DARK FIRE

Troubled by dreams of hell and Rapture, Michael Rivers fights to overcome his visions by keeping a diary and staying awake. But his nightmares can only be dispelled by facing the preacher who so terrorized his childhood. The psychologist treating Michael, Veronica McCord, has her own problems. She is an atheist fighting for custody of her son while her ex-husband, a federal judge and new religious fanatic, is mesmerized by the same preacher who has affected Michael. Now Michael and Veronica both have a reason to confront this preacher, but the twists will be even more surprising than she imagined, especially so when they are trapped at the preacher’s beach house with a hurricane moving in…

Go to BooksinMotion.com for DARK FIRE.

Judge Jury Suspense stories

The audiobook version of this is CAT ON A COLD TIN ROOF, at Audible iTunes. Revenge can be sweet, or surprising. Here are tales of mystery and fantasy, science fiction and romance. The theme is revenge, but the twists are unexpected. First up, a hybrid that is both story and script, including artificial intelligence, beliefs, and fears. It begins with a drug unlike any other: a shocking disruption of the market. Next, a prequel to the Tom Cruise movie Collateral. Who was Vincent? Where did he come from? The Key to Vincent lies in the Florida Keys. Bonus tales will beguile and amuse, from the author of The Methuselah Gene and Lottery Island. ... Jonathan Lowe is author of Posrmarked for Death, which Clive Cussler called "powerful and accomplished...mystery at its best."

Cozy Up to Terror

The Lone Star Family Fun Time is an amusement park where the plot of COZY UP TO TERROR, (book seven of the Cozy Up Series), plays out. The Texas attraction hosts a Witness Protectioner in a smelly mascot costume being chased by gangsters out for revenge. Doyle Flanders works as a custodian sometimes wearing a Yeti costume to entertain the kiddies—who can be demanding for photographs. This eccentric cozy mystery by Colin Conway is ably narrated by Damon Abdallah in this new Books in Motion release. Abdallah has a mouthful of characters to interpret, from naughty eight year olds to jaded criminals and clueless staff. It’s difficult to wrangle one’s mind and mouth around such a distracting coterie of people, but Damon is up to the task of keeping the accents and mannerisms in line. He keeps the attention fixed on the circus atmosphere the story creates, and propels the narrative, such as it is, with offbeat but appropriate audio renderings. 

If you can imagine a theme park far enough out of the way that such antics can occur, join Doyle and crew in a golf cart ride into thrilling improbability. And keep your ears open for more in the series, which began with Cozy Up to Death.

Things that Go Bump in the Universe

The subtitle of this long but not long winded audiobook is “How Astronomers Decode Cosmic Chaos” by C Renee James. It is read by Wendy Tremont King. The author takes listeners on a grand tour of our search for the reasons behind supernovas, neutron stars, Gamma Ray bursts, and pulsars. Lots of history finds its appropriate way into the narrative, lightening the load of so much information with an earthy, even humorous sprinkling of anecdotes. Would you like to be an astronomer? This book gives you a look at how astronomers work, and you can define for yourself how boredom is and can be eclipsed by discovery. The author manages to cover immense ground with the ease of someone very familiar with the drudgery of finding those moments of exhilaration amid all the math. Recommended for anyone looking for an audiobook with an outstanding comprehension of what it takes to be a trailblazer. Plus just the breath of the science told in a way that can only astonish.

The Truth is Still Out There: 30 Years of the X Files

The Truth is Still Out There: Thirty Years of the X Files by Bethan Jones, read by Daniela Acitelli, is a political and social examination of the impact of a unique sci fi TV series on the Americans and others who became enamored of the groundbreaking show. Tantor Audio is producer of the audio, telling the story of a journalist who is one of the biggest fans of the series, which ran from 1993 to 2017 in a reboot. She has a PhD in fan fiction, and is a collector of memorabilia. The chemistry between the characters, a reversal of gender roles, and the moody sets and high production values were particularly memorable. The show drew on the distrust people had of the government and its spying and coverups. The FBI takes center stage against other government agencies and the shadow government itself. A deep throat character helps Mulder and Scully with tips and warnings, and the idea is that a certain number of government officials are keeping secrets from the public regarding aliens and other black ops conspiracies. In one episode an AI gets loose and enters the internet, from which it attacks any efforts to control it from its creator. Written partly by sci fi icon William Gibson, the episode is a paranoid story with a twist. Why do people keep coming back to the show? It’s because of the big questions it asks about what fake news is, how people believe or do not believe in the things they are told, and how the Cold War and other aspects of political events affects what people watch or don’t trust. The phrases “I Want to Believe” and “Trust No One” mingle to create quirky plots acted with aplomb by Muller and Scully. The audiobook is recommended not just for fans of the show, but anyone who wants to know how the paranoia and fears of people who turn to conspiracies is affected by television. 

