2014 AUDIE AWARDS

THE TWELVE CLUES OF CHRISTMAS
A Royal Spyness Mystery 
By Rhys Bowen
Read by Katherine Kellgren
Audible, Inc. 

In Tiddleton-Under-Lovey, Lady Georgiana lands a job as a social hostess. The idyllic Dickensian village—where the sleuthing Georgi is joined by her mother, an actress; famed playwright Noel Coward; and her grandfather, a retired policeman—seems to be the victim of a vile curse. Katherine Kellgren performs an impressive range of accents: Irish brogue, high-pitched Cockney, fussy American, West Country burr, and more. Kellgren triumphs as Georgi, who is 34th in line to the throne, giving her a refined accent contrasted with down-to-earth sensibilities. Due to the author's light touch and Kellgren's humorous delivery, the many Yuletide deaths in this cozy do not become macabre. The listener just marvels at the mounting "accidents" amid the bountiful Christmas cheer. A.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award.

THE GOLDFINCH 
By Donna Tartt
Read by David Pittu
Hachette Audio 

Bestselling novelist Donna Tartt (THE SECRET HISTORY) draws on Dickensian themes in her new work. Narrator David Pittu accepts the task of turning this immense volume into an excellent listening experience. Pittu portrays 13-year-old orphan Theo Decker with compassion, portraying his growing maturity in this story of grief and suspense. After his mother is killed in an explosion at an art gallery, Theo comes into possession of a painting called “The Goldfinch.” Pittu adds pathos to his depiction of the troubled Theo as he deals with addiction and finds himself in a dance with gangsters and the art world’s darker dealers. Tartt’s enthralling narrative is fully realized by the gifted Pittu.

STILL FOOLIN' 'EM
Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys?
By Billy Crystal 
Read by Billy Crystal
Macmillian Audio 

At 65, Billy Crystal is a master of comic timing, as he demonstrates during his narration of STILL FOOLIN' 'EM. A fine actor and nine-time Oscar host, Crystal knows exactly how to deliver his artful blend of touching memoir and rueful riffs on the indignities of aging. Several chapters were recorded before a live audience, giving him the opportunity to exchange banter and charm a crowd—as he no doubt will many listeners. The chapters recorded in a studio miss some of the energy Crystal injects when he responds to copious laughter and applause. In both modes, however, he proves himself accomplished, nuanced, and—best of all—very funny.

THE ELEPHANT WHISPERER
My Life With the Herd in the African Wild 
By Lawrence Anthony, Graham Spence
Read by Simon Vance
Tantor Media 

In 1999, Lawrence Anthony welcomed some troubled wild elephants to his game reserve. Simon Vance's British voice takes on a gentle reminiscing tone that makes for an inviting account of a man's growing relationship with the elephants. Vance captures Anthony’s concern early on when an escape almost cost him the herd and his joy as he realized the elephants were becoming accustomed to—and even welcoming—his presence. Occasionally, there are lighter moments, as when a kitten fearlessly tangles with the elephants. Listeners will find themselves rooting for Anthony—and his herd as well.

DEVIL IN THE GROVE
Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America
By Gilbert King
Read by Peter Francis James
Harper Audio 

This biography of Thurgood Marshall uses as its centerpiece a tragic case in central Florida that put the civil rights lawyer at great personal risk. Peter Francis James offers a solid and, at times, compelling narration. His even tone heightens the almost unfathomable racism that drove whites to preserve their primacy. James also is effective when he uses a more colloquial style of speech for direct quotations although, because his range of voices is limited, some of the white speakers end up sounding a bit like black speakers. But this is only a minor issue and certainly doesn’t detract from the overall performance. In all, this is an informative, even insightful, look at one of our nation’s most influential figures in the Civil Rights Movement. James’s reading makes the work even more visceral in its impact. R.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award

REVIVER
By Seth Patrick
Read by Ari Fliakos
Macmillian Audio 

Jonah Miller can bring people back from the dead, briefly, to say goodbye or bear witness to crimes. A routine forensic revival reveals a terrifying side to this practice, and uncovers a sinister plot to use his skill for nefarious purposes. Ari Fliakos's performance strikes the ideal balance between total immersion in Jonah's character and a storyteller's gift to race along with the plot. He offers a fine Irish dialect for Jonah's friend and colleague, and a light British tone for a major female character, both of which add atmosphere. The listener becomes immersed in Jonah's periods of depression and loneliness, as well as his determination to stop the evil looming at death's door. R.L.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award.

UNLEASHED
Andy Carpenter, Book 11
David Rosenfelt
Read by Grover Gardner
Listen & Live Audio 

Being independently wealthy, attorney Andy Carpenter doesn't take on clients lightly. Narrator Grover Gardner’s wry delivery reveals Andy's reluctant bemusement with his trade. Andy would prefer to direct his attention elsewhere, namely toward his lady and canine loves, but when his accountant needs help after hitting a dog with his car, Andy's all in. Unfortunately, that’s the first domino to fall in a series leading to murder and an assassination plot. Interspersed between Andy's first-person accounts are mysterious and threatening interludes, which Gardner delivers in a style that serves as a counterpoint to Andy's unflappability. Gardner's Andy is both charming and disarming, depending on what's needed. After all, he's a brilliant defense lawyer who enjoys the drama of the courtroom, despite its predication on clients and crimes.

THE HIT
David Baldacci
Read by Ron McLarty, Orlagh Cassidy
Hachette Audio 

Agent Will Robie is a master of killing, and David Baldacci’s thriller is an excellent match for audio. Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy prove a formidable team in ramping up the tension as Robie, a highly skilled hit man, pursues Jessica Reel, a fellow agent and assassin who appears to have gone rogue. Robie quickly finds that there’s more to Reel’s apparent betrayal than meets the eye, including a significant global threat. McLarty does the lion’s share of the narration, finding unique voices for Robie and the various agents, while Cassidy smoothly and clearly portrays the various women involved. The use of two narrators helps provide tension and a theatrical atmosphere. Great narration skills and plotting will grip listeners. S.C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award.