For the current Simon Maverick English audiobook of Theo of Golden, David Morse narrates the novel and Allen Levi reads the afterword. Its listed runtime is 13 hours and 12 minutes. Seeing both names in a store's credits does not mean the author and actor alternate throughout the story.
That distinction matters if someone recommended “the Allen Levi audiobook” and you are trying to buy the same edition. Here is how to identify it, sample it, and make room for the book without rushing the conversations that form its premise.
A stranger, a coffeehouse, and a reason to listen
Theo arrives in the Southern town of Golden and begins buying pencil portraits displayed in a coffeehouse. He gives them to the people pictured and asks to hear their stories. That is the premise in the publisher's description, without revealing the stranger's history or the novel's ending.
The question for a prospective reader is less “How complicated is the plot?” and more “Do I want to spend time with people's stories?” If you are seeking a high-speed puzzle, start with a sample before committing. If conversations about attention, generosity, and connection are the attraction, an unhurried listening slot is a sensible way to approach it.
You can also choose text for a practical reason: it is easier to return to a sentence or a name without scrubbing through an audio track. Neither choice is a lesser way to read. Try a sample in the setting where you expect to use it—headphones on a walk, a speaker at home, or text before bed.
Find the David Morse recording and the author's afterword
The official publisher page identifies this edition as:
| Edition detail | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Author | Allen Levi |
| Main narrator | David Morse |
| Additional material | An afterword about writing the novel, narrated by Allen Levi |
| Format | Unabridged English audio download |
| Runtime | 13 hours 12 minutes |
| Audio ISBN | 9781668173107 |
| Publisher and release | Simon Maverick, December 2, 2025 |
The page includes an audio excerpt. Use it to assess the voice and pace; a cover image cannot tell you how a performance sounds. If another listing has a different narrator, language, or ISBN, compare its details before treating it as the same recording.
Our suggested order is to hear the novel first and the afterword afterward. It lets you form your own response before hearing the author's account of creating the book. When organizing a group discussion, agree whether everyone will include that extra material.
A two-week listening plan
Thirteen hours and twelve minutes is 792 minutes. Spread evenly over fourteen days, that is approximately 57 minutes a day at 1×. These are planning estimates, not the book's chapter divisions.
You could split that into two half-hour windows, leaving a little room for pauses. Stop at a chapter boundary when convenient and adjust the following day's slot. If your library loan ends on a particular date, work backward from that date before borrowing; the calendar should fit your actual reading time.
If you already prefer faster narration, the calculated total is about 10 hours 34 minutes at 1.25×, or 8 hours 48 minutes at 1.5×. Speed is optional. We recommend choosing a setting at which you can still remember who was speaking and why the exchange mattered.
For a simple listening notebook, record only three things after a session: a person's name, something you learned about them, and one question you are still carrying. Add the chapter or playback bookmark. This avoids turning the book into a memory exercise while giving you a place to return after a few days away.
Borrowing, buying, and checking PDF or EPUB links
The Hoopla audiobook record lists the same English 13-hour-12-minute recording. It is a legitimate library route to check, with access depending on your participating library and its borrowing rules. A catalog entry does not guarantee availability through every library.
For a purchased ebook, Kobo's US Allen Levi edition lists ISBN 9781668236536, EPUB 3, and Adobe DRM. Verify the author as well as the title; a study guide or summary is a different purchase from the novel. Prices and availability vary by region.
We have not verified an official free full-text PDF or EPUB. The protected Kobo edition cannot be imported directly into CastReader's EPUB reader. For the audiobook, follow the publisher's retailer links or a library listing rather than assuming that an upload with the book's name is the authorized recording.
Use TTS for your notes—or a compatible file you already own
A useful companion to a book-club listen is a short spoken recap of your own impressions. Write two or three sentences after a session and play them with CastReader's free text-to-speech tool. When discussion day arrives, you have your earlier reactions instead of only a polished opinion formed after the ending.
If you have a legally obtained DRM-free EPUB, you can also open a compatible file in the CastReader EPUB reader. The file is parsed locally in your browser. Device voices are free without a CastReader account; CastReader AI voices need sign-in and have plan limits. It does not unlock the Kobo book or reproduce Morse's performance.
See CastReader downloads for supported devices; local EPUB import uses the web tool, not the browser extension. For a different kind of listening schedule, the Project Hail Mary audiobook guide includes shorter commute-length sessions.
Edition and access details checked October 4, 2026. The schedule is our suggestion, calculated from the publisher's runtime.