Big Feet and Big Ears

Imagine Murder on the Orient Express with the setting of an expedition to discover Bigfoot. Minus the train. Each character has their own reason to come along, several with hoaxes in mind. A double love triangle to boot. When Sheriff Jeff McQuede's friend, Barry Dawson, tricks him into attending a Bigfoot convention at the small town of Trail’s End in Wyoming, he finds the adventure is only beginning. He is soon invited by the head of the research team, Dr. Adam Kurtz, to hike with them into the isolated mountains below Lost Man's Peak where few people ever venture. Several murders soon punctuate the camp amid supposed sightings of the monster. Who is playing whom, and why? This becomes a sorting out of motives and accusations. BLAME IT ON BIGFOOT is a good title to try out the fiction of sisters writing team Loretta Jackson and Vickie Britton, and is number ten in the High Country Mystery Series at BooksinMotion.com. Narrator Michael Bowen services the characters with appropriate voices to keep them separated. This requires a little exaggeration, but never over the top. 

You are being tracked and watched. Even by iWatch. That information is stored in supercomputers and your profile is kept by the NSA without your knowledge, but with your consent. When you clicked “Agree to Terms” at Facebook or Instagram or even Angry Birds, you agreed that they own everything you post and can use it however they wish. Oh yes. It’s in their Terms of Service, which author Marc Goodman in FUTURE CRIMES calls, “terms of disservice.” Read the fine print, normally toward the end of 25 pages of dense copy in 6 point type…of course our attention span is now less than a goldfish, and they know this. Now, maybe you don’t care. It’s the price of freedom, right? Well, if you are ever in a felony, or fall under suspicion, that info can be used against you. And maybe it’s a felony you didn’t commit. Maybe you were set up by hackers. Maybe your identity was stolen. Are you in the “cloud?” The Cloud can be hacked. It is not invulnerable. Many don’t even know what it is. Your info is just “up there, somewhere,” exposed, where storms can happen. Data storms. Lightning fast. Thousands of USPS employees had their information stolen instantly, and millions at Target, which became a target. And that’s just the tip of the melting iceberg. Also listen to the audiobook LIGHTS OUT by Ted Koppel. That’s about hackers getting into the electrical grid and putting our lights out for weeks. Not to frighten you, but black swans appear now and again. 9/11 helped create the paranoid surveillance state, Paris shows that they can’t know what terrorists will do, even with boatloads of tracking devices…if they go off-grid. One way you can partly go off grid yourself is to quit using Facebook or Instagram or “free” gaming apps, but if you can’t stop that, at least trade in your iPhone for a flip phone. If you have an Android smartphone you’re even worse off, since they are easier to hack in coffee shops and elsewhere. (iPhone is proprietary software, Android not.) The horror stories of what can happen (and is happening more often) is detailed in Future Crimes, which is scarier than anything Stephen King has written. It’s not future only, too, it’s about right now, with chilling examples of real cases. Question: would you rather know this, or not know this?

Down and Out in Paradise, The Life of Anthony Bourdain

DOWN AND OUT IN PARADISE, THE LIFE OF ANTHONY BOURDAIN by Charles Leerhsen is well read by Vikas Adam. It’s a harrowing but always interesting backstory to the celebrity chef whose impact on culture was worldwide due to his years on the road in three series, talking food and impressions of those he met. Bourdain was an enigma to many, especially after his suicide, foretold earlier in his life at points when his “dark side” emerged. His best friends were stunned that he would hang himself over a woman who proved impossible to please or control. Leerhsen spent many hours interviewing associates and acquaintances in order to unravel the mystery, and criticizes the CNN film Roadrunner for staying on script and not examining what was his ever ambitious personality—to live fast and die young. A narcissist who hated his own life and could blame his crew and handlers for not getting things just right, Bourdain nonetheless had a sense of obligation and this book explores where his gifts lay and where they didn’t. It attempts to turn the mystique inside out, and achieves this, if not to the extent that Kitchen Confidential created it. Recommended for anyone wanting to understand the dual nature of the human psyche.

When You Have to Go There by Kevin R. Doyle

WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO THERE by Kevin R. Doyle is read by Caryn Hoaglund for Books in Motion. It’s a police procedural following detective Helen Lipscomb, after she’d botched a case and been reassigned from her squad. She then is on the case of a serial killer killing cops, and must negotiate the politics of the office and numerous finger pointing sessions to survive with her career and her life. Doyle is author of THE GROUP series, of which this is book two, the last being AND THE DEVIL WALKS AWAY. Hoagland is a stage actress from Spokane who elicits empathy well with the main character while walking us through the day to day habits and back stabbing that make up modern police detective units, especially for women. Her reading is straight and crisp. At just over nine hours, it’s recommended for listeners who want a realistic background to fill out the headlines which most police books focus on. The characters seem real, and the action never too unbelievable. Following procedure is everything in the police department, as you may suspect. Don’t make waves or go outside your narrow chain of command. Lipscomb takes heat for her actions here, which are dramatic. 

