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"Malcolm Hillgartner's bass pitch and stately American tone sound like the mid-twentieth century, and this is a very mid-twentieth-century story. In late 1945, immediately after engineering the Allied victories in WWII, Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall was directed by President Harry S. Truman to lead a special mission to China to negotiate a coalition government between the Nationalist Army, led by Chiang Kai-shek, and the Communists, led by Mao Zedong. It was supposed to be a short, uncomplicated task, but as months of mediation failed and civil war loomed, the listener can hear in Hillgartner's voice that the United States was headed for a major diplomatic setback and the first stages of the Cold War."— B.P. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2018]
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"The title of this taut audiobook refers to a small wing of the Pakistani Intelligence Service, the I.S.I., whose job it was to train and arm Taliban fighters to expand Pakistan's influence in Afghanistan after 9/11. The work of this directorate had a direct and negative effect on the United States' ability to successfully prosecute a war that continues to this day. Narrator Malcolm Hillgartner delivers this audiobook in a deep authoritative voice that captures its mood and purpose...Hillgartner also mixes in some light character voices and superb pronunciations of Afghan and Pakistani names and places."— R.I.G. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2018]
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"Malcolm Hillgartner's narration is an excellent match to this audiobook. Unger offers an intriguing study of the young Pablo Picasso and his journey to become the iconic cubist painter. Unger focuses on Picasso's 1907 work "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," arguably his first cubist piece, which radically altered the art world. This study of Picasso also offers an introspective look at his history and psyche, creating an interesting picture of the man behind the artist. Hillgartner's deep, crisp voice complements the historical information, and his measured pace helps keep the listener focused. He admirably tackles both French and Spanish pronunciations, which occur frequently, and adds passion to Picasso's quotes. Hillgartner's skillful narration helps Unger's work shine."–D.M.W. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2018]
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“The story of Robert de La Rochefoucald, a French aristocrat turned anti-Nazi saboteur during WWII, reads like a novel--and that's exactly the way Malcolm Hillgartner narrates it. He adds no false drama. The story is compelling by itself. His steady pace keeps listeners engaged, but he varies it ever so slightly at times for variety and impact. His facility with French names and places also keeps the reading flowing. His somewhat somber voice adds exactly the right atmosphere to this story, in which one wrong step by the Frenchman can mean death. Hillgartner also narrated WHEN PARIS WENT DARK--about the Nazi occupation of the city. This latest audiobook offers a nice complement."— R.C.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2017]
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"Mauro Larrea's bad luck finally turns when he wins property in Spain during a game of cards in Mexico. And so begins an international family epic that takes listeners from Mexico to Spain and on to Cuba. Narrator Malcolm Hillgartner's baritone fills the listener's ears with a vibrant narration style that brings to life the nineteenth-century Spanish-speaking world. His husky voice is a vivid vehicle to carry this mostly masculine story of men trying to survive in the mining industry. Fans of historical fiction will appreciate the attention to detail and Hillgartner's painstaking efforts to capture the drama that plays out between the large cast of characters. His familiarity with Spanish brings an authentic pronunciation to words interspersed throughout the story." —M.R. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2018]
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"Narrator Malcolm Hillgartner manages to combine gravitas with avuncular warmth in Gelb's historical overview of the events in WWII that led to the amazing rescue of the British Expeditionary Force from the coast of France. The BEF was surrounded on all sides by Germans, unable to move forward, their backs to the sea at Dunkirk. Hillgartner builds tension as the perilous events unfold, growing meticulous and precise when recounting Winston Churchill's machinations. Churchill summons enough sea and air support to rescue the trapped men. The rescue, called Operation Dynamo, evacuated approximately 225,000 British and another 140,000 French troops over a period of 10 days, navigating the unpredictable waters of the English Channel and the ever-present danger of the Germans. Hillgartner does masterful work, making the rescues at Dunkirk not only credible, but also breathtaking." —S.J.H. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published:
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"The story of John Franklin's doomed expedition to discover the Northwest Passage in 1845 and the dozens of unsuccessful searches mounted to learn the fate of the 130 men who accompanied him is not a new topic, but it's still a sensational one--full of starvation, cannibalism, botulism, clairvoyants, and Arctic cold. Narrator Malcolm Hillgartner has a rich voice and a keen ability to evoke an atmosphere of endless winter, deprivation, and mystery. He also rolls through the Inuit names and places without hesitation as we learn that Inuit stories that had been ignored and dismissed for decades were key to locating the HMS EREBUS in 2014 and the HMS TERROR in 2016. Paul Watson is also sympathetic to Franklin's wife Jane's famous intensity and grit, and Hillgartner faithfully renders her unusual viewpoint."— A.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2017]
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"TO PROTECT AND SERVE ... delivers a revolutionary new model for American law enforcement: the community-based police department. It calls for citizen participation in all aspects of police operations: policymaking, program development, crime fighting and service delivery, entry-level and ongoing education and training, oversight of police conduct, and, especially relevant to today’s challenges, joint community-police crisis management. Nothing will ever change until the system itself is radically restructured, and here Norm Stamper shows how. The great thing about this informative audiobook is the narrator, Malcolm Hillgartner. An accomplished actor and dramatist, he has the kind of voice one can never tire of hearing. Trying to describe it is like describing a wine. Earthy, tannic, but with hints of citrus and jasmine, and a smooth finish." — Jonathan Lowe's Audiobook Reviews, JULY 2016
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"Over the first half of the twentieth century, the daredevils who tried to ride the falls at Niagara to glory were abundant. The Hill family was on hand, sometimes grimly fishing bodies from the water, throughout that era. Michael Clarkson begins this story in 1951, describing the scene as William "Red" Hill, Jr., prepares for a barrel run. Clarkson then shifts back to 1901 as Annie Edson Taylor prepares for what would be the first successful attempt to go over the falls in a barrel. Malcolm Hillgartner's narration builds tension well, making listeners feel as if they're a part of each daring stunt, maintaining excitement throughout. Even most of the successes have unhappy tinges, but this is a fascinating slice of American history." —J.A.S. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
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"Malcolm Hillgartner is the perfect narrator for this magnificent display of White's restrained literary style. Some of the essays are true gems. They have also become a marvelous tour through the life of a Maine resident and NEW YORKER writer in the middle decades of the twentieth century with concern for nuclear war, trains, summer houses, changes in New York City, ocean travel, and the passage of time. Hillgartner's smooth, cultured baritone and practiced delivery allow us to yearn unselfconsciously for the past. He seems as at home with White's homage to WALDEN as he is with White's heartfelt farewell to the Ford Model T. He conveys embarrassment in recounting White's boyish adventures and earnestness in imparting the wisdom of age. Great listening."— F.C. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

​"Narrating this elegant writer's words is unalloyed pleasure. Enough said. I have not had so much fun in a studio in ages." —MH
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"In a gravelly voice, Malcolm Hillgartner narrates this dense biography of one of the nation's most influential strategic thinkers of the twentieth century, Henry Kissinger. Reading effortlessly, Hillgartner engages with the complex history and politics that made up the life and times of Kissinger before his appointment as Richard Nixon's national security adviser. Hillgartner shifts intonation for quotes and clearly identifies footnotes--drawn from primary sources, archives, and a multitude of published sources--without breaking his narration. His stentorian voice is perfect for this biography of an uncommonly strong personality. Using subtle shifts in pacing, Hillgartner draws the listener into the ever-increasing political tensions at home, particularly during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Listeners will be fascinated."— M.B.K. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2016]
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"A murder, a missing artifact, a long winter, and a female cop are a few of the many details that keep the listener engaged in this crime novel set in Norway. The disappearance of a Sami drum, a holy relic of the indigenous people of Norway, and the appearance of a body set the story in motion. Malcolm Hillgartner manages the tension between the various characters, particularly between the male and female cops, Klemet Nango and Nina Nansen. His characterization of their differences is achieved through pitch and pace. The story and Hillgartner's narration are examples of the best that the genre of the Scandinavian procedural has to offer." 
