STAFF PICK: Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Kylie Conner

Title: Theme Music
Author: T. Marie Vandelly
Narrator: Sarah Mollo-Christensen

Dixie, when I let you go
Thought you’d realize that I would know
I would show
The special love I have for you
My baby blue…

Upon first reading the synopsis for Theme Music I immediately thought of The Amityville Horror and it definitely had a similar feeling to it with a mysterious family murder and a ghostly presence in the place where it all began. What set Theme Music apart for me was the unique twists and turns that the story took. From horror to psychological thriller to family drama – this fast-paced listen kept me hooked all the way through.

When Dixie Wheeler was just a baby her father murdered her entire family on Thanksgiving day. A neighbor found her, the only survivor, in her high chair while Baby Blue by Badfinger echoed through the empty house. Thus, Dixie’s nickname Baby Blue was born and the Wheeler murders became something of a local legend.

After being raised by her aunt and uncle, 25 years later Dixie wants answers about what happened that day. Dixie moves into her family home where her life was forever changed and now, she must come face to face with the ghosts of her past…which seem a little too real. Once people start to turn up dead around her, she wonders how real those ghosts actually are.

I must warn you, if you do plan to embark on this twisty tale, there is a fair bit of gore – especially right off the bat. But the way that T. Marie Vandelly describes the macabre really sets the scene and allows you to immerse yourself in the story. Since Dixie was only a baby when the murders took place, she can only recount that day from what she’s read in newspapers and heard from rumors and gossip from people around town. In a way, the reader is in the same position as Dixie – we see everything through Dixie’s eyes and we learn everything she learns about what happened that day. This makes every twist that much more suspenseful! I’m telling you, I couldn’t listen to this audiobook fast enough – I had to know what would happen next!

Theme Music was narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, an Audie-nominated narrator who has lent her voice to over 70 audiobooks on Audiobooks.com. Sarah’s portrayal of Dixie expertly mixed Dixie’s dark humor and uneasiness, which allowed me to connect with her character that much more.

Ghost story? Check. Psychological thriller? Check. Crime fiction? Check. If you’re looking for a new listen that’s packed with all of the goodness listed above, then you’ll definitely want to give T. Marie Vandelly‘s debut novel, Theme Music a listen.

Publisher Summary:

She didn’t run from her dark past. She moved in.

For the lucky among us, life is what you make of it; but for Dixie Wheeler, the theme music for her story was chosen by another long ago, on the day her father butchered her mother and brothers and then slashed a knife across his own throat. Only one-year-old Dixie was spared, becoming infamously known as Baby Blue for the song left playing in the aftermath of the slaughter.

Twenty-five years later, Dixie is still desperate for a connection to the family she can’t remember. So when her childhood home goes up for sale, Dixie sets aside all reason and moves in. But as the ghosts of her family seemingly begin to take up residence in the house that was once theirs, Dixie starts to question her own sanity and wonders if the evil force menacing her is that of her father or a demon of her own making.

In order to make sense of her present, Dixie becomes determined to unravel the truth of her past and seeks out the detective who originally investigated the murders. But the more she learns, the more she opens up the uncomfortable possibility that the sins of her father may belong to another. As bodies begin to pile up around her, Dixie must find a way to expose the lunacy behind her family’s massacre to save her few loved ones that are still alive—and whatever scrap of sanity she has left...

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STAFF PICK: The Passengers by John Marrs

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Chrissy Holt

Title: The Passengers
Author: John Marrs
Narrator: Clare Corbett, Roy McMillan, Tom Bateman

Modern life is so strange. I have an amazing phone app from my grocery store that, based on my past purchases sends me discounts, and seems to know when I’ve run out of shower gel, laundry soap, and cookies. Very, very creepy, but very, very convenient. Can you even imagine life now without phone apps, online DNA tests, or driverless transit systems like London Thameslink or Vancouver’s skytrain?

Many people are frightened of the growth of AI, which has lead to a growth in the popularity of dystopian literature, TV, and film, including shows and movies like Black Mirror, Ex Machina, and novels such as The Test. I feel that there is nothing scarier (and more entertaining) than listening or reading something that you can actually imagine happening. I don’t generally find horror books scary, but a horror or thriller, set in modern times, involving normal day to day things? Nothing scarier.