Neither Snow Nor Rain and Shutter

NEITHER SNOW NOR RAIN: A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE by Devin Leonard is read by LJ Ganser for Recorded Books. It details the entire history since the time of Franklin until 2016. It has been quite a ride. At one time the USPS was without peer, and indispensable. Letters were without envelopes and sorted without zip codes. Then, with the expansion of the country west, special efforts were required to reach San Francisco and the gold boom via stagecoach and horse. When UPS and Federal Express started cutting into funds, junk mail came into being to save it. But then came email. Who writes personal letters much, anymore? Well, they do on birthdays and holidays, but for years now the postal service has been shuttering offices and moving from hiring to automation and robots. This is in part from violence, also outlined in the book. Such as the shooting in Edmond, Oklahoma, when a man killed 14 and himself. He’d been chosen over 22 other people because he was a vet, even though he was on verge of being fired from a previous postal job. Many fingers were pointed between management and the unions, as other shootings occurred. My own novel Postmarked for Death was influenced by one in Royal Oak, Michigan. It’s a chilling account there, too. What happens next is anyone’s guess. But the shootings appear to have subsided, and moved into the general public. This book is a must hear for anyone with a stamp collection. 

SHUTTER by Ramona Emerson is read by Charley Flyte. It’s an odd novel, well written but more of a literary title than a thriller. It’s about a Navajo photographer named Rita who works for the Albuquerque NM police department. She sees some of the victims, and hopes to take their pictures but can’t. She doesn’t believe in God, but she believes in ghosts. The writing is superb, but can sidestep into personal matters since it’s written in the first person. She was discriminated against as a child, and learned to take photographs as an escape. Each chapter title is another brand of camera. She says at one point that she remembered upsetting her parents by never crying, just laying there staring upward, so they never knew when she was asleep or might be dead. She has an affinity to the dead, and one in particular is with her from beginning to end. Will it all be resolved in a followup novel? We shall see. Or rather hear. Charley Flyte is an excellent narrator, who captures the wordy images with a snap for each shot. 

Cheating Death audiobook

Never thought I’d hear a book about aging that revealed so many things others hadn’t.  Not only do you learn which vitamins and supplements work and which don’t, but the interactions and reasons behind the confusion. Drug and hormone and stem cell research therapies aid the overall understanding needed to negotiate the sea of products and opinions out there, dazzling and blinding at the same time. What do you really need? A cogent, deciplined approach to the subject of aging survival geared to outsmart diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and dementia. Narrated by the always engaging LJ Ganser, CHEATING DEATH by Dr. Rand McClain is a must hear for everyone over fifty looking to beat the odds stacked against us all. Diet, exercise, and prevention, plus modern science testing and monitoring plus treatments add up to little if you don’t comprehend the big picture. Here is that moving picture. Rated GPG, meaning Grand Parents Guidance.  

Cadillac Desert and Superfans

Couple centuries back the call “go west, young man!” propelled settlers and homesteaders into the Louisiana Purchase and beyond into New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and California. Our mythic vision of “conquering” the west envisioned cowboys and ranches with cattle and crops abundant. Indians were resettled onto reservations, although many did not go quietly. Fast forward to today, with many millions of people inhabiting oasis cities like Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, sustained by dams and water projects that feed water out for irrigation, and cause rival special interests to lobby for rights to dwindling supplies. Farmers, ranchers, and the general voting public still yearn to maintain the values represented by “taming” the west, six gun in holster, cattle lasso at the ready.  It is a powerful image, not one easily refuted. What refutes it? Science. The west is drying up, due in part to climate change, growing populations using up underground water that fell as rain centuries earlier (when no one lived there), cattle production, and dams redirecting river water to irrigate fields instead of replenishing underground reserves. Those who think short-term and expect the government to solve the problem are in for a big surprise. According to the author of Cadillac Desert (a classic examination of the history of water in the west) “unless people change, the desert will reclaim the west. The desert cities will see a mass exodus.” This audiobook by Marc Reisner, read by Francis Spieler and Kate Udall, contains an apocalyptic postscript by Lawrie Mott. California wildfires and droughts will increase in time, while flooding and hurricanes will dominate the eastern seaboard. Some of the points made by the book, whose subtitle is “The American West and Its Disappearing Water,” are: 1) Instead of cattle we should raise bison, which require much less water. (Settlers killed bison for sport by the thousands from trains.) 2) Dams on rivers exist in the thousands, but are not sustainable, and kill untold millions of fish like salmon. Some are dangerous, such as several located near earthquake faults in California. A wall of water twenty stories high coming down main street is not something a non-superhero could survive. 3) No single politician has or will ever be able to solve this problem. It is too complex. Just ask Jack Nicholson’s character in the movie Chinatown. (The Owens Valley water wars that inspired the film are but one of the scandals explored in the book.) No one can predict when exactly it will happen, and few are even asking. Short term profits beat long term solutions in American politics, as everyone scrambles for their cut before the bowl goes dust.  

George Orwell once said that, “Sports is war minus the shooting.” Award winning sports journalist George Dohrmann has compiled a select tribute to fandom in SUPERFANS, which utilizes the stories of actual fans whose extreme love of sports animate the text. Part psychology, part revelatory confession, the audiobook is narrated by former sports radio host, actor, and voiceover talent Chris Ciulla (audiobooks to video games such as Fallout 4.) Ciulla is an engaging narrator whose tone fits the material without being melodramatic. After all, some of the “superfans” are melodramatic enough. One Vikings fan posted 1000 times a year on a message board, besides watching games. Shrines to teams are assembled around TV sets. A church pastor admitted to be a “crazy” fan of the Cowboys, while a church podium in one parking lot ushered in new fans devoting their lives forever with the ending shout, “Score!” Another fan threatened the life of an opponent’s family although he was a professional and family man himself. Still, Dohrmann denies sports is religion, despite the Religion of Sport series on Directv. In editing fan stories to let fans do most of the talking, Dohrmann maintains his distance from criticism, instead letting some of the psychologists he interviewed do the job of talking about player concussions, domestic violence, and time lost to superfans whose devotion to teams is due to their identity with the team, and may consume their lives. Will appeal to fans and sports atheists alike.        