 —M.R. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2015]
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"Malcolm Hillgartner's rich, expressive baritone is an ideal match for this well-written and thoroughly researched biography of Bob Hope. Steady and conversational, Hillgartner's phrasing and pace are nothing short of remarkable. Hope was an entertainment superstar in every medium, and his shrewd strategies and skillful business successes are thoroughly examined in a close look at his entire life. The work balances Hope's personal and career strengths and weaknesses with high style. The narrator's voice essentially disappears as the fascinating treasure trove of show business remembrances and anecdotes weaves the entire illuminating story. A real treat." — W.A.G. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2014]
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"Malcolm Hillgartner's deep, rich voice adds life to Dvorak's stories, which string together an engaging series of science and history anecdotes that focus on the San Andreas Fault. Hillgartner knows his California place names and conveys the thrill of discovery that provides the dynamic for most of the narrative. His delivery is lively without being overdramatic. The San Andreas Fault is a good lens for learning about the development of earth science." —  F.C. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2014]
"Every now and then a book comes around that just flies off the page for you in the studio. This is one of them, unlikely as that may seem at first glance. Dvorak is not kidding when he subtitles his work a "fascinating history." It is, peopled with unforgettable characters like Alice Eastwood (who climbed Mt. Shasta in a dress and descended by sliding several thousand feet down the glacial ice until she reached firmer ground), John Muir, and many others." — M. H.
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EDITOR'S PICK—SoundCommentary.com, November 2014
"Narrator Malcolm Hillgartner's outstanding reading is measured, exacting, and respectful of the complicated issues.  His French and German are perfect.  When Paris Went Dark  is deservedly on the list of nominations for The National Book Award. Highly recommended, eye-opening history." — Jean Palmer, SoundCommentary.com

"Rosbottom's revealing study of Paris under German occupation endeavors to capture the feeling of those strange and horrifying 1,500 days. He uses an impressive range of literary, journalistic, and eyewitness sources to offer different points of view. Malcolm Hilgartner's clear, somber voice suits the tragic, complex subject. His command of both German and French allows him to effectively convey French slang and the Teutonic word choices of the Nazi regime. He presents both the horror of the occupation and its few light moments without being overdramatic. This is not a traditional chronological history. Rosbottom's inquiry moves back and forth across time in his quest to capture the essence of the City of Lights at a dark time." — F.C. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2014]
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"Acclaimed history professor Nasaw provides a well-researched and absorbing biography of the pessimistic Kennedy. The subject's varied roles as a financial speculator, real estate tycoon, U.S. ambassador, and movie studio owner are explored in great detail. Malcolm Hillgartner's understated narration is spot-on for the task. His tone conveys authority, and his proper emphasis and pacing keep the listener engaged. Involved with virtually all of the significant worldwide events of his time, Kennedy tirelessly pursued many roles, including SEC chairmanship. Nasaw had the benefit of complete access to the family's personal papers. Ambitious, unbridled, and relentless, this father of a U.S. president is presented in a sweeping and comprehensive work." — W.A.G. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2013]
