LoveReading Top 10 Audiobooks in September 2024

From the BSFA Award-Winning Author of City Of Last Chances City-by-city, kingdom-by-kingdom, the Palleseen have sworn to bring Perfection and Correctness to an imperfect world. As their legions scour the world of superstition with the bright flame of reason, so they deliver a mountain of ragged, holed and scorched flesh to the field hospital tents just behind the frontline. Which is where Yasnic, one-time priest, healer and rebel, finds himself. Reprieved from the gallows and sent to war clutching a box of orphan Gods, he has been sequestered to a particularity unorthodox medical unit. Led by 'the Butcher', an ogre of a man who's a dab hand with a bone-saw and an alchemical tincture, the unit's motley crew of conscripts, healers and orderlies are no strangers to the horrors of war. Their's is an unspeakable trade: elbow-deep in gore they have a first-hand view of the suffering caused by flesh-rending monsters, arcane magical weaponry and embittered enemy soldiers. Entrusted - for now - with saving lives deemed otherwise un-saveable, the field hospital's crew face a precarious existence. Their work with unapproved magic, necromancy, demonology and Yansic's thoroughly illicit Gods could lead to the unit being disbanded, arrested or worse. Beset by enemies within and without, the last thing anyone needs is a miracle.

Adrian Tchaikovsky (Author), David Thorpe, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Deep Cover: How I took down Britain’s most dangerous gangsters

Brought to you by Penguin. Street kid turned undercover cop. 'This time he wasn't getting up. Neither were the two young women he'd just murdered. The two unarmed young police officers he cut down in a hail of 32 bullets and the fragments of a grenade, ending their promising lives so savagely, so senselessly. I felt empty. Cold. How had it come to this?' Shay grew up on a tough Manchester council estate where drugs and gangs were rife. A life of crime would have been an easy path to take. So it went against everything that was expected of him when he joined the police. It wouldn't be long before Shay's prodigious talent caught the attention of the top. Then came the call that changed his life: an offer to join the secret Level 1 undercover unit known as Omega. And it was easy to see why they wanted him; he wouldn't have to stray too far from what he already knew. He had all the attributes of a professional criminal - the athletic physique of a cage fighter, the talk, the walk. Streetwise and fearless, he'd be a match for the most hardened villain. He was given a new identity, his DNA and fingerprints were removed from the national database, and so began the life of Mikey O'Brien. In a distinguished covert career spanning 17 years, former solider Shay infiltrated Moss Side gangs, was part of a hand-picked team hunting Dale Cregan and was brought in to break up a gang war wall of silence after the murder of Salford 'Mr Big' Paul Massey. But there would be a heavy price to pay for a life in the shadows, where any mistake could have lethal consequences... © Shay Doyle 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Scott Hesketh, Shay Doyle (Author), Christopher Coghill (Narrator)

Audiobook

HBR Guide to Emotional Intelligence

Managing the human side of work Research by Daniel Goleman, a psychologist and coauthor of Primal Leadership, has shown that emotional intelligence is a more powerful determinant of good leadership than technical competence, IQ, or vision. Influencing those around us and supporting our own well-being requires us to be self-aware, know when and how to regulate our emotional reactions, and understand the emotional responses of those around us. No wonder emotional intelligence has become one of the crucial criteria in hiring and promotion. But luckily it's not just an innate trait: Emotional intelligence is composed of skills that all of us can learn and improve on. In this guide, you'll learn how to determine your emotional intelligence strengths and weaknesses, understand and manage your emotional reactions, deal with difficult people, make smarter decisions, bounce back from tough times, and help your team develop emotional intelligence. Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges.

Harvard Business Review (Author), Keith Sellon-Wright (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Murder After the Night Before

'A whip-smart whodunnit, this will keep you guessing' Red 'A fast-paced thriller with clever twists' Bella Something bad happened last night. My best friend Posey is dead. The police think it was a tragic accident. I know she was murdered. I’ve woken up with the hangover from hell, a stranger in my bed, and I’ve gone viral for the worst reasons. There’s only one thing stopping me from dying of shame. I need to find a killer. But after last night, I can’t remember a thing… From the author of How to Kill Men and Get Away With It, don’t miss this wickedly witty and utterly addictive novel, perfect for fans of Bella Mackie, Dawn O’Porter and Killing Eve. Praise for The Murder After the Night Before: ‘What a ride! Unflinchingly realistic and raw but somehow also brilliantly funny at times, Brent's novel is a must-read’ Jesse Sutanto, author of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers ‘The horrors of going viral on social media twinned with a twisty murder mystery – contemporary fiction at its best, I loved it!' Jackie Kabler, author of The Perfect Couple ‘Brent delivers a compelling and incredibly important novel’ My Weekly ‘A fast-paced and satisfying read’ Charlotte Bigland, author of It’s Not Me It’s You ‘The Hangover meets Fleabag in this ribald, twisted mystery’ PJ Ellis, author of Love & Other Scams ‘A fast-paced thriller. With clever twists, it’s totally gripping' Closer Magazine ‘Once again, Katy Brent has shown her immense talent at writing dark humour with a thought-provoking core’ Sarah Clarke, author of A Mother Never Lies ‘A flawlessly plotted murder mystery. Devilishly brilliant. I loved it!’ Sarah Bonner, author of Her Perfect Twin

Katy Brent (Author), Victoria Morrison (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Shot in the Dark

After the notorious `Middle Street Massacre' of 1951, when the majority of Brighton's criminals wiped one another out in a vicious battle as the local police force enjoyed a brief stop en route for an ice cream, Inspector Steine rather enjoys life as a policeman. No criminals, no crime, no stress. He just wishes Sergeant Brunswick would stop insisting that perhaps not every criminal was wiped out that fateful day. So it's really rather annoying when an ambitious - not to mention irritating - new Constable shows up to work and starts investigating a series of burglaries. And it's even more annoying when, after Constable Twitten is despatched to the theatre for the night, he sits next to a vicious theatre critic who is promptly shot dead part way through the opening night of a new play. It seems Brighton may be in need of a police force after all...

