Listen to Top 100 Audiobooks in Fiction, Historical

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Title: The Last Trail

Author: Zane Grey

Narrator: Michael Prichard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-29-06

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 67 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The American Revolution is over, but the violence continues in the Ohio Valley. Jonathan Zane and Lewis Wetzel face constant action, trying turn the tide. But just when the beautiful Betty Sheppard has convinced Jonathan to give up his lonely war, she is captured, and taken into the unknown wilderness. Jonathan and Lewis set out on their last desperate journey to save her. The pair have to battle not only Indians and privation, but their own inner demons in this startling and unexpected conclusion to the

Ohio River Trilogy.

Don't miss Books 1 and 2 of the

Ohio River Trilogy,

and

.

(P)2004 Tantor Media, Inc. Originally published 1909.

Editorial Reviews:

Just because a war may be over, doesn't guarantee the fighting and terror is. This is the quick lesson Jonathan Zane and Lewis Wetzel have to learn in The Last Trail. The American Revolution is all but over when a band of renegades and Ohio Valley Indians kidnap Betty Sheppard from Zane, forcing him and Wetzel to set out on a daring rescue mission. Veteran narrator Michael Prichard gives a dramatic performance, hitting every note of panic and dread in this final chapter of Zane Grey's Ohio River Trilogy.

Members Reviews:

Sad that this trilogy is over

Although all three of Grey's "border" trilogy books can stand alone, they are best read in chronological order. "The Last Trail" was a fitting end to the series. The narration was excellent and conveyed the action well. This series is my favorite Audible purchase. These books are more timely, IMHO, than James Fennimore Cooper's "Leatherstocking Tales." The prose is not as dated.

I'm sorry it was the last

What made the experience of listening to The Last Trail the most enjoyable?

To be able to listen to someone else bring the action to life while I was able to close my eyes and see it.

What other book might you compare The Last Trail to and why?

I compare it to "Betty Zane" and "Spirit of the Border" since they are all about the same characters.

Which character as performed by Michael Prichard was your favorite?

Lew Wetzel.

Who was the most memorable character of The Last Trail and why?

Wetzel because of his feelings for Betty Zane and his hatred of the Indians and their hatred of him.

Any additional comments?

Listening to Mr. Pritchard made the story come alive and I enjoyed his narration very much.

Great for Ohio River History Narrative

Any additional comments?

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the Ohio River Trilogy books! Prichard does a very good job at the narration.

Great narrative voice to "put you in the story"

What did you love best about The Last Trail?

The unexpected ending. No clue before it came!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Helen

Which character as performed by Michael Prichard was your favorite?

Jonathan Zane

If you could rename The Last Trail, what would you call it?

The same as it is.

Any additional comments?

If you like a great western, and/or know a little about the Ohio and Kentucky area, it's for you.

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Title: Rio Hondo

Author: Matt Braun

Narrator: George Guidall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-01-06

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 26 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In the harsh land of New Mexico, Clint and Virgil Brannock keep a sharp eye on their ranch, the Rio Hondo, and family, lest cheats and hustlers move in. When corrupt attorney Stephen Benton and his Santa Fe Ring threaten the ranch, the two brothers realize they must fight for the land and livelihood they cherish, or die trying.

Members Reviews:

Engaging!

Love George Guidell! The characters are people to admire. Completely enjoying the series. Can't wait to listen to the next audiobook.

Great listen...

If you like descriptive western stories that follow multiple trails, many leading to one end then this is a good pick. Very descriptive would remind you of a L'amour where the details give you a mental image, combine that with the good narration and you can watch the story unfold in your imagination.

Best Western writer of all time

Rio Hondo is an incredibly good book. In my opinion Matt Braun is the best of all the Western writers and this is definately one of his best. Exciting, entertaining, educational etc. I couldn't stop listening.

