diff --git a/shelfmark/download/orchestrator.py b/shelfmark/download/orchestrator.py
index dc1e55cd..841cdcaa 100644
--- a/shelfmark/download/orchestrator.py
+++ b/shelfmark/download/orchestrator.py
@@ -367,8 +367,38 @@ def queue_status(user_id: int | None = None) -> dict[str, dict[str, Any]]:
     }
 
 
+def get_book_path(task_id: str) -> tuple[str | None, DownloadTask | None]:
+    """Path of a task's downloaded file, without reading it into memory.
+
+    Serving a completed book used to go through :func:`get_book_data`, which read the
+    whole file so the route could wrap it in a BytesIO: two copies resident for a
+    transfer that the web server can stream straight off disk. On a large audiobook
+    that is enough to reach a container's memory limit.
+    """
+    task = None
+    try:
+        task = book_queue.get_task(task_id)
+        if not task:
+            return None, None
+
+        path = task.download_path
+        if not path or not Path(path).is_file():
+            return None, task
+    except OSError as e:
+        logger.error_trace(f"Error resolving book path: {e}")
+        if task:
+            task.download_path = None
+        return None, task
+    else:
+        return path, task
+
+
 def get_book_data(task_id: str) -> tuple[bytes | None, DownloadTask | None]:
-    """Get downloaded file data for a specific task."""
+    """Get downloaded file data for a specific task.
+
+    Prefer :func:`get_book_path` when the bytes are only going to be written straight
+    back out; this reads the entire file into memory.
+    """
     task = None
     try:
         task = book_queue.get_task(task_id)
diff --git a/shelfmark/main.py b/shelfmark/main.py
index 4c6b640a..e1ad0960 100644
--- a/shelfmark/main.py
+++ b/shelfmark/main.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 """Flask app - routes, WebSocket handlers, and middleware."""
 
 import binascii
-import io
 import logging
 import os
 import re
@@ -1698,8 +1697,10 @@ def api_local_download() -> Response | tuple[Response, int]:
         return jsonify({"error": "No book ID provided"}), 400
 
     try:
-        file_data, book_info = backend.get_book_data(book_id)
-        if file_data is None:
+        # The path, not the bytes: send_file streams it off disk, where reading it
+        # first cost two resident copies of the whole book.
+        file_path, book_info = backend.get_book_path(book_id)
+        if file_path is None:
             # Fallback for dismissed/history entries where queue task may no longer exist.
             if download_history_service is not None:
                 is_admin, db_user_id, can_access_status = _resolve_status_scope()
@@ -1732,9 +1733,7 @@ def api_local_download() -> Response | tuple[Response, int]:
                 return jsonify({"error": "File not found"}), 404
 
         file_name = book_info.get_filename() if book_info is not None else Path(book_id).name
-        # Prepare the file for sending to the client
-        data = io.BytesIO(file_data)
-        return send_file(data, download_name=file_name, as_attachment=True)
+        return send_file(file_path, download_name=file_name, as_attachment=True)
 
     except _OPERATIONAL_ERRORS as e:
         logger.error_trace(f"Local download error: {e}")
diff --git a/tests/download/test_orchestrator_retry.py b/tests/download/test_orchestrator_retry.py
index fc822f98..d938c3bb 100644
--- a/tests/download/test_orchestrator_retry.py
+++ b/tests/download/test_orchestrator_retry.py
@@ -285,3 +285,50 @@ def test_get_book_data_clears_download_path_when_file_read_fails(monkeypatch, tm
     assert file_data is None
     assert returned_task is task
     assert task.download_path is None
+
+
+def test_get_book_path_returns_the_path_without_reading_the_file(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    import shelfmark.download.orchestrator as orchestrator
+
+    book = tmp_path / "book.epub"
+    book.write_bytes(b"x" * 4096)
+    task = DownloadTask(
+        task_id="task-book-path-1",
+        source="direct_download",
+        title="Streamed Book",
+        download_path=str(book),
+    )
+
+    mock_queue = MagicMock()
+    mock_queue.get_task.return_value = task
+    monkeypatch.setattr(orchestrator, "book_queue", mock_queue)
+
+    def _no_reads(*_args, **_kwargs):
+        raise AssertionError("get_book_path must not open the file")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "open", _no_reads)
+
+    path, returned_task = orchestrator.get_book_path(task.task_id)
+
+    assert path == str(book)
+    assert returned_task is task
+
+
+def test_get_book_path_reports_a_missing_file_rather_than_a_dead_path(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    import shelfmark.download.orchestrator as orchestrator
+
+    task = DownloadTask(
+        task_id="task-book-path-2",
+        source="direct_download",
+        title="Gone",
+        download_path=str(tmp_path / "gone.epub"),
+    )
+
+    mock_queue = MagicMock()
+    mock_queue.get_task.return_value = task
+    monkeypatch.setattr(orchestrator, "book_queue", mock_queue)
+
+    path, returned_task = orchestrator.get_book_path(task.task_id)
+
+    assert path is None
+    assert returned_task is task