Listen to Popular Authors Full Audiobooks in Fiction, Contemporary Popular Authors

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Title: The Riddle Of The Sands

Author: Erskine Childers

Narrator: Anton Lesser

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-15-08

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 27 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Riddle of the Sands is set during the long suspicious years leading up to the First World War and is a classic of spy fiction.

©2008 BBC Audiobooks Ltd; (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Members Reviews:

Slow beginning, but worth the wait

It takes awhile for this story to get going, but it becomes gripping later. Anton Lesser's reading is, as always, magnificent. This is a classic thriller - no gory stuff, and more of a mental cat-and-mouse game than an action adventure. There is a lot of sailing terminology, but it is not essential to understand the jargon (I didn't understand most of it) to enjoy the book.

Slow and Earnest

Admittedly, I am an hour and a half from reaching the end of this book. And I wouldn't make it to the end except that the pace has finally picked up. You'll listen for a long time to much ado about little with this one. Even the reader, Anton Lesser, can't really bring it alive.

A great read and excellent for the WWI centennial

Riddle of the Sands was published in 1903, 11 years before WWI started, but it is redolent with the suspicion between Germany and other countries that circulated at that time and resulted, finally, in the Great War. The Riddle is that our two young spies gradually realize that Germany is planning an invasion of England via the low-water tributaries in the Frisian islands, pulling low-draft troop carriers among the natural channels through the sands . The places named are real and you can follow the plot on Google Earth.

Anton Lesser does a superb reading, and reads with the tones of a young man, which is crucial, because while the plot and action are gripping, the characterization and character development is just as beautifully and humorously written, and this is why it seems to me almost a crime to settle for an abridged version of this classic. You won't regret listening to the original.

Our narrator, Carruthers, is a rising young star in the Foreign Office, and when he reluctantly boards the Dulcibella, he is deeply disappointed that it is not the stylish, elegant yacht with crew that he had dressed and packed for. He is a prig, and no sailor, and both faults get well and truly reformed during this story as he grows up, learns to sail, and finds his place in the world -- because however "at sea" he may feel in a boat, Carruthers has talent and courage as a spy on land that make the reader feel he would be wasted in the Foreign Office.

Of course there is a beautiful girl. And a dubious father. And Germans, nice and otherwise, whose accents Lesser performs convincingly. Best of all, there is a VIP who comes to inspect how well the invasion plans are working out. This is "he who insists" on coming.

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

"He who insists" is the Kaiser. Kaiser Wilhelm II, ruler of Germany, avid yachtsman, committed to building up Germany's navy. The idea that Germany might invade England is hardly remarkable: most wars involve the aggressing Continental power considering it very carefully, or actually doing it. The last ones were Napoleon and Hitler, both of whom made elaborate plans for invasion, but never actually carried them out. Eleven years after this book came out, Germany used its navy to try to starve England out via U-Boots sinking ships carrying imports, rather than invasion.

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Title: The Reef

Author: Di Morrissey

Narrator: Kate Hood

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-28-08

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 21 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

When world-famous Isobel Belitas arrives, Jennifer learns to see the world - above and below the sea - very differently. Isobel also teaches her to come to terms with her obsessive mother, as well as her disintegrating marriage. But no one, not even investigative journalist Tony Adams, could have prepared Jennifer for the stunning revelations of what is really happening on this island paradise...

Editorial Reviews:

Painting a lush and vivid picture of the coral reef off of Queensland Australia, Di Morrissey tells the story of Jennifer, whose traumatic childhood experience with a family beach vacation shapes her adult relationships and respect for the sea. Jennifer's problematic relationship with her mother and husband are set against the backdrop of a cay in the coral reef where marine scientists and resort vacationers coexist but shady dealings threaten to topple the delicate balance. With a sumptuous voice and sincere tone, Kate Hood performs the dramatic, personal story that carries an underlying theme of sea conservation.

Critic Reviews:

"Full of the sights, sounds and smells of tropical north Queensland....the story plunges forward with all the impetus of a wave crashing on the beach, and the reader is carried - joyfully - along with it." (Travelscene International)

Members Reviews:

Yawnfully predictable storyline

What a predictable and shallow story. Only I had paid for it so I was determined to hear it out.

If only the narrator hadn't given the heroine a breathy little girl voice, I may have accepted her total lack of personality. We don't really understand 'why' Jennifer does what she does. Her husband to be is not nice from the start and her mother is a plain bitch but good old Jen just goes along with them both until her life crumbles in the most predictable way. There is just something missing from the description of Jennifer's reaction to those around her. I didn't understand why she never expressed doubt or disapproval - I didn't hear her thinking - I didn't ever get to feel warmly towards her. This seems to be a weak vehicle for the author to write about the Barrier Reef and conservation. Both great topics but a painful way to learn about them. My first and sadly last Di M.

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Title: The Sweet Potato Queens' First Big-Ass Novel

Author: Jill Conner Browne, Karin Gillespie

Narrator: Jill Conner Browne

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-24-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 68 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

How much more? The #1 New York Times best-selling author of five works of nonfiction now serves up The Sweet Potato Queens' First Big-Ass Novel: Stuff We Didn't Actually Do, But Could Have, and May Yet. The humor in this uproarious coming-of-queen novel is more delicious than a favorite dessert (the Queens favor Chocolate Stuff, of course).

In Jackson, Mississippi, Mary Bennett, Patsy, Gerald, and Jill are high school classmates whose daily routine is paced like a shuffle through the local red dirt - until the arrival of a redheaded newcomer banishes monotony forever.

With her luxurious mane and voluptuous figure, Tammy Myers aspires to join the silver-spooners, who make things happen in their lives. When Jill convinces Tammy and the others that money might buy a certain kind of good time and that true friendship has no price tag, the "Sweet Potato Queens" are born. "If it ain't fun, we ain't doin' it," runs their official club motto, and the Queens are true to their word.

Together, the Queens laugh out loud as they step down the long - and not altogether pretty - road toward making their very own queen dust, the sparkle that comes from livin' and lovin' their own lives. The Sweet Potato Queens' First Big-Ass Novel: Stuff We Didn't Actually Do, But Could Have, and May Yet reveals that the journey isn't always easy, but in the company of the Queens, you can sparkle, too.

Members Reviews:

Needs another narrator.

I could not listen to this book because of the narr Get someone else and I may try again. I only gave Overall and Story 1 star because I had to rate. I'm sure this is at least a good book. Just could not get past the narrator.

Fun Listen

What did you love best about The Sweet Potato Queens' First Big-Ass Novel?

The woman reading the story

If youve listened to books by Jill Conner Browne and Karin Gillespie before, how does this one compare?

First one

What does the narrator bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

A great southern voice

Any additional comments?

It was a diverting few hours. The characters were interesting but I felt like each of them had to suffer something to show what good friends they really were- but they didn't seem to really talk to each other or trust each other when they were adults. So many of the conflicts seemed to be caused by them not talking or trusting, not the real conflict. Gerald's issues - these women are suppossed to be his best friends? he doesnt confide/trust anything. And the resolutions seened too easy and pat. The Tammy/England arc is a perfect example for me, or Gerald and Mary Bennet - Gerald could have saved her 7 years of heartache if he only talked to her but instead when it finally came out that he was mad at her for something he "thought" she did, she forgave him instantly instead of my reaction which was why didn't you TELL her ?? The Jill / Ross arc was somewhat interesting but a bit shallow for the subject matter, and i saw the problem coming a mile away. I am willing to try the author's non fiction as I think that might be a better listen

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Titel: Jennys Geschichte

Autor:: Barbara Noack

Erzähler: Hannelore Hoger

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 4 hrs and 31 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 05-29-08

Herausgeber: LangenMüller Herbig

Kategorien: Fiction, Contemporary

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

Über die Sprecherin: Hannelore Hoger, geboren 1942 in Hamburg, wurde an der dortigen staatlichen Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst zur Schauspielerin ausgebildet. Im Theater, in Kinofilmen und im Fernsehen, etwa als die bekannte Kommissarin Bella Block, begeisterte sie ihr Publikum. Für ihre Arbeit erhielt sie unter anderem den Adolf-Grimme-Preis.

Kritik Bewertungen:

"Ein Meisterwerk von der Großmeisterin der Unterhaltungsliteratur."

--Welt am Sonntag

"Barbara Noack gehört zu den meistgelesenen Autorinnen anspruchsvoller Unterhaltungsliteratur in deutscher Sprache."

