Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Fool Me Once
- Author: Harlan Coben
- Narrator: January LaVoy
- Length: 10:06:50
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 22/03/2016
- Publisher: Brilliance Audio
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Suspense
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s something uniquely intimate about a thriller in audio form – the way a skilled narrator can make your pulse quicken with nothing but their voice. ‘Fool Me Once’ delivers this in spades. Coben’s tale of Maya Burkett, a former special ops pilot who sees her supposedly dead husband on her nanny cam, is the kind of story that makes you forget the miles when you’re on the road. It reminds me of a time when I was driving through the Atacama Desert, utterly absorbed in another audiobook, where the landscape outside seemed to mirror the surreal twists of the narrative. That’s the magic January LaVoy creates here – her performance pulls you into Maya’s world so completely that the real world fades away.
LaVoy’s narration is nothing short of masterful. She captures Maya’s toughness and vulnerability with equal skill, her voice shifting seamlessly between the character’s military precision and maternal desperation. The way she handles the novel’s many twists – some shocking, some quietly devastating – shows an understanding of timing that reminds me of that Oaxacan grandmother I once stayed with, who knew exactly when to pause for maximum impact. There’s a particular scene where Maya confronts a painful memory from her past – LaVoy delivers it with such raw emotion that I had to pull over and take a moment. That’s the power of great audiobook storytelling.
Coben’s plot is, as always, a meticulously constructed house of cards. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, another card falls, revealing new depths to the mystery. The central question – can you believe what you see? – resonates deeply in our age of manipulated media and curated realities. As someone who’s spent years documenting truths in travel writing, I found myself particularly drawn to this theme. The story unfolds like a winding mountain road – you think you know where it’s leading, but the view keeps changing.
What makes this audiobook special is how LaVoy enhances Coben’s strengths. His dialogue, always crisp and revealing, gains new layers in her performance. She differentiates characters not just through accents (though hers are impeccable) but through rhythm and cadence – listen to how she handles Maya’s sister Claire, whose every sentence seems to carry unspoken family history. The audio production is clean and immersive, with no distracting artifacts – important for those of us who listen in varied environments, from noisy airports to quiet hotel rooms.
If I had one critique, it’s that some supporting characters feel slightly thin compared to Maya – though this may be by design, as we experience the world through her laser-focused perspective. Also, while the ending satisfies, it comes perhaps a beat too quickly after such a carefully built crescendo. But these are minor quibbles in what’s otherwise a first-rate thriller experience.
For fans of psychological suspense, this audiobook is a must. It pairs well with long drives or sleepless nights – just be prepared to lose track of time. If you enjoyed Tana French’s ‘In the Woods’ or Gillian Flynn’s ‘Gone Girl’ in audio form, LaVoy’s performance here delivers similar levels of tension and emotional depth. The story’s exploration of grief, trust, and perception makes it more than just a clever puzzle – it’s a meditation on how we reconstruct truth after trauma.
As I sign off from a small café in Lisbon (where I’m currently working on my next travel memoir), I’ll leave you with this: some stories stay with you long after the final chapter. ‘Fool Me Once,’ especially in January LaVoy’s compelling narration, is one of those. Whether you’re commuting, traveling, or just need a story to keep you company, this audiobook delivers. Until next time, may your journeys – both literal and literary – be filled with discovery. – Marcus
Marcus Rivera
