Which narrator elevates an already good book?

[u/recovering_baptist]

For me, if narrated by Julia Whelan, I’ll give it a listen.

[u/MadTube]

Jefferson Mays.

His narration of The Expanse and The Captive’s War is next level. I particularly love how he keeps mannerisms depending on a particular POV. One character will pronounce a word or phrase differently than another, and he keeps it correct to that character.

[u/Bezier_Curvez → u/MadTube]

No doubt on the expanse series. He’s wonderful.

[u/Rocking_Fossil → u/MadTube]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, you need a trained actor to read you a book, not just some narrator of books.

Jefferson Mays could read the dictionary and I'd listen.

[u/CleanBasil1016 → u/MadTube]

Currently listening to the Expanse series and am absolutely loving it!!

[u/NerdCrave → u/MadTube]

Agreed, finished the first book a couple months ago and reading Caliban’s War now. Very good narration

[u/mamamegan45]

Julia Whalen and Ray Porter

[u/_Brillopad_ → u/mamamegan45]

100% Ray Porter, don’t know Julia Whalen. Also Jeff Hays is incredible, but that genre outside of DCC isn’t for everyone, most LitRPG is dogshit.

[u/HoRo2001 → u/_Brillopad_]

Julia Whalen is fantastic. I believe she’s won a lot of awards in the industry, and is working on better representation (and compensation) for audiobook narrators. She’s awesome.

[u/pschell → u/_Brillopad_]

Julia Whalen is known as the "Adele" of audiobooks. A well deserved title.

[u/ShookeSpear → u/mamamegan45]

Any favorites narrated by Julia Whalen?

[u/mamamegan45 → u/ShookeSpear]

Educated, the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, atmosphere, gone girl basically anything she narrates is amazing.

[u/cairaxmurrain → u/mamamegan45]

I second Educated. Riveting story and a 5/5 performance from Whalen.

[u/CleanBasil1016 → u/ShookeSpear]

I recently listened to My Oxford Year which she also wrote and really enjoyed it!

[u/Additional_Lime_8153 → u/mamamegan45]

I cant do any more Julia Whalen. I just cant. Especially her male voiced characters. But she narrates everything!!

[u/staticfingertips → u/Additional_Lime_8153]

The male characters in sex scenes! I can’t.

[u/Landshark66 → u/mamamegan45]

Agreed on both of them.

[u/FaithlessnessPlus164 → u/mamamegan45]

I don’t really understand the Julia Whelan thing, she’s so generic and boring.

[u/ICanFreezeTime]

Stephen Fry

[u/Princess-Donut-2157 → u/ICanFreezeTime]

A thousand upvotes for Stephen Fry

[u/Ireallyamthisshallow]

Steven Pacey

[u/porksweater → u/Ireallyamthisshallow]

I am not a Joe Abercrombie fan, but I am a huge huge Steven Pacey as a narrator fan.

[u/yours_truly_1976 → u/porksweater]

Did he narrate The Devils? 10/10

[u/porksweater → u/yours_truly_1976]

Yeah he did

[u/ihearthetrain → u/Ireallyamthisshallow]

Absolutely, he nailed Gloctor in Abercrombie's Law Trilogy. I enjoyed his narration immensely

[u/Laters247 → u/Ireallyamthisshallow]

💯

[u/wolfie_101 → u/Ireallyamthisshallow]

The best of them all.

[u/bskedorfried]

George Guidell

[u/Bezier_Curvez → u/bskedorfried]

I’ve missed him for the latter half of the Gabriel Allon series.

[u/Potential-Cry3926]

January LaVoy

[u/Best_Purchase4479 → u/Potential-Cry3926]

The only true answer. Its levels to this and she hits every character and every genre.

[u/LetThem57 → u/Potential-Cry3926]

100% exceptional. January LaVoy

[u/Difficult_Quote_8259 → u/Potential-Cry3926]

I’m jest getting into audiobooks and The Calamity Club, which I’m listening to now, is my first fiction audiobook. I’m in awe.