Lynne Truss (Author), Matt Green (Narrator)

Audiobook

Penguin Sleep Tales: Ten stories to help you relax at night and encourage better sleep

Brought to you by Penguin. How often do you think about your bedtime routine? Almost half of people in Britain say they're kept awake at night due to worry and stress - so making time to switch off in the hour before bed is more important than ever. Penguin Sleep Tales are ten specially designed descriptive audio tales to help you wind down and relax before you drift off. Developed with The Sleep Council, each track will transport you to a different location, encouraging you to visualise calming settings and landscapes to ease away the day's anxiety or worry and get you in the right frame of mind for sleep. Lie in a hammock on a tropical beach, relax by a campfire or shelter from a distant thunderstorm. These mindful tales are read slowly and soothingly, accompanied by relaxing sounds of nature. One has been specially designed to appeal to those with Auto Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), a physical reaction to sound which can be particularly relaxing. Create a focused, peaceful environment so you can get a deep, natural night's sleep and wake up refreshed in the morning. The perfect de-stressor after a long day. Penguin Sleep Tales are designed exclusively for audiobook apps. Clearly labelled for easy navigation, each track is 15 minutes long, so you can put your sleep timer on for any duration with no need to return to the screen. So dim the lights, and get ready for a good night's rest. Includes ten relaxing tales: 'Wakarango Mai', 'Hammock on a Distant Shore', 'The Purring Temple', 'Pegasus in the Night Sky', 'Dancing Flames', 'A Bothy in a Storm', 'The Warm Smell of Hay', 'Travel on the Overnight Train', 'The Magic Bookshop' (ASMR story) and 'Yara's Song' (inspired by the Brazilian folk tale 'The Story of Yara'). The Sleep Council offered information and advice around the development of this product Search for 'Ladybird Sleepy Tales' and 'Puffin Sleepy Tales' to see our collections for children

Penguin (Author), Sally Scott (Narrator)

Audiobook

All the Ever Afters: The Untold Story of Cinderella's Stepmother

In the vein of Wicked, The Woodcutter, and Boy, Snow, Bird, a luminous reimagining of a classic tale, told from the perspective of Agnes, Cinderella's "evil" stepmother. We all know the story of Cinderella. Or do we? As rumors about the cruel upbringing of beautiful newlywed Princess Cinderella roil the kingdom, her stepmother, Agnes, who knows all too well about hardship, privately records the true story. . . . A peasant born into serfdom, Agnes is separated from her family and forced into servitude as a laundress's apprentice when she is only ten years old. Using her wits and ingenuity, she escapes her tyrannical matron and makes her way toward a hopeful future. When teenaged Agnes is seduced by an older man and becomes pregnant, she is transformed by love for her child. Once again left penniless, Agnes has no choice but to return to servitude at the manor she thought she had left behind. Her new position is nursemaid to Ella, an otherworldly infant. She struggles to love the child who in time becomes her stepdaughter and, eventually, the celebrated princess who embodies everyone's unattainable fantasies. The story of their relationship reveals that nothing is what it seems, that beauty is not always desirable, and that love can take on many guises. Lyrically told, emotionally evocative, and brilliantly perceptive, All the Ever Afters explores the hidden complexities that lie beneath classic tales of good and evil, all the while showing us that how we confront adversity reveals a more profound, and ultimately more important, truth than the ideal of "happily ever after."

Danielle Teller (Author), Jane Copland (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Silent Corner

"I very much need to be dead." These are the chilling last words left by a man who had everything to live for but took his own life. His widow, FBI agent Jane Hawk, is determined to find the truth, no matter what. Those arrayed against her are devoted to protecting something important - or terrifying - enough to exterminate anyone in their way. But Jane is driven by a righteous rage they can never comprehend. Because it is born of love.

Dean Koontz (Author), Elisabeth Rodgers (Narrator)

Audiobook

Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love

Brought to you by Penguin. Funny, feelgood, heartlifting story about the power of intergenerational friendship and finding love in unexpected places - perfect for fans of The One Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Through the Window and The Rosie Project Eddie Winston is 90 years old. He has lived and he has loved, but he has never been kissed. A true gentleman and incurable romantic, Eddie spends his days volunteering at a charity shop, where he sorts through the donations of the living and the dead, preserving letters and tokens of love along the way. And it is here that he meets Bella, a troubled young woman who, at twenty-four years old, has just lost the love of her life. When Bella learns that Eddie is yet to have his first kiss, she resolves to help him finally find love, sparking an adventure that will take them to unexpected places and, they hope, bring Eddie to the moment he has waited for all his life. A tale of friendship and kindness that reminds us that those we love are never forgotten and it is never too late to try again. As Bella helps Eddie and Eddie helps, well, everyone, an astonishing, soul-stirring story unfolds to show how those we love are never forgotten and it is never too late to try again. © Marianne Cronin 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024

Marianne Cronin (Author), Clare Corbett, Kim Durham, Natalie Nightingale (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Bride Test

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny-but not important emotions, like love. His family knows better-that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride. As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can't turn it down. Seducing Khai, however, doesn't go as planned. She's hopelessly smitten with a man who's convinced he can never return her affection.

Helen Hoang (Author), Emily Woo Zeller (Narrator)

Audiobook