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Title: Renegades

Subtitle: The Last Gunfighter Series

Author: William Johnstone

Narrator: George Guidall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-01-06

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 62 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Does Don Felipe Almanzar lead these marauding vaqueros, as rancher Tolliver believes? Or do they follow the terrifying Black Scorpion?

Members Reviews:

I Really Liked This!

This story/style/author was just my speed. The focus was on one character. Not hoping all over the place. He was the hero who from one entanglement to another would save the day. Yes, he was a gunfighter but more that that he was a problem solver, the good guy.

Johnstone has written several (@8) books with this character I hope more will become available. If you want a fast pace western with lots of action, this is it!

Always a great read

The story of The Drifter is always great. George Guidell's read is the best. Many times one finds yourself reaching for your hand gun to help I be fight for good and justice.

I own almost all of the series and high recommend it to you.

Cast Iron Kid

Solid Cowboy Fare

I gave this one a listen based on a friends recommendation. While a solid story line, it is a bit predictable and a touch melodramatic. That is in keeping with the genre.

If you are a fan of westerns, this shouldn't disappoint. The narrator seems ready made for western characters.

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Title: Close Quarters

Author: Larry Heinemann

Narrator: Richard Ferrone

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-02-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 47 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In the stripped-down, unsullied patois of an ordinary soldier, draftee Philip Dosier tells his story of the war. Straight from high school, too young to vote or buy himself a drink, he enters a world of mud and heat, blood and body counts, ambushes and firefights. It is here that he embarks on the brutal downward path to wisdom that awaits every soldier.

In the tradition of The Naked and the Dead and The Thin Red Line, Close Quarters is the harrowing story of how a decent kid from Chicago endures an extraordinary trial and returns profoundly altered to a world on the threshold of change.

Critic Reviews:

"The best work of fiction to come out of the Vietnam War." (Houston Chronicle) "Close Quarters can stand with the finest Vietnam writing, fact or fiction." (Chicago Tribune)

Members Reviews:

Great book!

I have recently started reading books about Vietnam. This is the best. Very descriptive. Excellent!

Not Good

What disappointed you about Close Quarters?

I couldn't even finish. I'm not sure if it was the book or the narration. Both were bad. I think I may have been able to finish the book if it was in paperback but the narration was annoying.

Would you be willing to try another one of Richard Ferrones performances?

Not sure.

You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The narration completely ruined it for me.

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Title: The Night Watch

Author: Sarah Waters

Narrator: Juanita McMahon

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-17-06

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 309 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

New York Times best-selling author Sarah Waters received sweeping critical acclaim for her debut, Tipping the Velvet, and has been a finalist for the Orange and Booker Prizes. In The Night Watch she tells the riveting, intersecting tales of four Londoners during and after World War II. As these four people survive the devastation of war and experience the dizzying heights of life, their paths cross in ways none of them can foresee.

©2006 Sarah Waters; (P)2006 W.F. Howes Ltd.

Critic Reviews:

"Through all the turmoil on the world stage, the characters steal moments of love, fragments of calm and put their lives on the line for great sex and small kindnesses." (Publishers Weekly)

"Readers will be tempted to return to the beginning of Waters' elegant novel after turning the final page to fully appreciate the depth of the characters and their connections to each other." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

may not work in audio

I was disappointed. The writing is lovely, and the ways in which the characters come together and overlap is clever and poignant. However, the structure of pulling a million threads together works better when the reader can physically flip back in a book and remind herself who is who and what is what. Also, the editing was simply awful, as major scene shifts occurred without the narrator taking a breath. You went from character B finishing a sentence he was saying to character A, and without an visual or auditory warning, charcter C and D pick up instantly. VERY annoying. I liked it enough to want to read rather than listen to it.

Great book!

A good narrator can make even a mediocre book come to life. When a great narrator meets wonderful writing, magic happens. To me, this book was such magic.

A majority of the characters are gay, so if that bothers you, this is not the book for you. However, if you see people as people, and love as love, then I highly recommend it.