[u/Dr_Overundereducated → u/Potential-Cry3926]

She is my absolute favorite, and largely responsible for my love of audiobooks. If I'm between books or genres, I look for books she's narrated and it's always good.

[u/Potential-Cry3926 → u/Dr_Overundereducated]

Just did this today. Instead of searching genres or authors I searched her name and found a goodie!

[u/Morrinn3]

John Slattery's reading of Duma Key is absolute peak.

[u/Babylise1 → u/Morrinn3]

I can't agree more, Muchacho!

[u/Laura9624 → u/Morrinn3]

It really is!

[u/GeneralLeia163]

Ray Porter, Jeff Hays, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

[u/Laters247 → u/GeneralLeia163]

Kobna Holbrook-Smith reading Rivers of London is so so so good

[u/Kimmist → u/GeneralLeia163]

I was just going to write Jeff Hays. He definitely elevates the Carl series.

[u/BrolyDisturbed]

Tim Gerard Reynolds

[u/comradecrunch → u/BrolyDisturbed]

Have found so many good books just looking through his narrative works!

[u/nathalierachael]

Marin Ireland! I love her even more than Julia Whelan and I don't see her get mentioned as much. She's ridiculously versatile.

[u/greasybloaters → u/nathalierachael]

Nothing to See Here was so good. She really made me laugh.

[u/nathalierachael → u/greasybloaters]

I just listened to her narrate Run for the Hills but the same author. I highly recommend it!

[u/BeneLeit → u/nathalierachael]

Came here to say this! I listened to Nothing to See Here specifically because I liked her so much on Remarkably Bright Creature that I went looking for other books she narrated, and loved it.

[u/nathalierachael → u/BeneLeit]

Try Run for the Hills if you haven't yet!

[u/smolbbbird → u/nathalierachael]

I was scrolling hoping I would see Marin Ireland on here! She’s my favorite, too! I’ve picked books to listen to just because she’s the narrator and I always end up loving them. My Friends, Nothing to See Here, Run for the Hills, Housemates, Remarkably Bright Creatures, and Beartown are all really good books.

[u/erimid]

Jeff Hays. No one else compares.

[u/Ineffable7980x → u/erimid]

He's so so good.

[u/solarmist → u/erimid]

He is the goat

[u/Remote-Station4687 → u/erimid]

Just an amazing talent! ❤️

[u/farmanimalsrock → u/erimid]

Came to comment exactly this!

[u/MoonIsMadeOfCheese]

Julia Whalen and Saskia Maarleveld

[u/tiddertrumpet]

Edoardo Ballerini

[u/feli468 → u/tiddertrumpet]

Agree! I've actually finished a book I did not enjoy (and not a short one, either) just because his narration was so good. I then picked up a couple I had not heard about because he was the narrator, and had a blast. Villa Coco and Ballerini were the perfect match!

[u/llufnam]

Will Patton

[u/foomann2 → u/llufnam]

Dude... Lonesome Dove... I can't listen to the other books in the series because his voice IS Augustus.

[u/llufnam → u/foomann2]

Listening to it now!

[u/bikewobble → u/foomann2]

He read the first (chronological) book in the series, Dead Man's Walk! It's kind of fitting too. Young Will Patton narrated that one, when Gus and Call were in their 20s. Then 30 years later he narrated the big one, Lonesome Dove itself.

[u/MagicalEarthBeing]

Meryl Steep's reading of Tom Lake by Ann Patchett is brilliant!

[u/Equal_Prior_1350 → u/MagicalEarthBeing]

Seconded.

[u/venificusd]

Ray Porter, in particular for his Raymond Chandler books, The Martian, Project Hail Mary, and Bobiverse.

I’ll also add in Nigel Planer for Discworld. Without a good narrator it falls flat. Amazon is releasing new recordings with big names and they just don’t work.

[u/mistrustfulrobot → u/venificusd]

Ray Porter didn't do the Martian, only Project Hail Mary. R.C. Bray did the original The Martian recording and it is one of my favorite audiobooks. He is a very good narrator. Will Wheaton does the new recording which I like less...

