance that brings together Sailor and Creed, who remember their shared New England summers and seek to heal from the memories that haunt them. – Kara Stebbins

Publishing Date: 8/10/2021

Written by: Abbi Glines

Read by: Jillian Macie

Wheel of the Year: Living the Magical Life

Wheel of the Year takes you on a month-by-month journey of discovery through seasonal aspects of Paganism practiced both in recent and ancient times.

Note: Bring the magic of the seasons into your homespace with Wheel of the Year! This classic book, now in audio for the first time, details how to make each trip around the sun an opportunity to connect with the natural world through Pagan practices, ancient lore, and meaningful personal ritual. – Sonia Brand-Fisher

Publishing Date: 8/17/2021

Written by: Pauline Campanelli

Read by: Leslie Howard

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Screams From the Void

A new space horror from the author of Shut Up. Contains mature themes.

Note: A perfect storm of sci-fi, space opera, and horror, SCREAMS FROM THE VOID builds tension as Raina and the crew of the Demeter fight for survival against an alien creature…and each other. – Kim Budnick

Publishing Date: 08/17/2021

Written by: Anne Tibbets

Read by: Amy McFadden

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The Pursuit of Love

Nancy Mitford presents Book 1 in the Radlett and Montdore Trilogy.

Note: The Pursuit of Love is the first book Nancy Mitford’s enduring Radlett and Montdore trilogy and  the basis for the new Amazon Prime series starring Lily James. Considered a classic this comedy follows the story of Linda Radlett as she falls in and out of love in aristocratic England in the 1930’s and 40’s. For fans of romance among the gentry, this is the start of the series for you.- Nick Pouliot

Publishing Date: 08/17/2021

Written by: Nancy Mitford

Read by: Bessie Carter

Picks of the Week-Aug 2

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Summer isn’t over just yet. That means there is still plenty of time for sitting pool and beachside, road trips, and of course, audiobooks! We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down some of their top picks for you.

Bigfoot Hunters

R. Gualtieri presents Book 1 in the Tales of the Crypto-Hunter series.

Note: Rick Gualtieri is back with another thrilling novel of myths and legends, that you don’t want to miss! When Harrison and his friends visit a campsite in Colorado for some fun and adventure, they get more than they bargained for. They soon learn that Sasquatch is real and the woods where they are hold many secrets. Harrison decides that they need to team up with a reality show, who’s filming in the area, if they all want to survive the woods. If you are fans of Steve Alten’s, The Loch Series then you definitely want to read Bigfoot Hunters, book one in the Tales of the Crypto-Hunter series by R. Gualtieri! – Jordan Spellman

Publishing Date: 8/3/21            

Written by: R. Gualtieri

Read by: Stephen Dexter

Alone in the Woods

Charly Cox presents Book 3 in the Detective Alyssa Wyatt series.

Note: Detective Alyssa Wyatt is back in a race against time to save two girls from a brutal murderer. Fans of Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh will love the third book in Charly Cox’s thrilling series!- Maddy Collins

Publishing Date: 8/3/21

Written by: Charly Cox

Read by: Kate Zane

Mussolini’s War

A remarkable new history evoking the centrality of Italy to World War II, outlining the brief rise and triumph of the Fascists, followed by the disastrous fall of the Italian military campaign.

Note: John Gooch surveys the Italian role in World War II, prior to the war and right through to Mussolini’s fall. Many books have been written on the German war experience, but Gooch’s new book is sure to become a definitive text on Fascist Italy. – Aaron Piccirillo

Publishing Date: 8/3/21

Written by: John Gooch

Read by: Bruce Mann

The Boat of a Million Years

A New York Times Notable Book and Hugo and Nebula Award Finalist: This epic chronicle of ten immortals over the course of history “succeeds admirably” (The New York Times).

Note: An all-new production of a Poul Anderson classic: fans of classic sci-fi need to check out The Boat of a Million Years. – Greg Souza

Publishing Date: 8/03/2021

Written by: Poul Anderson

Read by: Keith Sellon-Wright

Picks of the Week-July 19

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Summer is here! That means plenty of hours sitting pool and beachside, road trips, and of course, audiobooks! We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down some of their top picks for you.

The Doctor Wore Petticoats: Women Physicians of the Old West

Despite the dire need for medical help, it seemed most trappers, miners, and emigrants would rather suffer and die than be treated by a female doctor. With a determination and strength of spirit that resonates even today, the incredible women profiled in The Doctor Wore Petticoats are sure to inspire.

Note: If you were ever a fan of “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” then this book is just for you! Chris Enss highlights the real stories of early women physicians in the Old West who fought against prejudice and hardships to be taken seriously in their professions, and as women overall. — Lindsey Wood

Publishing Date: 7/27/21

Written by: Chris Enss

Read by: Janet Metzger

Whisper

Tal Bauer presents a must-listen political thriller novel. Contains mature themes.

Note: The author of The Murder Between Us and Hush, has another thriller/suspense story coming to audio. Set in the early 2000’s, right after 9/11, Kris is a member of the CIA team set to finding and stopping Osama Bin Laden. After failing, he is brought to the ground in Afghanistan, where he meets Special Forces Sergeant David Haddad. When a botched mission rips David from Kris’s life, Kris’s world starts to fall apart and for David when he finally dose come home, he’s someone entirely different. You don’t want to miss, Whisper, a political thriller by Tal Bauer.- Jordan Spellman

Publishing Date: 7/27/21

Written by: Tal Bauer

Read by: John Solo

A History of Evangelism in North America

A History of Evangelism in North America guides listeners on a tour through circuit riders and tent meetings to campus evangelism and online ministries.

Note: Editor Thomas Johnson has pulled together the voices of respected leaders and passionate scholars of evangelism in A History of Evangelism in North America. This single volume history is perfect those seeking a clear vision of the guiding principles and methodologies of prominent American evangelistic ministers. From the circuit rider ministries of the early republic to the camp meetings of the 19th century that sparked the 2nd Great Awakening and the Abolition movement to Billy Graham and a new generation of evangelist in the 21st century, A History of Evangelism in North America is a foundational text for those who study Christian history and the church in North America. – Nick Pouliot

Publishing Date: Jul 27, 2021

Written by: Edited by Thomas Johnson

Read by: Christopher Grove