August 2023 MBR The Audiobook Shelf

The Audiobook Shelf

The Library of Broken Worlds
Alaya Dawn Johnson, author
JD Jackson, narrator
Bahni Turpin, narrator
Brilliance Audio
9798400148101, $24.99, MP3-CD (17 Hours 39 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Library-Broken-Worlds-Alaya-Johnson/dp/B0C58Q7JGL

Synopsis: In the winding underground tunnels of the Library, the great peacekeeper of the three systems, a heinous secret lies buried -- and Freida is the only one who can uncover it. As the daughter of a Library god, Freida has spent her whole life exploring the Library's ever-changing tunnels and communing with the gods. Her unparalleled access makes her unique -- and dangerous.

When Freida meets Joshua, a Tierran boy desperate to save his people, and Nergui, a disciple from a persecuted religious minority, Freida is compelled to help them. But in order to do so, she will have to venture deeper into the Library than she has ever known. There she will discover the atrocities of the past, the truth of her origins, and the impossibility of her future.

With the world at the brink of war, Freida embarks on a journey to fulfill her destiny, one that pits her against an ancient war god. Her mission is straightforward: Destroy the god before he can rain hellfire upon thousands of innocent lives -- if he doesn't destroy her first.

Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a riveting fantasy adventure, "The Library of Broken Worlds" by Alaya Dawn Johnson is now available as a complete and unabridged audio book that is impressively narrated by the vocal acting skills of JD Jackson and Bahni Turpin. Of special and particular interest to dedicated fantasy fans, this Brilliance Audio edition will prove to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular pick for both personal and community library Science Fiction & Fantasy audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Alaya Dawn Johnson (https://alayadawnjohnson.com) is also the author of The Summer Prince (which received three starred reviews, was longlisted for the National Book Award, and was named a 2013 Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year) and Love Is the Drug (the 2014 Nebula Award winner for best young adult novel). Her short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies, most notably the title story in The Memory Librarian, in collaboration with Janelle Monae. She lives in Mexico.

Editorial Note #2: JD Jackson {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JD_Jackson_(actor)} is an American audiobook narrator, actor, and theater professor. For his audiobook narrations he has won 26 Earphone Awards and 1 Audie Award. In 2020, AudioFile named him a Golden Voice Narrator. In 2022, Booklist named him a Voice of Choice Narrator.

Editorial Note #3: Bahni Turpin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahni_Turpin) is an American audiobook narrator and stage and screen actor based out of Los Angeles. She has won 9 Audie Awards, including Audiobook of the Year for Children of Blood and Bone; 14 Earphone Awards; and 2 Odyssey Awards. Turpin has also earned a place on AudioFile magazine's list of Golden Voice Narrators, and in 2016, she was named Audible's Narrator of the Year. In 2018, Audible inducted her into the Narrator Hall of Fame.

Death Message
Damien Boyd, author
Simon Mattacks, narrator
Brilliance Audio
9798400132629, $19.99, MP3-CD (8 Hours 40 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Message-Nick-Dixon-Crime/dp/B0BNQCG28C

Synopsis: A routine missing person enquiry takes a grisly turn when a young couple drag a box containing human remains out of a Somerset river. The victim was a surveillance expert investigating an exaggerated injury claim -- a murder with an obvious motive, until a police officer is implicated and suspended.

Still brooding after his recent brush with police Professional Standards, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Dixon is on extended leave, helping his pregnant fiancee, Detective Sergeant Jane Winter, fight for her place on the major investigation team.

Convinced that the death of an art student is connected, Dixon returns to duty, and when graffiti depicting the murders starts to appear, the race is on to find the artist and the murderer. But, why the paintings? Could an infamous street artist be involved?

With colleagues questioning his every move, Dixon must stop a sadistic killer before another life is taken. Then a second art student is reported missing...

Critique: The thirteen volume in author Damien Boyd's 'DI Nixon Crime' series, "Death Message" is brought to life in a true 'theatre of the mind' experience by the narrative storytelling talents and expertise of vocal actor Simon Mattacks. Complete and unabridged, this audio book edition of "Death Message" from Brilliance Audio will have a special appeal to fans of police procedural crime novels and murder mysteries -- and is unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Damien Boyd (https://www.damienboyd.com) is a solicitor by training and draws on his extensive experience of criminal law, along with a spell in the Crown Prosecution Service, to write fast-paced crime thrillers featuring Detective Inspector Nick Dixon.

Editorial Note #2: Simon Mattacks (https://www.simonmattacks.com) has been a prominent voiceover expert doing adverts, cartoons, corporate videos, and video games for more than 30 years.

