Have You Heard? Audible’s Best of 2016

Audible’s Best Books of 2016 is perfect for “Have You Heard?” It’s all about the audiobook. Sandie Herron’s on top of this topic, and she sent the complete listing.Today, though, we’ll give you Audible’s best book of the year, and the top mysteries.

THE BEST “AUDIBLE” BOOKS OF 2016
Best of 2016


Audiobook of the Year: The Nix by Nathan Hill

2016 has proven to be a year of BIG books. From sweeping family sagas, to profoundly moving memoirs, superbly funny sci-fi, and beyond, this year’s best-of list was hard to nail down for the wealth of great choices. At the top of the list is The Nix, a debut novel by Nathan Hill that we found to be – simply put – a transcendent listening experience. Bold and brilliant but also totally accessible, The Nix takes the listener to WWII-era Norway, the 1968 Chicago riots, the Iraq war, and even into the worlds of online gaming and classical music, all while remaining character-driven and addictively listenable. Narrator Ari Fliakos elevates this ambitious novel with the kind of performance that makes each and every character feel fully and uniquely formed – an amazing feat for a solo narrator. If you haven’t listened to The Nix yet, we highly recommend it – our Audiobook of the Year – plus all of the other standouts of 2016 highlighted below. – The Audible Editor


*****
And, what can I say about the mysteries? I’m delighted with the top pick. And, I’m sure others will be equally interested in the other mysteries selected as top audiobooks in the genre.

Mysteries & Thrillers: A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny


It’s unusual for a book so deep into an established series to even be considered a top pick in any category. But what Louise Penny has accomplished with her Chief Inspector Gamache/Three Pines series is nothing short of spectacular. She has managed to grow in listenership with every new book, the series has survived and thrived after its original and beloved narrator, Ralph Cosham, passed away, and the characters and plots just seem to get better with every new installment. The only “formula” here is to continue producing compelling mysteries that keep you guessing until the bitter end, stay true to and continue to develop the characters fans have become attached to, and to never rest on your laurels. Penny, along with the new series-narrator, Robert Bathurst, are simply class acts and masters in their field.

Finalists in Mysteries & Thrillers
Orphan X
By Gregg Hurwitz
Narrated By Scott Brick Orphan X Audiobook by Gregg Hurwitz Narrated by Scott Brick
Evan Smoak is a man with skills, resources, and a personal mission to help those with nowhere else to turn. He’s also a man with a dangerous past. Chosen as a child, he was raised and trained as part of the off-the-books black box Orphan program, designed to create the perfect deniable intelligence assets – i.e. assassins. He was Orphan X. Evan broke with the program, using everything he learned to disappear.
A.Musser says:  “An Excellent Distraction”


Before the FallBefore the Fall Audiobook by Noah Hawley Narrated by Robert Petkoff
By Noah Hawley
Narrated By Robert Petkoff
On a foggy summer night, 11 people – 10 privileged, one down-on-his-luck painter – depart Martha’s Vineyard on a private jet headed for New York. Sixteen minutes later the unthinkable happens: The plane plunges into the ocean. The only survivors are Scott Burroughs – the painter – and a four-year-old boy who is now the last remaining member of an immensely wealthy and powerful media mogul’s family.
C. Vincent says:“Wow!! Robert Petkoff is remarkable!”


Behind Closed DoorsBehind Closed Doors Audiobook by B. A. Paris Narrated by Georgia Maguire
By B. A. Paris
Narrated By Georgia Maguire
Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He’s a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she is a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disabled younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You might not want to like them, but you do. You’re hopelessly charmed by the ease and comfort of their home, by the graciousness of the dinner parties they throw. You’d like to get to know Grace better.

Andre M. Gorelkin says:“Slow start but a gripping experience”



The One Man: A NovelThe One Man: A Novel Audiobook by Andrew Gross Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini
By Andrew Gross
Narrated By Edoardo Ballerini
It’s 1944. Physics professor Alfred Mendel and his family are trying to flee Paris when they are caught and forced onto a train along with thousands of other Jewish families. At the other end of the long, torturous train ride, Alfred is separated from his family and sent to the men’s camp, where all of his belongings are tossed on a roaring fire. His books, his papers, his life’s work. The Nazis have no idea what they have just destroyed. And without that physical record, Alfred is one of only two people in the world with his particular knowledge.

Richard Delman says:“You gotta have a STRONG stomach.”


Congratulations to all the authors, narrators, and the readers who are lucky enough to listen to these audiobooks.


4 Comments

  1. Grace Koshida
    Grace Koshida on December 13, 2016 at 1:46 pm

    Thanks, Lesa for providing this 2016 list of top Audible books. I so rarely read the same title as a print and audio book (no time!) but some of these may be worth trying for me (Gamache and Orphan X).

    Reply
  2. SandyG265
    SandyG265 on December 13, 2016 at 3:06 pm

    We listened to The One Man. It was a good book but not an easy one to listen to.

    Reply
  3. Lesa
    Lesa on December 13, 2016 at 4:59 pm

    I know, Grace. And, I always read Louise Penny's books to savor every word.

    Reply
  4. Lesa
    Lesa on December 13, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    I have a hard time with audios because I can't go back. But, Sandie uses them a lot, so she's the best one to keep on top of news.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *