New York by Edward Rutherfurd

Though I don't always love Historical Fiction, Rutherfurd is a doyen in the way he builds his story and his generations of characters. Like a mason, joining bricks together in a pattern mastered for its strength, he starts with seemingly disparate stories and slowly constructs his full picture. With the crisscrossing and overlapping lives of his characters' stories that span hundreds of years, New York comes alive, revealing the origin of so many well-known landmarks and the rich but malleable history. Rutherfurd's scope is always so impressive, and I find myself returning to his brilliant constructions again and again.

Audiobook, as narrated by Mark Bramhall: Bramhall is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. His narration is so dependably good, steady, and engaging. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to anything he performs.