Audiobooks discussion

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon narrated by Davina Porter
Soulless by Gail Carriger narrated by Emily Gray
Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen narrated by, Katherine Kellgren

Just to name a couple

Etiquette & Espionage The Finishing School series by Gail Carriger has been very good, I'm excited for the final book next month
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo The Millennium trilogy is read by Simon Vance and I doubt I would've read these if not for him
Terrier The Beka Cooper/Provost's Dog trilogy was very well done, one of my favorites by Tammy Pierce
Hood The King Raven trilogy by Stephen Lawhead is excellent
The Cuckoo's Calling The Cormoran Strike books are fantastic, and Robert Glenister narrates wonderfully
A Game of Thrones The Song of Ice and Fire-- Roy Dotrice deserves all the awards for the gazillion voices he creates for these books

These immediately pop to mind but I'm sure there are others:

Outlander - the incomparable Davina Porter
Odd Thomas - David Aaron Baker

and the sleeper:
Swim the Fly - Nick Podehl

For historical fiction, I liked the first book in Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series
The First Man in Rome haven't read past the first book yet though

Eve Dallas, by J.D. Robb, read by Susan Ericksen - slightly futuristic, police procedurals, some spicy bedroom bits.

Brother Cadfael, by Ellis Peters; go for the versions read by either Stephen Thorne or Patrick Tull. Mysteries set in medieval England. Start with One Corpse Too Many, then go back to A Morbid Taste for Bones.

Seconding the recommendations of both Gail Carriger's series

I'll throw in the John Ceepak/Danny Boyle mystery series, starting with Tilt-a-Whirl. Most, if not all, of the books are available at Whispersync prices.

Another would be: The Spellman Files.

The Three Pines/Chief Inspector Armande Gamache series by Louise Penny and, until his death last year, read by Ralph Coshem.
The Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout and read by Michael Prichard--John first mentioned these and I followed shortly.
Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot read by Hugh Fraser.
Scumble River mysteries by Denise Swanson... this is a cozy mystery series set in a small town in Illinois with a school psychologist as a protagonist.
Maisie Dobbs Mysteries series by Jacqueline Winspear set in the time between World Wars in England.

I also second CatBookMom's recs with extra hurrahs for the In Death/Eve Dallas series.
Oh, and any series by Molly Harper and read by Amanda Roncone... Nice Girls Don't..., Naked Werewolf... and Halfmoon Hollow.

I follow over seventy series so I guess I could go on but this will do for a start.

The Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley read by Jayne Entwistle

Julie wrote: "Wow , Jeanie ! That'd be a LOT of characters and series to keep track of !
Do you ever get mixed up ?"

Actually, no, possibly because the series I follow are fairly different from one another. But even similar series have a different enough feel to keep them separate.

Three series I didn't mention earlier but really love are The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher read by James Marsters, The Rivers of London/Peter Grant by Ben Aaronovitch and read by Kobna Holbrook Smith, and The Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka and read by Gildart Jackson. These are all urban fantasy yet still quite distinct from one another. Oh, and while quite different, another series is The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne and read by Luke Daniels. Love all of these.

I'm looking for something that isn't YA, scifi/fantasy (although it could be a little), romance, or a cozy mystery. Not that I don't like these things in small doses, but I'm craving a series that just isn't any of these things.

Any suggestions?

Rebecca wrote: "I'm looking for something that isn't YA, scifi/fantasy (although it could be a little), romance, or a cozy mystery. Not that I don't like these things in small doses, but I'm craving a series that ..."

John's recommendation of the John Ceepak/Danny Boyle mystery series, starting with Tilt-a-Whirl would seem to fit

I second Cuckoos Calling, Soulless, Three Pines, GWTDT, and Royal Spyness. Rebecca all of these except Royal Spyness also meet your criteria.

