Waiting on Wednesday – The Waiting by Michael Connelly

On March 13, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Murder Mystery, Waiting on Wednesday10 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I check out one of my most anticipated crime fiction reads of 2024 with The Waiting by Michael Connelly.

The Waiting Cover

Over the last few years, I have become a pretty major fan of acclaimed crime fiction author Michael Connelly, whose books usually end up being amongst my favourite reads each year. Known for his ability to create iconic characters and elaborate narratives across the crime fiction subgenres, Connelly dominated the genre for decades, for a very good reason. I have had a wonderful time with some of his most recent books including, the Jack McEvoy novel Fair Warning (one of my favourite books of 2020) and the Mickey Haller books, The Law of Innocence and Resurrection Walk (one of my favourite books of 2023). However, some of his best recent work has been centred around his key female protagonist, Renée Ballard.

A tough, intelligent detective in the LAPD introduced in the 2017 novel, The Late Show, Ballard has been featured in several books which combine intriguing cases with a powerful focus on the protagonist’s battles with sexism and opposition from the LAPD top brass. Her more recent novels have seen Ballard team up with Connelly’s iconic protagonist, Harry Bosch, and the two prove to be an intriguing pair, especially in excellent books like Dark Sacred Night, The Night Fire (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2019), The Dark Hours (one of my favourite books of 2021) and Desert Star (one of my favourite books of 2022). Each of these Ballard focused novels have been pretty exceptional, and I have been excited to see what was next for this compelling protagonist in the future. Luckily, we will be getting another addition to this series in November 2024 when Connelly releases his new book, The Waiting.

Set to primarily follow Ballard as she continues her work in the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit, The Waiting has an intriguing plot behind it as the protagonist investigates several compelling cases. It also features a double hit of Bosch, as Conelly features both Harry and his daughter Maddie in this cool book. I’m actually really looking forward to seeing Maddie Bosch as the focus of one of Conelly’s novels, especially considering how she is featured in the Bosch: Legacy television series.

All three cases highlighted below in the plot synopsis sound very exciting, and I look forward to getting an elaborate cold case investigation, which should make for some great reading when combined with the present-day issues. Throw in the unique partnership between Ballard and Harry Bosch, as well as the mentor role Ballard will form with Maddie, and this should be a pretty powerful and character-focused book. I have no doubt that I am going to absolutely love The Waiting when it comes out, and this will probably be one of my favourite novels of the year. An exceptional sounding upcoming book from one of the very best crime fiction authors!

Plot Synopsis:

LAPD Detective Renée Ballard tracks a terrifying serial rapist whose trail has gone cold, with the help of the newest volunteer to the Open-Unsolved Unit: Patrol Officer Maddie Bosch, Harry’s daughter.

Renée Ballard and the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit get a hot shot DNA connection between a recently arrested man and a serial rapist and murderer who went quiet twenty years ago. The arrested man is only twenty-three, so the genetic link must be familial. It is his father who was the Pillowcase Rapist, responsible for a five-year reign of terror in the city of angels. But when Ballard and her team move in on their suspect, they encounter a baffling web of secrets and legal hurdles.

Meanwhile, Ballard’s badge, gun, and ID are stolen—a theft she can’t report without giving her enemies in the department the ammunition they need to end her career as a detective. She works the burglary alone, but her solo mission leads her into greater danger than she anticipates. She has no choice but to go outside the department for help, and that leads her to the door of Harry Bosch.

Finally, Ballard takes on a new volunteer to the cold case unit. Bosch’s daughter Maddie wants to supplement her work as a patrol officer on the night beat by investigating cases with Ballard. But Renée soon learns that Maddie has an ulterior motive for getting access to the city’s library of lost souls.

Top Ten Tuesday – Book with Plant/Nature Themed Titles

On February 27, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn List7 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. In this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants are tasked with listing their favourite books that have either covers or titles with things found in nature, be that plant, trees, animals, woodland features, or bodies of water. Since I’ve done a few lists with similar topics in the past, I decided to place a bit of a handicap on myself and focus this list entirely on books with plant themed titles. This resulted in an interesting list filled with some great books that I had an awesome time reading.

To qualify for this list, the book had to have some form of plant related word or theme in its title, such as trees, flowers, or other plant terms. I made sure to especially focus on those titles where the plant reference had some relevance to the plot of the book, as that made their inclusion even more important. This proved to be a bit of a hard list to come up with as I apparently have not read as many books that featured plants in the title as I had hoped. However, I was eventually able to come up with ten excellent books to include on this list, including a few releases from some of my favourite authors. So let us see what has made the cut.

Top Ten Tuesday:

Silverthorn by Raymond E. Feist

Let’s start this list off with a true classic, Silverthorn by Raymond E. Feist. The sequel to Feist’s iconic debut novel, Magician, Silverthorn is a complex and powerful read that masterfully continues the great story started in the first book. The title, Silverthorn, refers to a magical plant which the protagonists need to find to save a princess from dying. An amazing read and a great first entry to this list.

The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks

An outstanding piece of Warhammer 40,000 fiction that saw a legendary figure return when humanity needs him most. The forest featured in the title has some interesting and symbolic implications on the plot, and I was glad I got to feature this book on this list.

Desert Star by Michael Connelly

One of the latest books from legendary crime fiction author Michael Connelly, Desert Star is an outstanding later addition to his Ballard and Bosch combo series, that followed two of his best detective characters as they investigate several cold cases. Desert Star refers to the flower of the same name, which appears near the desert graves of the book’s victims, which makes it a pretty killer title.

Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry

One of the first books I thought of when I came up with this list was Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry. The sequel to the epic dark fantasy novel Kagen the Damned, Son of the Poison Rose was an outstanding book, loaded with action, revenge and some truly dark moments. A highly recommended read with a compelling title behind it.

The Grove of the Caesars by Lindsey Davis

I just had to include The Grove of the Caesars by Lindsey Davis on this list. An outstanding part of the Flavia Albia historical murder mystery series, The Grove of the Caesars had a gripping plot about a series of murders taking place in the titular grove. This was one of Davis’ best mysteries, and I loved how well she explored the historical grove and featured it within the novel.

Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter by Stan Sakai

A particularly impressive entry in the always amazing Usagi Yojimbo comic series. Grasscutter is a major volume, that sees various figures from the Usagi Yojimbo world fight over the legendary lost royal sword, Grasscutter. I’m slightly cheating here by including the name of a sword rather than a specific plant, however, I feel that it should count, especially considering how the sword got its iconic name.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

A classic and powerful fantasy novel with a unique title. I am sure that many fantasy fans are featuring The Priory of the Orange Tree on their lists this week.

The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman

One of the latest books I’ve read that was eligible for this list. The Ghost Orchid was the most recent Alex Delaware novel by Jonathan Kellerman and featured a brilliant and complex murder mystery plot. The ghost orchid referenced in the title had some interesting and symbolic implications on the plot, and it proved to be a great inclusion for this list.

Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames

An awesome fantasy novel I had the pleasure of reading a few years ago, Bloody Rose is a pretty damn epic book about a group of celebrity mercenaries.

The Lion and the Rose by Kate Quinn

The final book on this list is the compelling historical fiction novel, The Lion and the Rose by Kate Quinn. Another book that features the rose in its title, The Lion and the Rose was a gripping read that followed members of the infamous Borgia family, and the people who got caught up in their schemes. An exceptional read and a fantastic inclusion for this list.

Well, that’s the end of this list. As you can see, I have read some pretty amazing books that feature plants or plant references in their titles. All the above books come highly recommended, and I really appreciate how well their plant themed titles perfectly reflect key elements of the books. Make sure to let me know what your favourite book with a plant title is in the comments below.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Books of 2023

On January 2, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn List88 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. As we roll into the new year I am going to list my absolute favourite books of 2023, which is something I look forward to every year. This is a continuation of several lists that highlighted the authors and books I have been most impressed with this year. Previous lists for last year included my favourite pre-2023 novels, and my favourite audiobooks, sequels and new-to-me authors of 2023. However, this list here is the big one as it covers my absolute favourite releases of the year, of which there are quite a few.