--Mannheimer Morgen

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Title: The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold

Author: Evelyn Waugh

Narrator: Michael Cochrane

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-06-08

Publisher: CSA Word

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 47 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A poignant and sad book which is in turn often darkly humorous and uplifting, too, this is an insight into both the recesses of Waugh's own mind and his brilliant imagination, from which he creates a character who is both likeable and often openly derisable.

Members Reviews:

What a gem

I found this audiobook by chance, and I loved every second of it. This superb little book manages to convey the experience of "hearing voices" in a perfectly believable way, while still remaining humorous and engaging. And the narration is nothing short of perfect. Every character gets a rich and perfectly suited voice. Highly recommended.

Superb

Waugh's best book, superbly read by the narrator. I highly recommend the book and this audio version to anyone who relishes irony, and to students of personal decline and madness.

Great reader

I didn't much care for the novel. For some reason I couldn't understand what about the character's predicament was interesting. Michael Cochrane's reading, on the other hand, is magnificent. It was the reader rather than the writer that got me through this book.

Laughed out loud. A lot.

People must have thought I was a crazy person - while I listened to this sharp, strange novel about a lazy egomanic I was laughing out loud. On the subway. On the street. In stores. The narrator and the novel are hilarious!

Utterly Hilarious

Where does The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

This book was such a surprise for me. It actually made me laugh aloud. I had to re-read it immediately as I just loved it so much.

What other book might you compare The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold to and why?

The Diary of a Nobody is mentioned in the book. It is not similar in style or period but both books are hilarious. I have not read anything like Gilbert Pinfold.

What about Michael Cochranes performance did you like?

The narrator was brilliant. Really nailed it. He added to the hilarity of the story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed until my stomach hurt once.

Any additional comments?

Loved, loved, loved it.

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Title: The Quiet Girl

Author: Peter Hoeg

Narrator: James Gale

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-01-07

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 75 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Set in Denmark in the here and now, The Quiet Girl centers around Kaspar Krone, a world-renowned circus clown with a deep love for the music of Johan Sebastian Bach, and an even deeper gambling debt. Wanted for tax evasion and on the verge of extradition, Krone is drafted into the service of a mysterious order of nuns who promise him reprieve from the international authorities in return for his help safeguarding a group of children with mystical abilities - abilities that Krone also shares. When one of the children goes missing, Krone sets off to find the young girl and bring her back, making a shocking series of discoveries along the way about her identity and the true intentions of his young wards. The result is a fast-paced, philosophical thriller blending social realism with the literary fantastic and pitting art and spirituality against corporate interests - and nothing less than the will to war by the industrialized world.

Translated by Nadia Christensen.

Members Reviews:

Not Up To Usual Standards

I was entranced with Smilla's Sense of Snow, and enjoyed the magical realism of Woman and the Ape, so I looked forward to The Quiet Girl. But it disappoints. The strength of Hoeg's erudition, zest for eccentric characters, and interest in exploration of philosophy is overwhelmed by a contorted plot line and a too-willing capitulation to the seduction of fast-paced chases and narrow escapes. I was left wishing the Quiet Girl could have told me more about what the narrative was actually about.

Please, can I have my credit back?

I am serious. This book has great prose and a good plot premise - but the execution is so clouded; I feel like there is a fog rolling over my brain when I try to listen to this book. Ive restarted the first section of the book 4 times - trying to grasp the time line or to even follow the plot. Sorry - but this one needed more glue to hold it together.

I am moving on to another book at this point I am not even curious about the end of the book.

Initially confusing but intriguing

It took about 3 chapters for me to get a handle on this book. It was really confusing for a while and I nearly gave up, but then I started to untangle the threads enough to understand the way memory, interpretation and events are enmeshed. Although I think this would be better read than listened to, it was quite engrossing and came to quite a satisfying end.

Impossible to finish

I'm not sure why but this book has always been on my bottom list , I've attempted to finish it a few times and failed again and again , giving up all together.

Some parts are a 5 star !?!

Any additional comments?

This book is like going to an art museum , where the paintings are not arranged in any order or theme. It takes you more than 14 hours to wander through all the galleries; some of the art you love, some you don't, and some just totally mystify you. Though I loved the "music" of the words in this book, I always come back to my final thought, "Well, that was 14 hours of my life I'll never get back!"

