Kelli Tager
Author: Lauren Myracle
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Runtime: 9h 5m
Leave it to Kelli Tager to tell a twisted tale of revenge “without ever distracting from the story.” In a staggering narrative, she delivers a “flawless performance” that judges called “refreshingly human.” The Narrator of Distinction awards intends to show the kind of performances that audiobook professionals hold in the highest regard, and Kelli points the way with a performance that was perfect for this book “in every single way.”
Kelli’s experience as a narrator is expansive, with romance and thriller showing up as regulars in her rotation. It’s clear that these two genres demand sincerity and nimbleness, which Kelli has in spades. As our judges stated: “Kelli navigated the complex character work with the precision and instinct of an elite MLB infielder.” Across varied characters and moments, and all the artistic demands of this novel, Kelli made “difficult character work sound effortless.”
The praise is apt, as delivering a “standout performance” with “exceptional” technical control already takes tremendous experience and application, but Kelli “never let the narration feel like a performance–it felt human, natural, and grounded.” From good girl Jake Nolan, to back-stabbing Shelby, to the residents of idyllic Sweetwater Lane, Kelli’s “distinct, nuanced performances” were “always clear and believable.” Her “flawless” work kept judges “riveted from start to finish.” As one reviewer put it: “Wow, did she blow me away.”