Award winning sports journalist George Dohrmann has compiled a select tribute to fandom utilizing the stories of actual fans whose extreme love of sports animate the text. Part psychology, part revelatory confession, the audiobook is narrated by former sports radio host, actor, and voiceover talent Chris Ciulla with an engaging tone befitting the material without being melodramatic. Vikings fans are melodramatic enough: one posted 1000 times a year on a message board, besides watching games. Shrines to teams are assembled around TV sets. A church podium ushers in new fans devoting their lives forever with the ending shout, “Score!” In editing fan stories, Dohrmann lets psychologists he interviewed talk about player concussions, domestic violence, and any negatives. Will appeal to fans and sports atheists alike. 

Oldies but Goodies

London. Nov. 1, 2006. New York Times bureau chief Alan S. Cowell, although he doesn't know it yet, is about to cover the events leading up to the poisoning death of a former KGB intelligence officer known for his criticisms of President Vladimir Putin. Sound like a spy thriller? It is, but it's not fiction, and now Cowell has gone on to chronicle the entire back story in his new book THE TERMINAL SPY, which follows Alexander Litvinenko throughout his insider career in the 1990s with other spies and sanctioned Russian thugs. Cowell explains why a rare radioactive isotope known as polonium was the preferred weapon of assassinations by the Kremlin--primarily for its resistance to detection and short half-life. One speck in food will kill within days, then be flushed from the body, while inflicting excruciating pain. It was only by accident that Litvinenko's dose was discovered, while his approved killer escaped prosecution so that diplomats could save face. Narrated by the always engaging actor John Lee, whose accented performance is especially appropriate here, the audiobook confirms suspicions that sometimes, at least, real life can be just as intriguing as those spy thrillers on the big screen. (Random House Audio; 6 1/2 hours abridged)

Next, John Keller is a hit man who collects stamps. Odd, you might say, for a man you might associate with being a sociopath. But is Keller really without scruples? In HIT AND RUN by award winning mystery writer Lawrence Block, the case is made for a hit man possessing endearing qualities. For the purposes of reader identification, this is a useful presumption, too, since it would be more difficult to root for someone who might slit your throat for no good reason. Keller usually has a good reason, and not just because he's being paid. The victims usually "deserve" what they get. That is, they are usually killers themselves. In this latest installment, Keller has been set up by his employer to take the fall for a political murder he didn't do, and must disappear before the police find him. He eventually travels to New Orleans, where he attempts to live a normal life with a construction job and even a girlfriend. With his stamp collection presumably stolen and his intriguing secretary "Dot" out of the loop, Keller bides his time until the expected moment of revenge presents itself, when his old life may (or may not) resume. Has Keller finally retired, as he intended? Judge for yourself. Your guess is as good as mine. The plot is not the important thing here. In fact, there's not much plot at all. The attraction is in hearing about the day to day mundane activities of a man with a job we wouldn't consider doing. Unless we were sociopathic. Block walks that tightrope even more believably with the talents of narrator and actor Richard Poe, who gives the understated performance required by the text, and who crosses into dramatic accented speech only at those moments involving confrontation, whether droll or action oriented. Poe is good, and he has Keller's mindset down pat, and that conveys to the audience. Is there a John Keller out there somewhere in real life? Perhaps, but he's certainly not the norm. You wouldn't be as curious about him if he was typical, either. (Recorded Books; 8.5 hours unabridged)

CROWDSOURCING was coined by journalist Jeff Howe in the June 2006 issue of Wired magazine to describe the phenomenon of non-professional contributions to formerly professionally dominated industries. Although no one expects those who frequent social websites, (endlessly swapping photos and songs and videos), to put doctors and lawyers out of business anytime soon, Howe makes the case, in his book subtitled WHY THE POWER OF THE CROWD IS DRIVING THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS, that the contributions of ordinary citizens to the creative side of free enterprise is already putting many professionals out of work. His primary case study is iStockPhoto.com, a company which licenses stock photography via the internet at a much cheaper rate than professional stock photographers, or Getty Images. Anyone can submit their photos, and if accepted, can begin to earn royalties on them. The same is true for Threadless.com tee shirts, whose designs are crowdsourced, voted on by peers, and then sold to the very people who frequent the site. Of course the biggest model for crowdsourcing is Google, which ranks pages by how often people quote or link to them. And while Current.com collects news stories from amateurs, YouTube attempts to bypass mainstream media altogether by making anyone a "reporter." Certainly these trends are commendable in many ways, opening doors to innovation and increased productivity, since not even scientists have time to sift through all the data collected by giant telescopes, looking for asteroids or signals from intelligent civilizations. But if this new meritocracy were to expand, would it not give false hope to those considering whether or not to attend grad school? If I've got an advanced degree in thermodynamic engineering, and I'm driving a cab, I'll have a better chance of contributing to an alternative energy startup company (that crowdsources) than someone who has been washing dishes in a diner all his life. Rather than seeing this trend as empowering the masses, it is therefore better to view it as an opportunity for unrecognized talent to come forward. Still, an interesting discussion all around, as narrated by actor Kirby Heyborne, who is moonlighting here from feature films and television series. (Random House Audio; 10 hours unabridged)