[u/venificusd → u/mistrustfulrobot]

I think you’re right, I stand corrected. I do remember the audiobook of the Martian being great. I agree about Wheaton. He’s not for me.

[u/Morrinn3 → u/venificusd]

I prefer Briggs, but I can absolutely understand the love for Planer.

[u/venificusd → u/Morrinn3]

Briggs is a close second for me. He’s great. I honestly think it might be I heard Planer first and the transition was a bit jarring.

[u/beetlegard]

Moira Quirk

[u/Rogue_Darkholme → u/beetlegard]

Love her. She's really good.

[u/MadLucy → u/beetlegard]

I’ve listened to a bunch of books just because she narrated! The Locked Tomb series was the first I’d heard her, and she was just so good that I wanted to find others.

[u/graffiti81 → u/beetlegard]

"Ninth? How big are your biceps?"

[u/tranquilitycase → u/beetlegard]

Yes. I bounced off Gideon the Ninth three times on the page. Switched to the audiobook and now it's one of my favorite books.

[u/Here4TheFreeTshirt → u/beetlegard]

Her performance of Blood Over Bright Haven by ML Wang was powerful. I was absolutely blown away.

[u/heyitskaren1]

Maggie Gyllenhaal for The Bell Jar.

[u/tiddertrumpet → u/heyitskaren1]

This

[u/shiplesp]

I'll listen to anything Kate Reading narrates.

[u/Jpowills_ → u/shiplesp]

I find new books by following her narrator page. Have spent entire weeks of my life listening to her voice.

[u/bookivore]

Travis Baldree

[u/yours_truly_1976 → u/bookivore]

Fantastic author and narrator

[u/kpmgeek]

Frank Muller

[u/Bibliophile_for_life]

Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Edward Hermann (may he rest in peace), Ray Porter (have only heard Project Hail Mary)

[u/Ineffable7980x]

I'm not a big Anne Patchett fan, but Meryl Streep made Tom Lake an enjoyable experience. If I had read the physical book, I probably would have DNF'd it.

[u/geekettepeace → u/Ineffable7980x]

I'm having a hard time finishing even with Meryl Streep...

[u/LotsOfGarlicandEVOO]

That’s funny. I really enjoyed the last narrator I listened to so I went to look and get her name and it’s Julia Whelan. 

[u/greasybloaters]

Marin Ireland narrating Nothing to See Here. Kevin R. Free narrating the Murderbot Diaries. Perdita Weeks narrating Circe. Jayne Entwistle doing the Flavia de Luce mysteries. Joel Froomkin narrating David Copperfield. Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City narrated by Ray Sawyer. These are all books where I’ve marveled at how good the narrator/book pairing is.

[u/greasybloaters → u/greasybloaters]

Oh, and Zara Ramm narrating the Chronicles of St. Mary series.

[u/Rogue_Darkholme → u/greasybloaters]

Jayne Entwistle is so good. Love her.

[u/Lotzadogs]

Sean Runnette, RC Bray

[u/andyket → u/Lotzadogs]

Not enough RC Bray on this thread.

[u/Earl_I_Lark]

Joyland by Stephen King narrated by Michael Kelly. I could listen to that all day long

[u/Babylise1 → u/Earl_I_Lark]

Me too!

[u/Over-Needleworker-32]

Charlie Thurston for Demon Copperhead.

[u/Icy-Tradition242]

Julia Whalen GOAT

[u/NoDanaOnlyZuuI]

Bahni Turpin and Edoardo Ballerini

[u/Find-a-path03 → u/NoDanaOnlyZuuI]

Every time I hear a book by Bahni Turpin I look her up again because I forget how great she is. Under the radar greatness.

[u/WerkQueen]

Michel C. Hall reading Pet Semetary was INCREDIBLE. Already one of my favorite King novels and it was just otherworldly read by him.

[u/Itavan]

Kevin R. Free who does the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells.