Here's a list of every book I've done to date, with the most recent listed first, and a link to a review when possible:

  1. 108 Stitches by Ron Darling
  2. When The Irish Invaded America by Christopher Klein
  3. Shadows at Dawn by Karl Jacoby
  4. Chaos, A Fable by Rodrigo Reys Rosa
  5. Adios Ángel by Mark Reps
  6. Holes in the Sky by Mark Reps
  7. Native Blood by Mark Reps
  8. Play By Play by Verne Lundquist
  9. Deadly Mistress by Michael Fleeman
  10. Angels and Loners by Ramón Díaz Eterovic
  11. Seduced By Evil by Michael Fleeman
  12. The Order of the Day by Eric Vuillard
  13. Lights On The Sea by Miquel Reina
  14. Things I'll Never Forget: Memories of a Marine in Viet Nam by James M. Dixon
  15. Save the Planet by Almir Sarayamoga Suruí and Corine Sombrun
  16. Myths To Live By by Joseph Campbell
  17. The Republic by Plato
  18. Chief Joseph and the Flight of the Nez Perce by Kent Newburn
  19. Young Washington by Peter Stark
  20. The Autobiography of Ben Franklin by Ben Franklin
  21. The China Mission by Daniel Kurtz-Phelan
  22. The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Tales by Edgar Allen Poe
  23. Picasso and the Painting that Shocked the World by Miles J. Unger
  24. Directorate S by Steve Coll
  25. American Holocaust by David E. Stannard
  26. Hell's Princess by Harold Schechter
  27. Chasing Understanding in the Jungles of Vietnam by Douglas Beed
  28. The Saboteur by Paul Kix
  29. Laci: Inside the Laci Peterson Murder by Michael Fleeman
  30. The Vineyard by Maria Dueñas
  31. Dark Echoes of the Past by Ramón Díaz Eterovic
  32. The Great Shift by James L. Kugel
  33. How Forests Think by Eduardo Kohn
  34. Dunkirk by Norman Gelb
  35. The Honest Spy by Andreas Kollender
  36. Tales from the Haunted Mansion V.1 & 2 by Amicus Arcane
  37. Return To Your Skin by Luz Gabas
  38. Whose Global Village? by Ramesh Srinivasan
  39. Drunks: An American History by Christopher Finan
  40. Lee by Clifford Dowdey
  41. Fall From Grace by Tim Hornbaker
  42. The Man Who Could Be King by John Ripin Miller
  43. Enduring Vietnam by James Wright
  44. House of Jaguar by Mike Bond
  45. Ice Ghosts by Paul Watson
  46. Shadowbahn by Steve Ericksen
  47. The Man in the Lighthouse by Erik Valeur
  48. The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer
  49. Radicalized by Peter R. Neumann
  50. Palm Trees in the Snow by Luz Gabas
  51. One Shining Moment by William Manchester
  52. It Takes A School by Jonathan Starr
  53. Breaking Blue by Timothy Egan
  54. A Matter of Honor by Anthony Summers and Robynn Swann
  55. The Cases That Haunt Us by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker
  56. Patrimony by Philip Roth
  57. The Counterlife by Philip Roth
  58. The Age of Daredevils by Michael Clarkson
  59. The Prague Orgy by Philip Roth
  60. It Is Well by James D. Shipman
  61. Building Engaged Schools by Gary Gordon
  62. John Lennon Vs. the USA by Leon Wildes
  63. The Anatomy Lesson by Philip Roth
  64. Ancient Evenings by Norman Mailer
  65. E. B. White on Dogs edited by Martha White
  66. One Man's Meat by E. B. White
  67. Zuckerman Unbound by Philip Roth
  68. The Essays of E. B. White by E. B. White
  69. The Lynching by Laurence Leamer
  70. To Protect and To Serve by Norm Stamper
  71. The Ghost Writer by Philip Roth
  72. Perilous Judgement by Dennis Ricci
  73. Here Is New York by E. B. White
  74. All Tomorrow's Parties by Rob Spillman