Loved it!

I've just recently become a fan of Sarah Waters. I've also just started listening to audio books as well, so this was a completely new and refreshing experience for me.

The story is set during WWII in England. Previously Waters has set her books in, say, the 18th century England. What I've found interesting is that the book is written backwards. Yup. Backwards. The first part you listen to is after the war, then during the war and finally the story ends at the beginning. Fascinating.

Some reviewers have stated that they had trouble discerning which character the story jumps to. While there were a few spots where I found myself confused, I was able to figure it out in no time and resumed enjoying the book. Others have stated that the book starts slowly. Yes, perhaps this is true but you must understand that the book starts where most would end; at a period of reflection. I've found this helpful because it lets me get to know the characters a little bit better.

Also, I was thrilled with the narrator! At first I thought this was because it was my first time listening to an audio book but upon purchasing and listening to another I found I was wrong.

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Title: Paradise Alley

Author: Kevin Baker

Narrator: Kevin Baker

Format: Unabridged

Length: 22 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-06-06

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 36 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

They came by boat from a starving land, and by the Underground Railroad from Southern chains, seeking refuge in a crowded, filthy corner of hell at the bottom of a great metropolis. But in the terrible July of 1863, the poor and desperate of Paradise Alley would face a new catastrophe, as flames from the war that was tearing America in two reached out to set their city on fire.

©2003 Kevin Baker; (P)2003 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic Reviews:

"Brilliant research and compelling characters." (AudioFile)

"The combination of momentous events, tellingly real aspects of lower-class 19th-century life, and raw emotions like fear and pride make this a viscerally affecting story." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Gripping yet gruesome tale

This book captures a series of events during the Civil War that I believe the authors of textbooks have deliberately chosen to ignore--the draft riots in New York. The novel, well narrated by its author, captures the cruel frenzy of mob psychology as bands of toughs, and otherwise regular citizens, go on a seemingly unending destruction of the city and particularly the lynching and humiliation of its African-American residents. Yet amid this evil chaos, the novel contains carefully crafted stories of human love and survival. First person narratives are interspersed to create a plot that is engaging and poignant--a job well done!

couldn't finish

I gave two stars because I can't really rate the book. I will say that authors that try to narrate their own stories are delusional, stupid, and probably very cheap. The narration in this book is not good and the story seems to have no direction or too many. I like first person stories that are more like I did this or we did that. Might be fine for others but not me.

This time the author should not be the reader

This book was okay: started slow, got much more exciting, and ended leaving some storylines dangling, although it summarized the period philisophically. The historical detail was captivating and the characters were complex; as the tale moved along, I changed my views about two of the characters (Robinson- went from liking him to hating him and Dangerous Johnny Dolan - went from hating him to pity). The author was the narrator, and he dragged the story down, in my opinion. Sometimes the story seemed a little wordy; it was much better when there was some action, or when it was focused on what had happened back in Ireland during The Hunger.

Gratuitously and unrelentingly violent

This book is gratuitously and unrelentingly violent. I was glad when it was over. My compulsion to finish books that I start, coupled with that sort of morbid fascination that compels one to look at a car crash were the only reasons I can think of as to why I didn't put it down. Why this book made the cover of the NYT Book Review several years ago escapes me.

Difficult and Hard to follow

What disappointed you about Paradise Alley?

This book was difficult to follow, and the story was uninteresting. The title of each chapter was a character's name and it was difficult to follow. Many times the text was written in first person and it was hard to remember who the book was talking about. The narrator of the book attempted to have an Irish accent but this fell very short.

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Title: The Young Messiah (Movie tie-in) (Originally Published as Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt) - A Novel

Author: Anne Rice

Narrator: Josh Heine

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-27-05

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 456 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The book's power derives from the passion its author brings to the writing and the way in which she summons up the voice, the presence, the words of Jesus who tells the story.

