Our score
Excellent
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Dead Beat Audiobook by Leigh Bardugo— narrated by Lauren Fortgang and Michael David Axtell
Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo closes the Ninth House trilogy with demons loose in New Haven and Alex Stern racing to shut the door she left open. A dark fantasy and dark academia finale with a mystery at its center, best read after the earlier books.
Why the audiobook wins
Lauren Fortgang and Michael David Axtell share the narration of a dark fantasy with a mystery spine, built on brutal action, dry humor, and a prickly heroine in a world where right and wrong have mostly worn away. The mix of wit and dread is what to listen for.
At about 15 and a half hours, it is a big, dense finale with plenty of Yale history to absorb. Start with Ninth House, because the payoff leans on knowing Alex and the societies. The action turns brutal at times, which fits when the antagonists come from hell.
Darlington returns with more page time, plus a dash of romance. One Audible credit covers the whole book.
Audiobook questions
- Who narrates the Dead Beat audiobook?
- Lauren Fortgang and Michael David Axtell narrate the audiobook edition of Dead Beat.
- How long is the Dead Beat audiobook?
- The audiobook runs 15 hr 33 min.
- Is the Dead Beat audiobook worth listening to?
- We scored Dead Beat 4.4 out of 5. Lauren Fortgang and Michael David Axtell share the narration of a dark fantasy with a mystery spine, built on brutal action, dry humor, and a prickly heroine in a world where right and wrong have mostly worn away. The mix of wit and dread is what to listen for.
- Can I listen to Dead Beat free with an Audible trial?
- Eligible new Audible members can use a free-trial credit to listen in the Audible app. Eligibility and current offer terms are set by Audible.Listen free with Audible
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- Is Dead Beat on Kindle+?
- No. Dead Beat was not included with Kindle+ when we last checked on October 26, 2026.
- What formats is Dead Beat available in?
- On Amazon, Dead Beat comes as a Kindle ebook and a hardcover.