  75. Jihad Academy by Nicolas Hénin
  76. Most Evil 2 by Steve Hodel
  77. Darkness There: Tales by Edgar Allan Poe
  78. Dark Territory by Fred Kaplan
  79. Peacerunner by Penn Rhodeen
  80. Let There Be Water by Seth M. Siegel
  81. The Collapse of Parenting by Leonard Sax
  82. The General and the Genius by James Kunetka
  83. Kissinger: The Idealist 1923-1968 by Niall Ferguson
  84. Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty by Charles Leerhsen
  85. American Warlords by Jonathan W. Jordan
  86. The Hundred-Year Marathon by Michael Pillsbury
  87. There Is Simply Too Much To Think: Collected Essays by Saul Bellow
  88. Kill Chain by Andrew Cockburn
  89. The Last Warrior by Andrew Krepinevich and Barry Watts 
  90. 40 Days Without Shadow by Olivier Truc
  91. Good Hunting by Jack Devine
  92. A Christmas Far From Home by Stanley Weintraub
  93. When Lions Roar by Thomas Maier
  94. The Nazis Next Door by Eric Lichtblau
  95. Hope: Entertainer of the Century by Richard Zoglin
  96. The Edison Effect by Bernadette Pajer
  97. The Age of Opportunity: Lessons from the New Science of Adolescence by Laurence Steinberg
  98. When Paris Went Dark by Daniel C. Rosbottom
  99. Pegasus by Danielle Steel
  100. Fear and Loathing (The Gonzo Letters, Vol. 2) by Hunter S. Thompson
  101. The Proud Highway (The Gonzo Letters, Vol.1) by Hunter S. Thompson
  102. The Lion's Gate by Steven Pressfield
  103. The Curse of Lono by Hunter S. Thompson
  104. Showtime by Jeff Pearlman
  105. Earthquake Storms by John Dvorak
  106. Lincoln's Boys by Joshua Zeitz
  107. Call Me Burroughs by Barry Miles
  108. Our One Common Country by James B. Conroy
  109. Eldritch Tales by H.P. Lovecraft (with various narrators)
  110. Young Mr. Roosevelt by Stanley Weintraub
  111. Dreams of Terror and Death by H.P.Lovecraft (with various narrators)
  112. The Map and the Territory by Alan Greenspan
  113. The Assassination of the Archduke by Greg King and Sue Woolmans
  114. Lawrence in Arabia by Scott Anderson
  115. JFK's Last 100 Days by Thurston Clarke
  116. Capacity for Murder by Bernadette Pajer
  117. Kissinger by Walter Isaacson
  118. The Mystery Writers of America present The Mystery Box edit. by Brad Meltzer (with various narrators)
  119. The Price of Justice by Laurence Leamer
  120. Liar Liar by the Liars Club (with various narrators)
  121. Vatican Diaries by John Thavis
  122. Vermeer's Hat by Timothy Brook
  123. The Man Within My Head by Pico Iyer 
  124. Mortal Consequences (Forgotten Realms, The Netheril Trilogy, Book 3) by Clayton Emery 
  125. Sektion 20 by Paul Dowswell
  126. Fidel and Che by Simon Reid-Henry
  127. Dangerous Games (Forgotten Realms, The Netheril Trilogy, Book 2) by Clayton Emery  
  128. The Piano Cemetery by Jose Luis Peixoto
  129. Sword Play (Forgotten Realms, The Netheril Trilogy, Book 1) by Clayton Emery 
  130. Falling Stars (Firestar Saga Book 4) by Michael Flynn
  131. Lode Star (Firestar Sage Book 3) by Michael Flynn
  132. No Questions Asked by Ross Thomas
  133. Rogue Star (Firestar Saga Book 2) by Michael Flynn
  134. Screen Scam by Michael Bowen
  135. Unforced Error by Michael Bowen
  136. The Highbinders by Ross Thomas
  137. The Procane Chronicle by Ross Thomas
  138. Protocol for a Kidnapping by Ross Thomas
  139. The Brass Go-Between by Ross Thomas
  140. Firestar (Firestar Saga Book 1) by Michael Flynn
  141. The Patriarch by David Nasaw
  142. The Color of Christ by Edward J. Blum and Paul Harvey
  143. The Impossible Rescue: The True Story of an Amazing Arctic Adventure by Martin W. Sandler
  144. Every Love Story is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace by D. T. Max