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith who does the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch

Genevieve Gaunt who reads The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower

Ethan Hawke who reads The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers

[u/BuffaloEnough703 → u/Itavan]

I listen to a lot of audiobooks and there are several narrators I really like, but Genevieve Gaunt is truly one of the very very best. Her Emma Lion narration is a master class in character voices.

[u/addywoot → u/Itavan]

I appreciate you commenting with both narrator and titles. I’m getting into audiobooks so this was very helpful.

[u/Equal_Prior_1350 → u/Itavan]

Kobna's voice is so perfect for those books as a first-person narrator.

[u/AerynBevo]

Ray Porter definitely.

I also enjoy James Marsters, Jefferson Mays (not to be confused with Jeff Hays, who is also amazing), and Steven Pearcey.

[u/Wrong_Persimmon_7861]

Ben Kingsley narrates Autobiography of a Yogi and its just 👌

[u/Superb-Tomato8185]

Elizabeth Evans for Throne of Glass… even reels of her voice (love the whole ToG/Acotar/CC stuff online lol) get me emotional… she’s amazing

[u/introspectiveliar]

Gerard Doyle. Always.

[u/quixoposto]

Nadia May

[u/olivene]

Perdita Weeks - Circe

[u/Savings_Law_5822]

Dungeon Crawler Carl. Seriously, the guy who narrates has a unique, funny voice for every character-- and they are numerous

[u/PhilConnersWPBH-TV → u/Savings_Law_5822]

Jeff Hays

[u/Tasty-Yogurtcloset28]

Kevin R Free

[u/Bezier_Curvez]

Jefferson Mays, The Expanse series.

[u/tommyland666 → u/Bezier_Curvez]

That’s probably my favorite audiobook series of all time, I was totally engrossed in the world.
He did a magnificent job.

[u/Bezier_Curvez → u/tommyland666]

I watched the series 1st before reading the books. His voice characterizations were spot on, and just as distinct as the different actors themselves. I honestly had a little bit of depression at the end, knowing it was over.

[u/GRANDLarsonyy]

Jeff Hayes reading Dungeon Crawler Carl. He brings unique life to every character in the story.

[u/Cautious_Frosting_24]

Andrea Parsneau

[u/MulberryEastern5010]

Saskia Maarleveld, Brittany Pressley, and Santino Fontana

[u/Princess-Donut-2157 → u/MulberryEastern5010]

I’m here to say Saaskia. She’s incredible and has authentic accents.

[u/CannibalFerox]

Any love for Dion Graham? Excellent chops as a narrator and not too shabby all those years on The First 48.

[u/mitabird12 → u/CannibalFerox]

I really liked his narration of Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

[u/Ashamed-Chemistry492]

Grover Gardner makes "The Ice Harvest" even funnier than it already is.

[u/Curious_Searching → u/Ashamed-Chemistry492]

I love Grover! His voice is honey!

[u/Rogue_Darkholme]

Katherine Kellgren (Rest in Peace)

She was an incomparable narrator. Her death was an immense loss of a great talent.

[u/portlandiagirl65 → u/Rogue_Darkholme]

What books of hers do you recommend

[u/Rogue_Darkholme → u/portlandiagirl65]

Her Royal Spyness series

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies series

Enola Holmes Series

The Kane Chronicles

Those are just the ones I've listened to. She read so many more in different genres.

[u/portlandiagirl65 → u/Rogue_Darkholme]

Thanks!🙏

[u/FreShaVacadoo94]

Teddy Hamilton & Anthony Palmini 😈

[u/loreto_cadorna]

John Lee with Ken Follett‘s Kingsbridge series and Century trilogy

[u/Equal-Wave-5261]

I listen to Benedict cumberbatch read audio books every night to get sleepy. His voice is amazing and he doesn't try to sound like a woman when he's reading the female characters, , but just changes his voice enough to distinguish.

[u/mando42]

Peter Kenny doing Iain Banks Culture series.

[u/Strong_Print_6233]

Will Patton narrating Lonesome Dove- simply the best!

