The Book of Birds by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris audiobook review – a love letter to our feathered friends

This compendium profiles 49 of Britain’s threatened species, with each entry featuring a prose poem evoking the unique qualities of each bird and their meticulously recorded call

The Pretender by Jo Harkin audiobook review – sprightly historical political skulduggery

This 15th-century royal romp of intrigue and courtly conspiracy is given extra charismatic verve by John Hollingworth’s rambunctious narration

Overnight by Dan Richards audiobook review – an immersive journey into the night worker’s world

From bakers in London to night ferry operatives in Aberdeen, the author narrates atmospheric behind-the-scenes stories of the people who work while the world sleeps

Strange Beach by Oluwaseun Olayiwola audiobook review – a debut that dances with passion

The dancer and author gives this collection clarity and warmth as he narrates poems about family, queer identity, hedonism and race

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley audiobook review – a topical time-hopping romance

Actor Katie Leung narrates this genre-bending debut in which an Victorian Arctic explorer is catapulted into our brave new world

Beijing condemns Dalai Lama’s Grammy win as ‘anti-China political manipulation’

Buddhist spiritual leader wins best audiobook and says he sees win ‘as a recognition of our shared universal responsibility’

Is listening to an audiobook as good as reading?

Queen tells reading campaign that listening counts too – and the publishing industry increasingly agrees

H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald audiobook review – a soaring journey through grief

The author brings introspection and humour to their inspiring account of how a young goshawk helped them cope after the loss of their father

The Bright Side by Sumit Paul-Choudhury review – a hymn to positivity

The science writer pragmatically shows how optimism can bring about real improvements in everyday life and change in the wider world

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell audiobook review – the life and loss of the woman behind the Bard

The wife of William Shakespeare takes centre stage in a rich, sensitive examination of parental grief, sensitively narrated by Jessie Buckley

The Dead of Winter by Sarah Clegg audiobook review – haunting Christmas tales

From horse skulls and Yule cats to Icelandic ogres, a celebration of the dark side of Christmas

All My Precious Madness by Mark Bowles review – a deliciously sweary, prize-winning monologue

The actor Paul Hilton brilliantly inhabits the character of a ranting working-class academic in this debut novel

A Particularly Nasty Case by Adam Kay audiobook review – a wayward doctor turns detective

Andy Serkis revels in his narration of the first murder mystery from the author of This Is Going to Hurt, which showcases Kay’s signature pitch-black humour

Ncuti Gatwa leads star winners at first Speakies awards for audio storytelling

The actor won best performance for BBC drama Gatsby in Harlem at the inaugural British Audio awards, while Nicola Coughlan’s narration of Juno Dawson’s Queen B clinched best sci-fi audiobook

Feminist History for Every Day of the Year by Kate Mosse review – the women who helped change the world

The bestselling author champions female trailblazers in an enjoyable anthology for all ages