In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

Erik Larson always picks entertaining topics for his audiobooks, which is what makes him popular even with listeners who aren't generally interested in history.  Instead of relating dry facts, he finds a way to create a lively narrative with memorable characters.  In Larson's new audiobook, In the Garden of Beasts, he uses an innovative way to get into the zeitgeist of World War II era Germany.  From the New York Times review:

"'In the Garden of Beasts' has the clarity of purpose to see the Germany of 1933 through the eyes of this uniquely well-positioned American family. There are hindsight-laden books that see the rise of Hitler as a parade of telltale signs. There are individual accounts that personalize the atmosphere of mounting oppression and terror. But there has been nothing quite like Mr. Larson’s story of the four Dodds, characters straight out of a 1930s family drama, transporting their shortcomings to a new world full of nasty surprises." 

Click here for the rest of the review, or click here for the audiobook.

Also, don't forget about Larson's previous bestseller, The Devil in the White City, which elevates the true crime story to an art.