Thanks much. :)

My favorite series on audio are:
White Cat
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Unwind
Rot and Ruin
Hounded
Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
The Monstrumologist
Cinder
Still Life
The Cuckoo's Calling
Black Cherry Blues

Rebecca wrote: "I'm looking for something that isn't YA, scifi/fantasy (although it could be a little), romance, or a cozy mystery. Not that I don't like these things in small doses, but I'm craving a series that ..."

Some of these are mystery series, but not cozy:
Lee Child: Jack Reacher
Robert Galbraith aka J. K. Rowling: Cormeran Strike
Tarquin Hall: Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator
Christopher Healy, Todd Harris: The League of Princes
Craig Johnson: Walt Longmire Mysteries
Laurie R. King: Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes
Scott Lynch: The Gentleman Bastards
G. M. Malliet: Max Tudor
Marissa Meyer: The Lunar Chronicles
Naomi Novik: Temeraire
Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child: Pendergast
Jodi Taylor: Chronicles of St Mary’s
Marie Bostwick: The Cobbled Court Series
Charles Finch: Charles Lenox Mysteries
Spencer Quinn: Chet and Bernie Mysteries
Andrea Camilleri: Inspector Montalbano Mysteries begin with The Terracotta Dog
Dorothy Gilman: Mrs. Pollifax
John D. MacDonald: Travis McGee
Charlotte MacLeod: Peter Shandy series
Elizabeth Peters: Amelia Peabody
C. J. Sansom: Matthew Shardlake/A Novel of Tudor England
Anthony Trollope: The Chronicles of Barsetshire and The Palliser Novels

Rebecca wrote: "I'm looking for something that isn't YA, scifi/fantasy (although it could be a little), romance, or a cozy mystery. Not that I don't like these things in small doses, but I'm craving a series that ..."

I recommend P.G. Wodehouse or John Kendrick Bangs. Those are some absolutely wonderful classics. You can get them mostly for free from librivox too!

In historical fiction, there is Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series about sailing and a lot more in the Napoleonic era (first book is Master and Commander), read by Patrick Tull, and The Lymond Chronicles of Dorothy Dunnett (first book is Game of Kings - not to be confused with Game of Thrones!) which is set around Europe in the late Tudor period. They are both complex series with lots of characters and including historical events.

Jeanie, I have very similar tastes to yours, as I like almost all the same series you listed! I'll look up the ones I don't recognize.

Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake: Vampire Executioner is a series that can open your mind a little. She explores human sexuality thru supernatural plotting.
John Ringo has a couple series that have enhanced the space opera genre: Posleen series and the Looking Glass series.

I loved The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. The first 4 books are narrated by Frank Muller and then George Guidall picked up when Frank was no longer able to continue. They both did a great job.

I'll second Outlander, Her Royal Spyness and Maisee Dobbs, Chet & Bernie mysteries, Walt Longmeyer mysteries and Bloody Jack.

A couple that I love that haven't been mentioned are: C J Box "Joe Pickett" series and also David Rosenfelt's "Andy Carpenter" series.

Since my tastes are very similar to Miss Susie's I'll have to try Gail Carriger's Souless series, though I'm not normally into paranormal.

Robin wrote: "In historical fiction, there is Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series about sailing and a lot more in the Napoleonic era (first book is Master and Commander), read by Patrick Tull, and The Lymond..."

I adore the Aubrey/Maturin series. Another series I love is The Dragonriders of Pern. When I read that the Temeraire series was Aubrey/Maturin meets Dragonriders of Pern, I had to read it. I loved the first several books, disliked the one that took the action to Australia, and then liked what came next... some action is very similar to what Jack Aubrey sailed into.

Javasapien wrote: "I'll second Outlander, Her Royal Spyness and Maisee Dobbs, Chet & Bernie mysteries, Walt Longmeyer mysteries and Bloody Jack.

A couple that I love that haven't been mentioned are: C J Box "Joe Pi..."

The Parasol Protectorate, Soulless being the first in that series by Gail Carriger, is a wonderful pastiche of Austen, Romance, paranormal, and Jules Verne. The narration is superb. I found the next few books a little too Perils of Pauline for my taste at times, but it can be a fun romp.