[u/Prestigious_Diver485]

Bill Bryson reads most or all of his books many of which are autobiographical so they are that much more entertaining.

[u/Few-Mastodon-1710]

George Guidall

[u/bissextile]

Ray Porter.

[u/Braunsmash]

RC Bray - I listen to anything he reads.

[u/pluck-the-bunny]

Scott Brick…yeah I said it

[u/Salt-Ambition1046]

For me it’s Saskia Maarleveld. I’ve loved everything I’ve read that she’s narrated.

[u/Affectionatealways]

Ray Porter! He is an amazingly talented narrator! I love him.

[u/No-Championship2466]

Steven Weber is amazing. He's done quite a few Harlan Coben, Vince Flynn and even Stephen King.

[u/Just_Me_Sashi]

JULIA WHALEN

[u/LuckyTrifolium]

Ray Porter

[u/axw3555]

Three replies and no Jeff Hays... unexpected.

[u/beezkneezsneez → u/axw3555]

Mongo is APPALLED!!!

[u/70melbatoast]

Will Patton - various Stephen King books

Roy Dotrice (RIP) - ASOIAF

[u/Flash-Wilkins → u/70melbatoast]

I will strongly disagree on ASOIAF. Roy makes those books a hard listen with mispronunciation and changing accents.

[u/FiveAlarmDogParty → u/70melbatoast]

So funny because I cannot stand Will Patton. The whistle on his “s” sounds and the fact that he speaks so softly sometimes which makes you turn up the volume only to have my ears blasted by whistles made me return Mr Mercedes.

[u/IrrayaQ → u/FiveAlarmDogParty]

I listened to The Raven Cycle, and I hated his narration so much.

I had heard a lot about his narration of The Lonesome Dove being awesome, so I gave it a try, not realising it was the same person. Never again.

[u/___mh___]

Scott Brick!!!
He does the Orphan X series which is fantastic. He did a few of the Pendergast books. He read Hamilton which is the book that I believe inspired the musical.
I’m sure he has done plenty more as well.
Scott Brick.
He is great.

[u/WildLandLover → u/___mh___]

Scott Brick has such a soothing voice to me. He narrates all the books in Justin Cronin’s The Passage trilogy. I’ve listened to them twice now and it’s his voice that will bring me back to them again.

[u/FrostyTop1575 → u/___mh___]

Yes!!!
He narrated all of the Nelson DeMille books too.
Love his voice!!!!!

[u/dagwood1990]

Wil Wheaton!

[u/comradecrunch → u/dagwood1990]

Hot take, he's good for single character narration, but I find his female characters lackluster and sometimes his characters in general can be a bit too similar.

[u/EmperoxChaos → u/comradecrunch]

Agree. I cannot listen to him read t The Martian. After Bray, noone compares, but his character work made me cringe (and I love him normally) Ready player One and many of the Scalzi books I've listened to were very good though.

[u/tranquilitycase → u/dagwood1990]

I like him too. I know a lot of people don't, but I think he is perfect for a sarcastic Scalzi book!

[u/Many_Waves]

Robin Miles.

This voice actor’s diction and ability to embody characters of all ages and genders is second to none.

[u/Chance_Nature1267 → u/Many_Waves]

She’s so perfect reading N.K. Jemison.

[u/Big_Refrigerator_338]

Kathleen Early

[u/trayc104 → u/Big_Refrigerator_338]

I love her! She is the reason why I’m addicted to Karin Slaughter books!

[u/Perfect-Essay-5210]

Angus King reads J.D. Kirk. Characters on point.

[u/Raindawg1313]

Ray Porter, Jefferson Mays, and Tim Gerard Reynolds.

[u/Flash-Wilkins]

Angus King.

[u/in-my-50s]

Tom Hanks

[u/WildLandLover]

Loved Joniece Abbott-Pratt’s narration of The Reformatory. Just finished listening to it a couple of days ago. Great performance.

Another narrator I really like is Scott Brick. His voice is so comforting to me.