I think we can all agree that 2023 has been another roller-coaster year for the world, but thankfully readers got a bit of solace as this was an amazing year for books, with a huge range of incredible releases coming out across the genres. Not only did several outstanding new series start but we had some exceptional debuts, and some big continuations of established works. I have had an amazing time reading or listening to some outstanding books this year and quite a few releases have become instant favourites. I must admit that I somewhat struggled to pull this list together, as there were so many books that deserved to be mentioned. Therefore, because I am a very soft touch, and because the quality of the books I read this year was so impressive, I have decided to expand this list out to 20 entries (just like I have the last four years). These 20 books are my absolute favourites from 2023, and I would strongly recommend every one of them to anyone interested in a great read.

To make it onto this list a book only needed to be released here in Australia during 2023. I have naturally excluded anything I have not read yet, even though there were quite a few awesome-sounding books I sadly didn’t squeeze into my reading schedule. I decided to leave off my usual Honourable Mentions section as the extra 10 entries make it unnecessary. There will be a bit of crossover between the below entries and some of my previous lists. For example, several of these novels appeared on my Top Ten Favourite Audiobooks of 2023 list and my Top Ten Favourite Books from the First Half of 2023 list, which I ran back into July. Overall though, I am very happy with how this Top 20 list turned out and I think it contains a pretty good range of novels that showcase the different types of books that I chose to read this year. So without further ado, here is the list.

Top Twenty List (no particular order):

City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky

City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds Covers

For my first entry, I am doing a double entry with the first two books in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s The Tyrant Philosopher’s series. City of Last Chances was technically released late 2022 but I am including it here because I only got it in Australia earlier this year. Both books are exceptional fantasy novels set in a compelling world where a relentlessness army of anti-religious zealots are conquering everything. The first book, City of Last Chances, was an excellent character-focused novel set in an occupied city with several big personalities try to survive a turbulent period of revolution. House of Open Wounds is a loose sequel that follows one of the best protagonists from the first book as he gets drafted into an army hospital full of eccentric and forbidden healers. Both novels were outstanding, with a great blend of complex characters, intricate overlapping storylines and a subtle humour, and they make for a very worthy inclusion on this list.

Holly by Stephen King

Holly Cover

I had to feature one of my favourite horror novels on this list with the latest release from Stephen King, Holly. The latest story featuring one of King’s most distinctive protagonists, Holly Gibney (introduced in Mr Mercedes), Holly is an intense and gripping novel that sees the protagonist investigate a missing person’s case. However, the more she digs the more disturbing things get as she uncovers a pair of terrifying antagonists with a dark, dark secret. Honestly one of the best Stephen King novels I have so far read, Holly had me hooked the entire way through, especially as it features two of King’s most disturbing villains. Highly recommended, especially in its audiobook format narrated by Holly’s Mr Mercedes’ actor, Justine Lupe.

Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry

Son of the Poison Rose Cover

It was a very good year for fans of Jonathan Maberry as we got two amazing books from him, both of which feature on this list. This first of these, Son of the Poison Rose, was the sequel to Maberry’s first foray into fantasy fiction, Kagen the Damned (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022). This gritty and brutal read continued to see the protagonist attempt to get revenge on an evil empire and their Witch-king after they slaughtered the royal family he was sworn to protect. However, his enemy has some terrible weapons at their disposal, including zombies, unkillable magical constructs and much, much worse. An excellent inclusion to one of the darkest fantasy series out there, Son of the Poison Rose was an outstanding read that continues to showcase how good Maberry’s distinctive style works in the fantasy genre.

Burner by Mark Greaney

Burner Cover

Mark Greaney continues to impress with his outstanding Gray Man spy thriller series, the last several books of which have appeared on prior year’s versions of this list (including One Minute Out, Relentless and Sierra Six). This latest novel, Burner, sets Greaney’s lethal main protagonist and his conflicted former lover against a determined kill team, determined to keep Russia’s foreign influences secret. A powerful read that tastefully features contemporary conflicts, Burner was one of Greaney’s best books yet and I had an awesome time getting through it.

The Armour of Light by Ken Follett

The Armour of Light Cover

One of my favourite historical fiction authors continued to showcase his impressive writing ability this year with The Armour of Light. The latest book in Follet’s iconic Kingsbridge series (previous novels include The Evening and the Morning and A Column of Fire), The Armour of Light took the reader back to the start of the Industrial Revolution in England as the town of Kingsbridge struggles with the march on progress. Following a vast cast of colourful and complex characters, The Armour of Light was an outstanding and massive read that I powered through in no time at all. A five-star piece of historical fiction that comes highly recommended.

The Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence

The Book That Wouldn't Burn Cover

One of the most inventive and bold fantasy novels of 2023 was The Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence. Primarily set inside an impossibly large library in a unique fantasy location, The Book that Wouldn’t Burn follows two protagonists with very different experiences of the library as they try to discover its secrets. Impressive in its scope and creativity, The Book that Wouldn’t Burn was a brilliant read that perfectly starts a captivating new trilogy from one of fantasy fiction’s best authors.

Cave 13 by Jonathan Maberry

Cave 13 Cover

My second Maberry novel on this list is Cave 13, which continues the outrageous adventures of Maberry’s most iconic and mentally traumatised protagonist, Joe Ledger. The third book in the Rogue Team International sequel series, Cave 13 follows on from Rage (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2019) and Relentless (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021) and sees Ledger and his team of specialists investigate a new terrorism case involving high-tech weapons. Cave 13 has one of Maberry’s more creative stories, as the protagonists try to stop a deadly plot involving ancient magic, the Dead Sea Scrolls, a traumatising bio-weapon and nukes in the Middle East. Fast-paced, wildly brutal, and featuring a cast of intriguing, over-the-top characters, Cave 13 was an amazing addition to one of my favourite series and I had an epic time listening to it.

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

The Last Devil to Die Cover

One of the most moving, captivating and hilarious books of the year had to be the fourth Thursday Murder Club book by Richard Osman, The Last Devil to Die. Following on from Osman’s previous epic books, The Thursday Murder Club (one of the best books, debuts and audiobooks of 2020), The Man Who Died Twice and The Bullet that Missed, The Last Devil to Die follows four retirees who investigate the murder of a close friend. This latest entry had a fascinating case involving drug dealers, antiquities and other villains, all of whom are completely outclassed by four entertaining seniors. However, the best part of The Last Devil to Die was the outstanding characters, each of whom goes through their own emotional journeys in this series, which can be both extremely funny and brutally heartbreaking. One storyline in this book was particularly tragic and you will not be able to keep the tears from your eyes as you read it. One of the most moving, yet hopeful books of 2023, I cannot recommend this entire exceptional series enough.

Usagi Yojimbo: The Green Dragon by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo - Volume 38 - The Green Dragon Cover

The 38^th volume in my absolute favourite comic book series, The Green Dragon was another fantastic and beautiful addition to the Usagi Yojimbo series. Once again following Stan Sakai’s rabbit ronin through three more compelling adventures, The Green Dragon was an excellent addition to a creative and well-drawn series, and I read through this great volume the very second I got my hands on it.

Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead by K. J. Parker

Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead Cover

One of the funniest fantasy authors out there, K. J. Parker (who also writes as Tom Holt), had a ripper of a year, releasing several outstanding books. Parker, whose Siege series has been heavily featured on this list in the past with books like Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City, How to Rule an Empire and Get Away with It and A Practical Guide to Conquering the World, released a complete trilogy in the later half of 2023 with the Corax books. Following a battlefield looter with a complex past as he gets caught up in all manner of conflicts, the Corax series is an intriguing trilogy that combines some amazing comedy with Parker’s unique outlook on life and fantasy fiction. I have only had the chance to read the first book of this trilogy so far with Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead, and it was something very special, as the protagonist finds himself embroiled in an over-the-top situation with substantial implications for the entire world. I loved every second spent reading Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead and if I had been able to read the sequels (both of which are currently sitting on my shelf), I have no doubt they would be featured on this list as well.

