Julia Whelan narrates this ghost story with insight, depth, and passion. Her reading of Gillian Flynn's Edgar Award-winning short story reverberates with the hardened attitude of its chronicler, a young woman who splits her money-making activities between being a prostitute and a fraudulent clairvoyant. Whelan is energetically matter-of-fact as she shares detailed character background, making what could be sluggish content compelling. The swagger of her performance gradually morphs into terror as the story's plot twists grow darker and more sinister. As she skillfully merges the deceptive characters, a haunting tone, and compelling events, the audiobook doesn't need mood music. Whelan can raise goosebumps and keep listeners on the edge of their seats all by herself. J.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
We’re all of us only on this earth for a short time, which means the next generation is always going to be following close behind, ready to take over where the last leaves off. In the literary world, that means a fresh crop of talented writers working in genres and styles built upon what has gone before, even occasionally taking up the mantle of […]
Gillian Flynn has a knack for twisting the knife, usually before you even know you’ve been stabbed. In Gone Girl, Dark Places, and Sharp Objects, she spins a web, adorning it with broken characters and insidious atmosphere, before pumping you full of venom with the lethal bite of her pen.
There’s only one way to describe You, the once-on-a-Lifetime series now streaming on Netflix: it’s a ride. In turns fascinating and deeply disturbing, You’s first season puts the viewer squarely in the mind of Joe Goldberg, a dangerous “nice guy” who wraps his stalker tendencies in justifications of chivalry. (He’s rather perfectly described in the […]
Fall is here, bringing with it all the chilly weather you need to justify canceling your plans and staying home reading. And this month’s most exciting fiction picks deliver, with a new collection from storytelling master Stephen King, a philosophical parable from actor-author Ethan Hawke, and a decades-spanning epic on life, love, and music from the inimitable […]
Following up on our summer book club picks, here are some fall favorites to dive into with your child. An adult reading option is paired up with a younger reader choice so that you can explore the same concept, subject matter, or universal theme together. Perfect for when the nights get dark, the leaves have all […]