• The Book of Night Women

  • By: Marlon James
  • Narrated by: Robin Miles
  • Length: 15 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (3,142 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Book of Night Women  By  cover art

The Book of Night Women

By: Marlon James
Narrated by: Robin Miles
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.60

Buy for $21.60

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The Book of Night Women is a sweeping, startling novel, a true tour de force of both voice and storytelling. It is the story of Lilith, born into slavery on a Jamaican sugar plantation at the end of the 18th century. Even at her birth, the slave women around her recognize a dark power that they - and she - will come to both revere and fear. The Night Women, as they call themselves, have long been plotting a slave revolt, and as Lilith comes of age and reveals the extent of her power, they see her as the key to their plans.

But when she begins to understand her own feelings and desires and identity, Lilith starts to push at the edges of what is imaginable for the life of a slave woman in Jamaica, and risks becoming the conspiracy's weak link. Lilith's story overflows with high drama and heartbreak, and life on the plantation is rife with dangerous secrets, unspoken jealousies, inhuman violence, and very human emotion - between slave and master, between slave and overseer, and among the slaves themselves. Lilith finds herself at the heart of it all. And all of it told in one of the boldest literary voices to grace the page recently - and the secret of that voice is one of the book's most intriguing mysteries.

©2009 Marlon James (P)2009 Penguin

Critic reviews

"Both beautifully written and devastating... Writing in the spirit of Toni Morrison and Alice Walker but in a style all his own, James has conducted an experiment in how to write the unspeakable - even the unthinkable. And the results of that experiment are an undeniable success.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“The narrative voice is so assured and the descriptions so detailed and believable that one can’t help being engaged. This is a book to love.... The Book of Night Women is hard to pick up, even harder to put down...and it deserves to be read." (Chicago Tribune)

"The Book of Night Women is a searing read, full of blood, tears, and the stench of misery. It’s barbaric and ancient, but also familiar in the ways that people, consumed by their differences and divisions, easily overlook all that binds them - the desire for independence, the right to a civilized life, and the need to give and receive love.” (The Boston Globe)

Featured Article: The 20 Best Mystery Audiobooks to Entertain Your Inner Sleuth


Looking for the perfect audiobook to keep you engrossed and engaged during your next long drive, weekend chores, or a long work day? Look no further than this list of puzzling, mind-bending mysteries that will have you holding on to every word as the narrator pulls you in on the search for clues. We’ve narrowed this wide-spanning genre down to 20 of the best mystery audiobooks we’ve heard so you can get to listening and searching for answers.

What listeners say about The Book of Night Women

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,336
  • 4 Stars
    574
  • 3 Stars
    139
  • 2 Stars
    47
  • 1 Stars
    46
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,381
  • 4 Stars
    237
  • 3 Stars
    58
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    22
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,011
  • 4 Stars
    499
  • 3 Stars
    134
  • 2 Stars
    35
  • 1 Stars
    33

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Better in Audio

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to a friend because it is a great listen and story. I love anything regarding slavery. It's a haunting and moving story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Book of Night Women?

All the struggles of Lilith and with Lilith. The strength of Homer.

Have you listened to any of Robin Miles’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was the first listen by Robin Miles. I believe she did a great job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The scene of the "Ultimate Betrayal".

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Strong.

A truly difficult book, in the best of ways. It focuses on the strength of a story and highlights its perspective. It’s truly unpleasant and uncomfortable in plenty of places but always written and delivered with a presence of utmost importance. This narrative comes from a place in history that cannot be forgotten. We cannot underestimate the cruelty that can lay within humans. While this was one of the hardest books to listen to, bringing up tears more than once, I would recommend it fully to anyone and everyone who is tries to expand their horizons and perspectives.

A note on Robin Miles’ performance: simply stunning. I LOVE the life she gave the words. It takes a while to get used to the Jamaican accent but it makes the experience so much richer. I find it difficult to express how much I appreciate her performance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Different than anything I’ve read...

This story was superbly narrated. If it weren’t for the narration I’m not sure it would have been as good or as entertaining. The Jamaican accent and the British accent and the Irish brogue all done by one person...simply put....AMAZING! The story is based on a subject I’ve little to no knowledge of so I found it very enlightening and a whole lot disturbing. The story itself was hard to listen to in parts because of the vivid and descriptive words describing the horrific treatment of the slaves. Fortunately it has a happy ending.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW!!!

Need to say no more....WOW!!!!! The reader was amazing! I couldn’t stop listening, it makes you really think.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow! Intense story, so well told.

I studied the history of the West Indies, slavery, and women’s work for my doctorate, so I knew this book was going to be of interest. It’s heavy, but so well told. The audio performance is excellent. The characters really come to life to tell a tragic and complicated history that continues to resonate today.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Engrossing Historical Fiction

The narrator did a superb job.
This book is at once hard with truths many don’t want to face about our history but also full of what it is to be human, with emotional waters that facts just can’t ebb, no matter how stark the lines are.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The book of Night Women

I wanted to give this book a 5 but the language is hard to understand. Usually when I play audio books I can relax and enjoy the story when I play this book I have to really concentrate on the narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome!

Powerful story and amazing voice and performance . I just love it! You won't regret it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!

This book was absolutely amazing. Robin Miles made this book come to life. I felt as though I was off to the side watching it all take place. I cried. I laughed and I cried some more. This is a story that will have you rooting and booing for the same people, leaving you conflicted and diving deeper into self reflection. I listened to this twice back to back.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing

What made the experience of listening to The Book of Night Women the most enjoyable?

I haven't listened to a book this well written, narrated and produced since I listened to "Love" performed by Toni Morrison. Vividly written, this book took me through a range of emotions: Anger, fear, sadness and understanding. This is definitely a must read.

What other book might you compare The Book of Night Women to and why?

The Kitchen House

What about Robin Miles’s performance did you like?

Expert dialect and clear voice

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!