The Last Kingdom by Steve Berry

The Last Kingdom (Steve Berry) Cover

I have been really impressed with Steve Berry’s long-running Cotton Malone thriller series in recent years, thanks to great books like The Malta Exchange, The Warsaw Protocol and The Kaiser’s Web, but his latest novel, The Last Kingdom, might be one of his best yet. Cleverly combining a modern-day spy thriller storyline with an intriguing historical conspiracy about an iconic king of Bavaria, The Last Kingdom really got the right balance of modern-day excitement and fascinating history. There is so much to love about this exciting and insightful book and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next upcoming entry of the series coming soon.

The Will of the Many by James Islington

The Will of the Many Cover

One of the best new fantasy authors I tried out in 2023 was James Islington who produced the outstanding novel, The Will of the Many, which has been topping all of my recent end-of-year lists. Following a runaway who is drafted into a war against an oppressive regime and forced to infiltrate their elite academy, The Will of the Many was pretty damn epic on a number of levels. Not only did it have an amazing magic school plot (something I am a big fan of), but it also featured some cool and unique fantasy elements while following a compelling protagonist. I was absolutely hooked the entire way through this impressive story and I cannot recommend this brilliant novel enough. I am really hopeful that we get a sequel this year, and I plan to read it the second it is released.

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect Cover

After wowing the world with his impressive 2022 Australian novel, Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, author Benjamin Stevenson provided an outstanding follow-up with Everyone on this Train is a Suspect. Amplifying the clever and hilarious homage to murder mystery classics by forcing the protagonist to participate in a mystery writer’s convention aboard Australia’s version of the Orient Express, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect lovingly made fun of many classic crime fiction sub-genres while also presenting the reader with a compelling new mystery. Featuring an excellent blend of suspense, misdirection and comedy, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect was an amazing sequel that had me laughing the entire way through as Stevenson has fun roasting his fellow crime fiction authors and enthusiasts.

The Fall of Cadia by Robert Rath

Warhammer 40,000 - The Fall of Cadia Cover

There were so many amazing Warhammer 40,000 novels released in 2023, but one of the absolute best was The Fall of Cadia by the very impressive Robert Rath. Rath, who previously wowed me with his other Warhammer novels, Assassinorum: Kingmaker and The Infinite and the Divine, attempted to novelise one of the biggest lore events from the Warhammer 40,000 canon. Featuring a ton of cinematic battles and larger-than-life characters, The Fall of Cadia had me riveted from start to finish, and I loved just how well Rath was able to capture this climatic event. One of my new favourite Warhammer 40,000 books, The Fall of Cadia was so damn epic in every way possible.

The Shadow Casket by Chris Wooding

The Shadow Casket Cover

After waiting years for a continuation to Chris Wooding’s epic fantasy novel, The Ember Blade, readers were finally gifted a sequel in 2023 with The Shadow Casket, which was everything we hoped it would be. Featuring a massive and elaborate tale of revolution, comradery and difficult decisions, The Shadow Casket set a disparate group of friends against an oppressive empire in an outstanding read. Featuring some amazing character arcs, compelling world building, and massive war sequences, The Shadow Casket was such a great read and one of the best fantasy novels of 2023. I loved The Shadow Casket so much, and my biggest disappointment about it is that we are probably going to have to wait a few years to get the third book.

Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly

Resurrection Walk Cover

One of the world’s best crime fiction authors, Michael Connelly, is an author who always manages to impress me, and several of his books, including The Night Fire, The Dark Hours, Desert Star and Fair Warning, have appeared on prior year’s version of this list. Therefore, it should be unsurprising that his latest novel, Resurrection Walk, also needs to be featured here, as it was one of the best books I read all year. A new addition to his Lincoln Lawyer series, Resurrection Walk was a wonderful legal thriller that saw two of Connelly’s best protagonists team up to get an innocent woman out of prison. Wildly entertaining and featuring a fascinating and unique legal case, Resurrection Walk was one of the better Connelly books I have so far enjoyed and I had such an exceptional time reading it.

Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly

Mr Einstein's Secretary Cover

An elaborate and compelling historical novel that followed a fictional secretary who was dragged into some of the biggest events of the early 20^th century. Mr Einstein’s Secretary was an exciting novel that saw Matthew Reilly tell a particularly unique historical tale of love, determination and sacrifice, which cleverly inserted his protagonist into the lives of several major historical figures as their secretaries. This novel had so many compelling elements to it, from the bold characters, intriguing historical details, and a curious writing style, that I ended up finishing Mr Einstein’s Secretary off in a single day. I absolutely loved this book and I had to feature it here as a result.

The Traitor by Anthony Ryan

The Traitor Cover

Anthony Ryan ended his outstanding Covenant of Steel trilogy in 2023 with The Traitor. Serving as an excellent conclusion to The Pariah and The Martyr, The Traitor saw Ryan’s complicated and scruffy scribe protagonist caught in the middle of a bloody civil war as his beloved risen martyr attempts to unite the country and force out all the evil she believes corrupts it. However, nothing is as it seems, and the protagonist soon finds himself trying to decide whether he is actually on the right side. Filled with heartbreak, treachery, and damaged characters trying to do the right thing, The Traitor was an epic and moving piece of fantasy fiction that I had such an amazing time getting through. An epic end to a particularly impressive fantasy trilogy.

The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks

The Lion - Son of the Forest Cover

Another amazing Warhammer 40,000 book I have to highlight on this list is The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks. A key piece of Warhammer 40,000 fiction that covers the return of a major lore figure, The Lion: Son of the Forest was a thoughtful and moving character-driven read loaded with symbolisms and intriguing takes on established pieces of Warhammer 40,000 history. I had an amazing time with this particularly strong piece of Warhammer fiction and Brooks really impressed me as an author in 2023.

Battle Song by Ian Ross

Battle Song Cover

The final book I want to highlight on this list is the exciting and compelling historical fiction read, Battle Song by Ian Ross. Following an ill-tempered knight and his unlucky squire as they become embroiled in a lesser-known English civil war, Battle Song was a powerful and compelling historical adventure that had me hooked the entire way through. Smart, intriguing, and full of fun action, Battle Song comes highly recommended, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel coming out in the next couple of months.

Well, those are my 20 favourite books of 2023. It turned out to be quite a good list in the end, and I am very glad that I was able to highlight so many fantastic books. 2024 is set to be another excellent year for amazing reads, and I will be examining some of my most anticipated books next week. In the meantime, let me know what your favourite books of 2023 were in the comments below, and make sure you all have a happy New Years.

Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly

On January 2, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Five-Star Books, Murder Mystery, Thriller9 Comments

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Australia (Trade Paperback – 31 October 2023)

Series: Mickey Haller/Lincoln Lawyer – Book Seven

Length: 407 pages

My Rating 5 out of 5 stars

Acclaimed crime fiction author Michael Connelly returns with another outstanding and captivating read, Resurrection Walk, a clever and impressive legal thriller featuring two of Connelly’s best characters.

Gosh it has been a very good few years for fans of crime fiction author Michael Connelly. Not only have we got two fantastic television adaptations currently going, but Connelly has been producing several great books across his multiple subseries. Most of these books were part of his Ballard and Bosch series, with excellent novels like Dark Sacred Night, The Night Fire (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2019), The Dark Hours (one of my favourite books of 2021) and Desert Star (one of my favourite books of 2022), and he has also released a cool book from his fantastic Jack McEvoy series with Fair Warning (one of my favourite books of 2020). Each of these novels has been excellent in its own way, but for the best Connelly fun nothing beats a Mickey Haller novel.

The Mickey Haller series, also known as the Lincoln Lawyer books, follow Mickey Haller, an infamous and effective defence attorney in L.A who got his nickname, “the Lincoln Lawyer” by working out of a Lincoln town car. Known for intricate cases, elaborate court scenes and fantastic legal shenanigans, the Mickey Haller books are always a ton of fun and I love both the books and its current television adaption. Connelly’s last Mickey Haller book came out in 2020 with The Law of Innocence, and I was very happy to find out that he was releasing a new one this year with Resurrection Walk. Resurrection Walk was one of my most anticipated books of 2023, especially as it featured a great plot and fantastic team-up between Haller and Connelly’s best-known protagonist, Harry Bosch.

Following a successful case that freed an innocent man from prison, defence attorney Mickey Haller has gotten a taste for hopeless cases and is now working on helping those unfairly convicted of crimes they didn’t commit. Hiring his half-brother, retired detective Harry Bosch to vet the various requests for help being sent to him, Haller hopes that he can do a little good alongside his usual controversial legal practice. However, the first case that Bosch picks might be the most dangerous.

