Rick's Picks

Black Tunnel White Magic

A Murder, a Detective's Obsession, and '90s Los Angeles at the Brink

By: Rick Jackson & Matthew McGough
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen & Michael Connelly
Length: 17 hours 17 minutes

Detective Rick Jackson, a decorated LAPD detective and a key inspiration in the development of Harry Bosch, delivers a shocking and immersive look into the one case he could never let go.

In June 1990, Ronald Baker, a straight-A UCLA student, was found repeatedly stabbed to death in a tunnel near Spahn Ranch, where Charles Manson and his... Read more

The Road to Tender Hearts

A Novel

By: Annie Hartnett
Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
Length: 11 hours 47 minutes

“Hilarious, odd and totally endearing. Characters tug at your heartstrings, especially Pancake, who is furry, four-legged, feline and fantastic. Read more

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

By: Grady Hendrix
Narrated by: Leslie Howard, Hillary Huber & Sara Morsey
Length: 16 hours 18 minutes

“Not the horror story you are expecting, and horrific in other ways. An important read to remind us not to let history repeat itself. Read more

Beautiful Ugly

A Novel

By: Alice Feeney
Narrated by: Richard Armitage & Tuppence Middleton
Length: 9 hours 23 minutes

“A domestic thriller with twists and turns that will keep you in the dark until the end! The narration and added sound effects will have you fully immersed in the story. Read more

Death of the Author

A Novel

By: Nnedi Okorafor
Narrated by: Liz Femi, Anthony Oseyemi, Jason Culp & Chris Djuma
Length: 16 hours 12 minutes

“I’ve been following Nnedi Okorafor’s work since Binti blew my mind — and let me tell you, Death of the Author is next level. Okorafor, master of Africanfuturism (don’t get it twisted — it’s not Afrofuturism!), is doing something totally wild here: breaking apart the idea of authorship itself. Who controls a story once it’s in the world? What... Read more

They Bloom at Night

By: Trang Thanh Tran
Narrated by: Nhi Do
Length: 7 hours 37 minutes

“They Bloom at Night is such a cool, haunting read—it pulls you in with its mysterious vibe and really sticks with you. The characters feel real, and the writing has this dreamy, emotional tone that totally works. It’s one of those books that sneaks up on you in the best way. Read more

The God of the Woods

A Novel

By: Liz Moore
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
Length: 14 hours 34 minutes

“Fascinating literary thriller that focuses on deep character development. Read more

The Stone Witch of Florence

By: Anna Rasche
Narrated by: Soneela Nankani
Length: 11 hours 45 minutes

“A feast of a novel, The Stone Witch of Florence is erudite, transportive, and addicting. Magical in every sense of the word.” —Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters

A woman's secret. A deadly Plague. Unleash the hidden magic…

1348. As the Black Plague ravages Italy, Ginevra di Gasparo is summoned to Florence after nearly a... Read more

Unlikely Animals

A Novel

By: Annie Hartnett
Narrated by: Mark Bramhall & Kirby Heyborne
Length: 10 hours 41 minutes

“Small-town residents — dead, alive, missing, and four-pawed — are the heart of this unforgettable novel of Emma's quarter-life and family crises. Hartnett’s quirky humor makes dark stuff feel manageable, a skill we need these days. Read more

Parable of the Sower

Earthseed: Book #1

By: Octavia E. Butler
Narrated by: Lynne Thigpen
Length: 12 hours 2 minutes

“Octavia E. Butler was a prolific sci-fi futuristic author, the Parable trilogy takes readers on a realistic view of 2024. Everything that you read is playing out in REAL LIFE. She was asked how she came to write this type of work and her response was if you look at history it will show you where we're going. Read more

The Liars Society

By: Alyson Gerber
Narrated by: Nora Hunter & Pete Cross
Length: 6 hours 49 minutes

The Inheritance Games and One of Us is Lying for middle grade -- beloved author Alyson Gerber's new series is an unforgettable mystery featuring a secret society, a mysterious island, and dangerous family secrets.Weatherby is a fish out of water. When she lands a scholarship to the prestigious Boston School, she's excited to be in the same world... Read more

Fever House

A Novel

Fever House Duology: Book #1

By: Keith Rosson
Narrated by: Xe Sands
Length: 13 hours 45 minutes

“Exciting, suspenseful, horrifying, and written at a flurry-of-punches pace. Read Fever House now.”—STEPHEN KING

A small-time criminal. A has-been rock star. A shadowy government agency. And a severed hand whose dark powers threaten to destroy them all.

A WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

When leg-breaker Hutch Holtz rolls up to a rundown... Read more

The Deep Sky

A Novel

By: Yume Kitasei
Narrated by: Sarah Skaer
Length: 12 hours 15 minutes

“The ultimate locked room mystery, with Lord of the Flies vibes, The Deep Sky has a propulsive plot and convincing near-future technology. And then, on another level, it's a wonderful depiction of the things grief drives people to, and stepping up when things go wrong. Read more

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

A Novel

The Ernest Cunningham Mysteries: Book #1

By: Benjamin Stevenson
Narrated by: Barton Welch
Length: 9 hours 30 minutes

“A perfect blend of classic and modern writing, humor and wit, mystery and character development. Narrator Barton Welch is supreme and having read this book in print and audio, I highly recommend the audio version. The author makes the proper modifications for audio and Welch's execution is flawless. Plenty of twists and I did not see the end... Read more

Vampires of El Norte

By: Isabel Cañas
Narrated by: Jose Nateras & Krysta Gonzales
Length: 12 hours 1 minute

“If you’re like me and are constantly looking out for a new vampire story to read, please please please make this story a priority! The atmosphere of the ranchos creeps through the pages and the lurking terror that hangs over our heroes will creep up your spine like a spider. These vampires are truly horrific, and they haunt every page. The story... Read more

Good Bad Girl

A Novel

By: Alice Feeney
Narrated by: Katherine Press & Stephanie Racine
Length: 9 hours 20 minutes

“A slow burn that you just know is going to blow up any moment! I still get the chills thinking about it. Alice Feeney is a master at her craft and fans of her previous work will be thrilled with Good Bad Girl. She writes nuanced characters with such humanity and depth. There's family drama, a coming of age story, and so many secrets! Read more

Godkiller

By: Hannah Kaner
Narrated by: Kit Griffiths
Length: 12 hours 54 minutes

“All the incredible world-building, fast paced action, and cool characters you would want from an epic fantasy series, packed into one slim novel. With a truly excellent narrator, too! I couldn't stop listening. Read more

Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird

Stories

By: Agustina Bazterrica
Narrated by: Aida Reluzco, Andy Garcia-Ruse, André Santana & Christian Barillas
Length: 4 hours 26 minutes

An NPR Best Book of 2023

A collection of nineteen dark, wildly imaginative short stories from the author of the award-winning TikTok sensation Tender Is the Flesh.

From celebrated author Agustina Bazterrica, this collection of nineteen brutal, darkly funny short stories takes into our deepest fears and through our most disturbing fantasies.... Read more

How to Sell a Haunted House

By: Grady Hendrix
Narrated by: Jay Aaseng & Mikhaila Aaseng
Length: 12 hours 59 minutes

“Have you ever wished the Chucky movies were scarier? Do you love reading about family trauma and family drama? Are you a fan of Haunted Dolls? Wow, do I have a book for you. I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say this: Pupkin is one of the most unsettling characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and Grady Hendrix got a full-body... Read more

The Only One Left

A Novel

By: Riley Sager
Narrated by: Christine Lakin & Dawn Harvey
Length: 12 hours 31 minutes

“A gothic thriller with a mysterious mansion on a cliff that is literally falling to shit? Sign me up. Kit is an in-home caretaker. After Kit goes through some dark and troubling issues, she is back on the job and assigned to care for the famous Lenora Hope, who was accused of killing her mom, dad, and sister many years ago. I loved the dark... Read more