Best Audiobooks of 2022

For fans of hard-hitting investigative journalism like Catch and Kill and Spotlight, Bad City will be just your speed. Written by Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Paul Pringle, the breathtaking narrative makes for a gripping listening experience. It begins with a tip Pringle receives at the L.A. Times about a drug scandal involving the head of the University of Southern California’s esteemed medical school. At first, the reporter suspects his lead will take a few weeks to sort out. It isn’t long, however, before Pringle finds himself on an investigative deep dive that turns the whole city upside down. Corruption? Check. Coverups? Check. Truth and justice triumphing over abusers of power? Check. Narrator Robert Petkoff has a slew of Audie Awards under his belt and is no stranger to dramatic work. Listen as Petkoff pulls you into Pringle’s world and the web of criminality that the journalist exposed. It’s a powerful story, and exceedingly well told.

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The city of Savannah becomes a character in its own right in this evocative Southern mystery by The Moth founder George Dawes Green. When a local man is murdered and his partner goes missing, Savannah socialite and investigator Morgana Musgrove takes up the case to boost her family’s ailing business. The domineering matriarch recruits her four adult children to assist in the investigation, each of whom is wary of their mother’s overbearing manner. Simmering tensions threaten to a boil over as together the Musgroves scour Savannah, unearthing shocking truths that lurk beneath the fabled city. A cast of talented voice actors contribute to Green’s beguiling narrative, adding a layer of theatricality to this compelling mystery. Neil Gaiman, author of American Gods, hails The Kingdoms of Savannah as “the apotheosis of Southern Gothic Noir.”

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Calling all true crime aficionados: This one’s for you. Paul Holes is the legendary detective who helped crack some of America’s most notorious cold cases, from the murder of Laci Peterson and the kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard to the 20-year manhunt for the Golden State Killer. Throughout his career, Holes was unrelenting in his pursuit of justice. It brought him close to the families of the victims as he sought closure for them — but it also took a terrible toll on his personal life. In Unmasked, Holes chronicles his experiences as a criminal investigator and cold case expert. Crucially, the author reads the memoir himself, inviting listeners into his world as he candidly relates both the highs and terrible lows of his life behind a badge.

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In Starry Messenger, celebrated astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson draws on his warmth, wit, and vast understanding of the universe to offer a new perspective on divisive terrestrial concerns like war, politics, race, and religion. Yes, it’s a bold remit, but Neil deGrasse Tyson handles it with aplomb. The narrative itself is intriguing, and to hear it read by deGrasse Tyson in his signature voice is stellar. Throughout, the author movingly combines beauty with science, abstract philosophy with real-world solutions, revealing how we all fit together on this spinning rock in the cosmos.

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Stacy Willingham made quite a splash with A Flicker in the Dark, her pulse-pounding psychological thriller debut that’s near-impossible to put down. The bestselling narrative centers on Chloe Davis, a psychologist in Baton Rouge. Twenty years ago, six teens disappeared from her hometown — and her father was eventually convicted of their murder. She’s struggled to come to terms with that trauma ever since. Now, however, she’s about to get married and feels ready to move on. But when local girls begin to go missing again, she’s thrown back into the darkness. Is history repeating itself? Or is she going crazy? Award-winning narrator Karissa Vacker keeps the tension simmering in this electrifying and Earphones Award-winning audiobook, perfect for listeners who “enjoy a gripping and twisty story” (AudioFile Magazine).

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Edgar Award-nominated author Jason Rekulak weaves supernatural horror into a twisted knot of suspense in the acclaimed Hidden Pictures. The narrative follows Mallory Quinn, who’s fresh out of rehab and in search of new beginnings. She takes a job babysitting an adorable 5-year-old boy named Teddy. At first, it’s a dream setup for Mallory – until it transforms into a nightmare. Turns out, the lil’ tyke is quite an artist, and Mallory grows increasingly disturbed by Teddy’s stark and creepy drawings — not your typical kindergartener fridge artwork, that’s for sure. As Teddy’s images ramp up in their intensity, Mallory begins to wonder whether a dark and desperate message is hidden within. Could the drawings contain clues to a long-forgotten murder? Earphones Award–winning narrator Suzy Jackson beckons you into this pulse-pounding supernatural chiller. Need another reason to listen? Horror master Stephen King recommends the creepy tale: “I loved it.”