The Passengers is such an all-encompassing, terrifying read. This listen is set in a society – not far from our own – where self-driving cars are now the norm. Considered to be safe, self-driving cars are used by everyone without issues.

One evening, eight people: a faded TV star, a pregnant young woman, an abused wife fleeing her husband, an immigrant, a husband and wife, and a suicidal man, are traveling in their self-driving cars as usual. Suddenly, the doors lock, the destination changes, and all manual controls are disabled. Then a voice speaks, “You are going to die.”

From hidden cameras in their cars, their panic is broadcast to millions of people around the world. This situation is now a reality show with a twist. The public gets to choose which of the eight to save, which means killing the remaining seven….

What I love most about this listen is the way in which you feel like you are in the audience of the reality show. During the book, the “voice” gives us more information about the eight people. Because of this information, the perception of the public changes, and suddenly the people who seem like they should stay alive become less deserving once we hear more about them. I started actually thinking about who I would kill first, and changed my mind over and over about who I felt should be saved. Much like Marrs’ other books, there are plenty of twists and turns that keep you listening and guessing right up until the end.

The audio production for this book is amazing. There’s a number of awesome narrators, and a barrage of sound effects, which adds to the idea that you’re listening to a reality show that’s happening live. It really adds to the drama of the situation.

If you’re a fan of writers such as J.G Ballard, or TV shows like Black Mirror, this is very much the listen for you! I’m now binge listening to the rest of John Marrs’ back catalog, and keeping away from all robots… 😉

Publisher Summary:
You’re riding in your self-driving car when suddenly the doors lock, the route changes and you have lost all control. Then, a mysterious voice tells you, “You are going to die.”

Just as self-driving cars become the trusted, safer norm, eight people find themselves in this terrifying situation, including a faded TV star, a pregnant young woman, an abused wife fleeing her husband, an illegal immigrant, a husband and wife, and a suicidal man.

From cameras hidden in their cars, their panic is broadcast to millions of people around the world. But the public will show their true colors when they are asked, ‘Which of these people should we save?…And who should we kill first?’

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STAFF PICK: Eve of Man by Tom Fletcher and Giovanna Fletcher

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Caitlin

Title: Eve of Man
Author: Tom Fletcher, Giovanna Fletcher
Narrator: Josh Dylan, Charlotte Ritchie

When I was growing up I was always a bit slower at reading than a lot of my classmates which lead me to not want to read books. I would rarely pick up a book to read on my own. When I was in my pre-teens/teens, I started feeling left out because I could not join the conversation about books everyone was reading, specifically, Harry Potter. I then decided even though I was slow, I wouldn’t let that hold me back.

As soon as I was introduced to Teen novels, specifically Action & Adventure as well as Fantasy & Sci-Fi, I was absolutely hooked. From that point on, I was always seeking out new titles in those genres — I had found my calling. Eve of Man fits right in and surely did not disappoint.

Listeners are jolted into the future where no girls have been born in 50 years…until Eve. With the exception of security guards, Eve’s interactions with men are kept to a minimum. As soon as Eve turns 16, she is to fulfill her destiny and find a male suitor to have children with. The catch is she does not really get to choose the gentleman herself. The future of humanity is in her hands. Eve seemed to be on board and not question anything the Mothers told her to do until Bram came along and made her question everything. Now Eve wonders what their true intentions are and realizes her life was always planned out for her. She wants the freedom to make her own decisions, to choose her own path.

Josh Dylan and Charlotte Ritchie did such an amazing job narrating this audiobook. Their accents are so wonderful to listen to and you truly get wrapped up in the story with their characters Bram and Eve. They did such a great job and perfectly narrated this story. I truly felt like I could imagine what a film adaptation would look like with these two narrating the audiobook.

Tom Fletcher and Giovanna Fletcher did such a great job with all these characters, especially Eve, Bram and the three Mothers who take care of Eve. I enjoyed how every chapter rotated between Eve and Bram’s point of view. I cannot wait for the next book in this trilogy to be released in 2020 to see just what Giovanna and Tom have in store for these characters.

This audiobook was a true masterpiece. I would highly recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys imaginative, pulse-pounding listens those who were fans of The Handmaid’s Tale, Scythe, The Maze Runner series, and The Hunger Games series.

