Best Audiobooks 2021

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Epic Blockbuster-Style Apocalypse

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Christina Sweeney-Baird

Cathleen McCarron, Aysha Kala, Denica Fairman, Penelope Rawlins, Debra Michaels, Julia Locascio, Sasha Alexis, Robert Bradley, Sara Lynam, Rebecca Perfect, William Hope

When it comes to post-apocalyptic stories, I thought I'd seen it all. Well, this outstanding 2021 audiobook was a complete surprise. A unique premise, a captivating mystery and excellent performances all make this top of the class of '21.

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Whip-Smart Snark

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John Boyne

Richard E. Grant

This was that rare and joyful find - an instant favourite. One of the funniest, smartest books I've heard, it is undoubtedly my stand out star pick for 2021. Focused on the worst family imaginable, this rips apart all the worst aspects of modern communication. And who's our narrator? Only Hollywood heavyweight Richard E. Grant.

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End of the World As We Know It

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Gene Doucette

Erin Bennett, Kiff VandenHeuvel, Juliette Goglia, Zeno Robinson, Will Collyer, Grace Rolek, Farah Merani

Looms at the ready to weave together all the threads of this intricate mystery. With the affable voice of Joe Hempel to lighten the tone,this is a thoroughly engrossing tale and an unusual take on the apocalyptic genre.

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Dark Humour

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Bella Mackie

Charly Clive, Paul Panting

Never ever judge this book by its cover. I did and thought it was a comedy. I was in for a shock. It's tongue in cheek, but about as sinister as it gets. I should instead have taken the title at face value. This is very much a does-what-it-says-on-the-tin affair. Yes. This is a blow by blow account of picking off an entire family.

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Twists and Turns

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Lisa Jewell

Joanne Froggatt

With Lisa Jewell writing and Joanne Frogatt narrating, I had high hopes for this one. And it left them in the dust. This time-oscillating mystery is just as good as it promises and then some.

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Mix of Dystopia and Apocalypse

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Marissa Levien

Christine Lakin

Futuristic sci-fi with plenty of twists, this remarkable debut novel has facets aplenty. If you want to escape reality, grab this 2021 audiobook.

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Snarky Psychopaths

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Vera Kurian

Brittany Pressley

Psychopaths, psychopaths everywhere, but who's the one who killed? While most suspense novels entice the audience to detect the pscho murderer, this college-based thriller does half the work, but somehow makes it better.

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Lighthearted Fun

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Nick Spalding

Henrietta Meire, Will Watt

Give your brain a break and your funny bone a tickle with Nick Spalding's latest offering . This 2021 audiobook is light and fun and, above all, hilarious.

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Delve Into A Difficult History

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Heidi Daniele

Lauren Reilly

It's 1937 in Ireland and Peggy is enrolled in an industrial school. This heart-rending tale takes a tough subject and softens the blow by seeing it through the eyes of its utterly endearing main character.

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Watercooler Talking Point

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Rachel Yoder

Cassandra Campbell

Even though I was not a fan of this one, I am still in awe of it. What's more, I'm happy I read it. Truly, truly bizarre, off the wall stuff.

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Mysterious Sci-Fi

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A.G. Riddle

John Skelley

A.G Riddle creates a tangled, claustraphobic labyrinth of mysteries in this futuristic tale of humanity's struggle to survive. Follow the clues and reveal the truth.

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Bitesize Comedy

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Simon Rich

Fred Berman

Cards on the table: I'm not usually a fan of short story collections. But it's hard to find fault with this uproariously funny offering from SNL alum Simon Rich.

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Love-to-Hate Characters

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Claire Seeber

Anna Cordell, Laura Brydon, Nano Nagle

Intruige, despicable characters and terrible secrets? Chuck in a street party full of shady characters and you have this 2021 psychological thriller.

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Joshua Ferris

Nick Offerman

Combine a bit of Shameless, some Modern Family and a touch of The Royal Tenenbaums with a soupçon of sadness.

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Matt Boren

Christina Applegate

Bitterness Is Such Sweet Sarcasm

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Rachel Abbott

Lisa Coleman

DCI Douglas As Gripping As Ever

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Ronald Malfi

Joe Hempel

A carefully crafted mystery with echoes of (and I don't bandy this about) Gone Girl

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Yahtzee Croshaw

Yahtzee Croshaw

A Religious Experience

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Christina Dalcher

Brittany Pressley, Cassandra Morris

Very Close To Living Up To Expectations

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Nell Pattison

David Thorpe, Sherry Baines, Alex Wingfield, Nick Biadon, Clare-Louise English, Billy Ashcroft, Beth Eyre

Excellent, Especially the Characters

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Bella Mackie

Charly Clive, Paul Panting

A Compelling Seduction to The Dark Side

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Casey Kelleher

Daphne Kouma

This. Gave. Me. Chills.

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Jamie Mollart

Mike Rogers

Half Stargate Universe with its bleak futility and half Man in the High Castle with its rumbling underbelly.

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Carole Johnstone

Katie Leung

Haunting story, beautifully read.

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Vera Kurian

Brittany Pressley

Aaaaaargh-mazing. Jon Ronson’s The Psychopath Test meets Alice Feeney’s Sometimes I Lie meets Scream (shout out 1996).

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Simon Rich

Fred Berman

Braces yourself for a wild ride

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Rachel Yoder

Cassandra Campbell

This is a literary art installation. Think Damien Hirst meets American Beauty.

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Cadwell Turnbull

Dion Graham

Brilliant In Many Ways

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Andy Weir

Ray Porter

LOVED The Martian. This Might Be Better.

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Matt Ritter

Matt Ritter

Like Post Apocalyptic Adventure? Sinister Dystopias? A G Riddle? This is for you.

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Alice Feeney

Stephanie Racine, Richard Armitage

Thrilling and Creepy With A Killer Twist

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Bethany Crandell

Xe Sands

A Sweet, Sardonic, Fruit Throwing Frolic

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Gene Doucette

Erin Bennett, Kiff VandenHeuvel, Juliette Goglia, Zeno Robinson, Will Collyer, Grace Rolek, Farah Merani

Exceptional. Beautifully Written, Brilliantly Read. The TV show Lost, but with a proper ending.

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John Boyne

Richard E. Grant

#loved #5stars #UstymKarmaliuk

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Christina Sweeney-Baird

Cathleen McCarron, Aysha Kala, Denica Fairman, Penelope Rawlins, Debra Michaels, Julia Locascio, Sasha Alexis, Robert Bradley, Sara Lynam, Rebecca Perfect, William Hope

Beautiful, thoughtful, thought provoking. A redefinition of its genre.

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A.G. Riddle

John Skelley

Riddle Wraps A Mystery Inside An Enigma

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Georgina Lees

Meg Travers

Utterly Engrossing Mystery

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Heidi Daniele

Lauren Reilly

So Very Powerful and Endearing

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K.L. Slater

Lucy Price-Lewis

Not Her Best, But…

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Lisa Jewell

Joanne Froggatt

I “Dug It”…

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Shanora Williams

Chante Ellison, Nola Vance

Rich Revenge

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James Brogden

Matthew Lloyd Davies

Awesomely Creepy

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Rebecca Taylor

Libby McKnight

Big Bad Lies

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Charity Norman

Julie Maisey

One cup of Liane Moriarty, one cup Lisa Jewell and a dollop of K.L. Slater.

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Claire Seeber

Anna Cordell, Laura Brydon, Nano Nagle

A layer cake of secrets, lies and divisive characters, addictive to the last bite.

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Nicci French

Olivia Vinall

Heard And Enjoyed

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Marissa Levien

Christine Lakin

If Margaret Atwood and George Lucas had directed The Day After Tomorrow.

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Stacey Madden

Cherlanda Estrada and Nate Drury

A Satisfying Rummage Through Tangled Minds and Stories

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Sarah Pinsker

Lyssa Browne

Gattaca Meets Age of Miracles

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Kathleen Whyman

Natalie Dew

A fun, playful, witty listen with plenty of personality.

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Nick Spalding

Henrietta Meire, Will Watt

Pure Fun

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Eamon Ambrose

James Highfield

The lines between robots and humans blur in this fun post-apocalyptic thriller.