Critic Reviews:

"Rice's painstaking historical research is obvious throughout." (Publishers Weekly)

"Riveting....Rice's book is a triumph of tone (her prose lean, lyrical, vivid) and character. As he ponders his staggering responsibility, the boy is fully believable, and yet there's something in his supernatural empathy and blazing intelligence that conveys the wondrousness of a boy like no other." (Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

A tad short of excellent

I'm giving this four stars based on the incredible amount of research Rice conducted in the making of this book, and the interesting author's note at the end where she details her return to the church and talks about the research. In fact, it might not be a bad idea to listen to the afterword first, as I believe it will provide better context for the actual story.

The story itself, isolated from these other factors, would receive three stars from me. There really weren't any passages that had me hanging on every word. This is not a page-turning thriller. However, the tale is interesting enough, and the narration was fine. It's nice to know that the descriptions of the buildings, clothing, lifestyles, and the goings-on in the temple are historically accurate. The story of the moneychangers in the temple, for instance, was very interesting and gave me a much better understanding of what Jesus faced later in his life. I love well-researched historical fiction, and am appreciative of the effort Rice put into this. It was well worth my time.

I was prepared to hate this book...

but I was captured by it immediately and couldn't stop listening until it was over. Ms Rice has managed to bring alive 7 year old Jesus and all of the various emotions he must have gone through trying to determine exactly what was different about him. She has also made historical events come alive through the eyes of a little boy. Brilliantly done!!

Christians will like this novel, might bore others

This is a Christian fictional novel by Ann Rice who returned to the Church in 1998. This is a great book if you are interested an orthodox, well researched book about the life of Jesus, the Christ as a child of 7 or 8 years old as His family returns to Judea and Nazareth from Egypt after the death of King Herod. The book is unusual because it is told in the first person from the perspective of the Christ Child. The book is very thoroughly researched and covers a time in the life of Christ that few Christians think about very much. I was fascinated. The book uses some information from apocryphal gospels, one about the early life of Christ as a child. I believe this early apocryphal Christ Child gospel is not heresy but is simply a fictional account of what Jesus' childhood might have been like, told in the third person by a believer as respectful as Anne Rice is in this account. I learned a lot, and I am surprised I learned so much because Jesus Christ has been the focus of my life and learning for a long time and I consider myself a scholar, but Anne Rice's scholarship far exceeds mine. She makes me feel like an amateur. I am impressed.

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Title: The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Carolly Erickson

Narrator: Maggi-Meg Reed

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-02-05

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 87 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Carolly Erickson takes the reader deep into the psyche of France's doomed queen: her love affair with handsome Swedish diplomat Count Axel Fersen, who risked his life to save her; her fears on the terrifying night the Parisian mob broke into her palace bedroom intent on murdering her and her family; her harrowing attempted flight from France in disguise; her recapture and the grim months of harsh captivity; her agony when her beloved husband was guillotined and her young son was torn from her arms, never to be seen again.

Erickson brilliantly captures the queen's voice, her hopes, her dreads, and her suffering. We follow, mesmerized, as she reveals every detail of her remarkable, eventful life, from her teenage years when she began keeping a diary to her final days when she awaited her own bloody appointment with the guillotine.

Includes a bonus interview with the author and her editor.

Critic Reviews:

" "Erickson's lively account reveals a woman whose bravery and resilience seem as noteworthy as the bloody details of her demise." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Marie Antionette

Absolutely wonderful. After visiting Paris and seeing the palace and her countryside in person, I was very intrigued. This audiobook placed me back at the palace reliving the tragedy of her life as it unfolded chapter by chapter.

I can't wait to go back now and visit the palace again with a different set of eyes.

quick and easy historical fiction

This was a quick and easy read, but I really had to separate the story in my mind from the real Marie Antoinette.

I wanted to love this book...