Finally, the epic SF classic DUNE ended with Paul Muad'Dib in control of spice mining on the desert planet, having defeated the forces of House Harkonen. Frank Herbert's sequel, DUNE MESSIAH, takes up years later, after Paul's armies have conquered the galaxy. The period between these two books has been left unexplored, until now, with PAUL OF DUNE, by Herbert's son Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson. The duo have previously explored other timelines surrounding Dune, but here they focus on the reign of conquest in which Paul leads his legions from victory to victory while both self doubts and internal conflicts threaten to undermine him. Attempts are here made on Paul's life, and loyalties are questioned, leading to harsh consequences that bring up the old question, "Does absolute power corrupt absolutely?" Read by Dune universe insider Scott Brick, who is quite familiar with all the requisite pronunciations, the novel is a must for Dune fans, and anyone else into space opera. For those whose suspension of disbelief doesn't extend to Star Wars, and the clash of epic egos in space so vast that even Darth Vader is a grain of sand on some distant beach, might I suggest the clash to be resolved on the next Election Day? Perhaps not, but at least things will be in better perspective after hearing this audiobook. (MacMillan Audio; 18 1/2 hours unabridged)

AGE BEFORE BEAUTY

Grover Gardner

These days, beauty no longer defers to age. The opposite is true. We all seem to prize youth, and discriminate indiscriminately against those we perceive as old. We seek Botox, plastic surgery, drugs and diet pills in an effort to stave off the inevitable. To Dr. Andrew Weil, however, such a mindset is unfortunate. With his book HEALTHY AGING, Weil has become Tucson's most famous full time resident author. Appearing on the cover of Time magazine, and featured in the NY Times and on the Today show, Weil talks about aging gracefully as an option to being influenced by Hollywood's belief that if don't look under 30, you're not really alive.

Certainly Weil is himself a proponent of both traditional and alternative diet and lifestyle choices to optimize a slower aging process. On Today, Katie Couric even called him a "guru" of such. Yet as founder of the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, he has talked nationwide about wellness based on diet for years, causing Time magazine to recently declare that, "No other physician has done more to shape the direction of medical education in America." This doesn't sound at all like a man dispensing questionable remedies from a desert cloister, despite his large gray beard. Maybe he just looks like a guru.   

Weil's book is indeed quite scientifically realized.  Despite its subtitle, "A Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Well-Being," it parallels--in many ways--the bestsellers of Dr. Nicholas Perricone, with an analysis of the biological changes that appear on the cellular level due to stress hormones, free radicals and the natural, progressive shortening of telomeres on the ends of chromosomes. Weil even advises adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, using spices like turmeric, and eating fish like salmon. Dermatologist Perricone, meanwhile, appears on the cover of Life Extension magazine, with the head of a salmon on the plate before him. The irony here is not that both men espouse the same regimen, but rather that Weil appears to be more skeptical of an industry that exploits our desire for immortality. As Weil puts it, "I am dismayed by the emphasis on appearance in anti aging medicine."  The other irony is that he dismisses claims that real life extension is on the horizon, because "nature doesn't care about individuals, only their genes." Ironically, for sure, once you pass your immortal DNA on, nature is pretty much done with you. So where's the irony here, you ask?  Most visibly of all, salmon die soon after spawning.

As to whether there may ever be a pill that can extend human life beyond the current upper limit of 120 years, Weil cites the success of Dr. Cynthia Kenyon in her research with nematodes. It is the same scientist who inspired my own upcoming suspense novel “The Methuselah Gene,” due to the 50% increase in life span that Kenyon observed in worms known to researchers as caenorhabditis elegans. Yet despite Kenyon's gene manipulation, and the hope of the company she founded, Elixir, worms are still not humans.  (Or at least not MOST humans, although the killer who steals an experimental longevity formula in "Geezer" in order to secretly test in on a small town's residents might qualify).  

Until a real breakthrough in life extension comes, what are we to do in the meantime?  This is the question that Weil answers in "Healthy Aging," with proven science to back him up.  What distinguishes his answers from the more aggressive fad diet and exercise books on the market is his tone. This is especially evident on the audiobook version that he narrates. "Aging can bring frailty and suffering, but it can also bring depth and richness of experience, complexity of being, serenity, wisdom, and its own kind of power and grace," he says. Weil is not preaching or conducting a pep rally here.  He respects his audience.  They are, after all, not children, and what aging Americans needs now, especially in this area, is a little dignity. His advice? Live in moderation, eat a wide selection of natural whole foods, exercise regularly but not too much, touch a lot, and don't fret over those wrinkles or a few extra pounds. In this way, you will be joining good company, including even those few in Hollywood who have seen the insanity of an unwise obsession for what it is, like Jamie Lee Curtis, star of "Perfect” and “The Dorothy Stratten Story.” Or Lauren Bacall, Paul Newman, and Robert Redford. Or Colin Powell. Pair this book with "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle, another book without a trace of hype, and you have a roadmap for real peace, health, long life, and happiness.  -0-

"Live long and prosper..."