Publisher Summary:

The Handmaid’s Tale meets Scythe in this gripping new dystopian trilogy written by UK-bestselling authors Giovanna and Tom Fletcher.

She survived against all odds. The first girl born in fifty years. They called her EVE.

On the first day, no one really noticed. All those babies wrapped in blue blankets–not a pink one in sight. On the third day, people were scared–a statistic-defying abundance of blue. Not just entire hospitals, not only entire countries, but the entire world. Boys. Only boys.

Until Eve. The only girl born in fifty years. The savior of mankind. Kept protected, towering above a ruined world under a glass dome of safety until she is ready to renew the human race.

But when the time comes to find a suitor, Eve and Bram–a young man whose job is to prepare Eve for this moment–begin to question the plan they’ve known all along. Eve doesn’t only want safety, and she doesn’t only want protection. She wants the truth. She wants freedom.

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6 Perfect Cocktail + Audiobook Pairings

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Kylie Conner

Take a load off, kick your feet up, press play on a new audiobook… but wait, something’s missing! I don’t know about you, but total relaxation for me usually includes a glass of wine or a simple (yet classy) cocktail.

So, if you’re like me, then worry not because we’ve rounded up six classic cocktails and audiobooks that pair perfectly together to make your sippin’ that much better! Grab a glass, some ice, and get ready to wet your whistle!

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton, narrated by James Cameron Stewart
Pairs with: Martini

What pairs better with a murder mystery/detective story than a martini? I’m just picturing a detective fresh off a case, decked out in their trench coat and fedora hat, sitting in the darkest corner of the bar, and sipping on a gin martini (one olive, please).

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a twist on the ‘whodunit’ story where Aiden Bishop must find out who killed Evelyn Hardcastle. The catch? Every day he wakes up in a different body of one of the eight guests. With only eight days and eight bodies to get to the bottom of this mystery, Aiden only has one chance to escape once he has the name of the killer.

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The Summer Villa by Melissa Hill, narrated by Penelope Rawlins
Pairs with: Bellini

Picture yourself perched above the Gulf of Naples, surrounded by lemon groves, and under the Italian sun. That’s where The Summer Villa takes place. Sounds like the perfect backdrop to have a nice, refreshing Bellini in hand.

Kim, Colette, and Annie form an unlikely friendship when they each travel to the Amalfi Coast in need of an escape. Years later, Kim has renovated the same villa into a idyllic retreat and has invited her friends back. As long-buried secrets are revealed will these three friends be able to overcome them?

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In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, narrated by Scott Brick
Pairs with: Screwdriver

The way that Truman Capote tactfully tackles true crime in In Cold Blood shows why this book has remained so poignant since its original release in 1965. In the same way that In Cold Blood has become a tried and true fixture in the literary world, the quintessential screwdriver has the same lasting power in the world of cocktails.

Another reason to pair the screwdriver, consisting of simply vodka and orange juice, with In Cold Blood is because it turns out that this was Capote‘s cocktail of choice. How fitting!

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, narrated by Douglas Hodge
Pairs with: Shirley Temple

When I was little I always wanted to be like the grown ups. Whenever we would be out at a restaurant and the adults would have their alcoholic beverages they would always be sure to make me feel included by ordering me a Shirley Temple. We couldn’t do a cocktail round-up without including this sweet sip.

When I think of sweets my mind goes right to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, a classic. A bunch of kids get to take a tour of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory and eat all the candy? Sign me up. Press play on this nostalgic listen and grab your Shirley Temple, extra snozberries.

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Playing with Matches by Hannah Orenstein, narrated by Jennifer O’Donnell
Pairs with: Cosmopolitan

Let’s face it, cosmopolitans are *still* exclusively linked with Sex and the City. That would be too easy of a connection to draw here, so I thought why not sip on this socialite specialty while listening to Playing with Matches by Hannah Orenstein.

This novel takes place in New York City (obviously) and follows Sasha, who finds herself working as a matchmaker for the dating service, Bliss. As she throws herself into her work, her personal life crumbles around her. Sure to make you laugh, Playing with Matches is about the dating world in our modern, technology-heavy world and how Sasha will find her place and her purpose.