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Title: The Race

Author: Richard North Patterson

Narrator: Michael Boatman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-04-07

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 154 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

But Grace is still haunted by a tragic mistake buried deep in his past, and his integrity will be put to the test in this most brutal of political contests, in which nothing in his past or present life is off-limits. Depicting contemporary power politics at its most ruthless, The Race takes on the most incendiary issues in America's culture wars: racism, religious fundamentalism, gay rights, and the rise of media monopolies with their own political and economic agendas.

As the pressure of the race intensifies, culminating in a heated showdown at a deadlocked party convention in New York City, Grace must come to terms with his presidential ambitions and decide just how much he's willing to sacrifice in order to achieve them.

Critic Reviews:

"A gripping read." (

Booklist) "An absorbing and suspenseful account of a dirty run for the Republican presidential nomination." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

The Race

Patterson has come full circle and I, for one, enjoyed his revisiting political campaigns. The first book I ever encountered by Patterson was "Private Screening" which once and for all set me on the road for all of his books. While his circumstances, put in a "real world" are far too hopeful to ever happen, Patterson so deftly establishes the imminent reality (as I borrow from Barthes), the reality is the text. So, to any Richard North Patterson fans, political aficionados, or those who simply enjoy a multi-level and tightly plotted book, this book will be a must.

Big fan disappointed

I'm a big Richard North Patterson fan and I enjoyed this book. However, the ending was somewhat predictable and disappointing. I was enthralled for 75% of the book but felt as if the author gave up near the end, at length.

conventional plot; long book

somewhat entertaining, but patterson takes too many liberties into implausibilities. and too long.

Good book!

I've read all of this author's books and enjoyed this one a lot. The ending was surprising but good. The whole book left me wishing events like this could really happen.

Good detail ... good character development ... good human interest sub story lines. This one had me sitting in the drive way, listening to "just a little more" before turning the key and getting out of the car.

An inside glimpse into presidential politics

Would you consider the audio edition of The Race to be better than the print version?

I always enjoy the audible editions more because it's easier to relate to the characters, but I have not read the print version of this one so I can't compare.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Corey Grace. I wish he was really running for President

Which character as performed by Michael Boatman was your favorite?

Corey Grace was so believeable.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

In a couple of places it made me really mad, but, no, I didn't laugh or cry.

Any additional comments?

I have enjoyed almost all of Richard North Patterson's books. The only one I had problems with, and it was more subject matter than anything else, was "Degree of Guilt."

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Title: Someone to Love

Author: Jude Deveraux

Narrator: Dagmara Dominczyk

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-03-07

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 52 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

One day, he discovers a postcard stuck between the pages of a book that belonged to his fiancée. Addressed to her, it bears the cryptic message, "Ours again, at last. See you there". The front of the card is a photograph of a house. Feeling that this might be the clue that could help him understand what drove her to suicide, he seeks out the house and buys it. He soon learns that the house is haunted by a headstrong and feisty ghost, Ann Stuart, whom he is forced to tangle with if he's ever to solve the mystery. Ann died under circumstances similar to his late fiancée, and he has a hunch that there is a connection between the two.

In the midst of his investigation, he's presented with a bit of a public-relations problem. Nightingale Augusta Smith is a journalist who writes for the paper in the small town where Jace has bought the house. She writes a slanderous article about him and refuses to print a retraction until he agrees to let her help him in his dealings with Ann Stuart.

Members Reviews:

Good Story a few annoying points.

The idea of this story is not bad; I just get really tired of the idea that all the English think Americans are uncouth idiots. The narrator of the story sounds like a little girl when portraying some of the female characters. I think I would have enjoyed it more in book form.

Yes It was OK

My sister recommended this, it was ok I can't say it was the best book I have ever listened too and It was not bad - I know that maybe not much help but it's worth a listen too. It's a bit far fetched but if you've got nothing else to listen too give it a go. At least this now has one review - better than none

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Title: Drop Dead Beautiful

Author: Jackie Collins

Narrator: Jonathan Davis

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-07-07

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 117 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Internationally best-selling author Jackie Collins marks her 25th novel, one not to be missed. And it's all about her most popular heroine, the wildly beautiful Lucky Santangelo, still every bit as strong, sexy, and seductive as ever. But Lucky is older and wiser, and hot to reclaim her power position in Las Vegas. However, a deadly enemy from her past has resurfaced, a person determined to take everything from her, including the family she holds so dear: two sons and an out-of-control teenage daughter who is just as outrageous as Lucky herself. Like mother, like daughter. And if that old saying holds true, it's going to be one wild ride.