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In How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water, Women’s Prize finalist Angie Cruz delivers a rousing new narrative about finding your voice and finally telling your story. The book centers on Cara Romero, a factory worker in her mid-50s who unexpectedly finds herself out of work after years at the same job. She meets with a counselor and, over the course of 12 freewheeling sessions, revisits the life she’s lived and looks forward to where she’ll go next. A mix of English and Spanish adds a layer of authenticity to this inventive and endearing tale. Cara’s had her share of bumps along the road as a Dominican immigrant in New York City, but she refuses to let the setbacks derail her.

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Bestselling author Alice Feeney conjures a deliciously dark locked-room mystery in Daisy Darker. The narrative invites you to a crumbling gothic estate on a tidal island, where the entire Darker clan has gathered for Nana’s 80th birthday party. By now, you’ve no doubt guessed that this is not your average family reunion. When a fierce storm rolls in and the clock strikes midnight, Nana is found dead, followed by the demise of another family member an hour later. Can what remains of the Darker family unravel this murder mystery and escape the island with their lives? With a hat-tip to Agatha Christie, Feeney delivers crackling tension, shocking secrets, and plot twists aplenty in her acclaimed tale. Add the outstanding voice work of Stephanie Racine, who’s narrated a number of bestsellers, and you’re in for a treat. Just keep the lights on.

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Contrasting stories entwine into a luminous whole in Sequoia Nagamatsu’s speculative fiction epic about a world-destroying plague unleashed from the Arctic. The mind-bending narrative spans time and place as it chronicles the calamitous spread of the disease and society’s determination to endure. While it’s far from a light or sunny read, How High We Go in the Dark nevertheless delivers a “moving and thought-provoking” tale that “reminds us there’s still hope in human connections” (New York Times Book Review). In the midst of global disaster, individuals prove innovative and enterprising, traits that can give us comfort. A dazzling cast of actors lend their voices to the audiobook, enhancing the deep humanity of this apocalyptic narrative.

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Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel centers on missing loved ones and moving forward from your grief while never losing sight of the past. The sensitive tale follows Tova, a 70-year-old widow whose teen son vanished 30 years ago. She keeps her sorrow at bay by making sure her days are full and volunteering at the local aquarium. That’s where an unusual friendship unfurls between Tova and Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus. Remarkably Bright Creatures is a strange and touching narrative, and voice actors Marin Ireland and Michael Urie masterfully tap into the novel’s emotional center to help pull us into the story.

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With that distinctive gravelly voice, Bob Odenkirk just had to read his own humor book. The comedic everyman shares his remarkable journey through show business in Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama, charting his rise from his early days at Chicago’s Second City through stand-up and writing for Saturday Night Live to starring in the cult sketch comedy series Mr. Show. Of course,  there are plenty of laughs and wry observations along the way. The memoir’s “drama” refers to Odenkirk’s breakout roles in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, and he explains how the career shift came about. Conan O’Brien notes that he hadn’t realized the breadth of Odenkirk's work until he read his friend’s book: “I can’t think of another entertainer who has improbably morphed so many times, and all through real genius and determination.” This funny audiobook will have you laughing from the moment you press play.

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New Yorker staff writer Hua Hsu narrates his own intimate memoir about family, friendship, and grief, and that makes it even more poignant. The author’s calm, steady voice underscores the drama — and trauma — he’s endured. Hsu shares the story of how his parents moved from Taiwan to the United States, connecting their experiences to his own struggle to fit in as the first-generation son of immigrants. When he’s 18, Hsu meets Ken, the son of a Japanese American family. Ken wears Abercrombie & Fitch and listens to Dave Matthews; Hua publishes zines and hangs out in record shops. Despite their apparent differences, however, the pair soon become friends. But tragedy strikes just three years later, when Ken is killed in a carjacking. Writing Stay True was Hsu’s way of coping with the loss of his friend and trying to make sense of his place in an uncertain world.

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