  145. Unintended Consequences by Edward Conard
  146. 21st Century Dead edit. by Christopher Golden (with various readers)
  147. The Number of the Beast by Robert Heinlein (with various readers)
  148. Some of Your Blood by Theodore Sturgeon
  149. Game Over: Jerry Sandusky, Penn State and the Culture of Silence by Bill Moushey, Robert Dvorchak
  150. Fatal Induction by Bernadette Pajer
  151. The Finest Hours: The True Story of the Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman
  152. Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power by Steve Coll
  153. By Blood by Ellen Ullmann
  154. George F. Kennan by John Lewis Gaddis
  155. Time to Get Tough by Donald Trump
  156. To Jerusalem and Back by Saul Bellow
  157. Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton by Jeff Pearlman
  158. Pearl Harbor Christmas by Stanley Weintraub
  159. Reamde by Neal Stephenson
  160. Already Gone by John Rector
  161. Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan and Bin Laden by Steve Coll
  162. The Interrogator by Glenn L. Carle
  163. Spark of Death by Bernadette Pajer
  164. Hearts Touched by Fire edit. by Harold Holzer (with various readers) 
  165. A Sailor's History of the Navy by Thomas J. Cutler
  166. Americans in Paris: Life and Death Under Nazi Occupation by Charles Glass
  167. For Us the Living by Robert A. Heinlein
  168. On the Blue Comet by Rosemary Wells
  169. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
  170. Superconnect: Harnessing the Power of Networks and the Strength of Weak Links by Richard Koch and Greg Lockwood
  171. Dancing in the Dark: A Cultural History of the Great Depression by Morris Dickstein
  172. Unafraid by Jeff Golden
  173. Deadline Man by Jon Talton
  174. Overboard by Michael J. Tougias
  175. Herzog by Saul Bellow
  176. Twisted Tree by Kent Myers
  177. A Good Fall by Ha Jin (with various readers)
  178. Service Dress Blues by Michael Bowen
  179. Most Evil by Steve Hodel
  180. The Man with the Golden Arm by Nelson Algren
  181. The Pursuit of Elegance by Matthew E. May
  182. Harbor Hill by Richard Guy Wilson
  183. K Blows Top by Peter Carlson
  184. Cheever: A Life by Blake Bailey
  185. The Collected Stories of Phillip K. Dick, Vols. 1 & 2 (with various readers)
  186. Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz
  187. The Sun and the Moon by Matthew Goodman 
  188. I Am Potential by Patrick Henry Hughes (with various readers)
  189. Shoot the Lawyer Twice by Michael Bowen
  190. The Reagan I Knew by William F. Buckley
  191. Venice for Lovers by Louis Begley, Anka Muhlstein
  192. Twilight Eyes by Dean Koontz
  193. The Canterbury Tales by William Chaucer
  194. Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax, MD
  195. The End is Not Yet by L. Ron Hubbard
  196. Slow Motion Riot by Peter Blauner
  197. The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization by Anthony Esolen
  198. The James Boys by Richard Liebman-Smith
  199. All Hands Down by Kenneth Sewell and Jerome Preisler
  200. Atmospheric Disturbances by Rivka Galchen
  201. Nightmare at 20,000 Feet by Richard Matheson (with various readers)
  202. Black Mask Audio Magazine, Vol. 1 (with various readers)
  203. AC/DC by Tom McNichol
  204. A$$hole by Martin Kihn
  205. The Purpose of the Past by Gordon S. Wood
  206. Why We're Liberals by Eric Alter
  207. Snow Angels by Steward O'Nan
  208. Common Wealth by Jeffrey D. Sachs
  209. On God by Norman Mailer
  210. Black Wings Has My Angel by Elliot Chaze
  211. It's Not About the Coffee by Howard Behar
  212. The End of Poverty by Jeffrey D. Sachs
  213. American Gangster and Other Tales of New York by Mark Jacobson
  214. Noble Lies by Charles Benoit