Caz’s Best of 2022

Graphic that says Caz's Best of 2022

Looking back over my reviews and Goodreads stats for 2022, I see I had a pretty good listening year,

so picking just a few of “the best” audiobooks I listened to has proved to be quite difficult!

For this list, I’ve stuck to audiobooks that were published in 2022, and to titles to which I gave A grades for both content and narration. (I also have quite a long list of “also rans” – books I gave As for narration but B+ for the story.)

Three of the entries on my list this year are ongoing or completed series; it’s impossible to pick just one title from each set, so I’m just going to include them in their entirety.

Life Lessons by Kaje Harper

Life Lessons by Kaje Harper

Narrated by J.F. Harding

Note: Book one in this four book series came out in December 2021.

This series of romantic mysteries follows Detective Jared Maclean (Mac) and high school teacher Tony Hart, as they fall in love, battle the odds and build a life and family together. This is a wonderful and deeply emotional love story that takes a realistic look at the ups and downs of family life while also presenting us with a series of complex, well-executed mysteries. J.F. Harding’s performances are simply outstanding throughout; his interpretations of Mac and Tony are spot on and he absolutely nails every emotion and nuance, every moment of tenderness and heartbreak. Life Lessons is an amazing series and has quickly become a personal favourite. I can’t praise it highly enough. (Caz’s review here)

Where Death Meets the Devil by L.J. Hayward

Death and the Devil series by L.J. Hayward

Narrated by Rowan Scott

I squeeeed so loudly when I heard that the rest of this fantastic romantic suspense series would be coming to audio! The first book – Where Death Meets the Devil (Caz’s review here) – came out in 2019, but unfortunately the other books didn’t receive the audio treatment until 2022, when WDMtD was reissued and the other books were recorded. The three novels and handful of novellas tell a fast-paced action-packed story about a spy and an assassin who meet (and start falling for each other) when they have to join forces to elude a bunch of crazed mercenaries tracking them across the Australian desert, and follows their relationship from (in)convenient hook-ups to lovers to more. The character and relationship development across the series is stellar, and the two leads are utterly captivating. Rowan Scott – who seems to be relatively new to audiobooks – is absolutely perfect as Jack and Ethan, and has done them (and the author) proud.

Temporary Partner by Nicky James

Valor and Doyle Mysteries by Nicky James

Narrated by Nick J. Russo

This series isn’t yet complete, although the first three books – Temporary Partner, Elusive Relations and Unstable Connections – do bring a major story arc (Valor’s search for the truth about his sister’s disappearance three decades earlier) to a close. The central relationship here is a mix of enemies-to-lovers and grumpy/sunshine, with Valor a stickler for the rules and Doyle prepared to bend them where necessary. The chemistry crackles as our heroes bicker and snark their way through some clever, intricate mysteries and (eventually) into love, and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for them next. Nick J. Russo’s narration is excellent – he absolutely nails every aspect of the complicated relationship between the leads and brings a genuine warmth and affection to their interactions.

In Step by Jay Hogan

In Step by Jay Hogan

Narrated by Gary Furlong

Jay Hogan and Gary Furlong make a great team and they both pulled out all the stops in the Painted Bay series, but In Step turned out to be my favourite book of the set. Watching the reserved and wary Kane slowly find his place in the world and the love he’s never believed he deserves will bring a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat one minute, and have you snort-laughing the next! This beautiful and powerfully emotional story of love and redemption benefits from an outstanding performance from Gary Furlong, who captures every facet of Kane’s complex character, and brings the whole cast – and story – to vibrant life. (Caz’s review here)

The Doctor by C.S. Poe

The Doctor by C.S. Poe

Narrated by Declan Winters

Another nail-biting instalment in C.S. Poe’s Magic and Steam series, The Doctor picks up shortly after the cliffhanger ending of The Gangster and… well, things are not looking good for our favourite magical lawman, Gillian Hamilton. The author does a fantastic job of keeping the action, the clues and the discoveries coming while also starting to reveal more about Gunner the Deadly and his backstory. The worldbuilding in these stories is superb and Gillian and Gunner’s romance is full of warmth, affection and understanding. Declan Winters’ portrayal of both leads is simply perfect. (Caz’s review here)

The Long Game by Rachel Reid

The Long Game by Rachel Reid

Narrated by Cooper North

The Long Game was one of my most highly anticipated books of 2022 and absolutely did NOT disappoint. Rachel Reid gives reader-favourites Shane and Ilya a fantastic send off in a story that delivers perfect moment after perfect moment, showing how deeply they care for one another while Ilya, in particular, struggles with their self-imposed secrecy. It’s warm, it’s funny, it’s poignant, it’s sexy… and Cooper North’s narration is a fabulous counterpoint to this wonderful story. (Caz’s review here)

So that’s my 2022 wrap-up (it already seems so far away!) – how was your listening year? Any big new author/narrator discoveries? Any big disappointments? And what are you looking forward to in 2023? Do drop by for a chat in the comments!

Caz

8 thoughts on “Caz’s Best of 2022

  1. I fully concur with your choices, Caz. The only two I haven’t listened to are the CS Poe and the LJ Hayward and that’s only because I’m waiting for my yearly release of codes from audible this month and want to download and listen to the two series, back-to-back.

    1. Thanks! The Hayward series is superb – but as I’ve said in reviews, aren’t necessarily the sort of books you can listen to while concentrating on something else – there’s a lot of back and forth in timelines.

      The two Poe series aren’t finished, but are well worth listening to if you can wait for the next instalments!

  2. Thanks for your list! It was odd not to see the Momento Mori books on your list ’til I remembered that the audio for Madison Square Murders came out Dec 2021, and Subway Slayings came out Jan 2023! :-)

    I’ve listened to all the books except the L.J. Hayward books and wholeheartedly agree with these picks. I’ve been thinking about relistening to The Long Game because I was sick with Covid when it released and was feeling pretty awful when I listened to it. While it was a great distraction from laying around feeling yucky, I’d like to listen to it when I can enjoy it without the brain fog.

    I don’t see any info on when the next magic and Steam book will be out, so I guess I’ll get a chance to practice patience.

    1. I seems that CSP is focused on the third Memento Mori book now, but I think she hinted that maybe M&S 4 might be later this year? *fingers crossed*

      1. Well, she should have thought of that before starting two such amazing series. So inconsiderate to make us wait. :-D

  3. The Long Game made my best of in print but I still haven’t listened to the audio version. I have it – I’m saving it I guess? LOL

    1. I get that – I have a few audiobooks that I’m “saving”, too, for that moment when I need a really fabulous listen”

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