by Laura Dave
Published 2021
Hannah Hall's husband Owen disappears the same week his employer collapses under a federal fraud investigation, leaving behind only a hastily handed note that reads Protect her. The 'her' in question is Bailey, Owen's sixteen-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, who barely tolerates Hannah and now suspects that her stepmother knew something all along. As subpoenas pile up and U.S. Marshals start showing up at the house, Hannah and Bailey reluctantly form a partnership and begin to retrace Owen's biography, following half-remembered clues from the West Coast to a small Texas town where his story stops adding up. What they uncover is an old life Owen has been running from for almost two decades, and a choice neither of them is ready to make. Laura Dave's 2021 thriller, a number-one New York Times bestseller and the basis for a major streaming adaptation, balances domestic suspense with the slow, careful work of two reluctant strangers learning to trust each other. The book is less interested in shock and more in the moral arithmetic of a parent who lied to keep someone safe, and what that lie costs the people who are left to pick up the pieces. Dave is unusually patient with the second-by-second emotional weather of her two protagonists, and the prose moves between Hannah's defensive guardedness and Bailey's furious adolescent grief with a steady, sympathetic hand that has made the novel one of the most-borrowed library books of the decade.
These are AI narrators you can listen to with your own EPUB on ElevenLabs or Fish Audio. How does it work?
Top voices for narrating this book
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Serious
“This voice's smooth, intense quality is ideal for drawing listeners into the dark secrets and unraveling plots of a thriller, perfectly capturing Hannah's determined and mysterious nature.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Kira offers a warm, articulate, and grounded presence, reflecting Hannah's intelligence and calm demeanor while navigating a dangerous situation. The steady cadence suits a thoughtful protagonist.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“The intimate, assured tone of this voice conveys a natural resonance, fitting Hannah's underlying vulnerability and empathetic warmth as she delves into the mystery.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Serious
“Niki's smooth, natural-sounding delivery, with its inherent seriousness, provides a strong foundation for Hannah's narrative, emphasizing her focused and intelligent approach to the unfolding events.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Husky
“With a haunting, intimate quality and a 'Storyteller's Gravel', this voice could uniquely portray Hannah's internal struggle and the atmospheric tension of the thriller genre.”
For listeners: use the Best Narrator voice above in ElevenReader or Fish Audio. Character casting is for authors producing audiobooks with studio tools.
Owen's sharp, initially resentful teenage daughter, whose voice evolves from guarded and suspicious to more trusting and vulnerable as she bonds with Hannah.
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Casual
“This voice's midwestern accent with a southern twang, described as sarcastic but caring, perfectly embodies Bailey's initially resentful yet ultimately vulnerable teenage persona.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Sad
“Shannon B's 'sad emo teenage girl' profile, with its sarcastic and exhausted attitude, strongly aligns with Bailey's guarded and suspicious early character traits.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Upbeat
“Trinity's description as a 'strong tenacious woman in her 20s' offers a slightly older but fitting energy for Bailey's developing determination and resilience throughout the story.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“Lola's rich, robust, and well-enunciated voice, suitable for a younger middle-aged range, could represent Bailey's sharp intellect and growing maturity as she bonds with Hannah.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“Nikki's pure, fresh, and expressive tone provides a contrast that could highlight Bailey's underlying innocence and vulnerability, especially as her character evolves.”
Hannah's enigmatic husband who disappears, leaving behind a trail of secrets. His voice should convey charm, intelligence, and a hidden complexity.
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Mature
“This 'concerning voice' with a calm, composed, and slightly mysterious tone, delivered with a measured pace, is an excellent fit for Owen's enigmatic and complex character.”
Male · Old · Narration · Character-Voice · Deep · Serious · +3 more
“The deep, authoritative, and calm tone of this voice, imbued with a sense of wisdom and mystery, perfectly captures Owen's intelligent and hidden complexities.”
Also recommended for: Jake
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Calm
“Mwesigwa's expressive and mysterious quality, combined with a calm demeanor, provides a compelling vocal texture for Owen's charming yet secretive personality.”
Male · Old · Narration · Deep · Calm · Measured · +3 more
“Voice DL's deep, calm, and measured delivery, with a smooth quality, would effectively convey Owen's controlled charm and the serious undertones of his disappearance.”
Also recommended for: Jake
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Deep · Serious · Authoritative · +3 more
“The deep, serious, and calm presence of this voice, with its motivational undertones, could represent Owen's charismatic influence and the gravity of his unknown motives.”
Also recommended for: Jake
A seasoned U.S. Marshal, whose voice is authoritative and professional, yet capable of conveying empathy when needed.
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Deep · Calm · Serious · +5 more
“JJK's deep and authoritative male voice, with its calm, professional tone and smooth delivery, is perfectly suited for a seasoned U.S. Marshal like Jake.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Calm
“Spartan's calm, grounded baritone, with measured pacing and clear diction, provides an ideal voice for Jake's professional and reflective demeanor, even when conveying empathy.”
Male · Old · Narration · Deep · Calm · Measured · +3 more
“This voice's deep, calm, and measured delivery, combined with a serious and smooth quality, captures the essence of a law enforcement officer who is both professional and thoughtful.”
Also recommended for: Owen Michaels
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Deep · Serious · Authoritative · +3 more
“The deep, serious, and calm tone of this voice, with its commanding presence, would effectively portray Jake's role as a U.S. Marshal, capable of both authority and understanding.”
Also recommended for: Owen Michaels
Male · Old · Narration · Character-Voice · Deep · Serious · +3 more
“A deep, serious, and calm voice with a resonant, low-pitched quality suggests a character with wisdom and a quiet strength, fitting for Jake's empathetic side within his professional role.”
Also recommended for: Owen Michaels