Any additional comments?

but I could not get into it. After reading/listening to Antonia Fraiser's book on the life of Marie Antoinette, I thought I would get a kick out of a fictional take on her life as queen, but found it too far from the truth for my liking.

Probably not for history buffs of the 18th

Probably not for those specifically interested in this period of history... Well written, so worth the listen BUT it is not made clear this is a FICTIONAL STORY inspired by the historic events.

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Title: Kiddush HaShem

Subtitle: An Epic of 1648

Author: Sholem Asch

Narrator: George Guidall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-22-05

Publisher: JCC Audio Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Translated into English from the original Yiddish, Kiddush Hashem (literally meaning, "Sanctification of the Name" and referring to one who dies as a Jewish martyr) is a magnificent, gripping tale of one Jewish family's fate during the infamous pogroms in the Ukraine in 1648.

©1966 Sholem Asch Literary Estate; (P)2001 Jewish Contemporary Classics, Inc. All rights reserved.

Members Reviews:

Kiddush Ha Shem

It felt like a mix between the Isaac L. Perez, The Lord of the Rings and Surrealistic Images all in this well narrated, well written Historical novel about the Jews in Russia and Poland during the Pogroms by the Cozacs.

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Title: Captain Alatriste

Author: Arturo Perez-Reverte

Narrator: Scott Brick

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-29-05

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 159 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

But then a third figure enters the room. He says the job requires some clarification: he increases the pay, and tells them that, instead, they must murder the two travelers. Then he reveals his identity: Emilio Bocanegra. It is a name synonymous with the Spanish Inquisition, the bloodiest name in Europe. This is a man whose requests cannot be denied.

But the following night, with the attack imminent, it becomes clear to Alatriste that these aren't ordinary travelers. And what happens next is only the first in a series of riveting twists and turns, with implications that will reverberate throughout the courts of Europe.

For anyone who loves the work of Arturo Pérez-Reverte, and those who have not yet discovered the delights of this extraordinary writer, Captain Alatriste is one of the most stylish, singular pleasures to come along in years.

Critic Reviews:

"Splendidly paced and filled with a breathtaking but not overwhelming sense of the history and spirit of the age, this is popular entertainment at its best: the characters have weight and depth, the dialogue illuminates the action as it furthers the story, and the film-worthy plot is believable throughout." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Good story...reader could be better.

The story is wonderful but I didn't care for the reader all that much. I prefer a narrator who makes the story flow a bit better.

Almost a good book, but not quite

When the story is in motion, this is a pretty good book. Unfortunately, there are many excursions into philosophy, politics, and history which bog the story down. Sometimes, these little side trips occur in the midst of otherwise tense scenes, which I found jarring. The commentary adds nice color to the story, but takes the swash out of the buckle. A word on the narrator: He reads feelingly, but in a way that makes every sentence sound like a profound pronouncement.

I enjoyed it.

This is the first book in a series and I found it to be fun and enjoyable. I have read and listened to other books by this author and have both like some and disliked others.

I listened to this book and enjoyed it so much that I bought and read the other two books that have become available.

The Captain Alatriste novels are not in-depth books but adventures that are quick and fun and I can't wait for the next book.

A Fun Read.

I like to read a book that's fun, but I also like it to have literary merit. The combination is not so easy to find. Captain Alatriste is a romp set in 17th Century Spain, the height of Spain's golden age, that is a fun story to read, but is also satisfying from a literary perspective. It is very well researched, but is not what I would call an historical novel. Although mention is made of some well-know personages such as Velazquez and King Philip IV of Spain, they play only a peripheral role in the plot, the main participants of which are purely fictional, as is the story itself. The protagonist, Captain Alatriste, is a swordsman, a hired gun with principles of a sort, that is when he's not killing someone, who is interesting enough that I wanted him not only to survive (not a problem since without him the series ends), but also to resolve the tension between his ideals and chosen line of work. To me, one of the greatest virtues of the book is its sense of time and place; I felt part of the scene.