A Thousand Recipes for Revenge
Beth Cato, author
Elizabeth Knowelden, narrator
Brilliance Audio
9798400110535, $19.99, MP3-CD (13 Hours 33 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Recipes-Revenge-Beth-Cato/dp/B0BCQ419CN

Synopsis: Adamantine "Ada" Garland has an empathic connection to food and wine, a magical perception of aromas, flavors, and ingredients. Invaluable property of the royal court, Ada was in service to the Five Gods and to the Gods-ordained rulers of Verdania -- until she had enough of injustice and bloodshed and deserted, seeking to chart her own destiny. When mysterious assassins ferret her out after sixteen years in hiding, Ada, now a rogue Chef, and her beloved Grand-mere run for their lives, only to find themselves on a path toward an unexpected ally.

A foreign princess in a strange court, Solenn unknowingly shares more with Ada than an epicurean gift. They share blood. With her newfound magical perception, she becomes aware of a plot to kill her fiance, the prince. It's part of a ploy by adversarial forces in the rival country of Albion to sow conflict, and Solenn is set up to take the blame.

As Ada's and Solenn's paths converge, a mother and her long-lost daughter reunite toward a common goal, and against a shadowy enemy from Ada's past who is out for revenge. But what sacrifices must be made? What hope is there when powerful Gods pick sides in a war simmering to eruption?

Critique: The complete and unabridged audio book edition of an original story that will have a special appeal for historical and sword/sorcery fantasy fans, Beth Cato's "A Thousand Recipes for Revenge" novel is brought vividly to life by the narrative storytelling performance of voice actor Elizabeth Knowelden. A solidly entertaining tale of magic and danger, "A Thousand Recipes for Revenge" is a fun and recommended pick for the personal collections of dedicated fantasy fans and for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Beth Cato (www.bethcato.com) is the author of the Clockwork Dagger series and the Blood of Earth trilogy. Her short stories and poetry can be found in hundreds of publications, including Fantasy Magazine, Escape Pod, Uncanny Magazine, and the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Beth hails from Hanford, California, but currently writes and bakes cookies in a lair west of Phoenix, Arizona, that she shares with her husband, son, and two feline overlords.

Editorial Note #2: Elizabeth Knowelden (https://www.elizabethknowelden.com/about) is an actress, singer, director and creative artist who trained in London at the Webber Douglas Academy.

A Killer's Game
Isabella Maldonado, author
Almarie Guerra, narrator
Feodor Chin, narrator
Brilliance Audio
9781978699908, $19.99, MP3-CD (11 Hours 17 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Killers-Game-Daniela-Vega/dp/1978699905

Synopsis: FBI agent and former military codebreaker Daniela "Dani" Vega witnesses a murder on a Manhattan sidewalk. The victim is chief of staff for a powerful New York senator. The assassin turned informant is Gustavo Toro. His code: hit the target and don't ask questions.

When Dani suspects a complex conspiracy, the only way to take down the mastermind is from the inside, forcing her to partner with Toro. Together they must infiltrate the inner circle at a remote facility. -- Except it's a trap. For all of them.

Locked in a subterranean labyrinth and held captive by an unseen host, Dani, Toro, and others must fight for their lives. Now Dani must stay undercover, unravel a bizarre conspiracy, and survive lethal puzzles. But will Toro be friend or foe? Because in this killer's game, everything is real: the paranoia, the desperation, and the body count. And only one person can make it out alive.

Critique: This complete and unabridged audio book edition of Isabella Maldonado's suspense thriller "A Killer's Game" is virtually brought to life by the truly exceptional narrative storytelling skills of Almarie Guerra and Feodor Chin -- making it an unreservedly recommended pick for both personal and community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Isabella Maldonado (www.isabellamaldonado.com) wore a gun and badge in real life before turning to crime writing. A graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico and the first Latina to attain the rank of captain in the Fairfax County Police Department just outside DC, she retired as the commander of special investigations and forensics. During more than two decades on the force, her assignments included hostage negotiator, department spokesperson, and district station commander. She uses her law enforcement background to bring a realistic edge to her writing, which includes the popular FBI Special Agent Nina Guerrera series (optioned by Netflix for a feature film starring Jennifer Lopez) and the Detective Veranda Cruz series.

Editorial Note #2: Almarie Guerra (https://almarieguerra.com) is fully bilingual (English and Spanish) and fluent in basic French. Almarie is also part of an LA/NY based improv group, The Story Pirates.

Editorial Note #3: Feodor Chin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feodor_Chin) is an LA-based actor, writer, and comedian from San Francisco, CA. As an actor, he was classically trained at UCLA, the American Conservatory Theater.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review