Editors Select: July 2024 (2024)

John Wick meets weird fiction

When it was announced that the universally beloved multihyphenate Keanu Reeves would be cowriting a full-length novel with acclaimed speculative fiction writer China Miéville, I was all-in immediately. I’ve been counting down the days until I can sink my teeth into The Book of Elsewhere, a cerebral, ambitious listen nestled within the inventive world of Reeves’s BRZRKR comics. The story follows the mysterious warrior now known only as “B,” an immortal figure of legend who has long grown weary of his inability to die. But to other self-interested martial parties, what B views as a burden is a massive boon. Probing big philosophical questions about war, memory, the weaponization of power, and the meaning of life in the absence of death, and buzzing with a wholly original narrative style that wanders through the story like its protagonist does through lifetimes, this listen is set up to be like nothing we’ve heard before. —Alanna M.

Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? That’s okay.

Dr. Tim Sharp, a.k.a. Australia’s “Dr. Happy,” is back with new insights about the benefits of embracing discomfort to boost your mental and emotional health. Motivated by his recent bout of feeling “lost,” Sharp combines psychological insights and personal wisdom to provide listeners with permission to wander in this refreshing yet comforting listen. Whether you’re feeling emotionally stumped or simply dawdling along the scenic route instead of rushing to your destination, Lost & Found will help seekers embrace their whole selves—the highs and lows—without fear or shame. —Rachael X.

Get a divorce, jump on a plane, and find out if fairies are real

I’m so glad I took the recommendation of a trusted colleague (thanks, Katie O.!) and gave The Story Collector by Evie Woods a chance. Woods is a new-to-me author and Heather O’Sullivan is a new-to-me narrator—and their collaboration has become the summer listen I didn’t know I needed. Blending the past and present, the US and Ireland, the ordinary and the not-so-ordinary—it’s a tale about everyday people that’s full of magic, fairies, love, hope, and the power of stories. You will want to jump on the next Aer Lingus plane you see—you’ll know it by the shamrock on its tail—in hopes of discovering your own magical reawakening. —Tricia F.

A cyberstalking tale that’s all in the family

Genealogy misadventures are a literary cottage industry—you know the ones: A DNA test reveals a beloved parent is not a biological relation, or is a serial killer. But what happened to Susan Fensten was murkier, creepier, and just plain weirder than that. Back in 2003, after her father’s death, Fensten went online looking for relatives who could shed light on his side of the family. When a distant cousin replied, she was thrilled. But it wasn’t long before other relations entered the picture, some combative, others deeply disturbing, and Susan found herself the victim of a terrifying stalking campaign that made her life a living hell. After the FBI got involved, what they found was so depraved they said it was “in a category by itself.” If you’ve heard of this case before, you may know Fensten’s chillingly titled memoir, You Have a Very Soft Voice, Susan. But this episodic production, in which those involved tell their story in an unpauseable documentary format, makes each wild twist feel larger than life. If you’re still thinking about the stalking cautionary tale of Baby Reindeer, this is your next listen. —Kat J.

“When lost, sit down and yell”

I’ve been a huge fan of Liz Moore since her memorable novel Long Bright River wowed me in 2020. It also kept me up all night, speed-listening until I finished the last chapter. When I heard Moore was releasing a new novel, not only did I know that The God of the Woods would be an auto-download, I was also prepared for another sleepless night. And sleep I did not. This haunting and heartbreaking story centers on a 13-year-old camper who goes missing 14 years after her older brother vanished in the same Adirondack woods. Alternating between present day and flashback, Saskia Maarleveld’s narration is captivating, echoing the story’s eerie atmospheric tension and rich complex characters. Her ability to convey deep emotions and suspense enriches this thrilling journey through one family’s troubled legacy that builds to a dramatic final act. I would gladly forgo another night of sleep to go back and listen to this one from the beginning again. —Margaret H.

Thrilling Dr. Jekyll reimagining

Get ready for an exhilarating experience with Audible's The Strange Case. As a lover of the classic, I was electrified to learn that the renowned creator of the John Wick franchise, Derek Kolstad, would reimagine this iconic story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with a gender-bent twist. Vanessa Kirby, the brilliant star of The Crown, delivers a breathtaking performance in the titular role that will leave you gasping for air. This audio drama presents the duality of the character in a fascinating new light, keeping you on the edge of your seat. It's a must-listen, whether you're a classics buff or dramatic storytelling fanatic. —Kistal G.

Behold the legend of King Arthur’s leftover knights

Lev Grossman has thrown himself headfirst into the legend of King Arthur, and he’s come up with a retelling of the many-faceted story that feels both earnest and tongue-in-cheek. The rub is that the story starts after Arthur has died and Camelot is in shambles—what happens next? Collum, our impassioned, naïve hero, shows up a little too late to become a knight of the glorious Round Table. But fear not! There are plenty of adventures to be had for the despondent leftover knights. Replete with Grossman’s signature critical eye toward tropes and accepted truths, and juxtaposed with narrator Nicholas Guy Smith’s classical British storyteller vibe, The Bright Sword is the King Arthur legend for the questioning masses of today. —Melissa B.