The Princes of Ireland (2 books) by Edward Rutherfurd Excellent, excellent, excellent historical fiction

The Runelords (8 books) by David Farland
though I must admit the final book (8) in this series is a letdown.

The Lost, The Circle and Paradise series (all tie together) by Ted Dekker
Excellent yet dark series....rather terrifying and I kept looking over my shoulder for spooks.

I would like to find historical type series but I guess series are easier in fiction....that's ok but sometimes it's nice to learn a thing or two. I rather consider any of Edward Rutherfurd's books to be a linked series even though the others are "stand alone."

There are many moral type series available but IMHO the best are in the YA or even children's classifications.

Robin wrote: "In historical fiction, there is Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series about sailing and a lot more in the Napoleonic era (first book is Master and Commander), read by Patrick Tull, and The Lymond..."

Thank you Robin for your post. I will look into O'Brian's series.

Most of my favorite series have already been mentioned. Three that no one has listed are Lois McMaster Bujold's short Chalion series and her long Vorkosigan series. Chalion is fantasy, set in a made up land based on the Spain of Isabella and Ferdinand, with an intricate plot, good people to love and villains to hate. The Vokosigan series is character driven SciFi.
The other not yet mentioned is Alan Gordon's Fools' Guild series set in Europe and the middle East in the 1200s. He has really researched his history.






vorkosigan i

Hard Magic. Fantastic characters and excellent narration. The whole series is amazing. Highly recommend.

Another series that I really enjoyed was the Matthew Corbett series by Robert McCammon. It starts with Speaks the Nightbird.

I don't read many series because I hate being locked into something that I know is going to be uneven at some point but several people whose taste and intelligence I respect have recommended this one to me. In the Bleak Midwinter. From the description, I'd say this is for you if you like strong women protagonists.

Thank you all SO MUCH. for the recommendations!!!!

Did anyone mention the Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan? I highly recommend this series. It's narrated by Michael Page Tim Gerard reynolds and he does a phenomenal job.

I second that series Janice. Wonderful Fantasy!

Ooops, made a mistake - Riyria Revelations & Chronicles is narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds. I really like both narrators.

Tim Gerard Reynolds has fantastic, distinct voices.

Elizabeth Peters's AMELIA PEABODY SERIES starting with CROCODILE ON THE SANDBANK. Temperance Brennan series by Kathie Reichs, J A Jance's J. P. Beaumont series starting with UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, and her Joanna Brady series starting with DESERT HEAT. Tony Hillerman who writes the Jim Chee/Joe Leaphorn series. Margaret Coel's WIND RIVER series with Fr. John O'Malley & Vicki Holden. Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series and Mickey Haller series. David Baldacci's THE CAMEL CLUB, John Puller series, and his new book THE MEMORY MAN, which most likely will be a series. His MAXWELL & KING series. I know Mr. Baldacci has several other series in his book collection, but I can't think of them right now. John Lescroart Dismas Hardy series starting with DEAD IRISH. Joseph Wambaugh had an LAPD series. Faye Kellerman writes with Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series starting with the RITUAL BATH. She also wrote THE MOON MUSIC, but that never turned into a series. Her husband, Jonathan Kellerman wrties the Alex Delaware series. These are just some of the series I either read or listen to.

Books wrote: "I've just started listening to audiobooks and mine is Stephen Fry's Harry Potter. (I thought i'd start with a favourite)"

And you'll find an equal number of enthusiasts for the Jim Dale version.

The Elm Creek Quilt Series has a wonderful narrator. There are around 20 in the series so it will keep you busy listening for awhile. Discovery of Witches series (the story is intriguing and the narrator is great).

I didn't think there was much I could add to this, but I loved the Potato Factory Trilogy by Bryce Courtnay and narrated by Humphrey Bower. I'd also add the S.J. Rozan Lydia Chin series. I haven't listened to Rozan in audio, so I can't speak to the narrations. The books are good reads though.