Audible is bringing listeners a packed summer with five new Audible Original stories launching in July and August, across psychological thrillers, dark academia, and summer romance.
The Vacation
First out is The Vacation by Kathryn Croft, available now. Known for her gripping thrillers such as Silent Lies, Croft’s latest story is set on the Amalfi Coast.
It follows Erin, who books a last-minute family holiday hoping to fix their problems, only for her teenage son to go missing after a party while a dead body is found on the beach.
As secrets emerge, Erin realises her family is being targeted, and she has to confront dark truths to find Jesse before it is too late. The Vacation promises to keep listeners guessing until its final twist.
MayDay
Released on 10 July is MayDay, a thriller by Australian author Holly Craig. Narrated by Madeleine Madden, Archie Madekwe, Josh Dylan and Sofia Oxenham, it centres on five university graduates celebrating on a luxury yacht in the Whitsunday Islands.
When Viv Leroux disappears overboard, the party turns into a tense mystery of blackmail and murder. Craig, who founded Australia’s largest writing community The Write Club, draws on her personal experiences to create this sun-soaked but dark thriller.
The Dropouts
Coming on 14 July is The Dropouts by debut novelist Liv Parkinson, narrated by BAFTA nominee Vivian Oparah.
The dark academic thriller follows Kayleigh Morris, who after a panic attack during Freshers’ Week is chosen for a secret module led by the mysterious Professor Lady Marian. The class introduces students to a psychedelic drug to cure anxiety, but as Kayleigh’s confidence grows, reality fractures.
Drawing on Parkinson’s own struggles with anxiety and insomnia, The Dropouts is described as a mix of The Secret History and Bunny.
The Smart Girls Guide to Revenge
On 24 July, Audible releases The Smart Girls Guide to Revenge by Jessica May Harper. It follows con artist Jessica Roper, who with husband Jimmy Lake plans one last scam before retiring. But Jimmy has been conning her all along, leaving her jailed and penniless.
The novel charts Jessica’s redemption and revenge in a wickedly funny style likened to Mr & Mrs Smith meets How To Kill Your Family.
Without a Hitch
Finally, arriving on 21 August is Without a Hitch, a summer romance by Portia MacIntosh, dubbed the “Queen of RomComs”.
Holly is jilted on her wedding day and sent by her boss to Maui to write about moving on. There, she runs into Ed, her ex, and his fiancée Becka, who is planning Holly’s dream wedding. To save face, Holly pretends to be dating Theo, not knowing he is Ed’s stepbrother. The fake romance soon turns real in this sizzling romcom, which marks MacIntosh’s 74th novel.
All five Audible Originals are available exclusively through Audible when released.