They got the blues

I remember seeing the Blues Brothers debut on Saturday Night Live. I thought it was just another skit. I kept waiting for the punchline or something funny to happen, maybe their suits would fall off, something dumb like that. And then I realized these guys were for real, and they really knew what they were singing about. I loved everything—the suits, the glasses—and they had some moves. I enjoyed this listen because it fills in the blanks, as a great oral history should. It is happy, cool, and touching. Dan Aykroyd’s narration is driving and energetic, yet sensitive. One special fact about the Blues Brothers: They didn’t take the goods from the Black men and women of the blues before them and run. They involved them, they respected them to the utmost—James Brown, Aretha, and many more who had faded away were working again. I loved Aykroyd’s imitation of Ray Charles when he was explaining how to play something. With so much appropriation in the world, Jake and Elwood did the right thing and did it very well, and became cultural icons for the ages. —Yvonne D.

A new meaning to “leaping off the page”

The best horror stories surprise and subvert as they scare—and there’s only so much I can say about Chuck Tingle’s latest novel without giving the thrill of that experience away. I’ll say this: If you love campy stories that still have heart, have been in your glory in this age of whip-smart, socially conscious horror, or have ever yelled, “Just kiss already!” at a clearly queer-coded duo on your TV screen, this one is for you. I adored Tingle’s 2023 horror debut, Camp Damascus, but as a queer film & TV geek, Bury Your Gays, with its nods to pop culture and meta moments, spoke to my soul. Perfectly paced to induce that creeping dread we horror weirdos crave, it’s a little bit Jordan Peele, a little It Follows, a little X-Files—and 100 percent Chuck. André Santana’s lively, earnest performance is reason enough to listen to this one, but there’s another special treat: cameos from Mara Wilson (Camp Damascus), Georgia Bird (many, many Tinglers), as well as a slew of SFF writers (Charlie Jane Anders, TJ Klune, Stephen Graham Jones, to name a few). —Sam D.

Utterly charming

When traveling nurse Amber sees truck headlights careening toward her car, it’s not her life that flashes before her eyes, but her regrets. Her biggest regret? Griffin Lee. Or rather, time and a life not spent with Griffin, a gifted painter she met (and briefly dated) in uni. From there, The Yellow Wood jumps timelines and points of view as the listener journeys alongside Griffin and Amber on their respective paths until they diverge again … and again … in a second-chance (or is it third?) love story. Remy Hii and Aisha Aidara deliver beautiful, complementary performances that propel the narrative forward, creating a tension and a chemistry that’s rare in an alternating point of view novel. This was my first listen by Minnie Darke, and I can’t wait to explore the rest of her catalog. —Katie O.

The sweetest little slasher in Texas

Our patience has been rewarded, because they’re finally here: summer, and I Was a Teenage Slasher! The bloodlust is real for Stephen Graham Jones’s new novel, an extra-personal work based on the horror legend’s West Texas upbringing and a love letter to outcasts and slasher films. Our antihero is 17-year-old Tolly Driver, who lives with a plot-pertinent peanut allergy in the podunk town of Lamesa, Texas, and is about to go on a murder spree that will see six of his classmates dead in the summer of 1989. (That’s no spoiler: Driver, typing out his memoir years in the future, says so at the outset.) The trick is how Graham Jones unspools the story, drawing you into Tolly’s voice and his world of hair metal, Dr. Pepper, bullies, unrequited love, tragedy, and a surprisingly sweet friendship you’ll root for. Texan native Michael Crouch is the PERFECT narrator for the story, which goes down like a gory yet heartbreaking coming-of-age—and don’t miss the blood-red cherry on top when the author reads his acknowledgments at the end. —Kat J.

A welcome bit of silliness and surprising wisdom

Simon Rich was not on my radar until I recently caught an interview he did with Conan O’Brien. I delighted in their conversation, so when I saw Rich had a new book of humorous short stories coming out—narrated by one of my favorite stand-up comics, John Mulaney, no less!—I jumped on it. Rich and Mulaney were frequent collaborators when they both wrote for Saturday Night Live, and those sketch-writing roots are apparent in how much fun Rich has with point of view and character in Glory Days. He takes on the voice of an aging Super Mario in one story, a tooth fairy arguing for unionization in another. But the silly setups are more than funny bits; they’re vehicles for some real poignancy about aging, parenthood, and the slings and arrows of the Digital Age. After listening to this, I’ll be diving into Rich’s other titles for sure. —Phoebe N.

Favorite summertime listen

As a longtime Elena Armas fan, I have been waiting for The Fiancé Dilemma since I finished listening to the beautiful HEA from The Long Game and found out there was more coming in the series. The story, which can be listened to as a standalone, follows Josie, who after four engagements has sworn off men, and Matthew, who is having one hell of a bad day. When a mix-up leaves the two announcing their fake engagement, both play along—agreeing that no matter what, they won’t end up married. As their chemistry becomes more undeniable, and the lines begin to blur, both Josie and Matthew find that the promise won’t be so easy to keep. From the cameos from my Long Game favorites to the alluring performances by beloved narrators Brittany Pressley and Zachary Webber, I adored everything about this story and will be recommending it for the entire summer, and beyond. —Patty R.

A world history for horse lovers

Timothy Winegard has a special knack for delving into world history through unexpected but fascinating means. Where his 2019 history The Mosquito explored the tiny insect’s huge impact on the history of humankind, his latest takes the same approach—just on a much larger scale. And while most people wouldn’t be surprised to hear the incredible impact the domestication of horses has had on world history, it’s still awe-inspiring (and a bit surprising) how much horses have impacted the creation, destruction, colonization, and revolutions of humankind. It’s clear that Winegard has carved out a special niche for himself where nature and history intersect, and he’s become an immediate add-to-Library writer for me. I simply cannot wait to hear what aspect of history and nature he’ll be focusing on next. —Michael C.