The beginning of October brings in a chill in the air, only matched by these intense titles filled with mystery and intrigue. From murder mysteries to medical dramas, these titles will spark conversation even before the story ends. Cozy up with your headphones and listen up because these LibraryReads made incredible listens.
Find out why these LibraryReads make great listens with the audiobooks below and view the full list of October LibraryReads picks here. Check out our LibraryReads Make Great Listens collection to see all of our BOT LibraryReads picks (since the program began).
By Tana French
Read by Hilda Fay
LISTEN TO A CLIP: THE TRESPASSER
LibraryReads review: “Aislinn Murray is beautiful, lives in a picture-perfect cottage, and has a boy she’s crazy about. Antoinette Conway is a tough member of the Dublin Murder Squad who knows no one likes her and says she doesn’t care. When Aislinn is murdered, Conway and her partner Steve Moran take the case and start listening to all the stories about Aislinn. Which ones are true? Was she in love and with whom? Are the stories we tell ourselves and others anywhere near the truth? Great read from Tana French.” — Kathryn Hassert, Chester County Library, Exton, PA
Why try the audio? French’s dynamic detective stories always strike a chord with listeners and this thrilling new audiobook is no exception. Harlan Coben calls her “without a doubt, my favorite new mystery writer” and The Washington Post named her “one of the most talented crime writers alive.”
Praise for Tana French:
“To say Tana French is one of the great thriller writers is really too limiting. Rather she’s simply this: a truly great writer.” — Gillian Flynn
“French is a poet of mood and a master builder of plots.” —–Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post
“One of the most distinct and exciting new voices in crime writing.” —The Wall Street Journal
“French does something fresh with every novel, each one as powerful as the last but in a very different manner. Perhaps she has superpowers of her own? Whatever the source of her gift, it’s only growing more miraculous with every book.” —Laura Miller, Salon.com
By Jodi Picoult
Read by Audra McDonald, Cassandra Campbell and Ari Fliakos
LISTEN TO A CLIP: SMALL GREAT THINGS
LibraryReads review: “A black neonatal nurse is charged with causing the death of a white supremacist’s newborn baby. The story is told from the points of view of the nurse, her attorney, and the baby’s heartbroken father. As always, Picoult’s attention to legal, organizational, and medical details help the tale ring true. What sets this book apart, though, are the uncomfortable points it makes about racism. The novel is both absorbing and thought-provoking, and will surely spark conversations among friends, families and book clubs.” —Laurie Van Court, Douglas County Libraries, Castle Rock, CO
Why try the audio? Picoult has received wide critical praise: The Boston Globe called her “a skilled wordsmith” and Entertainment Weekly said she is “A rare writer who delivers book after book, a winning combination of the literary and the commercial.” Plus, Audra McDonald of Broadway fame is one of the narrators.
Praise for Jodi Picoult:
“The masterful ensemble narrating Picoult’s latest novel allows the intriguing plot and recognizable characters that are her trademarks to take center stage…Leaving before the story ends will not be an option!” —–AudioFile Earphones Award winner, Leaving Time
“The four narrators do an excellent job of voicing this poignant and mystifying novel…An emotional roller coaster. Recommended for all libraries.”—Library Journal on Leaving Time
By Brit Bennett
Read by Adenrele Ojo
LISTEN TO A CLIP: THE MOTHERS
LibraryReads review: “In a contemporary Black community in California, the story begins with a secret. Nadia is a high school senior, mourning her mother’s recent death, and smitten with the local pastor’s son, Luke. It’s not a serious romance, but it takes a turn when a pregnancy (and subsequent cover-up) happen. The impact sends ripples through the community.The Mothers asks us to contemplate how our decisions shape our lives.The collective voice of the Mothers in the community is a voice unto itself, narrating and guiding the reader through the story.” —–Jennifer Ohzourk, St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis, MO
Why try the audio? Set within a contemporary black community in Southern California, Bennett’s mesmerizing debut is an emotionally perceptive story about identity, love, and ambition. The audiobook’s equally balanced combination of political commentary and heartfelt emotion, as well as the closely kept secret at the foundation of the story, will give listeners much to discuss.
Praise for Brit Bennett:
“[Brit] Bennett proves she can back up the buzz…hypnotic writing hooks you from the very beginning and never lets you go in this spine-tingling study of destiny.” — Essence Magazine
By Marie Benedict
Read by Mozhan Marno
LISTEN TO A CLIP: THE OTHER EINSTEIN
LibraryReads review: “Einstein. Just hearing that name likely brings a smile to your face, as you picture the mischievous wild-haired scientist with the twinkle in his eye. In The Other Einstein, readers get a view of the woman behind the genius, his first wife Mileva Maric, a strong willed and brilliant physics student who refused to let society dictate her life’s path, but who lost her way when love came on the scene. Benedict has penned an engaging tale that will likely inspire readers to investigate the true story behind Maric’s genius and her personal and professional relationship with Einstein.” —Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, Huntington Station, NY
Why try the audio? Following the tradition of such celebrated works as The Paris Wife and Loving Frank, THE OTHER EINSTEIN reveals the remarkable woman behind a famous man, exploring a complicated partnership that is as riveting as it is troubling. The controversial role that Mitza played in Albert Einstein’s work will generate much discussion among book club listeners.
Praise for THE OTHER EINSTEIN:
“Beautifully written…a finely drawn portrait of a woman in love with the wrong man.”—Jillian Cantor, author of Margot and The Hours Count
See all ten October LibraryReads 2016 picks on the LibraryReads site.
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