June 2024 Earphones Award Winners

You think you know the Beatles story? When you hear this audiobook and the performances of Adam Stevens, Anthony Howell, Emma Gregory, and others, you'll be singing, "I thought I knew you, what did I know?" Based on interviews with the Beatles and their intimate associates in 1980 and 1981, the audiobook is nearly 10 hours of history, often shocking. The Beatles talk about... Read More

Fans may be disappointed that this is Maisie Dobbs's final adventure, but they will appreciate the tender way the various characters' closing stories are treated. Narrator Orlagh Cassidy masterfully conveys the returning characters, Maisie's extended family, and the newly introduced individuals, male and female, young and old. Cassidy's talented use of accents lends credibility... Read More

With his amazing portfolio of voices, Michael Boatman draws listeners into PI Easy Rawlins's world in 1970s Los Angeles. Mosley's writing paired with Boatman's narration once again delivers a sociological tableau that keeps listeners engaged throughout. Rawlins accepts a missing-person case from his client, the alluring Amethystine Stoller As Rawlins's attempts to find her open... Read More

Narrator Elizabeth Wiley is a gifted enunciator, adept at delivering the full weight and value of every word. For this expansive survey of how theories of prehistory have shaped thinking and events over the past three centuries, she maintains a steady pace and a level tone. In these ways she keeps grounded a narrative that takes enormous leaps in time and locale. Wiley proves... Read More

Twists and turns, flashbacks, and surprising revelations are handled deftly by the four excellent narrators of this epistolary novel, Cathrall's debut. While it's a work of speculative fiction, there is also mystery, light romance, fascinating underwater world-building, and a magical academia. The four narrators bring the letters to life in the voices of their 15 writers. Kit... Read More

Narrators Callie Dalton and Jason Clarke mesmerize listeners with this enemies-to-lovers romance. Rue Siebert has a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, where she is working on a promising food science start-up. Along come the vexingly handsome Eli Killgore and his business partners, who threaten to take over the company. Dalton and Clarke transition seamlessly... Read More

Robin Miles and Moe Egan do fine work narrating this revealing memoir of Chicago's West Garfield Park and the author's life, family, and experiences with race relations--especially during the 1960s. Egan voices the author, and her timbre, tone, and style are just right. The supremely talented Miles depicts the many African American characters and does them well. This is mostly... Read More

Golden Voice Cassandra Campbell narrates this emotional story about justice. Eight-year-old Ruth fought with and abandoned her friend Ceely in the woods; then Ceely was murdered. The trauma and guilt caused Ruth to develop unending adult issues: alcoholism, failed marriages, and fractured relationships. When the unnamed murderer comes back to town years later, Ruth seeks to... Read More