Audiobooks Staff Picks (4/29/26)

Looking for a new audiobook to dive into? Check out our audio staff picks!

AMANDA’S PICK: KILLER VIBES BY JACK FRIDAY 

This series debut introduces readers to private investigator Peter Key–the self-proclaimed “laziest PI in Texas,” full time bisexual, dedicated stoner, and the surprised recipient of a huge inheritance from an uncle he barely knew. When he discovers a bag of cash that suggests his uncle’s death might not have been an accident, he starts asking questions and is soon pulled into a lethal game where not everybody plays by the rules. Pitched as if Schitt’s Creek’s David Rose found himself solving murders, this new series is sure to hook readers with its snarky dialog and big-hearted characters with a voice in the vein of Finlay Donovan, Vera Wong, or the Thursday Murder Club members.  And a voice like that can only be enhanced by audiobook narrator Max Meyers, whom you may have heard on the audiobooks for Casey McQuiston’s THE PAIRING, Cale Dietrich’s THE RULES OF ROYALTY, Melissa Marr’s REMEDIAL MAGIC, and more!

EMILY’S PICK: MAKE ME BETTER BY SARAH GAILEY

As a longtime fan of both Sarah Gailey and audiobooks, I’ve listened to most of Sarah’s books on audio, and I never fail to be blown away by Sarah’s incredible storytelling and Xe Sands’ absolutely fantastic narration. Now Sarah Gailey is back with an eerie tale of a mysterious island and the secluded community that lives there, and Xe Sands returns once again to lend a voice to Sarah’s words, ferrying readers to the haunting world of Kindred Cove. Celia is feeling lost and alone, so she travels to Kindred Cove to attend their annual Salt Festival. They promise that healing is possible; that there is no grief at Kindred Cove, because there is no suffering. And Celia is ready to be healed. Sarah and Xe are a dream team—dive in and allow yourself to be transported to Kindred Cove… if you dare.

MARGO’S PICK: LITTLE WILD BY LAURA EVANS

One of my favorite movies of all time is Atonement (which should come as no surprise considering my love for an old English estate setting). So when I heard of LITTLE WILD, pitched as Atonement if there were witches involved, I was immediately sold. Set in 1937, LITTLE WILD transports us to a crumbling estate where party preparations are underway. But there’s a secret underneath it all—Joanie, the daughter of the house, and her closest friend Margaret, have plans to run away together as lovers. When they are discovered, Margaret is sent off to a cabin in the woods, where dark dreams and strange injuries start to suggest something sinister. This story is haunting, vivid, and gives all the best gothic vibes. Listening to it as an audiobook was so immersive that it felt like I was there—Tamaryn Payne was the perfect narrator to bring the characters and their emotions to life. If you ever find yourself wishing you could teleport to the English countryside, this is pretty close.

HALLIE’S PICK: HEATHER BY CAITLIN MULLEN

There is truly nothing better than diving into a crime drama via audiobook, and HEATHER is no exception. The story follows a former North Jersey narcotics detective who has recently returned to her hometown to be the police chief. Soon, she opens a cold case from 1994, much to the disdain of her fellow officers. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, the story explores a community riddled with secrets, a systemic drug crisis, and a chilling history of missing women. It is a haunting, expertly paced dive into a community that has been hiding the truth for far too long. I was instantly swept up in the mystery and could imagine this eerie, overcast town where every local hides a secret intended to throw you off the scent. True crime podcasts step aside, because this is the chilling, gripping story you’ll want to be listening to on your next walk.