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The Haunted by Danielle Vega, narrated by Holly Linneman
Pairs with: Dark ‘N’ Stormy

Everyone knows this cliché opening to those classic ghost stories, “It was a dark and stormy night…” With that in mind, this cocktail and audiobook combination might be a little on-the-nose. Let’s pair a Dark ‘N’ Stormy with The Haunted by Danielle Vega.

Hendricks just moved into Steele House in Drearfield, New York. While she’s busy trying to forget about her own dark past, it turns out the house that her and her family moved into has a dark past of its own. The Haunted is perfect if you’re looking for something spooky and it’s sure to make the hair on your neck stand on end.

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Book Clubbin’ – 10 Discussion Questions for Ask Again, Yes

Posted on August 15, 2019 by Chrissy Holt

Welcome to our new blog feature — Book clubbin’! We know that many of you (and us in the Audiobooks.com office!) are in book clubs, and so it seemed an obvious thing to blog about.

In the clubs I’m in (Yes, plural. I have a bit of an addiction) a lot of us are busy parents, have challenging jobs, or just have generally hectic lives, so listening to audiobook versions of the novel can be really useful. You can squeeze your book club choices into your commute, listen while you work, or even when your baby is napping (HAH!).

Every month we’ll pick a popular book club pick, and set up some discussion questions to get you and your book club going. This month, we’ve got questions for Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane, which was recently voted the Tonight Show Annual Summer Book Club Read. This is a really intense and awesome listen, with in-depth characters, and a lot to talk about. So here are our Ask Again, Yes book club questions!

—————MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!————

1. This novel has been described as a “Domestic” novel. Do you feel that’s the right genre for this novel? Why or why not?

2. Ask Again, Yes is told from the perspective of many different characters (Kate, Peter, Francis etc.). How do you think this adds to the development of the story?

3. The title Ask Again, Yes references the discussion Kate and Peter have at the end of the book. Do you feel that it applies to any other characters?

4. How are mental health and addiction issues portrayed in the novel? Do the characters’ experiences differ due to the era they grow up in?

5. Who do you think is the most sympathetic character in the book? Who is the least likable?

6. When Francis discovers Anne at Peter and Kate’s house, are you surprised at how calm he is? Or is this in line with his character?

7. The theme of history repeating itself is central to this novel. Which characters most fall into these patterns? Are there characters that don’t?

8. Kate, Lena, and Anne are very different women. How is the role of the traditional wife and mother portrayed in this novel?

9. The shooting changes the lives of almost everyone in the novel. How different do you think the following relationships would have been had it never happened? i) Kate and Peter ii) Lena and Francis iii) Anne and Brian.

10. What do you think the future holds for Kate and Peter?

Spice Up Your Commute – Audiobooks.com Now Integrated With Waze!

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Kylie Conner

Let’s be real, nobody likes sitting in traffic. That’s why a lot of Audiobooks.com subscribers love listening while they’re in the car, so that they can stay entertained from point A to point B. Now, you can have over 250,000 audiobooks at your fingertips while also avoiding traffic using Waze!

We are SO excited to announce our new partnership with Waze! Now, our members can seamlessly listen to your audiobooks through the Waze navigation app. Ready to hit the road with the wind in your hair and your favorite audiobook as your soundtrack? Let’s get you set up!

Set-Up Instructions

1. Open up Waze and type in your destination. A music note symbol will appear in the top right corner, click that symbol.

2. A menu will drop-down allowing you to select your audio app. Select Audiobooks.com.

3. After selecting Audiobooks.com a pop-up will confirm that you’d like to open the Audiobooks.com app. Select “Open.”

4. The Audiobooks.com app will automatically open after which it will bring you back to Waze with a pop-up that explains what info Waze and Audiobooks.com will share. Simply click “Accept” to finish the process.

5. Whatever audiobook you’re listening to will now appear along with the audio controls. And that’s it, you’re all set!

Happy listening and driving with our latest partner, Waze!

New to Audiobooks.com? Get 2 free audiobooks when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!

Tag Archives: audiobooks

Book Clubbin’ – 10 Discussion Questions for Ask Again, Yes

Spice Up Your Commute – Audiobooks.com Now Integrated With Waze!

Set-Up Instructions

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