FICTION
Black Mask 1: Doors in the Dark and Other Crime Fiction from the Legendary Magazine. 6 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 7 hrs. ISBN 9781611744606. $66; 6 CDs. retail ed.; Playaway digital; digital download.
Black Mask 2: Murder Is Bad Luck and Other Crime Fiction from the Legendary Magazine. 6 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 6¬Ω hrs. ISBN 9781611744637. $66; 6 CDs. retail ed.; digital download.
Black Mask 3: The Maltese Falcon and Other Crime Fiction from the Legendary Magazine. 6 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 7¬Ω hrs. ISBN 9781611744668. $66; 6 CDs. retail ed.; digital download.ea. vol: HighBridge Audio. 2011. ed. by Otto Penzler. MYS
This initial trio in an eventual ten-volume collection offer a lucky 13 short stories that are the cream of vintage hard-boiled fare lifted from the pages of the late, great Black Mask magazine. While all are mysteries/thrillers, the stories feature protagonists that vary from traditional PIs and cops to a doctor and even a press photographer. The series standout is Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon (included here is the original serialized version, which is a bit tougher than the reedited novel published later), but there is gold in every set, including Talmadge Powell’s Her Dagger Before Me, Richard Sales’s The Dancing Rats, and Lester Dent’s Luck. Multiple narrators, for example, Jeff Gurner, Pete Larkin, and Oliver Wyman, do justice to the material, often jumping among gruff men, femme fatales, and foreigners with ease and skill. Volume 1 includes Keith Alan Deutsch’s intro; a brief, detailed bio of each author precedes their story. Hitting like a Tommy gun blast, these pulse-pounding collections will leave mystery hounds panting for the next installment. [A hefty hunk of hard-boiled heaven and a noir lover's dream, read the starred review of the Vintage: Random hc, LJ 9/1/10; Black Mask 4: The Parrot That Wouldn't Talk will publish in February 2012.‚ Ed.]‚ Mike Rogers, Library Journal
Davidson, MaryJanice. Undead and Undermined. 6 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 6¬Ω hrs. Recorded Bks. 2011. ISBN 9781449864897. $72.75; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Davidson’s tenth entry in the Queen Betsy series (from Undead and Unwed to Undead and Unfinished) starts with Betsy waking up in a morgue. Her last memories are of the time-traveling trip she took with her sister, the Antichrist, where they visited hell. Betsy returns to her beloved home only to find that everything has changed, and she is now in an alternate timeline with the knowledge of what will happen in the future‚ and she is determined to change it. Trying to follow the quick changes in the time lines and thought processes is difficult. To make matters worse, the story has little substance. Narrator Nancy Wu accurately portrays the snarky and often self-centered Betsy but misses the richness and sexiness of Betsy’s husband, Eric Sinclair. Mostly for Queen Betsy fans, this program also will appeal to Charlaine Harris readers. [The Berkley hc, published in July, was a New York Times best seller.‚ Ed.]‚ Donna Bachowski, Orange Cty. Lib. Syst., Orlando, FL
Hearne, Kevin. Hexed. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 9 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 9781441870056. $79.97; 8 CDs. retail ed.; 1 MP3-CD. library/retail eds.; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Hearne’s follow-up to Hounded (first of the Iron Druid Chronicles) finds Atticus O’Sullivan, the last druid‚ age roughly 2000 years old‚ trying to make peace with the local coven of witches while destroying a very dangerous coven new to town. Add invading Bacchants and Celtic goddesses up to no good, and Atticus is doing everything but having the relaxing life he longs for. A terrific entry in the series, with laugh-out-loud moments and a fast-paced story. Luke Daniels does an amazing job voicing the various characters but by far does the best characterization with Oberon, Atticus’s Irish wolfhound who mentally communicates with the druid. Highly recommended for fans of Kim Harrison or Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files.‚ Donna Bachowski, Orange Cty. Lib. Syst., Orlando, FL
Koen, Karleen. Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV. 13 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 16 hrs. Blackstone Audio. 2011. ISBN 9781441789884. $123; 13 CDs. retail ed.; 1 MP3-CD. library/retail eds.; Playaway digital; digital download. F