If you prefer description and characterization over choreographed special effects, then James Lee Burke's mystery masterpiece, PURPLE CANE ROAD, is your huckleberry. The plot here has no significance to anyone outside the heart and temperament of its main character, Dave Robicheaux, and the creator of that character wouldn't know a cliche if it climbed into his green turtle soup. Actor Will Patton performs this regional Louisiana story with a native and intuitive skill bordering perfection. In Purple Cane Road, Dave seeks the truth about the long ago murder of his mother, following a new lead implicating crooked cops. During his gritty and sometimes grisly hunt, he manages to learn more about his mother, and gains an identity which he can finally grasp in being her son.  In an interview, Burke told me this was the book he was most proud of writing. And Patton won an Audie award for reading Burke. (Simon & Schuster Audio)

What is the fascination people have with race horses?  I wasn't sure until I heard SEABISCUIT--AN AMERICAN LEGEND by Laura Hillenbrand.  With little time or interest in spectator sports, I found myself nonetheless riveted by the suspenseful description of the races run by this champion, an underdog with ferocious will and blinding speed who captured more news headlines in 1938 than anyone--even FDR or Hitler. The travails and games played by the owner, trainer, jockey, and the press are examined here, during a Depression era run of ups and downs all the way to a glorious victory. Actor/narrator Campbell Scott tells this amazing true story with an understated reverence, keeping out of the way as Seabiscuit threads his way through the pack to pull out in front. "See ya later, Charlie," said the jockey atop Seabiscuit to the jockey next to him, and then urged his horse for a final burst to the finish line.  The other horse was exhausted, but Seabiscuit---much like a few rare audiobooks---had power in reserve.  (Random House Audiobooks; have interviewed Laura.)

Bill Bryson has a knack for making difficult subjects understandable, even enjoyable.  In his book, A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING, the author of "A Walk in the Woods" and "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" does just that, tackling geology, astronomy, chemistry, even physics in such a way that boredom is replaced by wonder.  It's a matter of wording.  Knowing how much to include in an explanation, and where to crack the shell to get at the nut.  All the great men of science are here, too, including the patent clerk who became Time magazine's "Person of the Century," (Einstein), and the guy who invented the drip coffee maker only to die sniffing laughing gas.  So turning off the ball game does have its rewards, including the discovery that you're riding on a big blue ball weighing five million million tons, hurtling toward any number of hazards on the back 9 of the Cosmos Invitational. Your caddy, Bill, carries this bag of tricks himself, and explains each one. (Random House Audio)

GUARDIAN OF THE HORIZON by Elizabeth Peters is a historical mystery involving a missing journal and an expedition to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. The novel follows the well drawn character of Amelia Peabody and her husband Emerson as they set off to aid a friend and royal heir who's been struck down by a mysterious illness while others plot against him. As they revisit the city of the "Lost Oasis" in this established series, you'll find yourself drawn in by Barbara Rosenblat's talent at creating characters, and her uncanny ability to make each one distinct and memorable.  Peters is a two time Grand Master winner in the mystery genre, and is known for her authentic research and intricate plot twists.  So you have all the usual and unusual villains, from tomb raiders to soldiers of fortune, pitted against our intrepid explorers as Amelia once again finds herself duped and betrayed, and must deal with her unruly husband and impulsive son. It's a melodramatic, humorous and entertaining audiobook boasting historical accuracy, a command of language, and a "grand master" narrator to nail the accents. Who could ask for anything more?  (Recorded Books)

Avatar's Stephen Lang is also a narrator of audiobooks, particularly Sandra Brown's.

Gwendy’s Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar

 

Gwendy’s Button Box is a curious trilogy of novels and novella well narrated by three different female pros. At the end of the first outing Stephen King (a longtime audiobook fan) engages with co-author Richard Chizmar about the storyline and its  writing. IT began when Stephen gave friend Richard a fragment of story and idea, and that blossomed into their collab. If it ever goes to film the logline could be: Girl is given a strange box by a strange man with dangerous buttons and two compartments which dispense mind-bending chocolates in the shape of animals, and Morgan silver dollars—all uncirculated and the same year. It’s a mashup of the movie The Box (based on the story “Button, Button” by Richard Matheson, also on The Twilight Zone) and Hellraiser (minus the demons). Add feathers and the Clooney movie Gravity and the Jim Jones documentary Truth and Lies. Writing fiction well is about telling believable lies, and King has been doing it longer and better than his one-time rival James Patterson (who I met and interviewed). In The Mist (shades of The Fog) he doesn’t explain the creatures who pop in from another dimension, except to say it has something to do with lasers operated by the military. He never cared much about science in his horror novels, although there are welcome elements of science and science fiction here. 

