Audiofile Spotlight: What Audiobook Mysteries Reveal About the Impact of War

In Honor of Veterans Day:

What Audiobook Mysteries Reveal About the Impact of War

By Ellen Quint

On November 11 we commemorate Veterans Day. This is an opportunity to focus on audiobook mysteries that provide a window into the human side of world events and that explore the impact of war on those who serve and those who remain at home.

The mother/son author team known as Charles Todd published audiobooks in two of their series in 2021. A FATAL LIE is the 23rd addition to the Inspector Rutledge series, and it’s narrated by Golden Voice Simon Vance. Rutledge is sent to a remote area of Wales to investigate the murder of an unidentified male victim and finds himself drawn into a complex web of lies and cover-ups in post-WWI Great Britain. Rutledge is a veteran of WWI and is still accompanied by Hamish, a ghost from his war days, who challenges his thinking throughout the investigation. Vance is a master of all of the accents and is terrific at both the male and female voices. The characters and storyline make the longer-term impacts of wartime very real for listeners.

This is true also in the 12th installment of Todd’s Bess Crawford series, AN IRISH HOSTAGE, read by Rosalyn Landor. Post WWI, Nurse Bess Crawford goes to a very unsettled Ireland to join her friend Eileen Flynn for her wedding. Listeners will get a window into the factions that have torn apart Ireland and that continued to do that until recently. As with all of the Charles Todd books, the attention to detail allows listeners to step fully into these worlds.

Moving us forward to WWII, listeners will be entranced by the latest Maisie Dobbs audiobook THE CONSEQUENCES OF FEAR, by Jacqueline Winspear and read by Earphones Award-winning narrator Orlagh Cassidy. Maisie Dobbs is now working for the Special Operations Executive, assessing candidates for undercover work in enemy territory. It’s a responsibility that weighs heavy on her as she is trying to balance her work in London with mothering her adopted young daughter, staying with family in the country. She gets drawn into a criminal investigation when a young boy, who serves as a messenger, witnesses what he is convinced is a murder. Winspear, partnered with narrator Cassidy, delivers an engaging, emotionally intense listening experience, making war feel very personal.

Another WWII mystery based in the UK is THE ROSE CODE by Kate Quinn, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. This Earphones-Award winner focuses on three women working at the famous code-breaking center Bletchley Park. The women, who come from different backgrounds and social status, work together during the war and become friends. But something serious happens to put a rift in their friendship. They are drawn back together in 1947 as England prepares for the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. A crisis forces them to unearth past secrets and to break one last code. Maarleveld masterfully delivers the accents, differentiating the characters and drawing listeners into the well-researched world that Quinn paints with her words.

For a different perspective on the impacts of WWII, try CLARK AND DIVISION by Naomi Hirahara, read by Alison Hiroto. The story takes place in the United States in 1944 and follows the challenges of a Japanese American family released from one of the internment camps where Japanese-Americans were incarcerated after Pearl Harbor. The story is told through the perspective of 20-year-old Aki, who is searching for the truth about the suspicious death of her older sister, Rose. The historical details are enlightening and troubling and, coupled with the elegant prose, make this a worthwhile listen.

Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks for November from AudioFile Magazine

 AudioFile editors pick five top mystery & thriller audiobooks for November. We’re featuring an always-welcome new title from Michael Connelly in the Renee Ballard series and Janet Evanovich’s latest—#28—with audiobook narrator Lorelei King. Actor Alfred Molina heads the cast of an audio drama adaptation of a classic Agatha Christie. It’s all excellent listening for the month.

THE DARK HOURS

by Michael Connelly | Read by Christine Lakin, Titus Welliver

AudioFile Earphones Award

Hachette Audio | 11 hrs.

Listeners once again enjoy the talented partnership of author Michael Connelly and narrators Christine Lakin and Titus Welliver. In this fourth audiobook in the Renee Ballard series, we follow the prickly LAPD detective as she relentlessly pursues justice. Ballard faces obstacles presented by the pandemic and the blowback on law enforcement from police brutality protests. Of course, she pulls in Harry Bosch for backup. This is a compelling listen with a gritty portrayal of the current social environment.

REVIEW

THE MURDER ON THE LINKS

by Agatha Christie, Kate McAll [Adapt.] | Read by Alfred Molina, Simon Helberg, and a Full Cast

AudioFile Earphones Award

L.A. Theatre Works | 1.5 hrs.

This adaptation of a classic Christie whodunit to vintage radio drama format is absolutely delicious. Evocative music and portentous sound effects greatly enhance the fun, and the cast is superb. Many great actors have taken on the fussy little Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, but none better than Alfred Molina. Kate McAll’s script deftly compresses the puzzle into the length of a stage play, giving the actors ample scope to show off their dramatic chops while keeping the plot coherent.

REVIEW

GAME ON: TEMPTING TWENTY-EIGHT

by Janet Evanovich | Read by Lorelei King

Simon & Schuster Audio | 7 hrs.

Narrator Lorelei King returns to bring life to Evanovich’s characters and joy to listeners. Fans get to reconnect with the Trenton, New Jersey, regulars and also hear from Diesel and Wolf, who drop in from other celestial planes. King’s performance welcomes listeners into Stephanie Plum’s world. She is masterful in delivering the unique personalities that drive the plot. Fans will be delighted.

REVIEW

APRIL IN SPAIN

by John Banville | Read by John Lee

AudioFile Earphones Award

Harlequin Audio | 8.75 hrs.

Narrator John Lee delivers a well-constructed, ably paced, and stylish performance of this elegantly written mystery. His portrayal of Banville’s garrulous pathologist, Quirke, sets the tone. Banville has a novelist’s ability to get inside the thoughts and feelings of his characters, and this plot has an inevitable but finely crafted ending. There are fine set pieces of corrupt politicos misbehaving, and the atmosphere of San Sebastian feels hot and wet.

REVIEW

THE STOLEN HOURS

by Allen Eskens | Read by MacLeod Andrews, Christine Lakin, Tina Huang

Hachette Audio | 10 hrs.

A talented team of narrators perfectly presents this fast-paced, engaging legal thriller. Lila Nash is getting closer to her dream job working for the prosecutor in Hennepin County. When she begins working on the case of an attempted murder of a young woman, unexpected connections to other crimes and to her own troubled past come to light. The narration by all three perfectly captures the challenging police investigation, legal fight, and personal relationships depicted. Another compelling story in this series and a must-listen!

REVIEW