In Martin Amis's 2003 novel Yellow Dog, the character Xan Meo is attacked in a pub by two men who knock him unconscious with a cosh—a heavy, club-like object. The attack is a form of revenge for Meo exposing an old associate of his late father, a notorious gangster, in his writing. Though Meo survives, the injury alters his personality. He was once a responsible husband and father, but afterward, he becomes more like his father—ruthless and self-serving. While Meo recovers in the hospital, King Henry IX, a bored and reluctant monarch, learns that photos of his 15-year-old daughter in the bath are circulating online. Meanwhile, Clint Smoker, a tabloid journalist for The Morning Lark, receives an unexpected tip about the scandal. Yellow Dog is a satirical novel that explores the darker sides of human nature through three interconnected stories. It is one of several Martin Amis novels being released in audio format this year, including Money, London Fields, Night Train, and The Rachel Papers. Bill Nighy, known for his distinctive voice and comedic timing, narrates Yellow Dog and brings Amis’s larger-than-life characters to life. Alongside Meo, Smoker, and King Henry, the story features an eccentric cast including Russia, Xan’s long-suffering wife; Mal Bale, a gruff bodyguard; Cora Susan, a porn mogul; and Ainsley Car, a flamboyant footballer and tabloid favorite. Though these characters can feel exaggerated on the page, Nighy’s performance makes them both believable and entertaining. For readers looking for more audiobooks, Love Lane by Patrick Gale offers a different kind of story. A follow-up to A Place in Winter, it follows Harry Cane, an elderly man returning to a changed England after years away, as he tries to reconnect with the family he once left behind. The novel is read by Gale himself, adding a personal touch to the narrative. Another compelling listen is Honoured by Naz Shah, a Labour MP and former resident of Bradford West. In her memoir, Shah recounts a traumatic childhood marked by domestic violence and an arranged marriage at the age of 15, before she eventually entered politics. Her story is both powerful and deeply personal, offering insight into her journey from hardship to public service.