Several years ago, Lucinda Sanz was accused of killing her sheriff’s deputy ex-husband in front of her house, a crime she always claimed she was innocent of. Reading through her case, Bosch is convinced that there is far more to the murder than the files indicate, especially when he discovers evidence that the victim was part of a notorious police gang. Convincing Haller to take on Lucinda’s case, the pair begin to investigate further and begin the process of having her conviction appealed.

However, proving Lucinda’s innocence is no easy task, especially with substantial evidence proclaiming her guilt, a police force closing ranks against them, and no new witnesses willing to come forward. Worse, there are many people who don’t want Lucinda’s case re-opened, and soon Bosch and Haller find themselves being threatened on all fronts. With determined legal opponents facing them in the court and dangerous foes waiting for them at home, can even the Haller-Bosch dream team uncover the truth and save their client?

Connelly does it again with an outstanding and deeply addictive read that had me hooked from the very beginning. Expertly bringing together two of his best characters into an intense and clever legal thriller, Resurrection Walk is an amazing book, and it was probably one of my favourite Connelly reads from the last few years.

Resurrection Walk has a brilliant story around it that sees the characters of Haller and Bosch teaming up to try and get an innocent woman out of prison. While billed as a Lincoln Lawyer novel, the plot of Resurrection Walk is split between Bosch and Haller, with both characters working on the case from their own unique perspectives. Connelly dives into the fantastic story of Resurrection Walk quickly, effectively setting up the primary case, while also including some intriguing minor side cases and the compelling personal issues of the two protagonists. While a couple of the side cases and adventures at the start of the book do seem a little unnecessary in the context of the main plot, I quite enjoyed them, and Connelly does tie a couple of them back into the story in some compelling ways.

The main plot itself is extremely fun as it cleverly builds on Haller and Bosch’s existing character arcs, while also presenting the reader with a unique case. Haller and Bosch working to free a woman who pled no contest to a murder charge was always going to be a recipe for success, and Connelly turns it into gold with his writing. The author breaks the story perfectly down the middle between Haller and Bosch, and the combination of an intriguing investigation arc and Haller’s entertaining legal manoeuvrings was a ton of fun. There were also some intriguing thriller elements as the two protagonists are targeted by parties interested in stopping their investigation, which really ensures the reader gets more invested in the story. The start of the book deals with the initial investigations into their client’s claims and coming up with a game plan for a potential appeal. This proved to be a fascinating and vital part of the book as it expertly introduced a lot of the salient points to the reader while also quickly indicating that there are a ton of anomalies at play.

I really liked that Connelly took his time getting to the trial, and it helped to set up anticipation for the legal shenanigans to come. The trial in question takes up most of the second half of the novel, and it proved to be the best part of the entire novel as it brings together a lot of the story threads that Connelly previously set up. By the time you get to it, the reader is pretty invested in Lucinda Sanz’s story of innocence, and you want to see her triumph over the system that oppressed her. It also helped that Connelly was presenting a unique legal case in this book as Haller goes federal and sues the State of California with a habeas petition to try and overturn his client’s decision to plead out a murder they were framed for. This results in a very different game plan for Haller, and the resulting trial goes in some very interesting directions. Connelly really keeps the reader on their feet during the trial, and there is a blazing back and forth between Haller and his opposition, especially when both start playing some dirty tricks. Both sides have victories and defeats, and I liked how Connelly kept the reader in constant suspense, as you were never certain which way the case was going to go. Haller of course puts in his typical over-the-top and unconventional legal strategies, which throws the case in some interesting directions and leaves the reader very entertained at times. It was especially fun when some of them backfire on him, and the reminder that the protagonist isn’t legally invulnerable was a great part of the plot.

Everything leads up to a big conclusion which wraps up the plot in an interesting way. While I liked elements of the finale, I did think that Connelly got there a little suddenly, and it kind of messed up the overall flow of the book. I also wasn’t the biggest fan of the fact that the major event that sealed the deal occurred outside of the courtroom, and I honestly would have preferred some form of elaborate legal tactic to save the day. Still, there are some great moments at the end, especially when Haller uses a few more tricks to make things go his way, minus some funny legal repercussions, but it was a generally satisfying ending that I deeply enjoyed.

Connelly did a wonderful job writing Resurrection Walk, and I loved how well he set out the story. I deeply appreciated how there was some real authenticity in the various legal elements of this book, from the unique trial, the boundless prep-work, and the other vital work involved in the process. Connelly also broaches some interesting concepts during the trial, including AI generated crime scene renderings, which was fascinating, even if it didn’t always go the way you hoped it would. This book has a wonderful pace to it, especially during the intense and moving trial sequences, and I loved how invested I got in events, including those associated with the main case, and the personal lives of the two dynamic protagonists. Connelly has a lot of experience of inserting his main protagonist, Harry Bosch, into other protagonists’ stories, and I think that he was a strong inclusion in Resurrection Walk as an equal protagonist to tell an outstanding story. There is an equal balance of storylines and actions between the two, and I deeply appreciated the different tenses that the author uses depending on who the perspective character is, especially as the first-person perspective is perfect for Haller and his ego, while the third-person perspective fits Bosch’s quieter personality better. This, and other elements, ensured Resurrection Walk’s narrative really popped, and Connelly amazing writing helped to turn this into an amazing read.

I mentioned how well the author switched between these two well-established protagonists, but Resurrection Walk also had some awesome character dynamics and arcs that added to the overall impact of the plot. Both Haller and Bosch have been going through some intriguing ongoing storylines for several of their last appearances, and it was great to see some resolution or continuation of it here. Haller, for example, has been trying to come to terms with what he wants to do as a lawyer as he has been having a certain amount of dissatisfaction with being a defence attorney for the city’s scum. Bosch, on the other hand, has been slowly (ever so slowly) dying of cancer for the last few books, and his work with Haller in Resurrection Walk is due to Haller getting him on his insurance. However, this raises even more issues for Bosch, as he, a former cop, is now working for a defence attorney, and he finds himself on the other end of the law process as a result. This results in some intriguing and tense interactions between the two protagonists, especially as these brothers have different interpretations of the law, and it was really fascinating to see them come at the same case from very different angles. Tension, inner drama, and other personal concerns added some excellent emotional weight to Resurrection Walk’s plot, and I really enjoyed seeing these protagonists in action, especially as there is a certain amount of respect gained between them as the case proceeds. The author handles both characters extremely well in Resurrection Walk, and while I am a little dissatisfied that Connelly seems to be backing away from Bosch being on death’s door (an experimental treatment is making him better), both of Connelly’s amazing and iconic protagonist have an amazing time in this book and their collaboration was pure gold.

Michael Connelly once again produces one of the best crime fiction books of the year with the exciting legal thriller Resurrection Walk. This is a captivating and powerful novel that combines a fascinating and intense legal case with two fan favourite characters to produce an exceptional and awesome read. I powered through Resurrection Walk in no time at all, and it ended up getting an easy five-star rating from me. One of my favourite books of the year, I cannot recommend the clever, moving, and highly addictive Resurrection Walk enough.

Book Haul – 4 December 2023

On December 4, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book HaulLeave a comment

I have been having an excellent couple of weeks for book, as I have been lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from some of my local publishers and from Netgalley. These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including some books that have the potential to be the top novels of 2023 and early 2024. I am extremely keen to check out all of the books below and they should make for some amazing reads.

Resurrection by Michael Connelly

Resurrection Walk Cover

I got Resurrection Walk a while ago but I haven’t had a chance to really highlight it on this blog yet. The cool and epic new book from Michael Connelly, Resurrection Walk sees the return of two of the author’s main protagonists and they solve a complex and intriguing case. I had a brilliant time already reading Resurrection Walk and I am hoping to get a review up for it soon.