This fictionalized account of a four-month period in the life of the young Louis XIV and the intrigues of his court is based on documented events, with imaginary details filling in color and drama. Koen, who scored a New York Times best seller with Through a Glass Darkly, captures the push and pull of life at court, the political balancing act required of the new and inexperienced ruler, and the romantic entanglements that could have cost Louis his kingdom. Well read by Grover Gardner, this audiobook will appeal to fans of historical fiction. [A focused retelling of the emergence of the handsome and charismatic Sun King that will attract fans of Henry Tudor and Francophiles alike, read the starred review of the Crown hc, LJ 4/1/11.‚ Ed.]‚ Joanna Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Libs., Providence
Lawhead, Stephen R. In the Hall of the Dragon King. 11 CDs. library ed. unabridged. Oasis Audio. 2011. ISBN 9781598599329. $34.99; digital download. F
Originally published in 1982, this first volume in the Dragon King Trilogy begins as a dying knight passes a sealed message from the king to young Quentin, who must leave his religious order for good to deliver the missive to the queen. Quentin’s quest is to aid Queen Alinea in rescuing the king from Nimrood the Necromancer while finding a new role for himself in society outside of the church of Ariel. Unfortunately, this plot makes for a rather common religious/fantasy audiobook, with the further disadvantage of clunky writing. On the upside, narrator Tim Gregory breathes life into the stock fantasy characters. This is strictly for those who enjoy the religious/fantasy genre. ‚ Johannah Genett, Hennepin P.L., Minneapolis
McKinney, Joe. Flesh Eaters. 11 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 13¬Ω hrs. Tantor Audio. 2011. ISBN 9781452632506. $90.99; 11 CDs. retail ed.; 2 MP3-CDs. library/retail eds.; digital download. F
McKinney continues his zombie tales with this third entry in the Dead World series (not to be confused with Jordan Summers’s series of the same name). It starts at the story’s very beginning‚ zombies don’t appear until halfway through‚ after Houston has been hit with three successive hurricanes, and Emergency Ops sergeant Eleanor Norton is busy aiding local citizens and her family through horrendous conditions. The chaos is compounded by a bank robbery committed by the police chief and his two sons, also cops. This is not for the fainthearted‚ gory details abound. Though Todd McLaren does a credible job narrating, the work would have benefitted from using a female reader when the action is told from Eleanor’s perspective. Recommended for public libraries, especially those with voracious fans of zombie lit.‚ Deb West, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA
Miller, Linda Lael. Creed’s Honor. 10 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 12¬Ω hrs. Recorded Bks. 2011. ISBN 9781456121587. $123.75; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. F
New York Times best-selling author and self-confessed barn goddess Miller continues her saga of the Creed brothers with Connor’s story. The romance between Connor, a solid, hard-working rancher, and Tricia McCall starts very slowly, with more attention paid to self-reflection and to secondary characters and descriptions of their activities than to the couple’s romance. Then, however, they zoom right to commitment! The main characters are likable, but the story would have been improved by more of Connor and Tricia’s interactions and fewer distractions such as detailed cat and dog behavior. Stage/screen actor and radio announcer Jack Garrett’s warm voice gives the dialog and story an interesting spark. This series’ second volume will be of interest to modern Western romance fans and Miller’s regulars.‚ Denise A. Garofalo, Mount Saint Mary Coll. Lib., Newburgh, NY
Nair, Kamala. The Girl in the Garden. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 9 hrs. Hachette Audio from AudioGO. 2011. ISBN 9781611136579. $69.99; 8 CDs. retail ed. Hachette Audio; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Debut author Nair has written a powerfully compelling coming-of-age story in which ten-year-old Rakhee discovers the family skeletons during a summer in India with her mother and her mother’s relatives. With a realistic yet easily understood Indian accent, actress Anitha Gandhi (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) conveys in a calm, quiet, evocative reading the confusion of a child in a strange country with different mores and expectations, living with an unstable parent. Released simultaneously with the print volume, this audiobook holds the listener’s attention and will appeal to fans of family drama, Indian fiction, and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s Secret Garden . The CD edition includes a bonus PDF of the Varma family tree and an author interview. [The unexpected twists and dark secrets lurking make it difficult for readers to put this engrossing story down, read the review of the Grand Central hc, LJ 6/1/11.‚ Ed.]‚ Laurie Selwyn, formerly with Grayson Cty. Law Lib., Sherman, TX
