If you read our book reviews you’ll know that Oundle Crime’s reading recommendations sometimes include e-audiobooks. Several of our book group enjoy listening to them. Some subscribe to online services such as Audible, but otherwise we listen using BorrowBox, the e-library app which is free to use if you have a library card.
Recently, Northamptonshire Libraries announced their BorrowBox offer now includes ePress titles, which basically means you can now also borrow/read thousands of newspapers and magazines on BorrowBox instead of having to log in separately to the PressReader service. It’s well worth taking a look to see what’s available – we’ve spotted everything from the weekly Rugby Paper to Grand Designs magazines, plus newspapers from around the world. But, for now we’re thinking about the wonders of e-audiobooks.
Audiobooks in vogue
According to Nielsen Books & Consumers data from 2022 crime fiction was by far the most popular book genre in the UK (14.9% of the total). And within crime fiction they estimated that nearly 19% of purchases were audiobooks, which is an amazing statistic when you think about it. It’s the accessibility of audiobooks which is so appealing – hands-free listening for times when reading a book would be impossible.
Getting the best out of BorrowBox
It doesn’t look easy to nab a copy of a new title on BorrowBox as they’re usually snapped up very quickly. But I’ve always found it worth reserving a title I want, because they always seem to arrive more quickly than promised. I suspect that’s because people return books the instant they finish them – after all, you only have to click a button and it’s gone. But the biggest plus is that reservations on BorrowBox are absolutely free, so there’s no reason to hold back.
The joy of audio
Listening to e-audiobooks I’ve rediscovered writers I’d read years ago but forgotten about, and books I might have ignored if I’d seen them on a bookshelf. And you know what? It’s fun! There’s no cost to give something a try and if you’re not enjoying it, you just click and send it back into the ether.
A useful tip
Living in Oundle we’re able to join Peterborough Libraries as well as Northamptonshire’s, which means you can also use Peterborough’s e-library and just switch between your accounts.
New finds
In recent months, listening on BorrowBox (Northants and Peterborough) I’ve found authors I might otherwise never have discovered, and enjoyed their books so much I’ve gone on to listen to more or found hard copies to continue a series. Here are some of them, and the links I’ve added will take you to the first book of each series:
- Nick Louth – the DCI Craig Gillard series
- Joy Ellis – both the Jackman & Evans and Nikki Galena series
- Derek B. Miller – I started with his debut novel, Norwegian by Night, from Peterborough Libraries and Northampton has The Girl in Green
- Peter Temple – Jack Irish only one book on BorrowBox but it’s excellent
- Patricia Wolf – DS Walker series
Back in time
BorrowBox is also a good place for classic crime, or bestselling authors whose books might now be hard to find. For example
- Margery Allingham – the Campion series
- Eric Ambler
- Agatha Christie
- Francis Durbridge – the Paul Temple series
- Dick Francis
- Alistair MacLean
Take a look
I realise e-books and e-audiobooks aren’t for everyone, but it might be worth taking another look at BorrowBox even if it’s just to check out the magazines and papers now on offer. If you haven’t already signed up you can find more information here. All you need is your library card!
Review by: Cornish Eskimo
If you’d like to attend a meeting of Oundle Crime to meet other crime fiction fans and chat about the books and authors you enjoy, just email join@friendsofoundlelibrary.org.uk and we’ll send you the details.