Vendetta by Sarah Barrie

Vendetta Cover

I was also very happy to receive a copy of the new Sarah Barrie novel, Vendetta. The sequel to Barrie’s previous novels, Unforgiven and Retribution, Vendetta will see the series’ maverick protagonist go up against bikie gangs and revenge driven bombers in an excellent piece of Australian crime fiction. I have actually already started reading Vendetta and it is proving to be an excellent and captivating read.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

The Mystery Guest Cover

Another excellent book I recently picked up was the intriguing novel, The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose. The sequel to Prose’s unique debut, The Maid, The Mystery Guest will follow the author’s compelling protagonist as she finds herself involved in another murder at her hotel. I am hoping to read this book next and it should be quite a fun read.

Extinction by Douglas Preston

Extinction Cover

A fantastic novel from early 2024 that sees a brutal series of murders take place in an advanced biological zoo filled with resurrected creatures from prehistory. This book sounds so incredibly awesome, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

Dark Arena by Jack Beaumont

Dark Arena Cover

A compelling and impressive thriller that will serve as a sequel to Beaumont’s explosive debut, The Frenchman.

West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman

West Heart Kill Cover

One of the most intriguing books I recently received was the compelling debut, West Heart Kill. Marketed as a unique take on the murder mystery genre, West Heart Kill will apparently present a classic crime fiction scenario and completely turn it on its head. This sounds like such a fantastic read and I cannot wait to dive into it.

The Watch Maker’s Hand by Jeffery Deaver

The Watch Maker's Hand Cover

The latest intriguing Lincoln Rhyme thriller from Jeffery Deaver, this new awesome book will see Deaver’s protagonist attempt to stop a series of deadly attacks on New York City.

The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

The Christmas Guest Cover

A cool and twisty Christmas themed novella from the always impressive Peter Swanson.

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Bookshops & Bonedust Cover

After wowing the world with his beloved novel, Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree presents another cozy fantasy novel, this time a prequel set inside a second-hand bookshop. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading Legends & Lattes but I like the sound of Bookshops & Bonedust and I’m sure I will have fun with it.

The Wiregrass by Adrian Hyland

The Wiregrass Cover

The final book that I want to highlight in this book haul post is the cool sounding thriller, The Wiregrass, by bestselling author Adrian Hyland. This sounds like another excellent read and I look forward to diving into it.

Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post. As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in. Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

WWW Wednesday – 8 November 2023

On November 9, 2023November 13, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly (Trade Paperback)

Mr Einstein's Secretary Cover

I started the compelling historical novel, Mr Einstein’s Secretary this week and boy am I loving it. The latest book from acclaimed Australian author Matthew Reilly, Mr Einstein’s Secretary follows a young girl who lives through terrible times and becomes a spy, a traitor and the secretary to Einstein. I am about 100 pages in at the moment and cannot wait to see how this awesome novel turns out.

Warhammer 40,000: Creed: Ashes of Cadia by Jude Reid (Audiobook)

Creed - Ashes of Cadia Cover 2

I am still enjoying the latest Warhammer 40,000 novels, Creed: Ashes of Cadia by Jude Reid this week. I had hoped to have finished this audiobook by now, but I haven’t had as much listening time as I would have wanted. Despite that, Ashes of Cadia is proving to be an excellent read and I love the complex and action-packed story it contains as the daughter of a legendary war hero as she journeys back to the site of her father’s greatest failure, the fall of Cadia. I should finish this off in the next day or two and I cannot wait to see how it ends.

What did you recently finish reading?

Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly (Trade Paperback)

Resurrection Walk Cover

I had a wonderful time finishing off the excellent new Michael Connelly novel, Resurrection Walk this week. A Lincoln Lawyer novel that also features Connelly’s main protagonist Harry Bosch, Resurrection Walk was an exception book that sees the protagonists try to prove the innocence of several convicted felons. One of Connelly’s best recent books, I loved Resurrection Walk and I am hoping to get a review up for it soon.

The Defector by Chris Hadfield (Trade Paperback)

The Defector Cover

A compelling and fascinating thriller set during the Cold War from a talented author with some intriguing real-world insights.

The Girl from London by Olivia Spooner (Trade Paperback)

The Girl From London Cover

A moving and compelling historical drama that focuses on a unique World War II event.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Zero Days Since Last Incident by JE Rowney

Zero Days Since Last Incident Cover

I am hoping to quickly read the entertaining sounding thriller, Zero Days Since Last Incident in the next week. Following several ambitious office workers who get stuck on an island with murderous results, Zero Days Since Last Incident sounds pretty damn awesome and I can’t wait to check it out.

Murtagh by Christopher Paolini

Murtagh Cover

I am also hoping to dive into the new Christopher Paolini novel, Murtagh, in the next few days. The long-awaited sequel to his iconic Inheritance Cycle (a series I have a lot of love for), Murtagh is one of my most anticipated books for the second half of 2023 and I cannot wait to see how Paolini expands his awesome fantasy series.

That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

WWW Wednesday – 1 November 2023

On November 1, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 Comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading?

Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly (Trade Paperback)

Resurrection Walk Cover

I just started reading the excellent new Michael Connelly novel, Resurrection Walk. A Lincoln Lawyer novel that also features Connelly’s main protagonist Harry Bosch, Resurrection Walk is an awesome book that sees the protagonists try to prove the innocence of several convicted felons. An intriguing legal thriller that builds on Connelly’s impressive character work, Resurrection Walk is proving to be an incredible read and I cannot wait to see how everything comes together.

Warhammer 40,000: Creed: Ashes of Cadia by Jude Reid (Audiobook)

Creed - Ashes of Cadia Cover 2

I also just started listening to one of the latest Warhammer 40,000 novels, Creed: Ashes of Cadia by established Warhammer author Jude Reid. Following the daughter of a legendary war hero as she journeys back to the site of her father’s greatest failure, the fall of Cadia, Creed: Ashes of Cadia looks set to be an amazing novel with implications for the wider Warhammer 40,000 canon. I’ve made a bit of progress on this audiobook so far and I am hoping to have it knocked off by this time next week.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Armour of Light by Ken Follett (Hardcover)

The Armour of Light Cover

I managed to get through the new massive historical fiction novel from Ken Follett, The Armour of Light, a lot quicker than I thought I would, especially when I got caught up in its excellent story. Another compelling entry in Follett’s most iconic series, The Armour of Light had a brilliant and gripping story behind it, and this is one of the best historical fiction novels of 2023.

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher (Audiobook)

Ghost Story Cover

I also managed to finish off another Dresden Files novel this week with Ghost Story. One of the darker books in the entire series, Ghost Story was a brilliant listen and I deeply enjoying its complex and powerful story.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly

Mr Einstein's Secretary Cover

I am hoping to check out the awesome and compelling historical novel, Mr Einstein’s Secretary in the next week. The latest book from acclaimed Australian author Matthew Reilly, Mr Einstein’s Secretary promises to be a great read set around a unique historical figure, and I look forward to checking it out.

That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books on my Spring 2023 TBR

On September 12, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn List5 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official Top Ten Tuesday topic for this week was based around favourite character relationships, which, while interesting, isn’t something I felt I could contribute to. However, as we are already a couple of weeks into the Spring (Autumn for folks in the Northern Hemisphere), I decided to instead move up my quarterly post about the best upcoming books to read (TBR) for the following three months. This is a regular post I do at the start of each season, and I honestly should have pulled this together a couple of weeks ago.

For this list, I have come up with 10 of the most anticipated novels that are coming out between 1 September 2023 and 30 November 2023. There are quite a few very cool novels set for release in the next few months that I am extremely excited for, including some of my most anticipated book of the year (as well as my most anticipated fantasy/science fiction books of the year). Due to how impressive some of these upcoming books are, it took me a little while to finalise my list but I was eventually able to whittle it down into a Top Ten list (with a few honourable mentions). I have primarily used the Australian publication dates to reflect when I will be able to get these awesome novels, and these might be somewhat different to the rest of the world. I also excluded several awesome Spring releases that I have already read or started reading (such as Holly by Stephen King which I am nearly at the end of). I have previously discussed a number of these books before in prior Top Ten Tuesdays and Waiting on Wednesday articles and I think all of them will turn out to be pretty incredible reads. I have extremely excited for the next three months as quite a few up these upcoming reads are easily going to be amongst the best books of 2023.