Nesser, Hå kan. Borkmann’s Point. 6 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 7¬Ω hrs. HighBridge Audio. 2011. ISBN 9781611744033. $66; 6 CDs. retail ed.; digital download. F
This is the first American appearance of Nesser’s impressive Inspector Van Veeteren of Stockholm. As the inspector’s vacation draws to a close, he’s asked to stay and help the police in the remote seaside village of Kaalbringen. There’s an ax murderer on the loose, and no one feels safe. Police teams, suspects, and various villagers make for a fascinating array of characters. Tensions escalate when a policewoman is kidnapped by the desperate killer. Narrator Simon Vance does his usual sterling job distinguishing among multiple characters, emotions, and motivations. He also skillfully adds asides and explanations with just the right impatience, frustration, awe, and insight to embellish the story and its twisty climax. Fans of cerebral, procedural, or Maigret-like mysteries will certainly enjoy this. [Nesser received the Swedish Academy of Detection's best novel award in 1994 for this book, which is exceptional for its elegance of prose and plot, read the review of the Pantheon hc, LJ 4/1/06; see Audio News Briefs, LJ 5/15/11.‚ Ed.]‚ Susan G. Baird, formerly with Oak Lawn P.L., IL
Spindler, Erica. Watch Me Die. 9 CDs. unabridged. 11¬Ω hrs. Macmillan Audio from AudioGO. 2011. ISBN 9780792774839. $79.95; 9 CDs. retail ed. Macmillan Audio; digital download. F
Stained-glass artist Mira Gallier suffers from the loss of a partner and further psychological effects of surviving Hurricane Katrina, as do the New Orleans Police Department detectives looking into the several murders that seem connected to Mira. The plot here is intricate and engaging, although Mira’s numerous stupid decisions are annoying. Spindler offers no insights into Mira’s psyche or into clinical psychology though Mira is under treatment. There’s also little resemblance to police work conducted other than by the hunch method and only slight commentary on current New Orleans. Several po’boy shops have gone missing, and for all the effect of Katrina, the rich are still rich and powerful, the poor still ignored. Despite the work’s flaws, Spindler’s fans will keep this audiobook‚ excellently read by Christina Delaine‚ in high demand.‚ Cliff Glaviano, formerly with Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH
Weiner, Jennifer. Then Came You. 10 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 12 hrs. Recorded Bks. 2011. ISBN 9781456119195. $123.75; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; 10 CDs. retail ed. S. & S. Audio; 6 CDs. abridged. NA hrs.; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Four very different women are depicted in popular chick lit author Weiner’s well-written and entertaining best seller. The women, all connected with a surrogate pregnancy, tell their stories in alternating chapters. India Bishop is a trophy wife who lied about her age and is desperate to get pregnant. Bettina, her stepdaughter, is highly suspicious and very protective of her wealthy father. Annie, a financially struggling mother of two, becomes the surrogate for India after Jules, a young student with her own reasons for accepting the money, donates her eggs. As in most of Weiner’s books, the outcome is unexpected, and readers will be drawn in quickly as the four become intertwined in a surprising way. Four narrators make it easy to distinguish among the characters; their reading is professional, although lacking regional accents. This one will be popular with Weiner’s many followers. [Fans of Marian Keyes, Anna Maxted, and other authors of serious chick lit will thoroughly enjoy this title for its humor mixed with a sympathetic portrayal of real women's lives and challenges, read the review of the New York Times best-selling Atria: S. & S. hc, LJ 6/1/11; see Major Audio Releases, LJ 6/15/11.‚ Ed.]‚ Mary Knapp, Madison P.L., WI
NONFICTION
Brennan, Tricia. The Map of the Soul. 9 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 11 hrs. Bolinda Audio. 2011. ISBN 9781742850870. $93.95; digital download. SELF-HELP
