The Heirs audiobook vs book: which should you choose?
A YA murder mystery about five adopted siblings after their billionaire father is murdered at his own Prodigy Ball, told from all five viewpoints.
Short answer: for The Heirs audiobook vs book choice, we say read it on Kindle (100% confidence, clear cut). The story is split between five siblings and the timeline jumps backwards and forwards, both confirmed by named reviewers. One narrator reads every viewpoint, so print makes it easier to keep track.
Read it on Kindle
Five viewpoints and a timeline that jumps back and forth, all in one voice: one for the page.
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Confidence 100%, which puts it in the clear cut band. Bands run from close call at 50 to 64, through leaning at 65 to 79 and clear at 80 to 94, up to clear cut at 95 and above.
The audiobook at a glance
| Recording | UK store, our verdict | US store |
|---|---|---|
| Narrator | Torian Brackett | Torian Brackett |
| Length | 10 hours 42 minutes (10h 42m), unabridged | 10 hours 42 minutes (10h 42m), unabridged |
| At 1.5x | about 7h 8m | about 7h 8m |
| At 2x | about 5h 21m | about 5h 21m |
| Audio publisher and date | Macmillan Young Listeners, 2 June 2026 | Macmillan Young Listeners, 2 June 2026 |
| Audiobook price | £14.43 on Audible UK | $20.24 on Audible US |
| Kindle price | £4.99 on Amazon UK | Not confirmed |
| Usborne paperback, 368 pages, June 2026 (14+) | Feiwel & Friends hardcover, 336 pages, 2 June 2026 (12+) | |
| Listener rating | No ratings yet | Performance 4.1 from 23 ratings |
No UK-produced recording was found: Audible UK sells the US Macmillan recording.
Ratings and prices checked 30 October 2026. They change often. Amazon US does not show Kindle prices outside the US, so US Kindle prices are not given.
Lengths checked 30 October 2026. Speed times are calculated.
The Heirs
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
- Genre
- YA mystery
- First published
- June 2026
- Length
- 368 pages (Usborne paperback)
- Age
- 14+ (UK), 12+ (US)
- On audio
- 10 hrs 42 mins, Torian Brackett
- Shortlisted
- Waterstones Book of the Year 2026
On this page
Why we reached this verdict
Every book on this site is checked against the same thirteen questions. They are based on research into what most people find easier to follow in each format, not on whether the book is any good.
Listening: nothing confirmed, 0 points. Reading: jumping timelines (8), three or more points of view, one narrator (8), 16 points. 100% of the confirmed points favour reading, so the verdict is read it on Kindle at 100% confidence (clear cut).
The recording in detail
- Scored
- Torian Brackett, Macmillan Young Listeners, 2026, 10h 42m, unabridged
- Critic review
- None found
- Alternatives
- None
- What you miss
- Nothing confirmed
What this book actually is
The Heirs is a YA murder mystery by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, the author of Ace of Spades. The five adopted Button siblings, Octavius, Fola, Bilal, Perdita and Romeo, were raised as prodigies by their billionaire father, Leontes Button. When he is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball, plenty of guests had reason to want him dead. Usborne describes it as “The Inheritance Games meets Knives Out”.
It is on the Waterstones Book of the Year 2026 shortlist. Who the killer is and the late twists are not covered here. The book includes murder, violence, blood, heavy drinking and strong language.
The case for reading it
Five siblings take turns to tell the story (Books for Keeps), and School Reading List says the timeline jumps backwards and forwards. In print a chapter heading tells you whose head you are in and when; on audio one narrator voices all five.
A mystery also rewards turning back to check a clue.
The case for listening to it
One narrator, Torian Brackett, reads all five viewpoints, and listeners rate the reading 4.1 on Audible US.
At 10 hours 42 minutes it comes down to about 7 hours 8 minutes at 1.5x.
The audiobook in detail
Macmillan Young Listeners publishes the unabridged recording, read by Torian Brackett at 10 hours 42 minutes (2 June 2026). It is sold on both Audible US and Audible UK; no recording by the UK publisher, Usborne, was found.
No PDF companion is listed.
Who should ignore this verdict
Lean towards audio if you are used to following multi-voice mysteries by ear and enjoy one narrator doing all the voices. Lean towards print if you like to solve along and check clues.
Kindle
- 368 pages (Usborne paperback)
- Chapter headings show whose story it is
Audiobook
- Read by Torian Brackett
- 10h 42m, or about 7h 8m at 1.5x
- Unabridged; one narrator for five viewpoints
Read differently from most people? The app, coming soon, will let you switch off any of the thirteen checks. Get notified →
Related verdicts
Fourth Wing
Praised narration and a long book, against a front-matter map that only print carries.
The Thursday Murder Club
A murder mystery, also better read.
Throne of Glass
Several viewpoints read by one narrator, against a print edition over 400 pages.
Solace House
Also on the Waterstones shortlist.
Start hereHow we decide
The thirteen questions behind every verdict on this site.
Questions people ask
Who narrates The Heirs audiobook?
Torian Brackett, on both Audible UK and Audible US.
How long is The Heirs audiobook?
10 hours 42 minutes, or about 7 hours 8 minutes at 1.5x.
Is it abridged?
No, it is listed as unabridged.
How many pages is The Heirs?
368 in the UK Usborne paperback and 336 in the US Feiwel & Friends hardcover.
What age is The Heirs for?
14 and up in the UK edition, 12 and up in the US edition.
Is there a UK audiobook of The Heirs?
No UK-produced recording was found. The US Macmillan recording is sold on Audible UK.
Is The Heirs like The Inheritance Games?
Usborne describes it as “The Inheritance Games meets Knives Out”.
Should I read or listen?
Read, at 100%, clear cut. Five viewpoints and a jumping timeline, all in one narrator’s voice.
Do you agree with this verdict?
We said read it on Kindle. One tap, no sign-up.
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How this verdict was reached
Every book on this site is checked against the same thirteen questions, set in advance and applied identically to every title. They are based on research into what readers and listeners generally find easier to follow in each format, not on personal preference, and they are published in full so you can check the reasoning yourself. Verdicts are never paid for, sponsored or influenced by affiliate partners.
- The criteria: read the thirteen questions in full.
- What we checked for this book: Audible UK and US, Amazon UK, Usborne, Feiwel & Friends, Books for Keeps (July 2026), School Reading List, Cracking the Cover (3 June 2026), and Pine Reads Review.
- Verdict last reviewed: 30 October 2026. Editions and narrators change, so verdicts are rechecked annually.
- Prefer different criteria? The app, coming soon, will let you change which of the thirteen questions matter to you.
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