So there’s no explanation of the deadly box with multiple buttons that can inexplicably cause random havoc around the world, or not. (Jonestown and the Pyramids are two, the time setting chosen for the first). You probably won’t care about explanations, either, although it may leave you wondering, regardless. The writing is astonishingly good, and never loses your attention, using the techniques honed by both writers over the years, ever since King’s wife retrieved his first novel out of the trash, and Chizmar struggled writing first stories that led to his magazine Cemetery Dance. Speaking of which, my fav King movie was the newer Pet Sematary, which I saw alone in the theater on day one (as I did with Avatar) and led to my book of stories Cat on a Cold Tin Roof. It is my second favorite horror film (IT third), the first being Dark Night of the Scarecrow, a little known made-for-TV gem featuring a postal carrier with a gun. (Am writing a first and last memoir about my 22 years in the USPS and 25 years in the audiobook industry).  Gwendy is followed much of her life through time and political career, and from small town Castle Rock, Maine (near where King lives) to… Read on. Or Listen Up. (Audiofile offices are in Maine). 

Gwendy’s Button Box and sequels resonated with me on many levels, especially the final book Gwendy’s Final Task, as I recall being in Daytona Beach as a child, and much later in Ormond Beach to experience the floods and endless rains of the “Sunshine State.” What a nightmare that was! For more nightmares read Chizmar’s The Boogeyman, and my own Awakening Storm.

NARRATOR by Landon Beach

 

 

Scott Brick, whom I’ve interviewed here, is the perfect choice for NARRATOR and posits a Misery situation Stephen King (an audiobook lover) would love. You learn the intricacies of voice acting while being told a suspense story similar to the viewpoint of Richard Chizmar (also interviewed here) in Chasing the Boogeyman. Using abrupt scene changes in a way that is adept and convey tension, combined with excellent writing of dialogue makes it a must-listen. It’s a long book, but you never feel that it was too long, especially if you are interested in the subject. The ways in which narrators prepare for reads is worked into the thriller plot in such a way that you would listen, even if you weren’t interested. Bravo to Landon for his idea and choice! I wish I knew how much Scott and other narrators contributed to the project. 

The was an Audible plan purchase. The references to being in a dark place running out of food resonated with me because of my first novel Postmarked for Death, and the killers name was Calvin Beach to boot! I look forward to the author’s new series, read by Scott, and his follow up. Interviews by others about this book and more are on YouTube. 

Was just imagining the incredible career of Paul Giamatti since his big break in the book and movie Sideways, right after American Splendor.  Many Billions of dollars in production costs and box office. BILLIONS on Prime and cable. Lady in the Water, San Andreas, Saving Mr. Banks, Win Win, The Hangover, Too Big to Fail, Parkland, Morgan, Madame Bovary, Cold Souls, The Holdovers, Cinderella Man, The Illusionist, Jungle Cruise, John Adams... Scott Brick narrated Sideways by Rex Pickett, whose followups were Sideways 2 and 3 and Vertical. His newer book The Archivist is in hardcover and on audio from Blackstone Publishing. In Sideways the character Miles is a writer whose first book is too complex and obscure to sell, shopped to 35 publishers without success. He and his old buddy from college embark on a wine country trip that turns hilarious, sad, and unforgettable. The script was voted one of the Top 100 ever written, and won Best Screenplay at the Oscars, along with four other nominations.

THE TRUMP TAPES by Bob Woodward

THE TRUMP TAPES, from the publisher: “The Trump Tapes is the intimate and astonishing audio archive of Bob Woodward’s 20 interviews with Donald Trump. Featuring more than eight hours of Woodward/Trump conversations, The Trump Tapes is as historically important as the Frost/Nixon interviews. In this up-close, unvarnished self-portrait of Trump and his presidency, listeners will hear Trump as Woodward did: profane, incautious, divisive, and deceptive, but also engaging and entertaining, ever the host and the salesman, trying to sell his presidency to win Woodward over. Relying on familiar devices—airing grievances, stoking divisions, repeating himself to a staggering degree, as if saying something often and loud enough will make something true—Trump uses his voice as a concussive instrument, pounding in the listener’s ear. In new commentary created exclusively for The Trump Tapes, Woodward at times breaks frame from the interviews to provide essential context or clarification. But for the most part the interviews proceed uninterrupted, fulfilling Woodward’s goal of presenting Trump’s voice and words for the historical record, and offering listeners the chance to hear and judge and make their own assessments. As relevant as ever to the task of understanding Donald Trump, The Trump Tapes reveal Trump in his own words—a man consumed by the past and clinging to his grievances, unable to understand his responsibilities as president or address the crises affecting the country.” Woodward also wrote OBAMA’S WARS,among others.

Review: This audiobook reveals to listeners a Donald Trump that few really know.  Trump trusted Woodward more than any journalist, even through he hadn’t read another book on Trump by Woodward.  Trump tends to change the subject often, his mind wandering, with Woodward constantly bringing him back to the subject at hand.  Trump believed he could solve all problems, on his own. World leaders knew they had to placate him—even another narcissist, Kim Jong-un. Trump got 11 letters from Kim and Woodward is shown them and photos never released to the press. This 11 hour audiobook, released today, answers many questions too numerous to name here. It is mind boggling. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio Originals for a download so fascinating I listened late into the night! Trump is smart, media savvy, with perfect memory and an inability to apologize for anything. “I’m always right,” he says. “And people hate me.” Woodward, for his part, knows how to probe, with vast experience and perfect memory too. This is why Trump liked him: S&S is right in saying this is the equivalent to the Frost/Nixon interviews. Recommended for anyone with an interest in politics and Presidential history. It is the best book about Trump out there because it is Trump himself exclusively, in his own words. A print edition would make no sense to those who want to hear the inflections, the tone, and the personality behind the words.