Honourable Mentions:

Long Past Dues by James J. Butcher – 10 October 2023

Long Past Dues Cover

The Exchange by John Grisham – 17 October 2023

The Exchange Cover

The long-awaited sequel to Grisham’s iconic novel, The Firm, this should be a very interesting and compelling thriller.

The Shadow King by Harry Sidebottom – 9 November 2023

The Shadow King Cover

Vendetta by Sarah Barrie – 15 November 2023

Vendetta Cover

Top Ten Tuesday:

Code Red by Kyle Mills – 12 September 2023

Code Red Cover

The latest book in the iconic Mitch Rapp spy thriller series (originally written by Vince Flynn and currently authored by Kyle Mills), Code Red sounds like a very exciting and intense novel that I am hoping to read this week.

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman – 12 September 2023

The Last Devil to Die Cover

Filled with mystery, great characters and a wicked dose of humour, Richard Osman’s fourth Thursday Murder Club book, The Last Devil to Die, is going to be exceedingly awesome and so much fun to read.

The Armour of Light by Ken Follett – 26 September 2023

The Armour of Light Cover

An epic and massive historical fiction novel from the master of elaborate character-focused tales, Ken Follett.

Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead by K. J. Parker – 3 October 2023

Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead Cover

An intriguing and awesome upcoming fantasy comedy book that I know I am going to love, Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead will follow a battlefield looter as they experience all manner of trouble. Two sequels to Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead are also coming out in the next few months, but I think I will just highlight this first book for now.

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson – 17 October 2023

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect Cover

The fantastic sounding sequel to Stevenson’s hilarious and addictive 2022 Australian murder mystery, Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect sounds extremely amazing and should be one of the funniest and most compelling crime fiction novels of 2023.

Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly – 7 November 2023

Resurrection Walk Cover

Michael Connelly continues his entertaining and captivating Lincoln Lawyer series with Resurrection Walk, which sees the titular lawyer protagonist face off against a corrupt police force. An awesome legal thriller featuring several of Connelly’s best characters, this is going to be something very special.

Murtagh by Christopher Paolini – 7 November 2023

Murtagh Cover

Acclaimed author Christopher Paolini returns to the world of his original work, the Inheritance Cycle, with a new standalone novel focused on the amazing character of Murtagh. Set to follow this conflicted and hated dragon rider as he encounters a new dangerous threat, this will be an awesome book and I am very excited to finally have a continuation of one of my favourite series.

Rebellion by Simon Scarrow – 14 November 2023

Rebellion Cover

The always exciting Simon Scarrow continues his excellent Eagles of the Empire series with the fantastic sounding Rebellion. Set to follow the brutal battles of Boudica’s uprising, Rebellion looks set to be an outstanding addition to this already epic series.

Defiant by Brandon Sanderson – 21 November 2023

Defiant Cover

Sanderson brings his fantastic Skyward series to an end with the fourth book Defiant. Following on from previous epic reads, Skyward, Starsight and Cytonic, Defiant should be pretty damn exceptional and I am eager to see how Sanderson brings everything to an end.

Kill Your Husbands by Jack Heath – 28 November 2023

Kill Your Husbands Cover

The final book I want to highlight on this list is the awesome upcoming Australian crime fiction novel, Kill Your Husbands. The sequel to author’s previous fantastic read, Kill Your Brother, Kill Your Husbands will feature a unique murder scenario with a twisted web of lies, deceit and intriguing characters surrounding it, and I cannot wait to read it.

Well, that is the end of my Top Ten list. I think it turned out pretty well and it does a good job of capturing all my most anticipated books for the next three months. Each of the above should be extremely epic, and I cannot wait to read each of them soon. Let me know which of the above you are most excited for and stay tuned for reviews of them in the next few months. In the meantime, it looks like I have quite a few books to get through soon and they should all be pretty awesome.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Audiobooks with Special Narrators

On August 22, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn Audiobook, List6 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants get a freebie list that they can build around a specific genre. As such, I’m going to go back to my favourite format for enjoying all things fiction and craft a list around audiobooks, which fans of this blog will know I have a major liking for. In particular, I am going to look at those very awesome audiobooks that make excellent use of a special narrator.

All audiobook fans know that the one thing that can make or break an audiobook is the narrator. A talented narrator with a great voice can turn any book into something spectacular, while a bad narrator can tank even the very best story. In some very awesome cases, the audiobook’s producers manage to get their hands on someone particularly special to narrate their product for them, and this usually works out to be pretty damn epic. Now, when I talk about special narrators, I’m talking about either major celebrities, or someone who already has a significant connection with the book/franchise, and whose inclusion ensures that the listener can really get absorbed into the resultant audiobook. I have had the very great pleasure of listening to several amazing examples of these special narrators turning already epic books into first-class listens, and I thought this would be a fantastic time to highlight them here.

To appear on this list, the audiobook had to feature the voice of a celebrity or an actor best known from another media, and whose inclusion as a narrator was particularly significant. I chose to exclude a couple major audiobook productions that went out of their way to get a ton of celebrity voices, such as World War Z or The Sandman, mainly because they recently appeared on another Top Ten List, but also because that felt a little like cheating. Despite this, I still had a good collection of first-rate audiobooks that featured very special narrators. All these epic and unique narrators helped to deeply enhance the audiobook they lent their voices to, and I would strongly recommend the resulting products as a result. So let’s see who made the cut.

Honourable Mentions:

The Law, written and narrated by Jim Butcher

It often doesn’t work when an author narrates their own audiobook, especially if their series is already well known for having an excellent narrator, but I felt Jim Butcher did a pretty good job voicing his most iconic character in this audio adaptation of The Law novella.

The Padmé Trilogy, written by E. K. Johnston, narrated by Catherine Taber

The Padmé trilogy of Star Wars novels was an intriguing young adult series that worked to expand on the story of Padmé Amidala from the prequel trilogy. Now, while this series from E. K. Johnston, made up of Queen’s Shadow, Queen’s Peril and Queen’s Hope, is quite good in its own way, the audiobook versions are deeply enhanced by the inclusion of narrator Catherine Taber, the voice of Padmé from The Clone Wars animated series. Taber really brings this iconic character to life again in this new format, and her voice work deeply enhances this fantastic read.

The Night Fire, written by Michael Connelly and narrated by Titus Welliver and Christine Lakin

The audiobook versions of Michael Conelly’s books are usually pretty damn awesome, but I had a particularly good time with The Night Fire, mainly because it had a great voice cast behind it. While Christine Lakin does an excellent job, for the purposes of this list I am mainly highlighting the inclusion of Titus Welliver, who plays the character of Harry Bosche in the Bosche television series. His use as a narrator here is brilliant, and I loved the continuity in these latest audiobooks.

The Final Girl Support Group, written by Grady Hendrix and narrated by Adrienne King

Grady Hendrix’s outstanding horror thriller, The Final Girl Support Group, featured a ton of amazing homages to classic slasher films, but its best is probably the inclusion of Adrienne King as the audiobook narrator. King, who is best known for her role as the final girl in the original Friday the 13^th film was an inspired choice for narrator, and I loved the added authenticity her performance gave this fantastic audiobook.

Top Ten Tuesday:

The Lord of the Rings, written by J. R. R. Tolkien and narrated by Andy Serkis

Let’s start with a true classic and focus on the latest The Lord of the Rings audiobooks. While The Lord of the Rings books are always pretty damn awesome, these new audiobooks are further enhanced by the inclusion of legendary actor Andy Serkis as narrator. Serkis gives a 110% performance in these audiobooks, gifting wonderful voices to all the characters, not just Gollum, and even trying to emulate the voices of fellow Lord of the Rings film cast members. His exceptional voice work and elaborate performance greatly enhances these amazing audiobooks, and The Unseen Library strongly recommends this format as a result.

Dresden Files audiobooks, written by Jim Butcher and narrated by James Marsters

I doubt anyone familiar with my blog will be too surprised that I am featuring the Dresden Files audiobooks on this list. I have had such an epic time with this series over the last few years, and part of the reason why is because each of the audiobooks is narrated by actor James Marsters, who I have been a huge fan of since Buffy the Vampire Slayer first came out. Marsters is such a talented narrator, and he really dives into the various characters featured in the Dresden Files books, including series protagonist Harry Dresden. The actor’s fun and emotional take on the protagonist really makes these audiobooks come to life, and every single one of them that I have listened to, including Storm Front, Fool Moon, Grave Peril, Summer Knight, Death Masks, Blood Rites, Dead Beat, Proven Guilty, White Night and Battle Ground, are so much better with Marsters’ expert narration. I cannot recommend this audiobook series enough as a result, and Marsters will make you fall in love with this exceptional urban fantasy series.