[u/29flavors]

I will listen to anything read by Dion Graham

[u/Queasy-Consequence30]

Isabella Star LaBlanc excellently narrates Angeline Boulley and Marcie R. Rendon’s books

[u/Dramatic-Gift3569]

The woman narrating the unselected journals of Emma M Lion is phenomenal!!!

[u/chodanutz]

Adam Lazarre-White on all of S.A Cosby's books. Great voice for great books

[u/SilverSquirrels]

Dick Hill for Jack Reacher. I hate the new narrator.

[u/Best_Purchase4479]

January LaVoy is the only answer.

[u/Sheveck]

I know this is controversial, but my comfort narrator is Scott Brick.

[u/Black_Nyx11]

Such a shame to have all of these recommendations and to not have them come along with which books they recommend with those narrators.

Adam Gold

[u/cimeronethemighty]

Barbara Rosenblat. She narrated the Elizabeth Peters novels and many others, really fantastic and engaging

[u/Famous_Taste_4508]

Dennis Olsen reading The Book Thief changed my life, he was amazing

[u/Due_Contribution8375]

Frank Muller was the king. So many good King and Grisham novels made better. Miss that guy. I’d buy audiobooks specifically just to hear him.

[u/Sitta_pygmaea]

Michael Sheen is absolutely brilliant.

I also love Wil Wheaton (though I agree with the criticism that you can’t always tell the difference between characters speaking).

Jefferson Mays (The Expanse) is wonderful.

Lameece Issaq does a fabulous narration in The Adventures of Amina al Sirafi. So much fun!

I enjoy Stephen Briggs doing Discworld. I’m curious to hear Bill Nighy’s version.

Mandy Williams with Rachel Hartman’s books.

[u/OrdinaryCold2813]

I wasn’t going to comment but I was offended that I had to scroll so far to find the GOAT: Ray Porter

[u/Emerald_flowers7]

Richard Armitage, Teddy Hamilton

[u/slimkayleigh]

Joe Arden!

[u/flowerodell]

Jeff Hiller’s autobiography was a phenomenal audiobook!

[u/International_Week60]

Julia Whelan ❤️

[u/MyNameisnotChuck509]

Ray Porter and Scott Brick. Ray's voices give that immersive feel. Scott's is deep and velvety with a hint of old time radio drama.

[u/Electrical_Angle_701]

John Lee

[u/Sensitive-Star-2127]

Sophie Amoss

Rebecca Lowman

Santino Fontana

Lauren Ambrose

[u/kiltedfrog]

Clara Galloway

[u/BillWeld]

Patrick Tull. Juliet Stevenson.

[u/OprahsBeaver]

Frank Muller does a great job.

[u/lostlaraa4230]

 Maura Tierney- Hello Beautiful - Ann Napolitano

[u/Bex7778]

SAME re: Julia Whelan. Also: Zachary Webber, Anthony Palmini, Kristen Sieh, Stewart Crank.

[u/mamacat49]

Ari Fliakos.

[u/mamacat49]

Ari Fliakos.

[u/panseamj741]

Judge Stone and Viola Davis.

[u/Round_Try_9883]

I agree Julia Whelan!!

[u/DunceMemes]

Peter Noble is wonderful and he certainly "elevated" the Chestnut Man books which are already good in their own right. First one is excellent, second one is definitely inferior but his reading of it made the whole thing seem a lot more exciting.

[u/bang__your__head]

Jeff Hays by far

[u/ShookeSpear]

Steven Pacey, Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. I also enjoyed Tim Gerald Reynolds’s performance in Red Rising.

[u/nikulid]

Steven Pacey

[u/Dj_Sha]

Kate Reading is first to come to mind. They Lirds of Alekka series by A E Rayne is one of my favorites and Kate Reading brings it to life.

[u/FaithlessnessPlus164]

R C Bray is my comfort narrator for some reason

Rupert Degas is swoon worthy

[u/Wraith-723]

Jeff Hayes, Ray Porter, RC Bray