(J. Lowe is author of Fame Island, which became Lottery Island in 2018, the partly true story of John Caldwell, developer of Palm Island in the Grenadines. Trump once looked into buying, but was told, “Why should I sell? Every time my wife and I meet that’s a board meeting!” A Trump quote in the novel is, “People are impressed by fame. Think big,and live large.”)

Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar

 

Richard Chizmar is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Amazon, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author. He is the co-author (with Stephen King) of the bestselling novella, Gwendy’s Button Box and the founder/publisher of Cemetery Dance magazine and the Cemetery Dance Publications book imprint. He has edited more than 35 anthologies and his short fiction has appeared in dozens of publications, including multiple editions of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and The Year’s 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories. He has won two World Fantasy awards, four International Horror Guild awards, and the HWA’s Board of Trustee’s award. Chizmar (in collaboration with Johnathon Schaech) has also written screenplays and teleplays for United Artists, Sony Screen Gems, Lions Gate, Showtime, NBC, and many other companies. He has adapted the works of many bestselling authors including Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Bentley Little. Chizmar is also the creator/writer of the online website, Stephen King Revisited. His fourth short story collection, THE LONG WAY HOME was published in 2019. With Brian Freeman, Chizmar is co-editor of the acclaimed Dark Screams horror anthology series published by Random House imprint, Hydra. His latest book is CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN.  THE GIRL ON THE PORCH was released in hardcover by Subterranean Press, and WIDOW’S POINT, a chilling novella about a haunted lighthouse written with his son, Billy Chizmar, was recently adapted into a feature film. Chizmar’s work has been translated into more than fifteen languages throughout the world, and he has appeared at numerous conferences as a writing instructor, guest speaker, panelist, and guest of honor. 

CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN: Richard Chizmar has written a fascinating book superbly narrated by the matter-of-fact voice of Chris Andrew Cilulla. The concept of putting himself into the narrative makes for a startlingly delicious and offbeat audiobook treat guaranteed to enthrall listeners and keep them listening. I can’t recall having heard such a unique account of a true crime as a thriller, and it’s told from the point of view of the author! The mix of fact and fiction takes the listener by surprise and makes for a jarring interpretation of events that walks us nimbly on the edge of comprehension and fascination. The book is part documentary, memoir, and serial killer tale told with bravery and market savvy. Recommended for anyone looking for something different. (INTERVIEW:)

Jonathan Lowe) What are the details of your relationship with Cemetery Dance magazine, and with Crossroad Press?

Richard Chizmar) I'm the owner of Cemetery Dance Publications, both the magazine and the book imprints. I started the business in 1988 when I was a senior in college at the University of Maryland. Crossroads Press is run by Dave Wilson, who was an early contributor to the magazine and Cemetery Dance novella series. He's a fine writer, editor, and publisher, and I'm fortunate to have a handful of titles with his press. 

Q) Was reading that you’re a screenwriter of indie films, and with at least one based on a Stephen King story about a girl who gets trapped in the woods. What’s the genesis of this, and with your collaboration on a book with King?

A) Steve had seen and enjoyed a couple of the short films my oldest son, Billy, and I had made. We talked about doing one together one day, but time is always an issue. He came up with the basic idea of TRAPPED and sent it my way. I turned it into a short treatment, and he expanded it and made it better. From that detailed outline, I wrote the script and Billy directed it. All involved were really pleased with how it turned out. As for the books, that was a happy accident. Steve and I were emailing one afternoon, and the conversation turned to collaborations. He mentioned a story he hadn't been able to finish...and the rest is history. It was a dream come true. 

Q) Do you listen to audiobooks in your car, or on an iPhone? I know some authors, like Terry Brooks, who stick with print. I assume, with all your writing, you don’t have a lot of time to read.

A) I have pretty limited experience with audiobooks. Most of my books are print copies. But I've listened to and really enjoyed a few while driving and mowing the lawn. 

Q) What does your typical day look like?

A) My days are rarely typical, which is a big plus in my eyes. It helps to keep the work fresh. Some days all I do is write. Other days I'm at the office helping out with the day-to-day publishing duties, and then back home answering emails and doing press. 

Q) What narrators impress you most, and why?

A) I miss Frank Muller. He did some wonderful work.

Lowe) Frank narrated my first novel as “Postal,” but his performance, which won an Earphones award, was lost in the Dove audio mess! What’s next for you?

Chizmar) Next for me is a double book with Stephen King and Stewart O'Nan, coming out in March 2023. Fashioned after the old Ace Double science fiction books. After that, the sequel to CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN, which will be out next October. 

(Update Dec. 2022: Chizmar is winner of an INFLUENCER AWARD given by Audiobooks Today yearly starting this year in the category of Horror, along with David N. Wilson.)

Can you guess?