Welcome to Night Vale and It Devours!, written by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, narrated by Cecil Baldwin

Another series I have to recommend thanks to my Guest Review section are the fantastic Welcome to Night Vale audiobooks. Welcome to Night Vale is a beloved and weird sci-fi podcast that has been ongoing for several years now, picking up a dedicated following. As part of this, the creators have also written several books, including Welcome to Night Vale and It Devours!, which provide some extra fun insight into this crazy series. The audiobook versions of these novels are particularly fun because they are narrated by Cecil Baldwin, who serves as one of the main voices of the Welcome to Night Vale podcast. While I haven’t personally listened to these books, my editor and occasional contributor Alex swears by them and I had to include them on this list as a result. Alex really loved Baldwin’s voicework in these two audiobooks and she assures me that his inclusion as narrator ensures that these are required listening for all fans of this iconic podcast.

The Thursday Murder Club and The Man Who Died Twice, written by Richard Osman and narrated by Lesley Manville

I have a lot of love for Richard Osman’s first two Thursday Murder Club novels, especially in their audiobook format. That is because the awesome narration of actress Lesley Manville is so damn exceptional and she gives perfect voices to all the great cast members. Manville really showcases her vocal skills in these first two books, and thanks to her outstanding narration, The Thursday Murder Club and The Man Who Died Twice both ended up being amongst my favourite audiobooks of 2020 and 2021 respectfully.

Sylvanas, written by Christie Golden and narrated by Patty Mattson

There are some pretty awesome Warcraft/World of Warcraft audiobooks out there, but probably one of the best in terms of narration has to be last year’s outstanding listen, Sylvanas. Not only does Sylvanas have a great story behind it that examines one of the most complex characters in the Warcraft cannon, but the production team sought to bring some major authenticity and power to the audiobook version by utilising voice actor Patty Mattson as narrator. Mattson is probably best known for voicing Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft, so her inclusion here as narrator is an epic choice, as she already embodies the book’s main character/narrator perfectly. Having Sylvanas’ story told to you in her own voice is so damn cool, and it turns this audiobook into an epic listen, especially for dedicated Warcraft fans.

The Salvage Crew, written by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne and narrated by Nathan Fillion

I must admit that one of the main reasons that I originally listened to the compelling and freaky science fiction audiobook, The Salvage Crew, was because it featured Nathan Fillion as narrator. Fillion, who voices the machine protagonist, unsurprisingly does an amazing job in The Salvage Crew, and his silky tones really drag you into this elaborate tale. While I did deeply enjoy Wijeratne’s clever writing, I doubt I would have checked it out without Fillion, who really does an amazing job as a narrator.

Redshirts, written by John Scalzi and narrated by Wil Wheaton

Redshirts by amazing author John Scalzi is a hilarious and exceedingly clever parody/homage to the classic Star Trek series that shows the perspective of the doomed redshirts who are highly aware of their lack of survivability. I have a lot of love for this novel, and the audiobook is particularly cool, especially because they chose the perfect narrator for it, with Star Trek: The Next Generation star, Wil Wheaton. Wheaton has a lot of fun narrating this outstanding book, and there is something particularly fun having an iconic cast member reading this a clever Star Trek parody. I was laughing myself silly the entire time I was listening to this book, and I doubt I would have had as much fun without Wheaton’s fantastic inclusion.

Star Wars: Ahsoka, written by E. K. Johnston and narrated by Ashley Eckstein

With the Ahsoka television series starting up tomorrow night, I definelty needed to highlight an awesome audiobook from a few years ago that makes perfect use of a special narrator. This audiobook is Ahsoka by E. K. Johnston and it features the excellent voice work of Ashley Eckstein, who is the definitive Ahsoka for The Clone Wars fans. This novel follows the character in the immediate aftermath of Revenge of the Sith and Eckstein unsurprisingly kills it, showcasing her impressive vocal range while also telling a unique Ahsoka tale that only she can.

The Bullet That Missed, written by Richard Osman and narrated by Fiona Shaw

Now I am slightly cheating here by including the third Thursday Murder Club novel, The Bullet That Missed, separately on this list, but I’m justifying it because it features a different special narrator. The Bullet That Missed was a particularly impressive entry in this great series, and I made sure to grab the audiobook version as soon as possible. While I was initially disappointed that Leslie Manville wasn’t returning, I swiftly got over that the moment I found of Fiona Shaw of Harry Potter, Andor and Killing Eve fame was replacing her. Shaw also does an exceptional job narrating this novel and while she does emulate Manville in places, Shaw really puts her own spin on the narration, producing an exceptional listen. I really loved how Shaw effortless stepped in for this third book and her narration deeply enhances some of the best elements of The Bullet That Missed, including the pure Britishness of the story. I am very happy that Shaw will be returning for the upcoming Thursday Murder Club book, The Last Devil To Die, and I cannot wait to hear her bring this new novel to life.

The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line, written by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham and narrated by Kristen Bell

The final audiobook I want to highlight is the awesome Veronica Mars tie-in novel, The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line, which is set after the Veronica Mars film. While I really did enjoy the clever mystery, intense personal story and intriguing expansion of the Veronica Mars mythos it contained, the true highlight of this audiobook has to be the fact that they get Kristen Bell to narrate it. Bell obviously has no problem bringing this elaborate Veronica Mars story to life and her narration is exceedingly impressive, cleverly capturing not only her own character, but several other figures from the show. This is probably one of my favourite pieces of tie-in media and Bell’s amazing narration is a key reason for this.

That’s my latest list. As you can see, I have had the pleasure of listening to several outstanding audiobooks that feature some brilliant and distinctive special narrators. All 10 entries above come very highly recommended and you are guaranteed to love all of them, especially with their outstanding narrators.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Audiobooks with Multiple Narrators

On August 9, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn Audiobook, List5 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic of this week’s Top Ten Tuesday looked at books participants have read or wanted to read because of other Top Ten Tuesday posts. While this is a very interesting topic, it’s not one that I felt I could really participate in. However, I did have a couple of audiobook-focused lists I’d been cooking up in the background, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to post one here.

My list for this week revolves around audiobooks with multiple narrators. Now fans of my blog will be well aware that I am a massive fan of the audiobook format, and I honestly find it the best way to enjoy a range of cool novels and series. I have so much love for audiobooks, and a great narrator can exceptionally increase how much I enjoy an epic book. In some particularly awesome cases, the audiobook format can feature more than one narrator, and that is what I want to focus this list on. I have had the pleasure of listening to some very impressive audiobooks that feature a large cast of voice actors and frankly the range of voices and talents involved can add an even greater layer of awesomeness to the proceedings. As such, I thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to highlight some of the very vest multi-narrator audiobooks I have listened to so far.

To appear on this list, the audiobook in question had to have two or more narrators attached to it, with the second narrator having more than a cameo appearance to it. I actually had quite a few options to include here, but I was eventually able to whittle it down to a satisfying top-ten list, with my typical generous honourable mentions section as well. I think this list came up pretty well, and I really liked some of the books I selected. All the below choices come very highly recommended on audiobook, and their great collection of narrators ensured that this format was particularly epic.