Brennan, an Australian intuitive counselor, life coach, and author of affirming self-help books (The Stress First-Aid Kit; Looking Beyond the Mirror) presents her latest work as an interactive tutorial designed to take listeners on a journey of self-discovery. According to her, each of us has a dark matrix within that needs to be dismantled before one can reach his or her ultimate destiny. Participants are encouraged to keep a journal, complete numerous exercises, and meditate throughout the 12-level course. The last disc is all guided meditation intended to be used in tandem with the other CDs‚ this is not a program to use when driving. Brennan’s accent and pleasant delivery make for easy listening, but the brief musical interludes and singing between many of the tracks become a bit annoying. Recommended only where there is strong demand for self-help and guided meditation programs.‚ Deb West, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA
Bono, Chaz. Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man. 6 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 6¬Ω hrs. Recorded Bks. 2011. ISBN 9780142429297. $39.75; 6 CDs. retail ed. Penguin Audio; digital download. AUTOBIOG
While many remember Bono as the cute little blonde girl who often appeared on her famous parents’ hit television show, his own memories of those early days are hazy. Growing up, he never felt quite comfortable in his own body and not then understanding the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity, tagged himself early on as a lesbian. Bono wrestled with how to reveal this fact to friends and family, not realizing that he would have a second coming out later in life as a transgendered man. Bono, who narrates, is surprisingly relatable despite all of his unique life experiences. While this book is a good resource for those struggling with their own gender identity, the emotions Bono experiences in his personal journey of self-discovery, trying to find the answer to the question, Who am I? can be appreciated by everyone. Those seeking celebrity gossip should look elsewhere, as superstar Cher is simply Mom in this telling.‚ Theresa Horn, St. Joseph Cty. P.L., South Bend, IN
Buonomano, Dean. Brain Bugs: How the Brain’s Flaws Shape Our Lives. 7 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 8¬Ω hrs. Blackstone Audio. 2011. ISBN 9781455111275. $45; 7 CDs. retail ed.; 1 MP3-CD. library/retail eds.; Playaway digital; digital download. SCI
UCLA neurobiology and psychology professor Buonomano presents an interesting study of how and why our brains sometimes fail when we try to remember long lists of information, add large numbers, or make long-term decisions. While the intelligence of humans continues to evolve, our brains remain far from perfect, exemplified by unreliable memory manipulated by advertising, distrust of people different from us, and belief in superstitions and the supernatural. In explaining these bugs, the author delves deep into the fascinating realm of the brain’s innermost workings, using the identifiable metaphor of computer hardware and software. The focus on lay language helps to connect listeners with the author’s research, which suggests that human successes, failures, joys, and sufferings are the product of protein interactions and electrical changes taking place inside the brain. Buonomano’s heavily researched, highly specialized work is well read by Southern Oregon University political science professor William Hughes. While this title is best suited to students and faculty in clinical neuroscience fields, Buonomano still manages to make highly sophisticated brain research understandable to lay audiences interested in human behavior. [Includes a PDF of diagrams and illustrations from the text.‚ Ed.]‚ Dale Farris, Groves, TX
Gray, Geoffrey. Skyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 8 hrs. Books on Tape. 2011. ISBN 9780307735812. $35; 8 CDs. retail ed. Random Audio; digital download. TRUE CRIME
Dan Cooper, alias D.B. Cooper, is a well-known legend and a total mystery at the same time. Somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, the man known as Cooper skyjacked a passenger plane, parachuted with the $200,000 ransom strapped to his back, and was never seen or heard from again. Starting with the November 1971 skyjacking and progressing to the present day, Gray offers a detailed look into both the story and several of the usual and very unusual suspects who are the most likely candidates to be the elusive criminal. For some searchers, Cooper has become an obsession; to others, he is simply a folk hero. Gray, who also narrates, lets listeners make their own decision via a rambling but well-crafted and still thought- provoking tale. Recommended for most true crime readers.‚ Scott R. DiMarco, Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib.