Members Reviews:

Must Love Author

What made the experience of listening to Drop Dead Beautiful the most enjoyable?

I purchased due to reader Jonathan Davis as he read Sandra Browns Mean Streak, Fab!

Must use new 1.25x speed to update this novel.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I am not a fan of this author, but Mr. Davis narrates, so I gave it a try. This series, or at least this book reads like a long soap opera. We done for that type of story.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Daviss other performances before? How does this one compare?

I am a fan of Mr. Davis, who unfortunately doesn't do much romance/suspense. His reviews for Sandra Brown were so high. He does Sci Fi and some suspense.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Author sensationalized bad behavior in a keystone cops storyline. Very light reading, but can entertain you if you love soaps.

Love it

I loved the book; sex, celebrities, money and intrigues. Drop Dead Beautiful is great listing that allows you to relax and just enjoy. The narrator was excellent and really made the story perfect.

Jackie Collins enthusiast

I've read/heard almost all of the Luck series and Drop Dead Beautiful was by far my favorite!

Love Lucky

I love these series of books with Lucky. They are really good & capture all the characters lives in detail.

Ok Book

One of the many Lucky Santangelo books, but the first I've read. It was long (15 hours plus) but was on sale and I had put it on haitus for awhile. Now, it's back. I could recognize the serialness of the book because it referred to previous events in Lucky's life. It seemed that every few minutes someone was jumping in the sack with someone else. Is that sexy? The book is also about the movie business, something I'm not particularly enamored with. So, maybe that's why it didn't click very well. The book seemed slow at first, but then, after all the characters were introduced and had sex at least once, it moved on. The epilogue tied it all up after an exciting conclusion (aren't they all?) Doubt if I'll read any more Collins--not my style.

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Title: The Testament of Gideon Mack

Author: James Robertson

Narrator: Tom Cotcher

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-11-07

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 50 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

For Gideon Mack, faithless minister, unfaithful husband, and troubled soul, the existence of God, let alone the Devil, is no more credible than that of ghosts or fairies - until the day he falls into a gorge and is rescued by someone who might just be Satan.

© James Robertson; (P) Clipper Audio

Critic Reviews:

"Gideon's sly unreliability is cloaked by Robertson's mastery of language and command of the elements of fiction; the combination is addictive and captivating." (Publishers Weekly)

"More a discussion of humanity than divinity, it will capture and hold the reader's attention long past the last page." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Fantastic

This is most definitely one of the best books I've read (heard) in a long time. Gideon Mack. Everything about the man, his life, his mannerisms, and his thoughts completely captivated me. He is flawed at best, which may be one of the things that makes him so interesting.

The narrator does a fantastic job of adding life and personality to each character of the story. At some points I had to pause and rewind the book to listen again because he went into the thick Scottish accent of the common man. After a short while, though, you get used to the accent, and all is well.

This is a definite must for anyone who wants a good book added to his or her reading list for the year.

I've suggested it to others in both audio and hard cover form and all have come back to me with great reviews of the author, writing, general flow, and believability of the story. Everyone falls in love with, while also disliking, Gideon Mack. One friend even said that she wondered if she was the only one who thought about planning a trip to Scotland, as the writing is good enough to convince the reader or listener of the trueness of the story.

Great book by a fantastic author. I'm looking forward to seeing more stuff by James Robertson.

Take a dive into the world of Gideon Mack.

The most pleasurable audiobook in a year

I have listened to some great books this year, but this book has been the most pleasurable. Don't let the Scottish accent from the sample discourage you from listening. The narrator does a great job of bringing a verisimilitude and deeper dimension to the book.

I will come back to add more when I have fully collected my thoughts from this great tale.

Did He or Didn't He? You'll Have to Decide.

I LOVED this book!! This is a book about nature of truth, doubt, belief, trust and faith, and it will get you thinking - a LOT - about this. I couldn't put it down, and when I finished, it was like a really good movie; you keep thinking about the characters, the story, the questions long after it's over. James Robertson is a masterful author, in the top 5% and well worth reading for a variety of reasons. Here's my list of why I would recommend this book to everyone:

1. The sublime weaving of myth, folklore, legend, history and facts are so incredibly well orchestrated, that you never know when one leaves off and the other begins. The philosophical romp is exhilarating.