Honourable Mentions:

Caves of Ice, written by Sandy Mitchell and narrated by Stephen Perring, Penelope Rawlins and Emma Gregory

Dredge Runners, written by Alec Worley and narrated by Jon Rand, Paul Putner, Emma Noakes, Kelly Hotten, David Seddon and Andrew James Spooner

Dark Sacred Night, written by Michael Connelly narrated by Titus Welliver and Christine Lakin

The Battle For Jedha, written by George Mann and performed by a full cast

Top Ten Tuesdsay:

For the Emperor, written by Sandy Mitchell and narrated by Stephen Perring, Penelope Rawlins and Emma Gregory

Let us start off with one of my favourite Warhammer 40,000 audiobooks, For the Emperor by Sandy Mitchell. The first book in the acclaimed and hilarious Ciaphas Cain series, For the Emperor is a very entertaining novel that follows the exploits of a cowardly Commissar who has managed to convince everyone that he’s a brilliant war hero. This is an extremely funny read, and it’s audiobook version is greatly enhanced by the use of its three narrators, Stephen Perring, Penelope Rawlins and Emma Gregory. All three narrators are extremely good in their roles, and I love how they split the load, with Perring voicing much of the main story, Rawlins voicing hilarious notes from an outside observer, and Gregory voicing several intentionally badly written book excerpts in an over-the-top manner. This unique narration works extremely well and you will fall down laughing as a result. This cast (with a few more additions), lend their voices to the entire Ciaphas Cian series, and I look forward to checking out more entries in this series in the future, especially with this brilliant cast behind it.

The Sandman, written by Neil Gaiman and narrated by a full cast

I had to include the first epic audio adaptation of the iconic Sandman comic here on this list, as it is a particularly exceptional listen. This adaptation features a massive and highly talented voice cast to bring Gaiman’s elaborate story to life, including a cool mixture of celebrities and professional voice actors, who mesh extremely well together to tell a brilliant story. Celebrities, including James McAvoy, Kat Dennings, Taron Egerton, Andy Serkis, Michael Sheen and Riz Ahmed, as well as iconic audiobook narrators like Ray Porter, do an exceptional job bringing their characters to life, and in some cases they are even better than the live-action cast from the Netflix show. I absolutely flew through this adaptation, and the sheer range of great voices involved is so damn epic you won’t be able to turn it off.

World War Z, written by Max Brooks and narrated by a full cast

Another massive audiobook production that benefits incredibly from an extensive celebrity cast is the adaptation of the awesome zombie novel, World War Z. This large cast works extremely well to bring Brooks’ interview-style story to life, as they each take on the role of a specific character being interviewed. With Brooks acting as the interviewer, each of these actors tell their character’s specific story of the zombie apocalypse in impressive fashion, diving into their charaters and telling their terrifying tales. Honestly all 30+ actors do an incredible job here, but some of the standouts include Alfred Molina as former astronaut (with a decent Australian accent), Alan Alda as a business strategist, Masi Oka as a Japanese otaku who is totally unprepared for the zombies, and Rob Reiner and an almost unrecognisable Simon Pegg as politicians. However, my favourite is easily Mark Hamill, who has several of the best chapters as a jaded former solider caught up in the very worst moments of the war. This cast is just exceptional, and their use in this audiobook turns this into a first-class listen.

Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet of the Waagh!, written by Nate Crowley and narrated by Kelly Hotten, Paul Putner and Jon Rand

One Warhammer 40,000 audiobook that particularly benefitted from multiple narrators was the impressive and exceedingly fun Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet of the Waagh!. Featuring a fantastic story that dives into the origins of a legendary figure in Warhammer 40,000 lore, this audiobook featured three talented narrators, Kelly Hotten, Paul Putner and Jon Rand. These three narrators switched throughout the book, depending on which unique figure was the perspective character for that chapter. This worked to really immerse the listener in the clever, multi-tiered narrative, and I had an awesome time listening to Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet of the Waagh! as a result. This was one of my favourite books and audiobooks from 2022 and this fantastic narration is a very strong reason for that.

Doctor Aphra, written by Sarah Kuhn and narrated by a full cast

One thing that Star Wars fiction excels at it is producing high quality and addictive audiobook versions of their novels. This is particularly true for their audio exclusive productions that feature huge casts of talented audiobook narrators, many of whom have lent their voices to previous Star Wars audiobooks. One of the best was probably the impressive Doctor Aphra audio production, which served as a very clever and funny adaptation of several fantastic Star Wars comics. I had an absolute blast with this production and the sheer range of cool voices that were featured throughout really enhanced the clever storytelling and witty humour. While there were several distinctive narrators for this production, the standout was probably Emily Woo Zeller, who voiced the titular protagonist and provided a perfect and fantastic take on the opportunistic archaeologist. A must listen for all Star Wars fans, especially if you’ve had the pleasure of reading the Doctor Aphra comics.

Engines of Empire, written by Richard S. Ford and narrated by Alison Campbell, Ciaran Saward, Phoebe McIntosh, Ewan Goddard, Andrew Kingston, Martin Reeve and Stephen Perry.

One of the more unique fantasy audiobooks from last year was the awesome Engines of Empire, which told a story of revolution and betrayal in a fresh new fantasy realm. This audiobook featured a huge cast of point of view characters, and the audiobook production seeks to enhance that by featuring a large group of narrators. Each narrator voices the chapter told from a specific character, helping to create a rich and powerful audio tapestry as they capture the personalities of their respective protagonists. This helps to turn the Engines of Empire audiobook into a great listen and I really had fun with it as a result.

Tempest Runner, written by Cavan Scott and narrated by a full cast

Another excellent Star Wars audio production with a large cast was the excellent Tempest Runner by Cavan Scott. A fun addition to the High Republic subseries of Star Wars fiction, Tempest Runner followed one of the standout villains of the previous books and gives some fantastic context to her actions. Tempest Runner featured an awesome cast of actors, and I loved some of the great performances that emerged. Standouts included Jessica Almasy, who voiced the main character, January LaVoy who voiced a spiteful antagonist, and the leading Star Wars narrators, Marc Thompson and Jonathan Davies, who bring their very impressive skills to the fore again. An outstanding audiobook that makes perfect use of its exceptional cast.

The Night Fire, written by Michael Connelly, narrated by Titus Welliver and Christine Lakin

I have had fun with several of Michael Connelly’s audiobooks in recent years, but some of my favourites have to be the Ballard and Bosch books, that bring together two of Connelly’s best police protagonists. One of the things that make these audiobooks so cool are the use of dual narrators, Titus Welliver and Christine Lakin, who do a particularly awesome job in the second Ballard and Bosch book, The Night Fire. The audiobook is evenly split between each of the characters, so Welliver and Lakin split the narration down the middle, with Welliver voicing all the chapters from Bosch’s perspective, while Lakin takes on Ballard’s chapters. This helps to produce a very intriguing and compelling audiobook, with both actors inhabiting their respective role perfectly (unsurprisingly for Welliver, who plays Bosch in the recent television adaption). I absolutely flew through this audiobook and I cannot recommend this format enough when enjoying the epic Ballard and Bosch crossovers.

The Way of Kings, written by Brandon Sanderson, narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading

Another great audiobook that benefited from two separated narrators was the massive and iconic fantasy read, The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. I had a brilliant time listening to The Way of Kings in this format, especially as the audiobook allows for a greater appreciation of all the detail Sanderson chucked in, and the dual narrators of Michael Kramer and Kate Reading definitely helped here. Kramer and Reading split their duties along gender lines, with Kramer narrating all the chapters and interludes told from a male perspective, while Reading does the same for the parts of the book told from the female perspective. This helps to produce a very elaborate listen, especially as both narrators are particularly skilled, and I liked having a variety of voices in this extremely long audiobook. This is such a great way to enjoy this fantatic novel, and you will have an awesome time with these two narrators.

Dooku: Jedi Lost, written by Cavan Scott and narrated by a full cast

The final multi-narrator audio production I wanted to highlight here is the Star Wars audiobook, Dooku: Jedi Lost. Diving into the past of iconic Star Wars villain Count Dooku, Jedi Lost was an excellent and entertaining listen, that features a brilliant cast of voice actors who bring several fantastic figures from the canon to life. This includes Euan Morton, who breaths great life into the titular Count Dooku, Orlagh Cassidy who has a great take on fan favourite villainess Asajji Ventress, and Jonathan Davis and Marc Thompson, whose respective portrayals of Qui-Gon Jinn and Yoda, are pretty damn spot on. I had such a great time with this Star Wars production, and you have to love the dedication and power that the big cast of voice actors really brought to the table.

That is the end of this latest list highlighting some of my favourite audiobooks that feature multiple narrators. Let me know what you think in the comments below and make sure to recommend your favourite audiobooks with a range of narrators behind it.