Kaiser, David. How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, and the Quantum Revival. 10 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 12 hrs. Blackstone Audio. 2011. ISBN 9781441789815. $54.50; 1 MP3-CD. library/retail eds.; Playaway digital; digital download. SCI
Most laypersons view scientific research either as a series of eureka moments or an evenly spaced staircase of discoveries. In fact, neither view is accurate. Each scientific field has periods of great discovery and rapid expansion (organic chemistry in the 1800s, classical genetics in the early 1900s), periods of consolidation (early 17th-century medicine), and stagnation. In the 1970s, physics was in a period of retrenchment. When a talented group of physicists began meeting to exchange ideas, their shared thoughts and speculations brought about a physics renaissance. This is the story of their mental explorations. Sean Runnette, a highly capable reader, does a good job with sometimes difficult concepts. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of science or ideas. [For a less laudatory take on this title, read the review of the Norton hc, LJ 4/15/11.‚ Ed.]‚ I. Pour-El, Des Moines Area Community Coll., Boone, IA
Kilmer-Purcell, Josh. The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentleman Farmers; An Unconventional Memoir. 7 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 8 hrs. Tantor Audio. ISBN 9781452633114. 83.99; 7 CDs. retail ed; 1 MP3-CD. library/retail eds.; digital download. MEMOIR
Kilmer-Purcell, best-selling author of I Am Not Myself and Candy Everybody Wants, recounts how he and his partner, Brent Ridge, fell in love and came to buy a farm in upstate New York. Longtime urbanites by nature and habit, they found themselves attracted to and somewhat serendipitously owners of the Beekman Mansion. Fans of both Oprah and Martha Stewart, they quickly became fully involved with renovating the house and turning it into an organic business making soap and lotion. Reality eventually sets in, and the strain tests their relationship. Johnny Heller, who has won two Audie Awards, narrates with good humor. This audiobook is recommended for listeners who are fans of David Sedaris, Stewart, and memoirs.‚ Pam Kingsbury, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence
Reitman, Janet. Inside Scientology: The Story of America’s Most Secretive Religion. 13 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 15¬Ω hrs. Tantor Audio. 2011. ISBN 9781452633251. $71.99; 13 CDs. retail ed.; 2 MP3-CDs. library ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. REL
Reitman expands on her 2006 National Magazine Award‚ nominated Rolling Stone article with this in-depth history and analysis of the Church of Scientology. Reitman succeeds in producing a thorough, objective, and modern history of the church that translates founder L. Ron Hubbard’s arcane language and separates myth from fact. She interviewed hundreds of current and former members, church leaders, attorneys, law enforcement personnel, and journalists and also screened information from numerous website detectives investigating the church. The only key person not interviewed is David Miscavige, Scientology’s current de facto leader. Reitman presents a complete picture that covers the church’s peculiar ideology, its core practice of auditing members, its hefty financial contribution requirements for members to rise in the group’s spiritual hierarchy, and its crafty way of sharing its secrets only with those who increase their giving. AudioFile Earphones Award winner Stephen Hoye’s impressive, journalistic narration suitably conveys this vital work. [Reitman's attention to the personal accounts of participants brings the story to life and adds a dimension of drama, read the review of the New York Times best-selling Houghton Harcourt hc, LJ 8/11.‚ Ed.].‚ Dale Farris, Groves, TX
Smith, Patti. Just Kids. 8 CDs. retail ed. unabridged. 10 hrs. Harper Audio. 2011. ISBN 9780062109385. $34.99; digital download. MUSIC/AUTOBIOG
Singer/songwriter/poet Smith, also known as the grandmother of punk rock, recalls her early days in New York City when she was searching for a vocation and a direction in her life. Most of all, this is a recollection of her deep, intimate friendship with late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe (1946‚ 89), a fellow hungry and aspiring creator whom she calls the artist of my life. It also is a vivid depiction of life in late 1960s New York and the famous people she knew (for example, Andy Warhol and Allen Ginsberg). Smith’s narrative is poetic and beautifully composed, and she herself reads in a stoic and reflective voice that is mesmerizing. Highly recommended. [The Ecco: HarperCollins hc, LJ Xpress Reviews, 11/20/09, was an LJ and a New York Times best seller.‚ Ed.]‚ Phillip Oliver, Univ.of North Alabama Lib., Florence
![9780743235266-L[1]](http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/9780743235266-L1-80x80.jpg "9780743235266-L[1]")
LJ Reviews Social Club