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The Listeners

'A beautiful love story, a fascinating glimpse into the horrors of history and a haunting tale of loyalty and courage' - Chris Whitaker

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The Listeners

By: Maggie Stiefvater
Narrated by: Erin Bennett
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About this listen

 A beguiling, powerful and heartbreaking novel from an exceptional voice in fiction, The Listeners is the story of ordinary people thrown together in extraordinary circumstances, and the things we do to survive.

'Cinematic and so very satisfying... a phenomenally immersive read' Claire Lombardo

'An ambitious work that brings its setting and its large ensemble of characters vividly to life' Sunday Times

'Funny and imaginative with real emotional heft... if this novel is not feted as one of the best novels of 2025, I'll eat my hat' Irish Independent

She still recalled the first time she saw the Avallon. It called to her; she listened...

The Avallon Hotel offers unrivalled luxury in the wild Appalachian Mountains, its curative sweetwater washing away the troubles of high society. June 'Hoss' Hudson, a local girl turned general manager, has known its power since she first stepped through the century-old doors - and into the fold of the Gilfoyle family, the hotel's aristocratic owners.

But in 1942, the real world intrudes. War comes to the Avallon dressed in fine furs and government suits. Under the State Department's watchful eye, the Gilfoyle heir welcomes three hundred enemy diplomats and Nazi sympathisers. And June must play host.

As dark alliances and unexpected desires crack the Avallon's polished veneer, not every guest is who they seem. Not least Agent Tucker Minnick, listening for secrets through the hotel walls, whose coal tattoo threatens to betray his past and undo June. And more troubling is the secret she has guarded for years - that the mountain waters can harm as much as heal...

The extraordinary, genre-defying debut adult novel by the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author.

'A marvel of storytelling' Chris Whitaker

'Around every corner of this richly imagined world, we discover some new wonder' New York Times

'A marvel: strange, witty, moving, exuberant... at once gloriously extravagant and perfectly poised' Robert Macfarlane

***READER REVIEWS***

'I have not stopped thinking about it' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
'It feels like the kind of story that becomes a classic' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
'A hauntingly beautiful read' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
'I wonder if Maggie Stiefvater would have ever suspected how well timed this book release would be. History tends to rhyme, after all' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
'A beautiful story about the human condition' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐©2025 Maggie Stiefvater 20th Century Editors Select Fantasy Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Witty War

Editorial Review

History, but better
As a lifelong Maggie Stiefvater fan, I instantly jumped on her first adult fiction, The Listeners. It’s a WWII story, but not in the way you might expect. Based on real events, the story takes us to West Virginia, where Axis diplomats are being held at a luxury hotel after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Though it’s grounded in history and hyperreal, in a way, the storytelling is classic Stiefvater: ethereal, with turns of phrase that leave you breathless at their cleverness. There’s a magic system here, too, presented practically but left mysterious. With a cast of characters that represent the clash of classes within a high-end hotel, narrator Erin Bennett does a splendid job voicing the array of dialects that would appear in such a setting. Prepare to be dazzled by this magical, historical work of art. —Melissa B., Audible Editor

Critic reviews

Cinematic and so very satisfying. This is a rich, multilayered ride of a novel not unlike the hotel at its heart - grand, patient, leaving no particulars unnoticed. A phenomenally immersive read (Claire Lombardo, bestselling author of The Most Fun We Ever Had)
Mesmeric, original, and stunning. Maggie Stiefvater is an exceptional talent, and The Listeners is by turns a beautiful love story, a fascinating glimpse into the horrors of history, and a haunting tale of loyalty and courage. A marvel of storytelling. I really couldn't have loved it more (Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of All the Colours of the Dark)
A marvel: strange, witty, moving, exuberant... the whole book somehow succeeds in being at once gloriously extravagant and perfectly poised (Robert Macfarlane)
An expansive, imaginative and wholly immersive novel. I was swept away by The Listeners and experienced ALL the emotions. Loved it. (Jennie Godfrey, bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things)
Suspenseful and fascinating, written with Stiefvater's characteristic witty dialogue and lush description
All stars
Most relevant
I was eagerly anticipating the release of the listeners, especially when I read that she was working on non-YA as I struggle to move away from YA despite being 30. I knew Maggie would not disappoint. Her whimsical and descriptive writing style paired with her unique and complex characters always captivates me, she could write about anything and I would read it at this point, and so should you. Don’t read anything about the book just read it knowing nothing and let the story tell itself.

Wonderful as expected

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